Cyprus - Part 1 - Limassol

We took our summer holiday in the republic of Cyprus (the third largest island in the Mediterrean - and ) in July. And for Alex, I must inform you, Cyprus was a former British colony (wasn't everywhere??).

Cyprus considers Greece to be its mother country, but it is actually an idependent state (since 1960) separate from Greece and and geographically closer to the Middle East than to Greece. Thirty three percent or so of Northern Cyprus has been under Turkish military occupation for the last 36 years (following a coup d'état in 1974). The border crossings between the two territories were opened in 2003 and one can cross into the occupied territory (and view still-existing evidence of the more violent occupation by the clear bullet holes and scars in buildings, statues, etc.). But more on that when we visit Nicosia (also called Lefkosia), the capital of Cyprus.

The water around Cyprus is so clean, clear and oh so blue! Our room overlooked the ocean and the hotel's pool. The weather was hot and sunny, but with just the right breeze to make it very comfortable.

We stayed in the town of Limassol (also called Lemasol), which has a pretty little castle called, approprately, the Castle at Limassol. We stayed at a nice hotel on the beach right in the middle of a lively part of the town (no photos of our Karoke night, I'm afraid!)

So after spending a bit of time by the pool, on our first full day we decided to see "what was what" - which included a bus ride into the old town. The buses, I must say, were less than impressive compared to the buses in Holland ;) In any event, we spent a relaxing afternoon just strolling around the town, which is quite pretty and which is home to a nice little castle. And the first of many places we visited full of ancient ruins.

We also stopped for a spot of lunch in town (my first of many haloumi dishes.) I had a bit of a sunburn on my neck and shoulders. The restaurant owner happened to be sitting at the table next to ours, and he gave me some slices of cucumber peel and told us it was a great way to take the heat out of sunburn. He also cautioned us (imagine, as bronzed as we are?) to be very careful with the sun. How nice!

There will have to be two or three films to capture it all, and it takes me quite a while to compile even one - here is the first bit of our Cypriate adventure...