Friday : Our Marathounda Day
It was our last full day on Symi and as friends of G had mentioned that their favourite beach was Marathounda it was only right that this be built into the itinerary.
After the bread walk, where an anxious baker was desperately trying to connect his new 1000 litre water tank in time to capture the supply for the day, we had our final breakfast on the balcony. Over the years E has become an expert with the ham & cheese management that always sees the supplies run out on the penultimate day so regular readers will know where breakfast will be tomorrow.
We set off down the lazy steps and it was already 33C on the Pharmacy Display. Although the Irini and Loukas taxi boat to Marathounda doesn't go until 11am we decided to take the 10am boat to Nanou for a frappe stop and then Loukas picked us up at around 11:30. By the way it’s €14 for the trip to Marathounda.
- Nanou
We arrived in the beautiful bay and had a cooling beer in the Taverna before sorting ourselves out with free sun beds.
- Fanta & Fix Mix
There is a new small bar just along from the established Taverna that does just drinks and ice-creams and this is particularly handy as the Taverna does get busy. It was between 35 and 40C on the beach so after swimming in the perfect water we tried out the new bar which E described very aptly as shabby-chic.
- The New Bar
- Shabby Chic
Lunch in the Taverna was up to the usual high standard and the staff were rushed off their feet. We had Greek salad, keftedes, courgette fritters and excellent stuffed peppers. Another swim and hour in the beach and we needed to visit the new bar again before Loukas got us all back on board for the 4:45 return journey. Outside the bay there was a good wind blowing so regular blasts of spray added to the fun of the ride on his powerful boat.
- Marathounda Goats Of Course
A “rest” in Alegrito where we said farewell to Dawn’s mum & dad who are the most lovely couple and must be sick of the sight of us three as we always appear to be where they are
We taxied up again and achieved our 100% attendance at Yiannis Ouzo, Retsina and G&T classes. We had decided for our last evening to have dinner in the amazing setting of Katsaras in Pedi. Not wanting to walk down and arrive all sweaty and dishevelled we thought we would get the bus but then there would be time for a second round in Yannis so, believe it or not, for the first time ever E phones for a taxi and the ever reliable Konstantinos picked us up from the Village Hotel and deposited at the door of Katsaras. This cannot become a regular occurrence as there are only so many X’s that D can have in his shirts size
The restaurant was very busy so we sat and had a drink in the beach bar - what a stunning location.
- Location, Location, Location
We then had a waterside table and ordered Prawns Saganaki which D&E shared and G went for the meatballs. As often happens when things are busy a very sad looking plate of saganaki cheese arrived and had to be sent back before four good sized prawns in an excellent saganaki sauce arrived. The sauce was soon mopped up with the garlic pitta bread that we had ordered. G then went onto have pork schnitzel with the fabulous chips that Katsaras does. D had the seafood linguini served with four giant mussels and another two of those big prawns in a fine tomato sauce. E had ordered soutzakakia but this didn’t arrive which was just as well as the portions that we had were huge and even by sharing we three couldn’t finish everything. We were then given a pallet cleansing watermelon and just then along with the logariasmos came a chunk of very chocolate, chocolate cake and ice cream.
- Chocolate Cake & Ice Cream
We are used to service being a bit hit and miss especially when places are busy so we always take it in our stride and the Greek food at Katsaras is excellent - the location is just stunning. So a very fine last night.
We caught the 10:30 bus with only us, Lakis and the guy from the corner supermarket who had just locked up. The supermarket had provided some surplus food which we discovered Lakis uses to feed a dog that has been left alone half way up the Pedi Road. His long service and the hours he does on that bus has always made him a hero of ours but the compassion for the abandoned dog ...... well.
On that note we walked back from the Kiosk for the last time and concluded that our 10 nights had been full of laughs, fun, drinks and a lot of food. G says that it has been so simple to rekindle his love affair with Symi which essentially has changed little since his last visit.
We hit the sack quite early as the next day will be a long one in view of our flight times. Around 2am E was looking for her phone which she uses to monitor her blood sugars. Won’t explain how this works but the technology is amazing. No phone. Panic. D used the Find My Phone App which suggests it is somewhere up past the windmills ! Pointless doing anything at that time of night so we got more shuteye. D got up at 7 and checked the location again - no change. Before taking further action and it being of a reasonable time that anyone who may have found the phone could be expected to answer he sends the Ring Request that exists in the Find App and would you believe it - we here the tone. E’s phone had somehow got in between the mattress and the bed slats. Some technology like the Find App’s location finding is less amazing but hey - phew !!