Ok - so...: Symi

This morning we are going to Symi so my alarm went off at 7am. Mom texted a few minutes later to say that she was up and to let her know when there is coffee. When she came down I guess she was knocking and no one heard. She said "I was knocking for like 10 minutes, didn't you hear me?" Obviously not, why didn't you ring the doorbell? "There's a doorbell?" Lol.

We got ready and had coffee and a quick breakfast and left about 10 mins behind schedule, but we found our way to the port just fine and got there only a few minutes after 8:15, which is when we were supposed to arrive. Maria bought her ticket and inquired about the 2:05pm Ferry and the person said "you're only going to stay 3 hours?!" So she bought just a one way just in case. Later Mom said to me "its 3 hours". Just like that. I knew what she meant. "I know, right?" She knew what I meant. We both hope to come home on the 2pm ferry. Lol. The ferry ride there is 90 mins but the 2pm is an express express (because this 90 min one is an express) and gets back at 3pm.

It's a BIG ferry, we weren't expecting it to be so big.

We got on at about 8:30am and it leaves at 9:30am. The shady seats don't have any view so we sat in the sun and put on sunblock. I love how everything in Europe runs on time, I looked at my watch and said "It should be leaving now". Within a few seconds the engine kicked up and it pulled out 4 seconds later.

Mom and I were on our phones, I was updating the blog and she was doing the same thing for hers I think. She also started when they went to Scotland a few years ago writing to keep memories of vacation. pdufton.blogspot.ca

As we were just underway Mom said "Look, you can see another island from here". Maria went and asked someone which Island it was because she had thought Symi was the closest to Rhodes - it's Turkey!

I suggested maybe we rent scooters on Symi "that will be worth staying another 2 and a half hours!" Mom and Maria laughed and Mom said "at least you always know where you stand". I don't understand. 🤔

After an hour up in the sun, sitting facing each way facing and way from the sun, I came down below to the lounge to use the washroom (surprisingly clean) and sit in the lounge for the last half hour.

I'm down below as we arrive to Symi but I know Maria will take some photos I can airdrop later!

And here they are!

I got most of today's blog up to date, uploaded some of yesterday's photos so I can finish it and checked Mom and I into our flight to Athens on Thursday while I was down here too.

We got off the Ferry, I was off first and saw Mom and Maria getting off.

Then we wandered around taking some photos. The port is a U we wandered around the entire U.

Then I said I'd like to wander up to the next level to the back streets to take some photos (with no people in them).

This is looking down.

Mom came up the first level of these stairs and hill and decided she would go back down, but Maria and I wanted to go further. So we continued on and took more photos on the "backstreets".

We thought we were at the top when we came across these stairs. Even when we reached the top these there was another BIG hill.

We came down the hill the same place we went up the hill. We met Mom at the bottom and went to lunch.

There is a specialty in Symi called Symi Shrimp. It's tiny whole shrimp fried with the shell that you eat. I had said to Georgia, it's the heads and everything? Yes. So Maria ordered some. I said "you ordered the shrimp?" Yeah, they're good. "I'm not eating eyeballs I don't care what you say". They came without eyeballs.

Maria said that she ate it with the tail and that the crunch is no different so you can eat the tail.

Mom said "They're good. Every time I look at them I think I don't want another one but then I taste them and think "they're good"".

My version of getting rid of my veggies from the table. The cat got the shrimp.

After lunch I went to the bathroom, now I'm an absurdly fast peeer (how do you spell peeer, 3 "e"s?). Anyway, in the bathroom the automatic light went out 3 times! It did for Maria too.*

After lunch we bought our tickets back for the 2:05pm ferry (yes!). Then walked around for a bit before going into a coffee shop to kill the last 30 mins before our ferry arrived.

Mom got hot, very hot. So she left the shop and Maria and I followed her out of the shop so she could sit in shade. I bought us all some cold water and we sat with the water on our arms, neck and head for the next 20 mins. I have said, more than once, I can't imagine being here in July or August. It's so HOT.

As the ferry approached I said, I hope it docks here. Maria said "If it's on the other side we won't make it in 5 mins". Yes we will, or I will, if you guys don't I'll see you back in Rhodes". Mom said "she's not kidding". Maria said "I know she's not kidding" lol. Really. I would have just run.

We got on the ferry, it docked close to us, and it was as in Port for 5 minutes, it arrived at 4:00pm and left at 4:05pm and Mom and I stayed inside and Maria went up top. There were goats on it.

When we arrived to Rhodes the ship docked at a different port and we had a 20 min walk and it was effin hot walking back to our port. Maria said "it's just around the next corner right?" I said "kinda".

When we got back to Georgia's Mom and I went to the beach. Maria asked if we wanted water shoes. (This side of the island the beaches have pebbles at the shore). No, we don't need water shoes. Take. The. Water. Shoes. I looked ridiculous trying to get out of the water on the rocks today. Mom said "pretend it's reflexology". I don't like reflexology.

We came back to Georgia's and Maria and I sat and had a glass of wine. Then a second glass of wine. Then I asked Maria to airdrop me some photos of today (because I sat below as we arrived and left port). She didn't quite get the panoramics.

I was like "seriously?! I left you with the photo responsibility". A few minutes later she said "Bitchass I took some good photos". I was half paying attention because I was updating the blog then I turned to her and said "did you just call me Bitchass?!". She did take some other good photos.

(The water really looks like this, no filter)

A while later, like a half a glass in wine time, my Mom said "Are we having another drink or are we leaving soon?" Maria said "Let's ask the driver". I said "Lets. Who me? I can't drive I had two glasses of wine". Ok, we'll go to Old Town tomorrow. So we are staying in.

Georgia had brought out cheese and bread and grapes. So she added some feta and other items. Maria said "these olives are so sweet". They're grapes. Oh. Haha.