Symi Island

Rhodes was our first Greek island and on May 10th we headed off to see our second, Symi, at 13:15 for a 4-hour voyage. We had heard many favourable comments about Symi and they were all true (N36°36.992' E027°50.205').

This somewhat barren Island has the cutest preserved main harbour town of Yialos, tucked in a tight bay, and even on approach, reeks of a rich maritime history. Most of the Island's 2,500 inhabitants live in the tight confines of Yialos where shops and homes quilt the slopes with Neo-classical architecture-style buildings painted in mostly pale yellow with touches of blue or ochre.

Close-up view

Exploring the town involved wandering through a labyrinth of winding and weaving streets, alleys, and staircases. We also hiked way up to the upper village and museum.

View from above

The harbour is the center of activities shared by local fishermen, yachties, tour boats, and ferries that bring flocks of tourists from all over. And it's at the harbour front that all the action and scenery can be absorbed from many of the sidewalk cafes and eateries and where souvenier shops offer sea sponges, clothes, jewellery, and more.

Yialos was a strategic trading center and main shipbuilding port in centuries past, and up until recent times, it was a known marketer of the locally harvested sea sponges - that is, until synthetics euthanized that industry. Now it is mainly a desirable retreat for vacationers.

The Island has a warm, friendly, and laid-back feel, which we found quite typical of the Greek Island attitude and there seems to be no concern about things like a lack of water which as to be shipped in, and conversely, the plague of cats.