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Kojak
Inveterate Visitor
United Kingdom
2419 Posts |
 Posted - 18 June 2007 : 12:23:49
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The official Symi guide I bought in 1981 described the Panormitis road as a motorway! Maybe the travel write up was done when the tax inspectors called!  |
Who loves ya baby! |
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Adriana
Persistent Visitor
1430 Posts |
Posted - 18 June 2007 : 14:42:14
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| Even in the early Nineties we always had a shovel and some planks in the car in case it was necessary to do some impromptu road repairs on the descent to Panormitis. The wash-aways could be quite spectacular in a heavy winter. |
The secret to survival is a well developed sense of the ridiculous. |
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Jerry
Symi Visitor
160 Posts |
Posted - 19 June 2007 : 12:57:15
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| September 1998 our first trip to Symi and we walked to the wine press. The road grader and diggers had scraped a dirt road through but no tarmac. Looked Just like many of the roads we now have in the UK!!!. |
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Adriana
Persistent Visitor
1430 Posts |
Posted - 19 June 2007 : 13:22:47
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| Was that before or after they put up all the crash barriers, Jerry? |
The secret to survival is a well developed sense of the ridiculous. |
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Jerry
Symi Visitor
160 Posts |
Posted - 21 June 2007 : 09:31:01
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| Before the crash barriers, we did have a lift in the back of a pickup truck but shut our eyes in places at some of the bends. |
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Kojak
Inveterate Visitor
United Kingdom
2419 Posts |
Posted - 21 June 2007 : 09:45:36
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We've done a regular truck trip down to Panormitis. In the early years the journey was interesting, dodging potholes, particularly on the descent into Panormitis. No-one fell off and no lives were lost. I remember going to the festival at Megalo Sotiris with Michaelis Meltemi on his scooter. We met a bulldozer on the way raising clouds of red dust. I had a white T shirt and shorts on and emerged pink at the other end!  |
Who loves ya baby! |
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Adriana
Persistent Visitor
1430 Posts |
Posted - 21 June 2007 : 09:51:59
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Yes those pick up trucks were virtually the only vehicles on the island for quite a long time. I have variously travelled with bales of hay, big blocks of ice (en route from ice factory to a monastery name day), a large and very ornate wardrobe complete with Byzantine eagles and a miscellany of bleating livestock. 
Now its tarmac, taxis and air conditioned coaches... |
The secret to survival is a well developed sense of the ridiculous. |
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Jerry
Symi Visitor
160 Posts |
Posted - 21 June 2007 : 12:13:48
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| We can't turn the clock back and progress must happen, but the happy memories of those days will remain. |
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Adriana
Persistent Visitor
1430 Posts |
Posted - 21 June 2007 : 12:30:10
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| I know, Jerry, I know - it's just a pity that progress is so often bland! A trip to Panormitis used to be an adventure - particularly on our tandem bicycle when it was still a dirt road - whereas now it has become almost suburban! |
The secret to survival is a well developed sense of the ridiculous. |
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Sapphire
Regular Visitor
United Kingdom
57 Posts |
Posted - 21 June 2007 : 15:04:41
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| Air conditioned coaches? Tell me that's not true ... |
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Adriana
Persistent Visitor
1430 Posts |
Posted - 21 June 2007 : 15:13:21
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Well, there's the blue Panormitis bus and the white Kalodoukas coach...
The days of clinging to the back of a pickup truck, bouncing along hanging on to the sunhat with one hand and the truck with the other are just a distant memeory |
The secret to survival is a well developed sense of the ridiculous. |
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Sapphire
Regular Visitor
United Kingdom
57 Posts |
Posted - 21 June 2007 : 15:19:22
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It's obviously far too long since I last visited Symi (1992 I think) ... that's made me feel very old now :-(
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Jerry
Symi Visitor
160 Posts |
Posted - 22 June 2007 : 09:56:23
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| Adriana, as you say, progress can be bland, with air-con on the new bus does this mean the top windows don't open?, if not how will we be able to hang on at the bends in the road. How many times has it been the only way to stay on your feet when stood with 15 or more others in the gangway. |
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Kojak
Inveterate Visitor
United Kingdom
2419 Posts |
Posted - 22 June 2007 : 10:20:59
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| Ah... nostalgia's not what it used to be... I still prefer bouncing around alfresco on the back of a truck to sitting in air-conditioned comfort on a strict timetable |
Who loves ya baby! |
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Adriana
Persistent Visitor
1430 Posts |
Posted - 22 June 2007 : 10:46:26
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The windows don't open at all, Jerry, so everyone delays boarding for as long as possible as obviously the air conditioning only works when the bus is underway.
The clue to departure is when the driver puts out his cigarette and climbs aboard, at which point passengers appear from every patch of shade around and about, deposit their ice cream wrappings in the bin and board the bus. |
The secret to survival is a well developed sense of the ridiculous. |
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Topic |
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Symi in the press again.
