July 15th...

So our whole clan stayed at Clampettsvilla and Kaye and Richard had the dubious pleasure of being the first guests to sleep on the sofa bed.  Actually they said it was very comfortable - the only problem was that they were kept company by Charlie who periodically took it upon himself to find my sister's armpit and give it a suckle!

After breakfast we said goodbye to Mum and Dad who went back to Emba and Kaye and Richard stayed on and decided that they would stay an extra night with us as we had nothing planned and so we decided to have a chill out day at the beach followed by a swim chez nous, wash and brush up before venturing down into the village for a cocktail at the hotel or a G&T in Alkisti's and then a fish bbq to round off the day.  We decided to make for the beach near Yiallos because we had planned to have a spot of lunch there and we would be in close proximity to some decent toilets!

We took all the gear with us including our Dubai hammocks that roll up and fit into a carry bag (portable if you have decent muscles!!).  Kaye was so impressed that we have agreed that I will locate some or something similar and that can be their birthday and Christmas presents for this year. 

I know you can get them because Trevor and Vicki saw ours and bought some for themselves before they came out.  Whenever we take them on the beach someone stops us and asks us where we got them from! (the sunbeds not Trevor and Vicki).

There was quite a refreshing breeze on the beach which made it quite deceiving sitting there and so we probably stayed out in the sun more than we should have done.  John was sensible and kept a t-shirt on at all times even when he was swimming.  Richard did not and suffered for it later.  The sea was like a bath and there was plenty to look at with the snorkels.  John and I took a mooch along the beach towards the harbour to take a look at all the work they have been doing - it is beginning to look really smart and nice to see a bit of grass here and there.  It looks like they are stopping people from parking directly on the beach too which is a good thing.

We came off the beach and went into Yiallos for lunch opting for salad and dips and pittas rather than anything too heavy.  At the back of the restaurant the Yiayia's had been roped in for a mammoth seftalia-making session.  I went and spoke to them to see what their recipe was and to ask them if I could take their photograph - I am not sure they fully divulged the recipe - it has probably been handed down through generations but they were more than happy to have their photograph taken.

John was over the moon because whilst we were sat having lunch he met Derrick Lancaster who was doing the rounds of the bars and cafes in Latchi promoting the beers from the newly opened Aphrodite's Rock Brewery.  After a three year struggle with the authorities the brewery is now up and running and John likes a drop of real ale so Derrick provided him with a sample of the Stratford Gold together with a glass and all the literature and an invitation to visit the bewery the following day to sample the other beers and have a tour of the brewing facilities.

After a snooze, another swim and a dry off we packed up and nipped into Paps in Polis to pick up some rather lovely looking Sea Bream for tea.  At home whilst people swam, I prepared the fish - we nearly had a major incident because I stuff the fish with herbs and lemon and butter and a little fruit juice then wrap in greaseproof paper and then double wrap in foil so that they don't overcook and dry out.  What John had bought as tin foil turned out to be cling film and so we had borrow some tin foil from a neighbour!

We went off to the hotel for drinkies.  John and Richard opted for a straight forward G&T but Kaye and I opted for cocktails - Kaye a Mojito and me a Long Island Iced Tea (which doesn't have any tea in it at all!!!).  They were ably prepared by Panayiotis and we thoroughly enjoyed them.  There is no denying that the surroundings are lovely and with the discount card the price of cocktails is fairly reasonable compared to similar establishments.

On the terrace of the hotel we were treated to a spectacular sunset as the sun slipped down behind the mountains and the rays were caught in the low lying cloud.  As I took a photograph I spoke to an elderly Cypriot man from Limassol who said that he loved to come up to Droushia in the summer because it was beautiful and the climate so much better - he is right although I doubt he would be so enthusiastic in the winter!

After stopping for a G&T at Christos's we made it home where john cooked the fish to perfection and we ate it with a simple salad and jacket potatoes.  Really it was a bit late to be eating and quite some time and alcohol had passed since our light lunch at Yiallos so we retired to bed fairly soon afterwards which was probably not the best idea.