We Land in Larnaca

Are we ready?

Pulling out of our village in Greece after living there for six months meant lots of organization.  Largely, it consisted of the disposal of all the stuff we think we need to manage our daily existence but that we also have in duplicate at home. It also meant a few teary good-byes to friends we have made despite the language barrier.  

It was a long and tiring few days of driving, ferry rides, and negotiating the metropolis of Rome before we flew to the sunny and very welcome climes of Cyprus.   

the forest of the Gargano, Italy

The Coliseum, Rome

Our hotel is hardly a Four Seasons but it is on the seafront and overlooks the promenade and the beach. Right in the town of Larnaca there is a wide expanse of clean sandy beach and the custom here is to rent the sun-cots and umbrellas and set yourself up for the day. We just looked down on them from our fourth floor balcony while we put the bikes together.  

the beachfront at Larnaca

We notice a very different tourist population here than there was in the south of France or Italy. Here, there are many Russians, both as visitors and as part of the work force. In addition many Middle Eastern countries are represented and there is a strong presence of Africans. Of course the Brits exist in great numbers and the hospitality industry caters to them. Luckily we have found a great little Cypriot lunch restaurant where, today, we had a dish of fresh favas and artichokes for lunch. DELICIOUS!  And as a bonus, it is right opposite Aghios Lazarus church, one of the main attractions of the town. 

Aghios Lazarus church

Aghjios Lazarus church

 This afternoon on our walk about, we discovered that stores and the tourist office are closed on Wednesday afternoons, but we did find a bakery and a coffee house for locals on one of the back streets. These latter two we will visit tomorrow. I do like the fact that most of the locals speak very good English which is a relief as I certainly don’t catch many of the Greek words in the local dialect.

 My mirror and my flag are now installed à la Cypriot – on the right side of my bicycle. One of the first challenges will be changing my mindset to riding alongside cars that drive on the opposite side of the road to what I am used to.  Once when I drove my father’s car in Scotland, he told me to always keep myself as the driver in the middle of the road. That helped!  I am telling myself to always keep my mirror and flag toward the middle of the road in Cyprus. Safety first as my daughter preaches.

And where are we going? Around the whole island? -- well at least the Greek area and we are hitting the same place several times as we criss-cross the island.

Cyprus and our bike routes - we visit places several times and we stick to the Greek area

So we are beginning our new adventure and although Greek Orthodox Easter is not until the 15^th of April here, we wish you all a very Happy Easter this week-end with lots of chocolate and many hugs from little ones.