Zoë Bowyer

On our first day we went to Latchi and to Aphrodite’s Baths (where the Goddess refreshed her virginity). We contemplated the Akamas Peninsula dirt tracks, but my fear of plunging over cliffs got the better of me and we ventured no further in that direction. Instead we drove into the mountains.

The next day was my birthday and we headed for the hills again. We took what we thought would be a good road to Platres. The road started and ended well (via pleasant scenery), but the middle was a dusty dirt track. We stopped by the ‘largest rock in Cyprus’ to buy bottles of water. The view from the café was splendid, but it was not the view that caught my eye but the glass display case with different kinds of cake inside! We stayed for delicious, and much needed, cool, fresh lemonade. I had a yummy wedge of coconut cake and D had orange cake.

We eventually arrived in Platres. In Cleopatra’s Gift Shop I window shopped and D chatted to the owner. She enjoyed meeting different people, chatting and getting names in her visitors book. The shop had a crazy mix of items: lace, shoes, vintage clothes, yarn, religious icons, souvenirs and much more. She taught D a few Greek words which he promptly forgot. Then we travelled onwards to Kykkos Monastery which we had heard was a very fancy and beautiful place. We arrived late in the day and felt like we were intruding in the monks’ home. The result was that we didn’t realise that we had missed out on the main event (we didn’t realise until late in the week when we saw a postcard of an elaborately decorated church).

The return journey was when I drove over the snake with this beast of a jeep.

Most of the rest of the week was spent exploring archaeology. Who would have thought that there could be such a thing as too much archaeology? 3 Days later and we were exhausted! It was all very impressive.

Of course D went diving! He even took me with him when he dove the Zenobia! All I will say is that it was a very expensive lunch for me.

That’s all for now folks!

There’s a new blog on the scene! Say ‘hi’ to Ganching, but whatever you do, do not follow the recipe for traybakes!