For the first time since 2019 I am on Symi in May. I had forgotten just how good the island is in this month. Very green still – the winter was wet, and even saw some snow for the first time in 20 years. Most of the bars, cafes, tavernas and shops are open, trying to make the most of this first “normal” tourist season in 3 years. Some have changed hands or rebranded of course. The beach tavernas aren’t open yet (except Nimborio, and Katsaras at Pedi) but most could open literally any day now – until they do there won’t be any taxi boats though these are ready at their moorings and being carefully polished up by the crews. The Poseidon has started her round the island trips, the Symi Bus is operating though not quite at full frequency yet.

Day trippers are arriving in quantity each day, mostly on the scheduled ferries and the Nikolaos X. More day boats should start running this week, and the ferries are back to normal- with Panagia Skiadeni doing one round trip each day, Sebeco two trips, Blue Star three times a week, and Stavros two times. What is different is that the Dodekanisos Seaways fast catamarans only call on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and then only northbound. They are providing a fast service from Rhodes to Symi on the three days that the Panagia Skiadeni goes via Panormitis.