Symi Dream

Refugees on Symi

This post is taken directly from the Solidarity Symi Facebook page.

With the recent increase in refugee arrivals in Symi, we would like to appeal for volunteers to assist in coordinating delivery of water, breakfast items and basic needs. If you can commit to one hour morning and one hour evening, for 7 consecutive days, please get in touch. This structure will give some consistency to authorities in the absence of a formal organisation.

The recent deportations from Turkey to Syria have caused many people to flee Turkey, and because of the horrendous overcrowding and conditions in established island camps, and the threat of deportations back to Turkey (Lesvos, Samos, Kos etc.), smaller Islands like Symi are seeing a large increase in arrivals.

Donations can be made at Taxas supermarket ‘refugee account’ or via Next Stop Symi. https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/…/food-for-refugees-on-symi
Potential volunteers can message [via Facebook] or call + 30 6957302565. The police and port police are incredibly busy and have little time for well-meaning enquiries. Please understand their situation. Thank you.

And a note from me. Watching the bay on Saturday morning, we noticed several black dots in the sea. At first, we thought they were seagulls, but on closer inspection, they turned out to be innertubes from vehicles, presumably used as life preservers by a recent refugee boat. A little while later, the hard-working coastguards were out there collecting them from the water. It could so easily have been bodies.

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I’m not a travel agent, but…

Yesterday, I was talking about Rhodes and my trip there (today). Just after that, someone sent me a message asking for ferry advice, and could I help as there isn’t a boat suitable for their Rhodes arrival. So today, I decided to point out a couple of things. First of all, I’m not a travel agent and can’t magic ferries out of nowhere. You should always double-check your connections as timetables change. If you want to see the latest Symi travel news, then take a look at Andy’s blog – the link is over there on the right where the banner says Travel Blog. He covers flights too, and not just from the UK, but like me, he’s a blogger, not a travel service. Then, you should check out the latest timetables on the websites of the three ferry companies that run daily services between Rhodes and Symi. If you’re coming via Kos, then you can look at two, Blue Star and Dodekanisos Seaways.

More random Rhodes pics today.

The Blue Star Ferries currently run three times per week from Piraeus via Symi to Rhodes and back. Their website is here: Blue Star Ferries and the site is available in English, as are all three. Use the Book Online button to enter your dates and see the timetable. You can buy tickets online and then collect them at the kiosk at the ports using the reference number you are given online. Again, that applies to all three companies, I believe. The crossing time takes one hour on certain ships and about one and a half hours on the other. The boats go from Akandia harbour, the furthest from Mandraki.

Casino in winter

Dodekanisos Seaways run the catamarans, the Pride and Express, plus the Panagia Skiadeni. Their website is here: Dodekanisos Seaways. The search options are there on the front page and easy to handle. These crossings take roughly 45 minutes on the catamarans, and 90 minutes on the larger Panagia. The catamarans leave from Kolona hardcore and the ferry from Akandia. Both Blue Star and the Spanos (as Dodekanisos are known locally) offer loyalty cards which you obtain from places like Symi Torus or the shipping offices on Rhodes. Note: if you take a Panagia crossing via Panormitis, you have to buy a two-stage ticket or the online booking will say you can’t get here. Buy one from Rhodes to Panormitis and a separate one from there to Symi port. The boat makes a stop at Panormitis for (90 minutes? Can’t remember), and thus it counts as a final destination.

At the Acropolis

ANES is the Symi island company and now run the Sebeco, a kind of large speed boat, mainly open, passenger ferry that takes around 90 minutes or less depending on the weather. This runs several times per day and at useful hours. Their website is here: ANES. This boat comes and goes from the Commercial/Tourist harbour in Rhodes, which is on the way towards Akandia harbour. Think of it like this: you start at Mandraki (Rhodes New Town). The day trip boats (which you can’t get as ferries, only day trips) run from Mandraki. Walk around the harbours, and you come next to Kolona, follow the wooden walkway, and next is the Commercial/Tourist/Cruise ship harbour, and keep going along the coast and you come to Akandia. Keep going after that, and you’ll end up in Faliraki or somewhere, but let’s not get into that.

Inside the Grand Master’s palace

My usual advice, for those travelling independently, is to check the ferry times before you arrange your flights. So many people have contacted me saying, ‘I arrive in Rhodes at 6 pm, what’s the best ferry to get that night?’ To which I reply, there isn’t one, you should have checked before you booked your flights. We’re not an island where there’s a regular, every-hour crossing 24 hours per day. On some days later and earlier in the season, you might only have two crossings per day, if that. Always do your research, or you can easily find yourself with only five days on Symi out of a one-week holiday. And remember, I’m not a travel service, just a guy blogging whatever comes into my head each day. For real travel advice, see an expert.