Symi blogs in the top 25
Here’s some news for you. Feedspot has announced its list of the top 25 island blogs and websites in the world – these are blogs written by people who live on islands and which are all about island life. There are two Symi blogs listed among the top 25 in the world, Symi Dream and Adriana’s Symi Blog from Symi Visitor. Bravo them/us and well done all the others considered among the top 25 in the world.
You can see the award over there on the right and click through it to find other blogs that were also in the list. It’s great that Symi features twice in one list of 25; let’s hope it brings the island some more publicity and tourism.
Meanwhile, we were out and about on Monday for an afternoon walk to the church at ‘To Vrisi’ along the side of the Pedi valley. It was a peaceful, cold and calm day with blue skies and a little warmth when you were in the sun. We set of after lunch for the stroll which our Fitbits measured at roughly two miles each way, from our house. Up there we met a local chap who runs in marathons doing his daily walk (he also does daily runs of some amazing length). We were also hoping to check out a friend’s new drone, but there was some connectivity problem and, after a long walk and sitting in the shade for a few minutes, it started to feel very cold, so we left them to it. Maybe next time. We filled up our water bottles from the tap while we were there. ‘To Vrisi’ is the nickname for the monastery which has a natural spring and literally means ‘the tap.’ (Real name of the monastery is Zoodochos Pigi Vrisi, the lifegiving spring – or similar.)
It was good to get out of the house again after what feels like weeks of staying in, keeping warm and eating everything in sight. We are planning more short walks as we build up to some longer ones, my legs are not used to the exercise, but there’s the promise of stormy weather ahead for the rest of this week, and especially over the weekend so that may hamper us. It may not happen of course as these things are not always accurate, but I definitely need to get out and about and away from the typing at least three times per week from now on.
The images you see today were taken by Neil as we were walking and there are many more to share with you. Lots of long shots of the Pedi valley now looking green and fertile after some rain – we could still do with more. Plenty of the view across to Turkey and the wind turbines there, the views from the hillside and along the road. Looking at the countryside at this time of year all I see is grey (rocks) and shades of green, sometimes the blue sky, and the brown roofs of the village houses. Up close of course they vary from stone to white to all kinds of blues and yellows and other more ambitious colours. Even in winter there is colour on Symi, perhaps more so than in the summer when the sun bleaches things out, turns the ground to dark red and earthy shades. But the colour of the sea and sky stay the same – only with less grey in the summer.
I won’t go rambling on today but I hope you enjoy the photos from Monday; there will be many more over time of course. Don’t forget to check to the other island blogs who were listed in the top 25 by following the link over in the right-hand column. It’s the gold medallion, the other link is to another of our top listings.
