Ring Road

[SueO]

Hello everyone. Feeling a bit bad as, having kicked up such a fuss about being "banned", I've not got round to posting since the problem was sorted out.

So, assuming you have all now received and read your copy of the June SV,(or read a free copy whilst in Symi) what do you think of the Mayor's plans for the future? How about a Pelican crossing to go with the traffic lights? Should the Ring Road be of motorway standard? Will the "tractor train" have suitable Greek music piped on board? Suggestions please.......

[pat]

it would be cheeper to take every one that is complaining to london
to have a drive round for a few days. and the moped lads
ive just returned from symi found it the same as usual

[D and E]

A tough one SueO,

Whilst of course we would not wish to see anything that would detract from what we regard as the idyll, it is a living island with an elected mayor who we hope will do what is believed best for the island and its people first and foremost. One presumes public opinion is not that difficult to gauge in terms of size and location of the populus.

[SueO]

Oh dear..I think everyone's taking me a bit too seriously. I was hoping to start off a light hearted debate on possible "improvements" to the island (hence the little devils) but seem to have gained nothing but a couple of reproving comments. Certainly, as a regular visitor to the island over many years I've seen some changes but I've never considered that, as a few weeks a year visitor, I've got any right to tell the Symi people what they should or shouldn't do with their island.

BTW...the election of the encumbent Mayor was a VERY close call (by just a few votes I think) so who knows what the future holds.

[Trailer]

Never mind Sue, it was ever thus. Anyone with the temerity to mention (seemingly negatively) the changes in Symi over the years invariably gets jumped on by someone who thinks no one should voice an opinion. In my opinion I find the many (inevitable) changes in Symi over the last 20-odd years very sad, not least of all the increase in noise generally. It is still a joy to behold, but, in my opinion, I preferred the old natural Symi pre-commercialised version. Must be our fault for telling so many people how wonderful it is, and now everyone goes! Dammit.

[Oor Willie]

Hi Sue, I thought all the roads on Symi were to" motorway standard" at least thats what it said on the map I bought last year, this included the path over the hill to Nimborio .

But re the article in SV about the ring road I think it's all just election talk as in the same article it went on about banning deliveries to harbourside businesses during the busy times and the police were going to enforce the helmet law for motorbike riders and I saw no sign of either of these things happening when I was there and I guess we never will.

[pat]

sorry sue took it serious dident see the devils rock on

[Adriana]

It would mean that the army lads would no longer have to drive about 20 kilometres worth of detour via the Vigla and Chorio to get home in the afternoons as their camp is, as the crow flies, just over the hill next to Roukoniotis (they are actually a significant contribution to the traffic on the island). Most of them are billetted in the harbour.

[SueO]

Thanks everyone...I feel better now!

Actaully, rather than looking at all the things that have changed (for better or worse) it might be worth considering what hasn't. As mentioned in another thread, the sunrise, sunset, moon and a multitude of star are still there. The architecture is still superb, the sun still shines on a beautiful sea and the local people are still friendly and helpful. The herbs still grow up on the hills and, with an improved road network, getting up there and walking away from the crowds, is that much easier. There's no doubt that Chorio has benefited from tourism and a general increase in prosperity. The upper village was described in one guide book in the early eighties as "a desolate area of ruins and rubbish with little sign of life". OK, there are still ruins and rubbish but also plenty of rebuilding and what seems like real enthusiasm from locals and overseas owners alike, for the village to "live" again. As for the "island idyll"...it's still there if we look beneath the surface.

You will have guessed that I love Symi deeply and can get quite passionate in her defence!

Perhaps I'd better stop before I start sounding too much like a holiday brochure.

[D and E]

Oops - sorry to have come over as reproving - didn't mean to.

Your last comment expresses so well the feelings of those of us who have fallen in love with Symi - well said.

I must also admit to being guilty of singing the islands praises resulting in my sister and her husband visting in May for the first time and vowing to be back next year and a work colleague from an office at the northern end of GB visiting in May / June and having already booked the same accommodation for next year I hear !!

ops: