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The island of Symi is closer to Turkey than to mainland Greece that’s why its scenery reminded me of Asia Minor. It is a tiny island only 15 km long and 8 km wide, visited by day-tripper from Rodhos.
In the old days the island became prosperous through shipbuilding and sponge diving. The two-storey mansions along the harbour are reminders of these past days of glory. Over-harvesting of sponges and the introduction of larger ship, which couldn’t be made in the small natural harbour, caused the decline.
A few windmills remind of the days when wheat was brought across from Asia Minor to be milled on Symi. They now stand forlornly in the wind, inactive.
Symi is not the epitome of a Greek island. There are no toothpaste white houses, no sky-blue doorcasings or window frames. But I noted with pleasure that one taverna had the characacteristic blue-painted chairs. Greece’s unique trademark.
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