Clean Monday

 So today is a holiday day, Clean Monday or Pure Monday. It’s meant to be a day of fasting. I decided not to get the car today, but on Tuesday. The island is quite small and I think two days in the car will be enough. I plan to visit the island of Tinos as an extra island near the end of the week, as it’s very close to Syros. 

First I visited the Theatre that I saw was open last night. It’s called the Apollon and was built between 1862-4. A lot of the Italian style buildings were put up then, very often the date will be part of the metal balcony design. It was used by the Italian then German guard as a cinema in World War Two. It then had a few lean years and was restored in the 1900’s. There was a small exhibition inside, but the highlight was the ceiling with various composers depicted.


I am glad I did not bring my coat with me today, as it was nineteen degrees according to a notice board and  shorts would have been handy too. My next port of call was to find the vantage point for a photo of St Nicolas from the sea. In my apartment is a photo showing the shot. There were several ducks here, just like the two on Sifnos. I have noticed a lot more dogs also, they seem to be taken for walks, not just chained up as in other places. As this place is still quite small, you can often see someone you saw earlier or the day before.


I then had an early lunch at a cafe on Miaouli Square. A leaflet handed out at the theatre reminded me of the Industrial museum, but of course it was closed. It is an interesting looking building, at the back in the car park were  old rusting machines and a very sad looking paddle wheel off a ship that ended up wrecking itself, but luckily with no casualties. It is hidden behind the olive tree here.


I did see some kites being sold on my travels but with overhead power lines, the town would not be a safe place to fly them. I also saw the entrance to the ship yard which started up in 1861. I have noticed several water stations where “pure” water is sold, you bring your own jerry can or similar, I was told not to drink the water out of the tap? On my way back from the closed museum, I saw this building with a very intricate bird design balcony that I liked.



 

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