Here’s a quick update about a few things going on around our little world at the moment. The festival and alternative festival continue; tonight there is a concert in the village square. There is something on just about every night of August and into early September, so it’s a good time to be on Symi if you like arts and culture. As long as you can stand the heat – which has abated slightly these last couple of days.
The boats continue to come and go, with the Blue Star Diagoras coming in more or less on time on a Wednesday and Friday, the day-trip boats and the ‘Spanos’ catamarans doing their regular trips. No trouble getting across from Rhodes at the moment, so that’s good news.
The internet connection is going up and down like a yoyo, manly down though – downloading at 2 kbps yesterday, then suddenly 350. Out and about in the afternoons… well, everyone is at the beach cooling off…
And next to the play area and Manteio’s the new hospital building is coming along; plenty of reinforcing rods and concrete going into this new facility.
And the afternoon sun continues to shine on the hillside. This is what is known locally as ‘To Vrisi’ or the tap, or spring, so called because the monastery is built on a natural spring and you can fill your water bottles from the tap when you get there. Like many of the island’s churches, the chapel and buildings are usually locked, but you can get into the grounds, fill your bottles and see the view. There are then trails and paths that run from the top terrace up the hillside and beyond. This is the place we often walk to early in the morning.
And, elsewhere in the village, local stray cats are being looked after. If you want to do your bit to help the strays then putting down water for them is a good idea at this time of year.
There you go. I may not be funny but at least I’m quick.
