Greek President Visits Symi
Things are starting to happen in Yialos by the sound of it. Today (yesterday), I am, as usual, stuck up here working, but Neil may be able to get down to take some photos. If not, we have a stringer who has offered to share some photos with you, but they won’t be ready for a day or so. The Greek president, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, is visiting the island as it’s the 70th year anniversary of the Dodecanese being incorporated back into Greece following WWII. March 7th, 1948 was when King Pavlos and Queen Frederica arrived in Rhodes to celebrate the new independence, and it was here on Symi, at what is now Los, where the treaty was signed on May 8th, 1945. “8 May 1945: The leader of the German occupying forces, General Wagener, signs in Simi the protocol of unconditional surrender of the Dodecanese to the British Allies Forces and the commander of the Ieros Lohos (a special Greek Army division), Colonel Christodoulos Tsigante.” Discover Rhodes.
May 8th, 2018 is the day on which our new harbour will be opened.
It’s still early, yesterday, as I write but already we have heard the soldiers singing the national anthem at the war memorial, and we just had a blast of band music (possibly recorded) and more singing from below. I’ll watch out for the boats and see if I can nip out for some snaps from up here, and hopefully, give you some more info tomorrow. Meanwhile, there will be loads of pics and info on the Symi Facebook pages, and I’m sure other island bloggers and sites will be sharing images and news of his event. Apparently, there’s to be the usual May 8th church service, parade and a function at the Opera House afterwards.
