Sunday. Where is the sun?

We woke today to a forecast of 70% heavy showers all day long but we would not be defeated. We set off to catch a bus up the coast to Coral Bay which is supposed to be a beautiful bay with lovely beaches. About 5 minutes away from the apartment the heavens opened and we sheltered in a shop. The rain was torrential and soon the roads were flooded. Once it finished we got to the bus stop in the dry.

I was disappointed with Coral Bay. The town leading down to the beach was full of English pubs etc. The bay had natural beauty and the weather was wild but the beach was not up to much. We walked a little way along and found a closed taverna which had a roof we could shelter under if the ominous clouds in the distance came our way. Outside the taverna was a small amphitheatre type structure which we sat on to have our lunch. As it was still dry we took it in turns to stand in the middle and played charades!

Well that was enough of Coral Bay so we got the bus back to Paphos harbour to visit the Kato Paphos Archeological Park. This is a complex of excavated Roman villas and mosaic floors - which are really well preserved and full of colour. I was amazed how the mosaic artists even managed to show facial expressions. There was a forum and an odeon (like a small amphitheatre) and the site is right next to the sea so a lovely setting.

On our way home we had to get some supplies at the supermarket - so lucky; whilst we were in there there was another outburst of torrential rain. So we had a good day out and didn't get wet.

Paphos

Last evening there was a storm with loud thunder and dramatic forks of lightning. Great to watch from the balcony but not so great when another storm came in during the night and woke us all up.

This morning it was pouring with rain and the skies looked dark and ominous all around. At about 10.30 it seemed to be clearing up so we headed out. Disaster! The roads were running with water and it started to rain again. We got very wet and Jess got sprayed by a car driving too close to the pavement so we gave up and came home. We were dispirited as the wifi had stopped so we faced a gloomy day in the apartment.

The weather forecast was bad but actually after an early lunch we decided to chance it and we managed a good afternoon out without being caught in the rain.

We walked through another part of the old town which, once again was full of roads and pavements in the process of being relaid. It was a long walk to the Tomb of the Kings but we enjoyed ourselves once there. Jess disappeared for a while as she found one tomb in which you could keep on going underground. The complex has a lovely setting right by the sea and the spring flowers were blossoming.

We were inside having a coffee when the next downpour came. Once it had blown over we carried on down to Paphos harbour for a wander around. At about 4 o clock the restaurant owners were battening down for another spell of bad weather and closing up - I presume custom must stop after lunch this early in the season.

Hallelujah the wifi was back on when we got home and Martin was able to watch the England v Scotland rugby match.

Travelling to Paphos

Today we packed up and caught the intercity bus to Limassol en route to Paphos. The bus was full of both tourists and locals. We sped along and arrived early. The scenery was the same all the way and not very inspiring.

We had an hour between buses so we ate our lunch on the pier by the marina - it had rained this morning but the sun came out just in time for us. We entertained ourselves 'people watching' including the 8 chaps doing some repair work on the pier - 2 working and 6 watching and discussing!

Our next bus which would take us to Paphos was over 20 minutes late - we were waiting by a taverna with no actual bus stop but there were a group of us so we had confidence we had the right place. This time the scenery out of the window was much more varied and interesting to look at; vineyards, farms, orchards, rivers and gorges.

The airbnb owner came to collect us at the bus station with her teenage son who spoke English and was the one who showed us round the apartment. We are 1km north of the old town in a residential area. The apartment is great and there is a chess board, cards and dominoes so I expect there will be a few competitive games in the evenings. (There is a TV but as in the other apartment it is all greek to us!)

This afternoon we decided to check out the Old Town. This year Paphos is a European Capital of Culture. In addition the town has been given €23.6m in EU structural funds and it seemed to us that they have dug up every road around the town but not finished many. The paving industry has benefited as the pavements and pedestrianised areas are all having new paviers fitted. Unfortunately there are many empty shops so some areas are completely devoid of life but have lovely new paving.

The area around the Town Hall has been spruced up and had to be finished first ready for the Capital of Culture opening ceremony.

On the whole there is more character here than in Larnaca and I expect that the harbour area and the Archeological Park we are visiting tomorrow will live up to our expectations.

Larnaca day 2

Today we walked to the huge salt lake which is 15 minutes from the apartment. Salt was harvested until 1986 but now the lake is famous for the flocks of flamingos who come for the winter. Our aim was to walk along the lake shore to the Aqueduct then return. However once we got there we decided to carry on walking right round so it became a very long walk.

Jess had her flip flops on which she lived in in New Zealand but her feet have softened up so they started to rub. A plaster was no use as it just fell off after a few yards so I ended up giving her one of my black ankle socks. Not an attractive look for her with one black sock and flip flops but comfort overcame embarrassment!

We saw many flamingos feeding on the shrimp - the photos from my phone won't do the sight justice. There was one dodgy moment when we walked along where the water had already dried up but the mud was soft and mushy. There were no other walkers around just a goatherd with a small flock of goats and some large sheep. I expect he went home and told his wife about the 3 mad English people out in the midday sun walking round the lake.

The aqueduct looked great if you looked back through it towards the lake. Unfortunately the view the other way was of a main road and an urban sprawl.

Once we were about three quarters around we came to the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque which, I have only just discovered, was attacked in 2010 by Molotov bombs. Maybe that's why there was a guard. There were several trees covered in bits of plastic and wet wipes tied onto branches.....put there by people making wishes we think.

We were so glad to get there as it meant we could at last sit down for lunch. However as soon as Martin took out the sandwich bag cats came running from all directions and one jumped straight up onto the bench. Well that was enough for Martin so we walked back down to the lake shore and found a bench. No cats....just a tour party who had come to see the mosque and been told to walk down to see the lake. They didn't stay for long so we eventually had a peaceful lunch and a welcome rest.

It was a long slog back home but we were rewarded by ice creams courtesy of Jess.

Wild cats are fed and housed on wasteground around the town, a lot still look quite manky. Martin does not do cats so he walks swiftly past.

Larnaca

                                             Our apartment

Cyprus - arrival and day 1

Off to Cyprus for a week with Jess. 3 nights in Larnaca and 4 in Paphos.

Trains to Gatwick on time - thankfully Southern were not striking, I had forgotten to check. Good flight on Norwegian - very competitive price, good seats and free WiFi during the flight. Weird to be listening live to R5 at 30,000 feet. Landed on time at 7.15pm.

Straight through passport control and out to find the bus stop for a short journey to the airbnb apartment. The bus came on time but it didn't take the route we expected. Good job we had GPS on the tablet so we could guess where to get off. We then wondered around for a bit - we found blocks of apartments which looked exactly like ours and had the same name but a different number. We found ours eventually after walking in a few circles.

Jess had spotted a taverna and was "starving" so as soon as the chap gave us the keys and showed us the apartment we went for a late dinner and a beer. The supermarket next to the Taverna was dark, dusty and run by a spaced out woman so I didn't fancy buying anything from her. The better looking shop round the corner was closed so we would have to buy breakfast goodies in the morning.

Although we were 2 hours ahead of UK time we went to bed at 10.30pm tired from the journey.

We slept in then had to shop so we didn't eat breakfast until 10am - we ate it on the balcony in the sunshine.

We then ambled up the prom towards the centre of Larnaca, sat with a drink over looking the beach, walked round the marina and visited the ornate St Lazarus church.  Once home mid afternoon we sat on the balcony in the sun.

Interesting to watch the locals in the church; putting money in and lighting candles then kissing pictures and touching statues. Same principles as in all of the different temples we visited last year, different religion.