Symi Walks
Today’s photos were taken on our early walk on Friday, but I’d left the camera on some other setting so the colour and light looks odd, better perhaps. It was a clear morning, cool, but not too cold, there were some clouds creeping in as we headed back but the sea was calm. There, that’s enough weather updating for now.
One of the things I noticed was the recently redecorated old house with the sun dial on the side of it. This house used to be some kind of embassy and there was once a sign on it stating how old the building was. This is, I think, is mentioned in ‘Carry on up the Kali Strata’, where there is some other info about the sundials on the island. I think there is one over at Nimborio, I’ve seen one up at St. Nikitas church in the hills, and there are others to look out for as you are walking around.
Symi is a good island for walkers, so if you are of that ilk, and are thinking about a Greek holiday, then you might like to search around for more info on Symi walks. Neil used to run a photo-walk, but those have gone by the by as the shop closed, and there were also history walks available. These may still be running; you would have to ask when you got here. In times gone by most anyone could put up a poster and advertise for a guided walk, but unless the guide is actually working for a bona fide company, they could now land themselves in trouble for offering the service. Things have changed in Greece with the authorities checking up on who is doing what and whether they are licensed to, and rightly so. Our walks went through the shop books and, as we don’t have the shop now, we’re not able to do them any longer. But we have tour operators on the island, such as Symi Tours, Panormitis Travel and Katsaras Travel who may be able to offer walks. Companies such as Kalodoukas and Symi Visitor may also be able to arrange things for you if you want a guided walk.
There are books too, at least two that I know of, where you can follow printed guided walks, and there are, no doubt, lots of others on websites to check out as well. Or you can just go wandering off-piste, as it were, and see where you end up. Early and late season are probably the best times to go out and about. July and August can be pretty blistering so are best avoided. Once out of the harbour or the village, you usually find that paths are obvious or marked. There are red and blue dots to follow, thanks to the Kalodoukas walking book, and some hikers have erected cairns to guide you too. The general rule is, if the path is not obvious don’t go wandering off across the boulder fields and risk an ankle, don’t climb over fences, keep dogs on a lead, shut gates behind you, tell someone where you are going, take water and a mobile phone in case of trouble and, if lost, head downhill as you will eventually reach the sea at some point. Though if you find yourself at the top of St George’s cliff, hold there and turn back.
I’m not sure if I will be out and about walking this weekend, there are things I want to do at home. The usual: writing, housework, and now coursework, but if the weather holds (and it is forecast for rain) then we may get some fresh air somewhere. Whatever you do, have a good weekend and thanks for reading.
