12.04.2016 – ON THE WAY TO PAPHOS

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IN THE MORNING, STILL VERY FULL AFTER LAST NIGHT TOO BIG MEAL, WE HAD ONLY A QUICK CUP OF TEA AND OFF WE WENT.

PAPHOS IS ONLY ABOUT 134 km FROM LARNACA. THIS IS A CONVENIENT LOCATION, WHICH ALLOWS TO VISIT MANY INTERESTING HISTORIC PLACES ON THE WAY AND QUICKLY RETURN TO THE POINT OF DEPARTURE ON THE SAME DAY.

THE FIRST PLACE WE VISITED WAS KHIROKITIA, A NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT BUILT IN 6000 BC. INTERESTING LOOKING HOUSES MADE OF STONE AND CLAY BUILT ON A CIRCULAR FLOOR PLAN. THE ROOFS ARE FAIRLY FLAT FORMED IN A CONICAL SHAPE. STREETS ARE BETWEEN THEM. THE SETTLEMENT IS QUITE LARGE AND IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST AN HOUR TO WALK THROUGH IT ALL.

WE RETURNED TO OUR CAR. A BAKERY IS SITUATED NEXT TO THE PARKING LOT, AND IT IS NOT YOUR ORDINARY BAKERY. A SELECTION OF BREADS, BUNS AND CAKES, SWEET AND SAVOURY IS FOR SALE; HOWEVER ONE CAN ALSO SIT THERE AND EAT ANY OF THOSE YUMMY THINGS, AND GET A CUP OF COFFEE AS WELL. WE ORDERED BREAD WITH OLIVES, CHEESECAKE AND SOME BUNS. EVERYTHING FRESH, SMELLING BEAUTIFULLY AND REALLY TASTY.

THE NEXT STOP WAS IN  THE FAMOUS KOURION, WHICH IS CONSIDERED AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN THIS AREA. FIRST OF ALL WE STOPPED IN THE SANCTUARY OF APOLLO HYLATES, THE CITY’S PATRON. THERE IS AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK WITH EXCAVATION STILL IN PROGRESS. WE WALKED ALONG REMNANTS OF HOMES, PLACES OF WORSHIP, GYMNASIUMS – ANTIQUE FITNESS CLUBS. WE COMPARED MAPS IN OUR GUIDEBOOK WITH THE MAP OF THIS AREA. ABOUT ONE KILOMETRE FURTHER IS THE ANCIENT STADIUM.

AT SOME POINT IT STARTS TO RAIN. WOOOW…  IT WAS POURING! PIETRUSZKA BRAVELY RUNS TO A SMALL CHURCH, AGIOS ERMOGENIS, FOR COVER. WAITING, AS THE DOWNPOUR DID NOT LAST VERY LONG, AFTER A FEW MINUTES WE ALSO WERE ENTERING THE CHURCH.

WEATHER WAS STILL UNCERTAIN AND EVERYBODY WAS KEEN TO HAVE A DRINK.

WE DROVE TO A BEAUTIFUL STONY BEACH AND ENTERED A LARGE RESTAURANT – KOURION BEACH CAFÉ RESTAURANT WITH A GREAT VIEW TO BIG WAVES PUMMELLING THE BEACH.

KOURION WAS THE NEXT ATTRACTION ON OUR LIST. THE ANCIENT CITY-KINGDOM DATES FROM 5500 – 3900 BC. WE ADMIRED A THEATRE BUILT IN AN ARCHITECTURAL ARRANGEMENT TYPICAL THROUGHOUT THEATRES OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN; LATER WE VISITED NYMPHAEUM, BASILICA, HOMES OF EUSTOLIOS, ACHILLES AND THE GLADIATORS – ALL ADORNED WITH BEAUTIFUL MOSAICS.

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DRIVING INTO PATHOS. FIRST OF ALL WE TRY TO FIND A SHOP TO BUY SOME MINERAL WATER AND PERHAPS A CYPRUS – GROWN WINE. WE FALL ON A LARGE SHOP – A SUPERMARKET CALLED ALPHA MEGA AND PROCEED WITH SHOPPING.

QUITE OBVIOUSLY, EACH OF US HAS DIFFERENT PREFERENCES. A VARIETY OF OLIVES AND WINE WERE ACCEPTED BY ALL. PIERTUSZKA AND I SELECTED ONE OF THE GREEK SPECIALITIES, THE TARAMASALATA (A PINK PASTE MADE OF SALTED AND CURED FISH ROE OF MIXED WITH BREAD CRUMBS). WE TAKE A FEW MORE THINGS INCLUDING A HARD, YELLOW „COCONUT CHEESE” – IGNORING WHAT THIS MEANS AND HOW IT TASTES.

OUR HOTEL PYRAMOS MADE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION. THE ROOMS ARE CLEAN. EACH ONE IS EQUIPPED WITH A WARDROBE, A TABLE, A BEDSIDE TABLE AND A STAND FOR LUGGAGE. TINY BATHROOM. BALCONY SIZE-WISE SIMILAR TO OUR BALCONY IN POLAND. BALCONY IN RUDY’S PLACE MUCH BIGGER. THE PRICE WAS €20 PER ROOM PER NIGHT INCLUDING BREAKFAST.

WE UNPACK OUR STUFF AND FEELING SUDDENLY VERY HUNGRY, START SAMPLING ALL PRODUCTS WE JUST BOUGHT IN THE SUPERMARKET. AFTER A WHILE WE COME BACK TO OUR SENSES AND LEAVE FOR THE TOWN.

PAPHOS IS LOVELY. LOW HIGHT BUILDINGS, STYLISH HOMES, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND LOTS OF GREENERY.

WE START OUR TOUR OF THE BEST ESTABLISHMENTS OF  THE CITY – ACCORDING TO THE LP GUIDE – WITH A DINNER IN HONDROS, THE OLDEST RESTAURANT IN PAPHOS.

WE ORDER A GREEK SPECIALITY – KLEFTIKO, WHICH CONSISTS OF MEAT WITH VEGETABLES BAKED IN PASTRY, SERVED WITH OCTOPUS, CHEESE AND WINE. A LEGEND SAYS THAT THE GREEK FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND MOUNTAIN PEOPLE HIDING IN THE MOUNTAINS WERE STEALING SHEEP AND GOATS, THEN COOKED THEM SLOWLY WRAPPED IN LEAVES DEEP IN THE GROUND, TO PREVENT ANY SMOKE COMING OUT TO UNCOVER THEIR HIDEOUTS. A DIRECT TRANSLATION OF THE NAME MEAN STOLEN MEAT!

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► SNAPSHOTS ◀︎

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