As we were stranded in a dark, cold, rainy Great Britain, we decide to take a holiday in Cyprus. Thomas Cook was offering a one week package for 128 pounds including hotel and airfare.

Now Cyprus does not spring to the top of my list of the most exciting and exotic places to visit, but I was hoping for some sunny and temperate weather. We flew into Paphos, which is on the southwest side of the island. From there e rented a car and drove to Limasol.

Arrival at Paphos

Well, when we arrived, it was sunny. It was also cloudy and rainy as you can see. Unfortunately, cloudy and rainy predominated for the first two days.

Limasol

Our hotel in Limasol. It was located in the 'tourist area' in the west end of town. The pool was surrounded by orange and lemon trees.

Orchids grow naturally in Cyprus. (As do the sunsets)

Kourion

On the south coast, east of Limaso, high on bluff overlooking the ocean is an archological site, in a state of partial reconstruction.

The site is protected by a tent-like structure with a massive wooden frame.

The outdoor theater has been restored.

Floor mosaic, and remains of a Roman hypocaust

On the top of the bluff, all of the trees have brances on the south side of the trunk, but then they all bend to the north, blown bback by the constant winds. But on the north side of the site, in the shelter of a stone wall, you can find thousands of these wildflowers.

Sanctuary of Apollon Yaris.

Just west of Kourion is the Sanctuary of Apollon Yaris. This is a prime tourist bus destination.

The view to the west.

Fluted Corinthian Column, and detail

The beach at sunset

The coast, west of the Sanctuary.

Fred and Vivian

Here there is no sand at the beach

Moonrise

Gustavo, Vinicius, and Vivian

Gustavo and Vinicius.

Sunday market in Limasol.

The Troodos Mountains

We also drove up to the Troodos mountains, where we found snow!

Fred and Vivian, and Gustavo, Vinicius, Vivian

The Forrest Hotel in Pano Platres, in the foothills of the Troodos mountains.

Gustavo, Vinicius, Vivian.

Governors Beach

Just west of Limasol, there is a small patch of undeveloped coast called Governor's Beach.

Vivian

It features lovely limestone formations.

Short trip to the northwest coast

Fred, vivian, Vinicius, and Gustavo with our rental car. This was actually our second car. We hadn't been out on the road for more than 4 hours, when an old Cypriot, ran his pickup into the back end of our first car. Near the coast, this vegatation (or lack thereof) is typical.

Coral Bay and the church at Agios Georgios

Seaside cave near Agios Georgios.

View from a nearby cave, and the prickly pear catctus about to bloom, on the bluff above the cave.

Harbor at Agios Georgios.

Lakki on the nortwest coast near the bath of Aphrodite.

Vinicius, Gustavo, and Vivian by the bath of Aphrodite, and Vivian and Vinicius returning to the car.

Stavrovouni

Stavrovouni, the hilltop monastary to the west of Larnaka.

When you drive up to the top of the mountain, there is a parking lot with a gatehouse to control access to the monastary proper. Only male pilgrims are allowed beyond the doors. On the other hand, there is this small chapel on the right, where everyone can visit.

Views from the monastary, east to Larnaka, and north to the mountains in Turkish controled Cyprus.

Cape Greko

On the southeast corner of the island is Cape Greko. I features a park, a small military training camp, a set of radio transmission towers, and a photogenic coastline.

Transmission towers, and view to the northwest

Desert plant life, Cape Greko.

The coast

Old town Limasol

Old town Limasol, where the shops carry hand-made lace and the Cypriots stand on the street, drink coffee and shout good natured insults at each other.

Seamtress and souvenir shop

Old Town Limasol

Our first meal in a restaurant. In this case in the 'Cous Cous Nest'. The owner is an ex-mercenary, ex-merchant marine, who talked to us all throughout he meal. Between his accent and the loud 'background' music, we couldn't undertand about 95% of his monologue. But we did learn that he has one son who was working at the World Trade Center in New York, and who, quite fortunately was transferred to San Francisco threee days before 9/11. His youngest son is a special forces soldier who just finished a tour of duty in Iraq, with all limbs intact and no extra holes. The boy was offered a bonus to return, but his old man was emphatic with him over the phone about staying out of Iraq now that his tour of duty was finished.

Shoe and dry goods stores

The last supper at a restaurant in the Old Town.

left Restaraunt at the open market, old town Limasol.

Journeys end, Manchester to Leeds aboard the Peninne Express

Journey's end, the train from Manchester to Leeds, Vivian and Fred

Gustavo and Vinicius, on their (sic) last legs.