Sunny Easter Sunday on Syros

We woke this morning to the glorious sound of church bells ringing, which reminded us that although it’s not yet Easter here, for us, today, those bells say “HE IS RISEN!!” Hallelujah! It’s Easter Sunday in Australia, and therefore it’s Easter Sunday for us. Several times throughout the morning we heard the bells, and each time it reminded us that Jesus is alive, and we are thankful.

A little later we set off, heading south-west around the harbour towards the Neapoli and Karnagio areas, the aim being to visit the Industrial Museum of Syros, but to go via the marina because one of us loves boats and anything maritime.

In the end we walked further than we needed to go and had to turn around and go back the way we came, but we eventually managed to locate the museum without too much drama. The very friendly man behind the desk, who identified himself as Achilles, asked us where we were from, and then proceeded, as many have done before him, to be delighted that we were from Australia. So delighted, in fact, that he refused to charge us admission. How nice!

The museum is small - and I’m all for small museums - but it’s interesting, although many of the displays lack information in English. It hosts a variety of displays of tools, equipment and machinery of the industrial era, from loukoumi workshops, to textile, tanning, printing, and glass craftsmanship, as well as the electric car constructed by Enfield 8000 and produced in Syros in the 1970s.

Pumping engine 

Manual-operated cylindrical press for the making of sugar candies 

Absolutely no idea, it was all Greek to me!

Weaving loom.............

.......... and various yarns, spools and shuttles.

Mechanical yarn-winding machine from the Zisimatos textile factory

Enfield 8000 electric car

Paddle wheel from the steamer Patris, lost off the island of Kea in 1868 

Having seen all that we wanted to see in the museum, and having been swamped by hordes of school students for whom the museum was obviously part of their excursion to Syros, we wandered back into town, to visit the Apollon Theatre, which has limited opening hours. The theatre was built in 1864, modelled on the Scala Di Milano opera house, which I’ve never seen, but the Apollon is a pretty little theatre. For 2 euros each we could wander in and have a look, climb to the top, pop into some of the boxes to see what the elite would see through their theatre glasses. The theatre is currently staging a Noel Coward play but the flyers are, of course, in Greek. I asked at the desk to find out the name of the play, to which the response was “My wife goes”. Not being a Noel Coward officionado, I have no idea which play that might be.

We chose “street food” for lunch today, and watched as our gyros was prepared on the griddle in front of us - calamari for me, pork for hubby, with all the trimmings.

The wind was lighter today, the sun was shining, so we decided to head to the Vaporia area, in particular Asteria Beach. Not so much a beach really, but a series of concrete bathing platforms extending out into the sea. Above the platforms there are some lovely houses built into the cliff face. The water was incredibly clear and aqua and blue, and if it hadn’t been for the temperature and the light wind, it would have been sooooo tempting to get in. Some mad Englishmen were doing just that, as well as a couple of mad ducks. We sat on a platform in the sun for a while, listening to the waves lapping against the sides. It was a lovely relaxing time.

And of course being over that side of town, there was a lovely view of Agios Nikolaos from the beach area.

A little further along, someone has built a sweet haven for the local cats, complete with scratching post, bowls for food and water, several little raised beds, and shelter from the rain. A few cats were making the most of it. Up the side of the cliffs there are occasional cat “cafes”, areas of garden with little raised platforms for cats to sit in the sun. Cats are quite a thing here on the islands, as well as on the mainland, and in Turkey and Israel. The locals feed them, but don’t own them. They are everywhere, some looking quite healthy, others not so much. They tend to be wary of people, which surprised me a little, given that they live in such populated areas. Our Betzavta hosts in Israel told us that people are happy to have the cats around, as they keep the rat population in check!

Time to head back to our hotel for our habitual afternoon relaxaton time, watching the harbour from our balcony - another ferry in, another ferry out - and contemplating our next meal. What is it that’s just so relaxing about watching the ocean?

Turns out dinner was more about enjoying our last lovely evening overlooking the harbour in Hermoupolis, than the food itself, although that was pleasant enough. Tomorrow afternoon we head back to Athens on the ferry after our lovely few days on Syros.

Of course, dinner wouldn’t have been complete without one last visit to our favourite patisserie!