A Whistlestop Tour of Villages...

Today being Vicki's last full day with us we had timetabled in a tour of villages in the neighbourhood.  Vix and Trev are keen to move over here and we have suggested that renting initially might give them an opportunity to try areas before they settle.  We have been looking on the net for houses currently up for rent so we thought we would go and see some of them in the flesh.  

Vicki has experienced a whole range of weather conditions during her stay here starting with glorious sunshine and ending with gale force winds and rumours of snow!  What does one wear when one has to dash between buildings in order to go to bed I hear you ask - the answer is a Cagoule or some other waterproof as modelled by Vix last night.  A demonstration of sartorial elegance?  Sadly not!

Still in true British Stiff Upper Lip fashion we cope - fortunately not for much longer as the two buildings should be joined by the conservatory the week after next and I cannot wait - yes the concept of quirky living accommodation sounds OK but the reality is I am a Southern softy and prefer my home comforts.

Anyway back to today and we set off across the other side of the Polis Road and headed for Agios Demetrianos where Vix had seen a house advertised for rent.  Wow what a fantastic location even on a cold and blustery day like today.

There are some fantastic colours to the landscape particularly when the green fields are lit by spring sunshine.  It felt like you were standing on top of the world and looking down on a vast uninhabited world!

The house that we had seen advertised was stunning - set in open countryside on its own just a little way from the village itself.  It was a fine modern house with plenty of outside space and probably ticked a lot of the boxes for Vicki.  We are sure that there will be plenty of similar properties available as and when they are ready to make the move, in the meantime it was good to see the reality of what had been advertised.

Our travels took in Polemi which was very wet and lots of the fields were waterlogged. We then moved on to Letymbou - the latter seemed a really nice and friendly village and we were certainly made welcome when we stopped for a drink in Brooksey's Place where a warming cup of coffee is a very reasonable €1.  

We just about managed to get down the main road heading for Kallepia but only just as the rain had washed away a huge section of it pretty much like it has done on the way to Pittokopos.

We found the Monasteriou Taverna which I have seen advertised and would like to try but it is currently closed for the winter - we walked up to the viewing point nearby and took some photographs - you would never guess that it was cold would you - poor old Vix looks absolutely scrammed.

We continued on our voyage of discovery taking in Tsada and Mesoghi (Vix loves the sound of that village) and Mesa Chorio and across the road to Tremethousa and on to Tala where we decided to stop for lunch in the square at Voukani where Dad had celebrated his 80th birthday.

We have not seen Nicky and Andy the owners for ages so it was nice to see them and to sit in the warm taverna and enjoy a leisurely lunch.  Vix and I had probably the best home-made lasagne we have had anywhere and unfortunately having ploughed our way through the generous serving there was no room left for any of the wonderful home-made puddings they serve - such a shame as the ginger and lemon crunch is legendary!

Fed and watered we slowly made our way back via Kamares and Koili and Strombi, Kathikas, Pano and Kato Aroudes and Inea before John locked Vix in the car for some reason only realising when she tried to get out and the alarm went off!

It was been bloody cold this afternoon - a real batten down the hatch afternoon and we are all quite glad that we weren't going out to eat this evening which we had sort of factored in - this will have to wait till the next time.

We have been huddled round the wood burner and the cats have found a new lap to snuggle into - boy are those two going to miss Vix next week.

We have just sat through Atonement having very nearly called it a day after James McAvoy gets accused of rape as we found the beginning of the film and the flashbacks all a bit confusing.  We were glad we persevered because in the end it turned out to be a very interesting film if not a bit arty in the way it was shot.  

Trying not to go to bed too early tonight as it is Vix last night.  Trev has sniped us and his course finished successfully - he flies back from Larnaca tomorrow morning whilst Vix flies back to Bristol tomorrow night.