Day 5 (Recovering from day 4)

Who would have thought that siting on a boat for a few hours with a bit of swimming, eating and drinking could be so exhausting!

It was and it took a day to recover.

That said I did see the dawn from the balcony.

Anyway it was back down the Kalistrata.

and the day was spent wandering from cafe to cafe around Yialos.

Looking at the residents.

Enjoying the lunchtime view.

We did have a little bit of exercise with a walk up to Ekklisia Evaggelistria 

and then back down for another drink, and the walk back up the Kalistrata.

Day 4 Round the Island on Poseidon.

Today was our trip around the island on Poseidon. Five stops for a swim and lunch under the trees on Sesklia island.

First though was the walk down the Kalistrata

On the boat we got the spot we were looking for on the front deck of the boat, and soon we were off.

First stop for a swim was at Maroni bay then on to stop at seal Cave. Still no sign of the seal. 

The third swim spot was at Diavates

The lunch stop on Sesklia was the only time the boat moored up. the food was as good as ever.

The final swim stop was at St Georges bay with it steep cliffs looming over the beach 

By the time we were back into Symi we were tired and well fed having had all we could eat and drink during the day.

After we had had a rest and slow walk up to Horio. The sky was showing signs of an approaching storm. 

As the night fell the lightening started flashing and the thunder rolling. No rain in Horio but rumours that there was some rain down the valley at Pedi.

Day 3 at St Nicks

This year the main aim for our holiday is relaxation. For many different reasons it has been a hard year and doing very little except reading and swimming was the aim for the day., and most of the holiday.

It was with this in mind we walked down to pedi and picked up the boat to St Nicks. As we almost the first to arrive we had pick of where to sit. Finding the lounger we had last year that gave enough shade for V, we spent most of the morning buried in books and sleeping.

After lunch at the taverna on the beach it was back to more of the same, until we got the last boat home.

As we had not done much exercise during the day we walked back up to the village and sat watching the sun go down before going out for some food.

We ended up at the music night at the Secret Garden. getting home just after midnight.

Day 2. First full day on Symi.

As always on the first day of a holiday we were up and out relatively early. The weather was beautiful, with a hot sun and a slight breeze.

This year V wanted to do more walking than last year, so we started by walking up through the lanes and steps that make up the 'streets' of Horio.

One of the targets for the trip was a walk up to the Castro with its church on the top. As no maps exist of Horio and all it's maze of paths, we were lucky to find arrows painted on the walls indicating the route to the Castro. We followed these and sooner than we expected we came out to the church on the top of the Castro.

We wandered around and were treated by a magnificent view of the harbour, made all the more special by the cruise ship, Club Med 2, lying off Nimborio.

After some time resting and taking pictures we set off back down to the meet up with the tour rep. As we came down we got a great view down the Pedi valley towards the sea.

After the meet up we went back to our apartment and packed the bag for the walk down to the beach at Pedi. As you come down to the pier you have the choice of turning left and right. Go left and after 100 yds there are about 6 sun brollies and some loungers these are free to use. If you go right the loungers and brollies are charged for.

After a swim and a lounge we walked back up to the apartment.

We had a rest and in the evening we walked down the Kalistrata to look for somewhere to eat.

It was a shot like this that I ran into the main problem regarding the compromise I had made with my choice of camera. With my 'big' camera I could increase the ISO gain and with its faster lenses I could have shot had held much longer than I did. But I knew this was the compromise I had made.

Day one Travelling

The trip to Symi is a bit of a slog.

We were collected by taxi at 6am to get us to Gatwick for a 7am check in.  We live an awkward distance from the airport. For one week it is cheaper to drive and pay for longterm parking. For two weeks it works out cheaper to get a taxi.

Anyway we arrived at 7am and were through checkin, security and passport control in about 20min. The flight with Enter Air was on time but the plane was very basic, full and with the most uncomfortable seats I have evert had on a flight. There is more comfort and space on Southeastern  Railways, North Kent commuter lines!

Anyway we arrived on time in Rhodes and got dropped of at the same cafe as last year, so food and a cold beer were in order.

The boat boarded on time and sailed off into the sunset towards Symi.

By the time Symi town came into view it was pitch dark, quickly off the boat and up to the apartments. A run to the supermarket for some much needed supplies and it was time for a drink at The Sunrise and then home to bed.

Holiday Preperations

To badly misquote the Chinese philosopher Laozi.

'Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with deciding what camera to take'

We are off to the Greek island of Symi for two weeks, to the same apartments we stayed in last summer. Then I took my Nikon D700 and five primes and as I was away for only a week no computer. I borrowed some extra memory cards so I was fine.

This year I am planning on taking this set of gear.

Very light! 

On the left is a Nikon D40x with a 18-55mm zoom the other camera is a D70 converted to shoot IR images. The other lens is a 55-200mm VR. 

I will also have my laptop so don't need a large number of cards. 

I loose some capabilities with this set up. The lenses are slow f3.5- f5.6 and the D40x is only usable up to 800iso at a push, also I won't have my fisheye lens. 

But I will gain in other areas. My primes top out at a focal length of 105mm but the telephoto zoom will give me 300mm(e) angle of view. It also has VR so easier to handhold.

The big saving is that it light. The D40x and 2 lenses weigh no more than the D700 and a lens. 

Both cameras have an the same size sensor so I have the same angle of view for both cameras. 

Also like last year I won't have a tripod, as all mine are too heavy and not designed for travel. but I am taking this.

A Manfrotto super clamp and a articulated arm I bought off the internet a couple of years ago. The clamp will attach to a rail or bar, and with the articulated arm I can position the camera easily. I tried attaching a ball head but that setup is very limited on how much levelling I can achieve. That said the arm is slightly less rigid but the lack of righty is outweighed by the extra articulation. This setup would not work well with a D700 due to all the extra weight. 

Also I am taking a different bag this year. Last year I had my Bellingham camera bag that I bought in 1984. This year I am taking a 2001 vintage Lowe Pro stealth reporter. Its better for the laptop and carries more when we get there.

Hafodunos

A quick few days up in Scotland with some very poor weather, so no pictures but after an overnight in North Wales we went to the open green day at Hafodunos house. near Llangernyw.

V's family used to farm in this area and the house owners were the landlords.

The house has gone downhill since its heyday with a fire that gutted it about 12 years ago.

The gardens are being worked on but the hose is still roofless