SYMI

June 2003

A small nice island close to Rhodos. It can be visited with a day trip from Rhodos, but it is much advisable to stay a couple of days. You can do some excursions to the numerous lovely bays and scattered small monasteries. We certainly will go back as we had to leave earlier than planned due to the boat schedule .

*Heleni hotel*	Comparing this place with the other possibilities in the port, I must admit this was the best choice, even though we had a very small room and dito balcony with a marvellous view to the port. When booking in advance you can ask for the larger rooms with spacious balcony on the first floor. In the beginning the owner seemed a bit strange but turned out to be a very good guy. He is very concerned about his property. He also runs the snack bar below the hotel where he serves some basic food.
*Links to Symi accommodation*	http://www.greecead.com/gadhome/symi/accommodations/index.html http://www.greekhotel.com/dodecane/symi/home.htm http://www.all-hotels-in-greece.com/list.php http://www.greece.com/hotels/Greece/all/Symi.html http://www.symi-island.com/page_accom_index.htm http://www.greeklodgings.gr/Pages/EN/Symi/Symi.htm http://www.laskarina.co.uk/property5.html http://www.travelbagtours.com/Symi/symi_hotels.asp http://www.symivisitor.com/Accommodation.htm

*Vigla (Gialos)*	We enjoyed a tasteful meal with dolmades-taramosalad-courgettes with 3 cheeses and a bottle of Retsina.
*Milopetra (Gialos)*	Not typical Greek but we had to celebrate this day and decided to choose a rather unusual place. Though rather expensive I confirm the excellent quality about which they talk in the tourist guides. We had musselssoup and a huge portion of tagliatelli with rabbit. Also the wine was very tasty, but for 25 € a bottle you can’t expect lesser. An inconvenience is there were nearly visitors which can be annoying.
*Manos (Gialos)*	You can’t miss this place along the quay as the owner is playing his show to attract visitors. The quality of our selection: smoked haloumi (kapnisto - very tasty) and the grilled fish (tsipoura) was good. We paid 64 € for the meal incl. tomatoes, potatoes and 1 kg barrel wine.
*Ellinikon (Pedi)*	Very pleasant place for lunch time. The typical Greek plates as grilled octopus, tzaiziki, kalamaria … were all well prepared.

*Symi port*	A very colourful place with neoclassical houses theatrically built around the port.
*Chorio*	The village can be reached by an enormous stairway starting behind the restaurant Kali Strata. On your way upwards you have beautiful mansions - some of them being renovated. Restaurants as well as sleeping accommodation is available. When arriving by bus you enter the village at the windmill area.
*Pedi beach*	A small fishing hamlet with a couple of restaurants and a partly sandy beach.
*Nimborios*	A small pebbled beach with a single tarverna.
*Panormitis monastery*	This place is visited by excursion boats; if you have your own transport its better to arrive before 11 o’clock to enjoy your visit also in regard with taking some pictures. The route (completely asphalted now) is very scenery. The building is of lesser interest though has a nice pebble-mosaic and worth the trip.
*Monasteries*	Before you start to visit the other monasteries it’s advisable to check in advance about the opening hours.