Old School Friends Reunited!

We certainly chose the best day of Kenna's holiday to embark on our Yooli-Mou tour and mini school reunion with Sheri who was travelling from Paralimni to Pissouri where we were to have lunch together at the Captain's Bay.  I had decided to take the old coast road rather than the motorway so that we could take in some of the fabulous scenery en route.

Our first stop was at the picnic site that John and I had discovered some years ago where you can walk down to the beach below and basically have it all to yourself.

This is located opposite one of the turnings for Aphrodite Hills and has been much improved since we went there several years ago.  There are picnic tables and toilets and the pathway down to the beach is just about passable by a car although I wouldn't want to try it myself.

The island is experiencing phase two of the migration of the Painted Lady butterflies so we were surrounded by them making their journey.  It was a beautifully warm and sunny day and the sea was the most fabulous colour and so very clear - it made you want to just run in and enjoy it although I knew it would not be very warm!!!



We then travelled a couple of hundred yards up the road to where there is an installation of living frames which was part of an initiative in 2017 when Paphos was one of the European Cities of Culture.  There are a number of rectangular 'frames' through which you can see different coastal vistas including Aphrodite's Rocks.  It is modern and structural and I liked it although I could have done with being a little taller to take full advantage.

We then motored a little further up the road to stop and take photographs of the Rocks but from the other side and now the view was at its absolute best.  I have rarely seen the sea so blue and so clear.

Kenna and I were stood on an unofficial viewing point just off the motorway.  I had stood there before to take photographs so new it was a good spot.  As I turned to my left I saw a man and a woman stripping off to go for a swim - I thought they were crazy as the water would be cold but then I realised that the man was completely naked.  Kenna thought he was just wearing flesh coloured trunks but I could clearly see his bum cheeks as he dived into the water and could clearly see some dangly bits as he strode back out although I am convinced they were probably somewhat smaller dangly bits coming out than had been on show going in!!!  He and his partner had probably not expected to see Kenna and I pitch up with our phones to take photos.  He should think himself lucky I didn't have my camera with telephoto lens.  This is not the first time I have been confronted by a man on the beach in the all together - it happened once before at Blue Lagoon - maybe it is the same couple!!!



We moved on to Pissouri and drove through the village to the Bay where we met Sheri as arranged at the Captain's Bay restaurant.  It was great to catch up - she and I try to do it once a year before she starts her seasonal work.  Last year we did it in the UK when we both returned for our 40 year reunion.  We had lunch and managed to confuse the staff because we started at a table with a mix of sun and shade but it was right next to the children's play area and none of us 'do' children so we moved to a table in full sun which was great for about an hour and then we had to move again into the shade!!!  After lunch we took a stroll along the beach from one end to the other before it was time to go our separate ways.

Our homeward journey was a bit fraught - we left Pissouri planning to do the return trip along the old coast road and then head down to Paphos to see the more touristy part and stop at the harbour for a drink.  We got so far then found the road was closed and we were to be diverted onto the motorway but in the wrong direction heading back to Limassol so I had to take a very old road back to Pissouri and go beyond and pick up the motorway from there.  I managed to avoid being clocked by the traffic police but when I stopped for petrol in Paphos got told I had a puncture which I think I picked up in the rough old carpark in Pissouri.  Our trip to the harbour was cancelled as I headed off to a tyre place to get the tyre looked at - the only one I could think of was the one Dad used to use and luckily I drove straight in and they repaired it but then told me that pretty soon all four tyres would need replacing - the punctured one because of the location of the puncture, the opposite one so they matched and the two fronts because they are getting worn - deep joy - soon the tyres will be worth more than the car!!

Once fixed we were back on the road again - our drink at the harbour had been shelved but I thought we might be able to pick up an icecream somewhere so as I headed back down to the coast I came through Lemba where we stopped to take some photographs of the lovely little place they use as a wedding venue and the weird and wonderful art college that has been there for years.



Kenna was fascinated by Lemba - it is a funny little place - a sort of cross between St Ives and Glastonbury but on a much smaller scale.  The college building is such an eclectic mix of 'things' that you see something new every time you go there.

As it was such a beautiful afternoon I decided that we should take in the last of the afternoon sun at the beach bar called Sea You at Potamos Bay - we call it Banana Bay - it is here that they have been planning to build a marina - it has been off and on and apparently is off again.  I am not too disappointed because I love this stretch of reasonably unspoiled coastline but I expect those people who bought in the posh development at the other end are not impressed by yet another delay.  Anyway we both enjoyed a non-alcoholic Mojito in the sun before returning home.

It had been an action packed final day for Kenna which we rounded off by picking up John and going for a quick early visit to the Pizza Box in Kathikas for a lovely meal before returning home - not too late a night for us as Kenna has to be at the airport for 12.00 tomorrow - we plan to leave a little earlier than necessary and stop at Bona Mare for a drink - then we will be right by the airport.