An excursion to Kos

We awake... Still wondering about the Asylum seekers we saw under trees a few kilometres outside Panomatitis the other day .... They looked quiet and relatively content... But how could that be... There seemed to be an excess of Greek soldiers in the general vicinity and it seemed strange that the odd character sitting stationary on his motor bike just up the road between them and Symi Port was in the same place when we drove into Panomatitis... Clearly they were under surveillance.... There has been plenty of internal criticism about Greece's treatment of the refugees....


The high speed ferry to Kos... 90 minutes.... Over in a second.... Kos... Not as steep... Not as rugged... More vegetation... Greener... Plenty of beachs... Plenty of flat lands.. Resorts line the entry.... Clearly not Symi... Not as compact... Not as pretty....much larger...much larger...

The port on the edge of town...sparce...

The 15th century walled fortification is adjacent.... Built in a hurry... Included materials from the earlier Roman occupation.... The old and the new combined to ensure their dominion over the island..... The 15th century invaders clearly not strong into the preservation history.... They take materials from the Roman occupation to supplement their own building resources.... They share that lack of interest with the local graffiti artists.... Any claim to legitimacy on the basis of street art is exposed as fraud... This is pure vandalism.... Am I more angry with the perpetrators or the island officials who have left the vandalism stand... The latter I think...

At last Penguin Number One has found a wild red poppy... Inside the fortress... Photograph her... Photograph it....

Tension continues inside the fortress to this day... This time the combatants.... A cat and a wily old pigeon....

A bathhouse... Operated until 1948... Impressed..

We photograph Hippocratie's ancient plane tree.. Toy with the idea of buying Andrew a laminated English version of the oath complete with a leaf from the tree... Decide Andrew would consider it to be considerably too kitsch for his liking...

Kos... 35000 ex tourists.... The season is just starting... Already it is busy... Tavernas and restaurants everywhere... Cheap touristy names... Bikes everywhere... Everywhere... Hundreds... Hundreds... Hundreds.. The paths seem good.. The cars fast but respectful ... The island open to circumnavigation on two wheels... Rental vehicles everywhere.... Conventional and unconventional... Plenty of buggies...

Throw 25 euros at a taxi driver... Australian... Ok mate ... He takes us around the island... The overview ok... the detail in short supply... Pass the army base looking back towards Turkey... No photographs say the signs... not friends says the driver... Ok mate....

Past beach resort.. Past beach resort.. Pass beach resorts... Beaches in the fashion of the Italian Riviera...

The "name the tourist" competition continues... My entries... Jenny Buckle... David Parker.. Chris Harper... Pam Milliken...

The Penguins are sure they did not see the best of Kos.... nevertheless they agree the side trip to Kos is worthwhile... The Penguin's appreciate Symi some more... Get an impression of what European high season tourism may do to the higher profile Greek Islands...


Wait at the port for the express back to Symi... Passengers line up for the boats to Bodrum in Turkey... The customs officials stand ready....

 

Our last night in Symi waits us....

We arrive back to a changed Symi.... A huge cruise ship has arrived...the tourist population has instantly doubled.... The special events for the cruise boat patrons have commenced... The tables at Pantellis corner are all occupied ... An early dinner with Greek dancing for dinner entertainment... The maritime caravaners are increasingly being overwhelmed by both Tupperware boats and by those huge statements of personal wealth... 6 people... 10 crew... 150 foot... Triple deck... Let's face it... Wealth is never equally shared... Feel just a tiny bit jealous... The wine glass is recharged to provide a brighter lens... even in its visitor engorged state Symi remains magical... We sense we have been her guests at precisely the right time... not too early... not too late...

We bid Yarnis and Eva farewell.. Visit the bank... As is the Greek want they are keen on cash... Pay an extraordinary foreign exchange fee

Have a last glass of wine at Cafe Stella... Discuss the first week of trade with the operator of the café from rhodos.... Leaves his family for the season... Terrible he says... Watch the marine caravaners attempt to plug into the power outlets... None of them work... Sorry... Come on Greece!... Not good enough!... A symptom of the economic malaise... Maybe....

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