Day 4 Syros

Sept 2, 2023

The prawns last night were so good we decided to get more for tonight. The market is just minutes from our place so I popped out before we headed to the beach. The bus stop was by the port where a large ferry was coming in. 

We decided to visit Vari for our beach day - it was recommended by an English bloke we met yesterday. He now lives in Syros, so we figured we should follow his recommendation. We took the long way, a 40 minute bus ride to the other side of the island. Cheaper than a tour - 3.60 € for both of us. 

The water was divine, nothing beats salt water where you can float effortlessly, which is what we did until we decided to have lunch at the beach taverna. I must add that the people we have met in Syros are so nice and helpful and always with a smile. Prices are good, not much different than when we were here several years ago. Our bus ride back was just 10 minutes.

Most stores and markets close for a few hours in the afternoon and then reopen until 11. It is interesting to see the beehive of activity in the evening, many get really spiffed up, young and old. It is a time to enjoy the evening without the sun beating down on you, although it is still hot at 25 degrees. 

An observation -  STOP signs in Syros are merely a suggestion. Syros is virtually crime free. I have not see even one cop. Scooters and motorbikes are the most popular form of transportation. Speed limits are also a suggestion.

Now for some serendipity. Before dinner we went out for a walk and noticed that the streets were empty. Stores were all closed, but there was something happening in the square. It was the Syros Trail Challenge. Two days of running competitions which included the route we climbed yesterday to Ano Syros. The finish line was in the square where a newly wed couple emerged to applause and music. Runners were completing a 10 km run. We got caught up in the excitement and applauded the runners as they crossed the finish line.  First, second, third. To our amazement, the third place runner was our Airbnb host Dimitri. He was as surprised as we were to see each other. We were beyond excited as he looked at us with such surprise, along with his wife, to see us applauding him. We took some great pictures of them both. We were overjoyed.

As we walked back to our place I took pictures of the marble streets leading to our door. It was fitting that our last night in Syros was dinner on our Juliette balcony with Jesse Cook in the background. What a day!