Symi Island Greece Diary

The Sunny Side of Pedi Bay

1 Comments Published by Adriana Shum on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 11:56:00 AM.

It is a blustery winter’s day on Symi. As the wind is from the south temperatures are fairly mild but the sky is grey and the sea lumpy. The few boats left in the harbour are tugging restlessly at their lines and gulls are wheeling over head. This is all a marked contrast to Clean Monday where the sky cleared as if by appointment at midday, just as everyone was starting their picnics, and the howling gales of the weekend were replaced by a steady westerly breeze. At the Pedi Katoi on the sunny side of Pedi Bay where we held our celebrations the water was actually warm enough in the shallows for some brave souls to take a dip. The long range forecast remains unsettled but with rather less rain than we had in January.

Lent proper has now begun and the handful of tavernas still open at this time of the year are offering traditional fasting foods such as mussels, calamari and octopus. The island’s butchers have cut back on their meat stocks and topped up their freezers with fish and shellfish. In traditional communities such as this one seasonal eating habits still prevail and every shop and household has a calendar of the saints and name days, identifying the various fast days and dietary prohibitions throughout the year.

Here are some scenic shots taken in Pedi on Monday afternoon. For more holiday photos, see Out and About.