Symi Festival 2016 (and other matters)
It’s good to hear, from up here, the festival events taking place down in Yialos, and there are many more planned over the next two months in various locations around the island. I am trying to get hold of a copy of the listings so I can put some details on the blog. But keep an eye out here and when I learn of events taking place in the Symi Festival 2016, I’ll let you know as soon as possible through the Symi Dream blog.
Side-stepping… I’ve heard of some awful stories coming out of the British press recently and I don’t know if they are true or not. Well, actually, I imagine they are as the people who were telling me of them wouldn’t have made them up as they are far too fantastic to be made up. Maybe, while showing you some random images from my folders, I can expel a couple of myths that seem to be circulating. Remember these are what I’ve been told by people coming over from Britain.
One: Greece is awash with refugees still and it means holidays are being spoiled. In a word, rubbish. No refugees here on Symi for months, most other places are quiet too, and even when there were refugees here, they were not spoiling anyone’s holiday; not unless you were a racist of course.
Two: There is no money in the Greek bank machines. There’s plenty of cash in the machines, you can use your cards, you can exchange currency with no hassles and everything is running normally. No worries on that score.
Three: Turkey is about to invade Greece so the islands are a dangerous place to be. I don’t think so. Turkey is doing its own (in my opinion) very undemocratic thing and has far too much to worry about to cause trouble over here. Anyway, why would it? Get a grip and stop reading those dreadful newspapers. Besides, just about every Greek man between the age of 18 and I don’t know when, has been trained through national service, many are reserves and they all know what they are doing should there be any troubles – which there haven’t been, so stop worrying.
Four: It’s all so expensive. Well, those folk who believed the wrong kind of make-believe and plunged the pound might well say that, but it’s still cheaper over here than it is over there for all you need for a holiday: fresh air, sea, nice pole (who actually like you being in their country), fresh food, water and, with the Symi Festival going on, free entertainment. Fancy a lunch out? Giros, a drink, and a salad for two, £10.00 – cheaper than some fast food places and much more healthy (depending on what you drink).
So, if you hear anyone ‘over there’ or in your own country, moaning on and saying they are not coming to Greece because of 1 – 4 above, please point them in this direction and suggest they ask people who live in this country before they start believing ‘news’ papers whose only job is to sell ‘news’ papers, mainly through deceit.
Thank you very much. And before I forget, don’t you forget that ‘Remotely‘ is still at its introductory price; grab a copy now before that price goes up.
