Wednesday 6th July
Exercise and Ouzo!
Well it started well as we both still have a pulse which is always better than the alternatives.
Liz had threatened to go for an early swim down in Pedi but that never happened. I’m up at 7am and sorting the blog as usual with pictures to re-size and spelin (sic) mistakes to sort! It is a task every day but I do enjoy looking for some good pictures and it’s nice when people appreciate it. It is also something we will read back in the dark winter months.
After a toast and fried egg breakfast with juice and coffee of course we have half an hour on the terrace in the morning sun before my itchy feet get the better of me.
With water in hand I’m off up the road and turn left at Kampos and follow the winding road, all up hill. I get a cheery wave from Fotini who’s whizzing past on the back of a bike. It’s only 10am but the heat is already rising as I pass Costantinos Kantina and reach the top of the old Donkey Track.
The views from up here are spectacular and if you have mobility problems get a taxi up or get the Panormitis bus to drop you off. It’s worth it as the camera can’t quite capture what you see.
I can see there is a big cruise ship in Nimborio Bay which will have a shuttle boat service all day bringing people into the jetty next to the Duty Free Shop.
I carefully make the descent down the donkey track and it’s wise to have walking boots or at least trainers, please don’t try to do it with flip flops! I stop every few yards as the views change and I need to store in my memory bank….it’s so good for the soul.
I’m soon back at the top corner of the old village and down through the old paths and steps….Symi has so many steps. It would be good for someone to count them all…..any volunteers?
I give way to the two donkeys carrying up supplies through the narrow paths. A lot of the top end of the old village has never had access by cars or even bikes so everything has to be carried by hand or by beast. There is talk of a cable car to help with this issue but I can’t really see it happening.
I do really enjoy walking these paths, one of the highlights of my stays here, and you always seem to find one you have never seen before so it’s never the same.
I head back towards Taxiarchis and I get another shout of….”Again Again” from the lovely Fotini.
- Boats in Pedi
Making sure I’m hydrated after my walk Liz has decided she fancies a little trip to Kameres at Pedi so she hops on the bus as I walk down the road. We enjoy a soft drink and a delicate Lemon Pie with the sublime setting.
Liz gets the next bus back and I wander up through the valley getting another Chicken fix.
Showered and watered and the 3rd shirt change of the day I’m off up to the Rainbow with Liz following on after I’d woken her from her snooze on the terrace. Some of the usual suspects appear who have already had a few elsewhere….well they are on holiday. I just can’t keep up with some of these people.
Liz and Gwen ventured to the Chinese, not a takeaway but yes there is a Chinese shop up in the villages selling mostly clothes and such. It’s in the old Syllagos Taverna.
A few of us depart at the same time and we wander down the Kali Strata which really needs to be walked to believe and thoughts of what it must have been in it’s day. We reached the bottom and sat for a while just watching the change in colours as the sun fades away.
For food we decide on a new venue of The Repeat, yes The Repeat, near the Bella Napoli which we have never tried. Now the Repeat is not in the best location but some are saying the food is good so we have to try. Liz goes for the Chicken Fillet and I plump for Chicken Slouvaki which are both better than we expected with moist, succulent chicken and home made chips. Another meal for €27.00 with drinks and a complimentary semolina cinnamon dessert and Mastika shot.
We make our way round to Dimitris for a couple of Ouzos for me and Liz has a G&T and people watch for a while as you do.
I try my best to capture some night time shots with the light traces in the water but it’s not the best of conditions as there is a nice cooling breeze tonight.
Anastasias son is our Taxi driver, who says we must stay at his mothers apartments next time as he quizzes me on my football allegiances and he is aware of both The Blades and the Owls. I firmly make him aware of where my loyalties lie!
We fully expected to see some dirty stop outs at Ringos who would have tempted us in but as they were not there we just managed to get a few supplies from the supermarket across before heading back and having a few more Ouzo night caps.
Another message when I get back with yet another invitation so from going from no plans to almost a full diary till we go home. How will we cope?
17277 steps…...I’m not counting the Ouzos!