It’s no secret that I am particularly fond of sneaking off for a warm week in Europe ahead of the UK summer – a week of sun & sea ahead of the various events that define our summers in the UK – Henley Regatta, Henley Festival & Friday Night Field Drinks. This year it was Symi, a small but beautifully formed Greek island about an hour’s ferry ride from Rhodes. We flew to Rhodes and were meant to travel straight on to Symi, however dear old BA had other ideas and we sadly landed in Rhodes to late to make the onward ferry journey. After a disappointingly average dinner and a hot & noisy (for all the wrong reasons) night in Rhodes old town we caught the 1st ferry to Symi the next morning, which was very like having your own private transfer.
Early morning Symi Ferry aka the Mary Celeste
Symi has one of the prettiest ports I have ever arrived at, truly beautiful. The amazing 1st impression carried on all week, and saw us jumping onto early morning water taxis to be taken to a different beach each day. Long lazy lunches in shady tavernas and swimming in clear blue seas – on one occasion with my very own turtle, which made my day (possibly year).
Symi Port
A boat taxi of his very own
There are turtles out there
My only mistake was to forget how badly I suffer from seasickness. I have spent many miserable hours whale watching, dolphin spotting, taking junk trips across Hong Kong harbour and, in Symi, going round the island on a schooner to visit the beaches only accessible by boat. Why I thought this would be the year I discovered my salty seadog legs is beyond me. So, despite mill pond conditions, I spent the majority of the trip wishing it was over and had to restrain myself from kissing the ground on our return to dry land. I did however enjoy swimming in cliff surrounded coves & having a barbecue lunch on a deserted beach, though the edge was slightly taken off all of this by the sure & certain knowledge that the only way back was by boat.
It’s a very nice beach and I’m sure a lovely boat but can we please get off now
