It was March 2007 when I found SymiGreece. I couldn’t get enough of the photos, the blogs, the news of Symi. A desire to view the harbour from the ferry as it sails in rose up and filled my heart. I booked it online. I couldn’t leave the UK until October due to numerous family commitments through the summer. Once it was booked, I began to worry that it would be too painful. I hoped I’d come to terms with my husband’s death. I checked for new photos every night on SymiGreece, testing my memory by working out where the photographer stood to take the shot. Can you imagine the confidence it gave me that October would work out?

It was the last half of October when I came to Symi alone. The taxi-boats were just about packing up for the winter because many of the beach tavernas were already shut. A very stormy Saturday with more rain than I’d ever imagined I’d see on Symi was the final blow to business. There were no taxi-boats from then on. I hadn’t bargained on the noise and smell of the harbourside traffic, so much heavier than on my last visit. I was beginning to think it had been a mistake to come back to Symi in October.

Then I realised I was so lucky. Having no taxi boats, rain and fewer visitors gave me the opportunity to experience another side of Symi. The daily tourist boats came in, but the place was so much quieter. Now, in the restaurants, cafes and bars there were more Symiots and less tourists and I found I liked the atmosphere.

Before long, I was enjoying the sun and the sea – both warm by UK standards, even in October. I had wonderful, interesting walks looking at buildings and vistas, flora and fauna.

I made it to the museum in Chorio for the first time while it was open and loved it, particularly the building itself and the mansion at the back of it.

I visited Panormitis at last, on the bus. I went to several restaurants and cafes I hadn’t been in previously as well as some I had. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was so glad I came. Did I think of my husband? Yes, how could I not, but it was all good and not too sad. I’ll be back in 2008. I’ve already booked my flight and accommodation, with help from SymiGreece, of course.

Please excuse any spelling errors of Greek names in my blogs. I used those I have read on maps etc, but I often see at least 2 ways of spelling the same word in English translations eg Chorio and Horio and don’t know which to use.





Part 1 of this blog can be read here