I cannot see who individually reads this blog but I can gather some statistics and since I began there have been over 180,000 page views from people spread across the globe from Andorra to Venezuela and of those readers we have made some great friends (aka Stalkers!). The blog allows us to reach out to wider audience and share our experiences. It can be a bit of a chore sometimes particularly when time is short or a day has been boring (in my opinion) but I guess there would be some people who would miss my musings! Case in point is that we were contacted by our neighbours daughter Louise today to thank us for clearing the garden of their villa in preparation for them coming out. I had put it on the blog and her mum had seen it and shown her! So to all my readers, near and far, thank you xxx
So we were out today on one of John's Jolly Jaunts which involved a trip down to Cap St Georges before heading up to the Last Castle. Only a couple of years' ago Cap St George didn't exist - it is a manmade development just before St George's bay which should probably now be renamed Cap St Topsy because like Topsy it is growing and growing. God only knows who buys in these places - the prices are only available if you enquire but if you are interested then you can get more information HERE from Korantina Homes who have also built that rather stunning development along Banana Bay. This is about as far removed as you can get from traditional Cyprus and I would hazard a guess that anyone staying there has absolutely no idea about the island, its culture and traditions. We drove past one house which had two Porches and a Maserati on the drive - that it serious, and I mean, serious money.
We arrived at the Last Castle (Viklari) a little earlier than anticipated but it didn't matter as our table was ready and waiting and we had one with a view which is always a bonus. John had booked vegetarian in advance for Laura (obviously) but I opted for that too as I love the fasoulia here. Interestingly we were also offered the opportunity to have fish - I have never seen anyone having fish here but it is interesting to know for the future.
John was driving today - that is my Keo he is waving but as he said no self respecting ex-matelot would be seen with a glass of water or lemonade in front of him! Lunch was perfect, it was warm with a nice breeze and the food was superb. This had been the one place Laura had wanted to revisit - we had not been here since they came way back in 2011 and it was Mark's birthday when we brought them up here. That was October and we remember racing back from Lara hotly pursued by a thunder storm!
Lara was our next stop and the beach was reasonably empty. The downside to the beach is that there are a number of steep and uneven steps to get to the bottom - it is ok going down but not so ok coming back up particularly if it is hot and you are carrying something! We traveled light which was sensible.
At the bottom of the steps is the turtle information hut - Lara is the prime turtle beach and was covered in a large number of nests. In the tanks in the hut were some little loggerhead and green back turtle hatchlings which are there to educate the masses and will be released later to embark on their journey through the seas. It was good to see that on the main part of the beach people were heeding the request not to erect tents or umbrellas although at both the far ends umbrellas were in evidence although fortunately not where there were any nest cages.
The sea was rough and sadly very full of seaweed which neither Laura nor I care for. The boys weren't bothered going out far enough to avoid the majority of it and whilst Laura read her book I walked along the water's edge and found a lovely spot in amongst the rocks where there was soft sand and the waves coming in and out were free from seaweed. I sat there for quite a while but it was proving to be too hot there which meant it would be even more hot where we had left our towels. We stayed for a short while before declaring it a day and then made our way cross country back to the relative cool of Droushia - BLISS.
We rounded off our day with a jolly trip down to Latchi for an ice-cream and a wander. I had carrot cake ice-cream - yes you heard correctly carrot cake ice-cream which tasted mildly of orange!!! Laura and I walked from Porto Latchi to La Plage and back to get rid of the calories - mind you with the size of the tub of Snickers ice-cream Laura scoffed down that was probably not a bad idea.
The boys whimped out preferring to sit at the harbour side at Sea Fayre and have a pint and set the worlds to rights. It was a beautiful evening - almost too warm and the manic hustle and bustle of the tourist season has subsided to we saw locals down eating - including Soteris and wife and girls who were having an evening out from Droushia.
So we were out today on one of John's Jolly Jaunts which involved a trip down to Cap St Georges before heading up to the Last Castle. Only a couple of years' ago Cap St George didn't exist - it is a manmade development just before St George's bay which should probably now be renamed Cap St Topsy because like Topsy it is growing and growing. God only knows who buys in these places - the prices are only available if you enquire but if you are interested then you can get more information HERE from Korantina Homes who have also built that rather stunning development along Banana Bay. This is about as far removed as you can get from traditional Cyprus and I would hazard a guess that anyone staying there has absolutely no idea about the island, its culture and traditions. We drove past one house which had two Porches and a Maserati on the drive - that it serious, and I mean, serious money.
We arrived at the Last Castle (Viklari) a little earlier than anticipated but it didn't matter as our table was ready and waiting and we had one with a view which is always a bonus. John had booked vegetarian in advance for Laura (obviously) but I opted for that too as I love the fasoulia here. Interestingly we were also offered the opportunity to have fish - I have never seen anyone having fish here but it is interesting to know for the future.
John was driving today - that is my Keo he is waving but as he said no self respecting ex-matelot would be seen with a glass of water or lemonade in front of him! Lunch was perfect, it was warm with a nice breeze and the food was superb. This had been the one place Laura had wanted to revisit - we had not been here since they came way back in 2011 and it was Mark's birthday when we brought them up here. That was October and we remember racing back from Lara hotly pursued by a thunder storm!
Lara was our next stop and the beach was reasonably empty. The downside to the beach is that there are a number of steep and uneven steps to get to the bottom - it is ok going down but not so ok coming back up particularly if it is hot and you are carrying something! We traveled light which was sensible.
At the bottom of the steps is the turtle information hut - Lara is the prime turtle beach and was covered in a large number of nests. In the tanks in the hut were some little loggerhead and green back turtle hatchlings which are there to educate the masses and will be released later to embark on their journey through the seas. It was good to see that on the main part of the beach people were heeding the request not to erect tents or umbrellas although at both the far ends umbrellas were in evidence although fortunately not where there were any nest cages.
The sea was rough and sadly very full of seaweed which neither Laura nor I care for. The boys weren't bothered going out far enough to avoid the majority of it and whilst Laura read her book I walked along the water's edge and found a lovely spot in amongst the rocks where there was soft sand and the waves coming in and out were free from seaweed. I sat there for quite a while but it was proving to be too hot there which meant it would be even more hot where we had left our towels. We stayed for a short while before declaring it a day and then made our way cross country back to the relative cool of Droushia - BLISS.
We rounded off our day with a jolly trip down to Latchi for an ice-cream and a wander. I had carrot cake ice-cream - yes you heard correctly carrot cake ice-cream which tasted mildly of orange!!! Laura and I walked from Porto Latchi to La Plage and back to get rid of the calories - mind you with the size of the tub of Snickers ice-cream Laura scoffed down that was probably not a bad idea.
The boys whimped out preferring to sit at the harbour side at Sea Fayre and have a pint and set the worlds to rights. It was a beautiful evening - almost too warm and the manic hustle and bustle of the tourist season has subsided to we saw locals down eating - including Soteris and wife and girls who were having an evening out from Droushia.
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