We walk, then we eat!!

Today started with a walk - Rachel from the Gin Bar is adopting a healthier lifestyle and so in order to support and encourage her and to get some exercise ourselves Nicky, Belinda and I accompanied her.  We went down to Akourdaleia and walked to St Simeon Church to take in the spectacular views and fresh air - made fresher by a few spots of rain en route.  This walk proved to be shorted than anticipated so we then walked down the hill to the viewing point between Pano and Kato Akourdaleia before returning to the car - I had thought we could get a cuppa at the Herb Garden but it obviously doesn't open on a Tuesday. We are hoping to make this a bit of a regular thing - it will keep us fit and get us to see parts of the neighbourhood we might otherwise not know about.  This suits me better than yoga or pilates or general keep fit - it just isn't my thing.

This set me up perfectly for our wonderful afternoon with Di and Rob having afternoon tea at the Elysium.  Di and Rob had been given a voucher by their friends Neil and Jo and I know that had Neil and Jo been able to come this year this was something they would have done together.  Way back in March before lockdown when it was my 60th Di and Rob had planned to take me out for my birthday so what with one thing and another this is how we came to take afternoon tea together this afternoon.

Looking back on the diary we had done the same thing four years ago to celebrate Di and Rob's wedding anniversary but under very different circumstances.  Today we had to sanitize before entering and wear masks in the general areas indoors.  Once outside and with our tea and stickies we were fine to be mask-less.  The afternoon tea was lovely.  The scones were sublime and I think the choice of fancy cakes was better than previously but I am with the Bobster when he said he would prefer a little more in the savoury line to balance out the sweet.

We did not rush over our afternoon tea - relaxing in the quiet and warmth of the terrace - amazed that the hotel was actually very busy but all the residents seemed to be in and around the large pool area.  After eating we took a stroll around the grounds investigating areas we had not seen before.  The gardens are amazing and when we took the path in the photograph above we came across accommodation where each 'villa' had its own private swimming pool.

There was a warm wind today - after the few spots of rain this morning the island is expecting heavier storms.  They experienced them in Nicosia but fortunately it didn't get as far as here but the changing weather conditions lead to some pretty spectacular cloud formations.

We finished our stroll through the grounds and almost reluctantly said goodbye to the Elysium but not before checking out the resident Morris Traveler which is parked outside.  It had been a really really lovely and relaxing afternoon, a million miles away from all the craziness that is going on around us.  We all kept saying how glad we were not to be back in the UK where the situation seems to be getting out of control.

Rob took us the scenic route back home via Akoursos where we encountered more than a few goats, shoats and geep.  He stopped near the top of the hill in order for me to take a photograph of the setting sun where the cloud formation meant we could see the rays reaching out from the centre.  I am not sure I have ever quite seen the sun like that before.

Our final port of call was at the Gin Bar in Kathikas to have a little drinkie together before going home and for Rob and Di to settle down for the Charlton game.

It had been a really super afternoon and it felt all the more special because somehow you could tell that the weather was going to change and we might not have had the opportunity again this year to sit out in such beautiful sunshine in the afternoon (particularly as the clocks change this weekend).

Also cases on the island are rising and getting closer to home with several now in Polis.  We can see another lot of restrictions being announced if things do not improve.  

So a very big thank you to Di and Rob - it was a brilliant way to spend the afternoon - let's plan to do it again in another 4 years (except that would be a rather special anniversary so I am guessing you might have something a bit different in mind!!!).