How many steps must a man walk up?
I finally found time to get out of the house and head to Yialos to do the usual bank and business, get cat food for HRH Alarm Cat, check the post office and dash back up again before the final on-line meeting with the editor where we finished off the last edits for ‘Remotely.’ This was after watching a flotilla (or regatta) of boats leaving after spending a night in the harbour. I assume it was a race of some kind as there looked to be some marshal boats alongside them. A very pleasing sight to see, over 30 over-nighters heading off for a good day’s sailing.
Now then, people often ask how many steps there are up to the village and my reply usually is, it depends on which way you go. There are various ways to do it. The most straightforward is to head up past the Kalodoukas office, turn left after browsing Freddie’s shop and saying hello to Pet Corner, and then Carry On Up The Kali Strata – a good opportunity for a plug for the second ‘living on Symi’ book in the series. This way will give you roughly 360 + steps to take, with gentle slopes to break the journey, and some nice views.
You can also head to the bus stop and resist the temptation to take a taxi or bus and then head up the slope that way. Here you can turn off half way up or continue to the top and the high school, up the slope and then join the Kali Strata on the viewpoint corner. Or, you can start on route one and turn off opposite the large red house, turning right and taking the almost sheer set of steps to the zigzag which brings you out near Lemonitisa and the domed church you see from the harbour. Turn left there to find the village square or zigzag up some more to find the Castro.
You can also just take any of the right turns and steps as you climb up and see where you end up. I took the slope that doubles back about half way up the steps, between the two properties used for The Symi Gallery and then weaved my way up to our house from there. It saves going all the way around but although it’s only four levels from that slope, it’s still pretty sheer, and very good for the thighs. Whichever way you go, remember water and wear a hat if it’s really hot as there isn’t always shade. You’ll find the off-the-beaten-steps routes interesting as you never know what you will come across; ruins, views, chickens, cats, more chickens and the cockerel that goes of around four every morning and keeps going until well after seven. It’s an interesting walk whichever way you do it.
As for the number of steps involved in these routes, my advice would be not to count. You can’t feel your legs after 50 of them anyway so it doesn’t matter. And as for my weekend, well, the usual is planned; writing and chilling out as I watch the boats come and go and set about setting up the things needed to get ‘Remotely’ published, hopefully in a week or so’s time. Whatever you are doing, have a great weekend and I’ll see you back here bright and early on Monday.
