A new sign has appeared downstairs at the Symi Visitor Accommodation office.
If you want to do a webcam wave, SMS your friends and family to log onto either www.symivisitor.com/webcam.shtml or www.yassou.com/, stand by the Sunflower sign and ... wave!
As this webcam feed is only updated every 30 seconds and is not recorded you will need to stand there for about a minute to be sure that they see you.
Have fun!
A new age has dawned in Greece as the long threatened anti-smoking regulations came into effect on Wednesday 1 July. In principal the smoke-filled nightclubs of 1960s Greek films should be thing of the past and the sultry image of Melina Mercouri, cigarette in hand, is no longer the one to which Greek women should aspire. At the moment here on Symi the new laws have been greeted with the same skepticism as clamp downs on crash helmets and seat belts. It certainly isn’t clear how the new regulations will be enforced and judging by this article, it may be a while before any real impact will be felt in rural Greece and islands such as Symi.
So far it seems to be business as usual down in Yialos and there are no signs to indicate that half the island’s adult population has gone into nicotine withdrawal. Far from it. The sun is shining, the sky is blue. The excursion boats and water taxis are busy and the Proteus, the Symi II and the Nikolaos have just arrived within minutes of each other, creating the usual merry chaos of cars, trucks and people. I took this photograph yesterday afternoon while waiting for the bus – a happy juxtaposition of Cretan clay pots, ropes of garlic and traditional café chairs.
The weather forecast for Symi remains set for sunshine with temperatures in the low to middle thirties. Some parts of Greece and the Balkans are continuing to experience heavy afternoon downpours and thundershowers but Symi remains dry.
Have a good weekend.Regards,
Adriana
Under the Mediterranean Sun
0 Comments Published by Adriana Shum on Monday, June 29, 2009 at 3:18:00 PM.
Symi is steaming gently under the Mediterranean sun as unusually humid conditions prevail. Mist was still hanging low over the water when the Poseidon did the dawn trip to Sesklia for the festival of St Paul at the chapel on the island. Books forgotten out in the garden overnight curl damply and heavy dew drips off the parked cars. The southerly winds responsible for these conditions will be changing to the north again later this week and we will soon be back to cardboard washing stiff on the line. Other parts of Greece have experienced extremely heavy showers and the second day of the annual Rockwave festival in Athens had to be cancelled after heavy rain damaged the stage and equipment.
Symi is becoming steadily busier although most businesses report a quieter than usual June and the island certainly seems emptier than normal for the time of year. Supermarkets are doing better than tavernas and restaurants as cash-strapped travelers cut holiday spending by taking more meals in the accommodation and buying wine to enjoy on the terrace or balcony rather than rounds of drinks in the café bars. Visitors have been spotted shopping for ripe watermelons from the hawkers and buying chops at the butchers – while slaving over a hot stove might not be everyone’s idea of a perfect island holiday, a spot of imaginative self-catering can certainly help to stretch the family holiday budget and these days most good quality holiday accommodation is equipped with a barbecue for al fresco cooking and dining.
Have a good week.
Regards,
Adriana
Labels: budget, Greece, Pedi, self catering accommodation, Symi, weather
After a few days of random clouds and distant thunder the forecast is set fair once again. It is always a surprise just how cool 30 degrees centigrade can feel after days in the forties and everyone has been enjoying the mild evenings and amazing visibility a north wind brings. The stars have been exceptionally clear this week. The rest of Greece has been experiencing quite heavy downpours and thunderstorms and even Kastellorizo which is the southern most island in Greece has had the odd passing cloud.
The figs are swelling on the trees in the Pedi valley and the tomatoes are turning sweet and red. The island is filling up with people as we head into high season and we have noticed a great deal of interest from Norwegians since the following appeared in the Norwegian press. And yes, if you go through the slide show there are some familiar faces lurking behind those Mamma Mia! Costumes!
Have a good weekend.
Regards,
Adriana
Irini Gazi from Faros, has issued the above invitation to all those interested in supporting animal welfare on Symi. It is an exhibition of children's art which will take place on 27 June at 19.00 at the Nautical Museum in Yialos. Wine, soft drinks and snacks will be available. If you are in the area please pop in and support the worthwhile cause of promoting interest in animal welfare among the children of Symi.
