So we set off from Llanddeiniol on Tuesday at 14:00 and made good time along the M4 on our way to Gatwick. That was until we hit the M25 and then M23 which saw us take just over two hours to cover the last 40 miles.
That soon became a memory as we checked into the Sofitel and availed ourselves of a cocktail before dinner in their excellent Brasserie. Starters of breaded quail on a quinoa salad and smoked salmon was very delicately presented and wonderful to taste. The fillet steak to follow was perfectly cooked rare whilst E's black garlic crusted chicken with a cheese brûlée was amazing. This restaurant does excellent wines by the glass which makes E's preference for sparkly stuff easy to cater for whilst D samples the reds and whites. Espresso plus an impressive selection of beautifully made petit fours ended another memorable meal in one of the best airport hotel restaurants we have come across.
So a 6am start and the shuttle from North to South Terminal which takes all of 5 minutes. One of the first to check in for the 09:00 flight to Rhodes but despite this D's window seat was the only seat on the plane without a window and for some reason E was sat on the opposite side of the aisle. Thanks to a very understanding single traveller she swapped and everything was good. A single bar service didn't impress D but the 3.5 hour flight time did. It was good to see that a trend has been set and several co-travellers were cracking open the first Mythos from the airport vending machine as we waited for the bags.
A bit of a delay on the transfer bus whilst other UK flights arrived but we were at Kalona by 17:00 where Justine, the Olympic Rep, was dealing with the 42 transferees, including some old friends that we were delighted to see again. There was time for our traditional visit to Socrates Garden and the first draft Mythos and an ouzo. Then walked back for the 19:00 ferry.
Got chatting to a young police officer returning to work on Symi after his short vacation and this made the swift journey even swifter.
Justine's logistics had the luggage on the truck and 18 of us for Chorio on the minibus in minutes and by the time we arrived at the Windmills the luggage was there and a shirt walk to Anastasia and Sam's wonderful welcome at their apartments.
A lovely evening temperature saw us walk up to Yannis Rainbow Bar for a quick aperitif and then a light Mezes in Giorgios of bourataki (of course), green beans, mushrooms and spinach fitters washed down with retsina and then home to bed after a long day.
But we were on Symi and it felt wonderful.