Don't say you weren't warned!
By waddy
26 comments
The March winds saw the OH and myself jetting off to warmer climes. Once again we decided to go to Cyprus, having been there for the first time last November and liking it so much, we thought we’d see what the south east of the island was like, after what should have been their winter. As it turned out, they had not had much rainfall at all, in fact like so many other part of Europe, their Winter had been exceptionally mild and dry. I only wish we could have said the same for large swathes of the UK.
We stayed in a small resort, about an hours drive from Larnaca. As you can see, there was a lovely little harbour. The tiny church stood on by its self looking out to sea. It was so immaculate you would have thought it was brand new, in fact many years the local fishermen have visited it, before going out to sea to fish.
One of our favourite spots is a peninsular named Cape Geko, the water here is so clear it’s easy to see the sea bed. I also found the remains of this little creature. It’s probably the nearest I’ll get to the real thing.
The Troodos mountains are totally awesome in their terrain, but the scares left by mining for copper and asbestos in the past have left terrible scares. The Cyprus forestry commision are in the middle of a scheme to replant thousands of trees in an effort to reclaim the land.
Yet even here, nature manages to produce beauty.
Many people who may have heard of Ayia Napa may only know it as a town of bars, nightclubs and restaurants. But there is a quieter side to the town
These are nearby sea caves. They ran all along this part of the coastline. Ever the romantic, I wondered if smugglers may have used them in time gone by
While we enjoyed the warm sunshine, others had to work, often in backbreaking jobs. Here they are potato picking.
This was a rather endearing group of goats and sheep all with their young and an equal mixture of crossbreed dogs. They were all being driven across the road to new grazing by a very smiley goatherd. If only I’d managed to get a picture of him too!
This next group of pictures are in no particular order, but just thought you might be interested.
These three are pictures of a little church perched high on a hillside. The views from it were spectacular, but the strangest thing was the memorial bushes and trees. All around the church, the bushes and trees were covered in ribbons, scraps af lace…in fact anything which would tie to the tree and carry a message of remembrance to a loved one.
We lost count of the mile after mile of Mimosa we saw blooming as travelled around. It’s bright yellow flowers were a fantastic sight .
Finally, this ‘tree’ was growing next to a sea front cafe, where we stopped for a coffee. It had both buds, bunches of seeds and new flowers. Has anyone got any idea what it might be?
That’s all folks. Thanks for looking I hope you found something of interest.
17 Apr, 2014
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Comments
Lovely to see your pictures. You've brought back some very happy memories of the couple of years I spent in Cyprus with the army. (And where I met my OH).
But I haven't been back to the island since I left in 1980. I like to remember it the way it was and I think if I went there now I'd be disappointed because of the amount of commercialism.
17 Apr, 2014
Costas, when I went to Cyprus for the first time I read the book 'Bitter Lemons of Cyprus' by Lawrence Durrell. He is a famous British writer who was living there at the time of the start of the Turkish armed conflict. It was a heartbreaking read in many ways, but I felt I had to read it to understand what happened there and the history of the conflict. I recommend it to anyone else who wants to be better informed.
17 Apr, 2014
Such lovely photo's Julia..sadly,we didn't hire a car to see much of the out of the way places..and I agree about Ayia napa..it was lovely..in the daytime,I wouldn't have wanted to be with the clubbers ! I remember seeing Pelicans by the Harbour,but I'm going back 15 years ago..
Spectacular views of the sea and ruggedness all around,and that Mimosa is beautiful....thanks for sharing :o)
17 Apr, 2014
I like Cyprus. They drive on the left and the roads are quiet.
17 Apr, 2014
Fantastic blog and pictures the scenery is amazing so diverse, thanks for showing us its going on my wish list now ;0))
17 Apr, 2014
Just how long is this list of yours now,Carole ? :o)) x
17 Apr, 2014
What a lovely lot of sunny pictures. I loved the placard "We repairs all motels of watches..."
The rock formations on the beach are amazing.
17 Apr, 2014
Getting longer by the minute Sandra, but one can dream can't they;0)))
17 Apr, 2014
Nobody recognise the purple plant? The flower does look like Clematis flammula...but I have no idea what it is and was hoping someone would know!
18 Apr, 2014
Lovely blog Waddy - thanks for sharing your photos. Love that clear water and the seahorse . . . were you snorkelling when you found him? Great capture of the lizard too!
The flower looks like a Clematis, but the branches are more like a Wisteria - leaves are wrong though.
18 Apr, 2014
Costa; Yes we did go to the 'Ghost' town Varosha. I can't tell you how sad it made me feel. I of course, didn't know which was your house. So glad you've found peace and happiness in the UK.
18 Apr, 2014
Digginfit; Glad I helped with the memories. I think you'd be surprised to find there are lots of unspoilt areas in Cyprus. Perhaps it's time you went back to have another look.
18 Apr, 2014
Cottagekaren; I've not come across this book, I shall have to try and get a copy. I've got a 'History of Cyprus' but it's rather heavy reading, in both ways!
18 Apr, 2014
Lawrence Durrell is quite 'heavy' reading too, in some ways, Waddy, but it helps when you're familiar with the place he's writing about. I loved reading about his family's life in Corfu (when all four were young and living with their mother), and it was exciting to see The White House where they lived on the NE coast, and the tiny chapel on the rocks!
19 Apr, 2014
Bloomer; You're very welcome. We also saw the pelicans and some Flamingos, but unfortunately it was the one and only time I didn't have my camera with me :(
19 Apr, 2014
Bulbaholic; It's the main reason the OH is happy to hire a car while we're there. It means we get to see much than we would otherwise.
19 Apr, 2014
Pansypotter; Do that, you'll not be disappointed I'm sure.
19 Apr, 2014
Steragram; Yes, it made both of us laugh. It just goes to show how things can go wrong in translation. We were surprised no one had pointed out the error to them.
19 Apr, 2014
Sheilabub; Snorkeling? I wish! No it was just washed up onto the beach I'm afraid. The lizard stayed right where he was and almost posed for us.
I also thought it looked very much like a Wisteria but it was more like a tree than a climber. I was hoping Costas might recognise it.
Now I really must try and locate that book...
19 Apr, 2014
Was it not warm enough for snorkelling? One of my favourite activities - in warm water - but haven't been anywhere suitable for years . . .
If you're happy using Amazon, you can buy a copy of Bitter Lemons for one penny (plus postage of course)!
19 Apr, 2014
Wonderful blog. Thank you.
The flowers on your "mystery" tree remind me of Petrea volubilis. It is a vine but often grown as a small tree. Sort of like wisteria.
19 Apr, 2014
Sheilabub; Yes it was, we actually saw one or two people doing so. Sorry to say, I'm not a very good swimmer, I lack confidence even in a swimming pool, let alone the sea!
I'll take a look at Amazon..thank you.
20 Apr, 2014
Klahanie; Thank you, that's very kind of you. Would the Petrea Volubilis have had seed pods, buds and open flowers as well as newly opened leaves all at the same time?
20 Apr, 2014
Klahanie; I've just Googled this...and it looks like you could well be right...aren't you clever?
20 Apr, 2014
I know some tropical plants because we spend our winters in Mexico. I admired the Petrea Volubilis there and your picture reminded me of it.
Happy Easter.
20 Apr, 2014
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Waddy. You probably saw the ghost town of Famagusta from where you stayed and why not even my house. It's been empty since 1974 and wonder if there is anything left there, apart from mice and rats. Really magical pictures, but personally I prefer this peaceful, pleasant and green land. Different people, different experiences.
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