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Our
adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....
 
This morning was an early start for me, to take David and Glen's sister Val, to the airport for their flight back to UK. Later we all four of us set off for the Karpaz, stopping off at the Salamis ruins near Famagusta.These ruins date back to the 11th century BC, although much of what you can see now, such as the Basilica and the
Theatre date from around the 4th century. The site covers a large area and takes some time to explore, but is worthy of a visit.After Salamis we went to our favourite motel, The Malibu at Yeni Erinkoy. The weather remains really warm so it was a great opportunity to get in to the sea.
Whatever anyone says, we think the sea is much warmer than our pool at this time of the year. A little reading and a gentle zzzz on a sunlounger always refreshes before some pre-dinner drinks and a lovely meal of fresh fish from the local harbour.
Lovely sleep. You can hear the waves lapping on the shore all night, a bit like a lullaby. Joan and I got up around 7.30 and had a swim again before breakfast. We decided that the offer of a boat trip, from the hotel owner, was too good to miss, so around 10 o'clock, we set offwith the owners son. After we had cleared harbour, Les even got a chance to becaptain. Whilst we were near the old harbour we saw a deadturtle in the water. It was not a very big one and the man we were with, an experienced fisherman, said that it had only been dead a short time but with no physical signs of the cause. It was quite choppy out there so Les was very glad that Jill had decided not to come with us. The three of us had a very enjoyable couple of hours out at sea in a very stable fishing boat. Les and Joan really enjoyed the sun on the back deck area.When we got back to Kyrenia we introduced our guests to the Ezıç Chicken, our local fast food restaurant. You always get lots of good food for silly money there, so very good when you just don't feel like cooking, after a couple of days out.
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Lazy day around the pool with our guests and then a BBQ and an introduction to Deano's. Les reckons its not a bit like The Prince of Wales in New Romney.
We had all four been invited to Tony's 60th birthday party, arranged by Sue at the Tai restaurant here in Lapta. This was a super evening withSue & Tony enjoying the opportunity to be around with many friends they have made in the short time they have been over here. Many there were line dance enthusiasts so we were entertained to some of there dance routines. I think some of the local Turkish Cypriots who were also at the restaurant were slightly bewildered by this style of dancing, especially a performance by Sue with John, one of the guests, who together gave us a superb routine asFred & Ginger. For those of you who don't remember Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, then clearly my age is giving me away again
Yet another evening out, but remember we have visitors and that excuse remains good for me. This time it was with Hans and Trix. Hans had found a restaurant, in the Kyrenia harbour area, which he reckoned we had not found before and he was right. The Lusignan Art & Cafe Bar, great place, super food and an entertaining evening. The restaurant was opened by Cem Tilki and his family to provide a real Cypriot atmosphere and real home cooked local food, they certainly succeeded. We had a local chicken dish, which Joan and I had had before, but never quite so tasty and then the entertainment! First Cem gave us his rendition of theglass of water dance, then some loo rolls appeared on the table, what for you may ask if the food was so good. Well they have this game which requires you to create aCyprus mummy of your partner. As the prize was two brandy sours for the winning team, we all made great efforts to win. Joan must have kept very still, despite all the laughing, as we ended up with first prize. I threatened to leave her wrapped up like this
There is a company here that runs quad bike safaris, from Lapta up over the mountain tops. We all four had discussed this and decided that it was a sort of one off thing to do whilst Les & Jill were here on holiday. We were supplied withtandem bikes and guided by Mark, we set off up the mountain. There were plenty of opportunities to stop and admire theabsolutely stunning views. At some of the stopping points we had to climb up to the best vantage points which gave us more photo opportunities. Once up near the top of the mountains you can find a tarmac road, strange seeing that we can't get our little road surfaced by the local authority, and this runs all the way across the mountain tops from St Herlarion castle to Karsiyaka. On the way you pass a tank which apparently was bombed off the road in 1974, during the north / south conflict. An interesting trip and well worth doing.
On the way back we picked up three superb sea bream and Les did the honours on the BBQ.
Slightly overcast today, so after much discussion we all decided to go south and see the Troodos mountains. It is very beautiful over there and if you are a walking fanatic would suggest that it is a bit like paradise for you. Lots of tourist coaches from the southern holiday resorts, with of course the obligatory tourist shops and stalls. We did manage to find out that there are four ski runs over there, so maybe Joan and I will give it a try during the winter.
Just as we arrived home the heavens opened and we all got very wet in about two minutes flat. Typical, first rain we have seen in many months and it has to be when we have visitors. They don't believe that it was ordered to help them acclimatise for their trip back on Saturday.
Les and Jill's last evening with us and as it coincided with Sue's birthday we had all arranged to go to the Padesha restaurant. The usual high standard of food and afterwards we all four sat out on the terrace until very late, wondering just where the last two weeks had gone. I think we have said before that the only real draw back to UK, would be special friends and these two have always been in that category and we really miss them
As the flight out was scheduled for 15.30 hours, from Larnaca, we left nice and early and sat in a cafe on the seafront and ordered up a full English breakfast. The idea being that it would set Jill and Les up for the trip and they would not have to eat charter airline food. Whilst we were sitting there, George and Sue drove past, it seems that they had just decided to have a day out. Sue had planned some shopping, so when we reminded George that all shops in the south closed on Sundays, there was a definite look of relief crossed his face.
After the flight left, Joan and I spent some few hours relaxing on Larnaca beach before coming home.
Today was unfortunately the day when the sail boats come off the beach. It was all hands to the pump to get them on trailers one at a time. Two of the boats went up to Chris and Terry's garden for storage and the third ended up under our house, where it's nice and dry and we can do some winter maintenance. It's great to have all this space to do this sort of work and it doesn't look like 16 feet now we have got it in. Our Tıggy thinks it's a great new place to rest her weary head.After the toils of the afternoon, with all the boats, we had arranged anend of season dinner at of course The Padesha restaurant. Another fun evening out and I suppose it may be some months before we all get together again, to put the boats back on the beach and maybe have a start of season supper, who knows
Managed to get the San-Kom website up and running today, so if you are still interested in kitchens, air con etc then take a look atwww.san-kom.com" target="_blank">www.san-kom.com">www.san-kom.com I still have a little cleaning up to do but the general site is OK
Did here some news yesterday about the proposed new land bill. Rumour is that it might not come off at all as it currently is proposed. I think that there is so much opposition from all sides and the current government is struggling with it's coalition majority, that there might just be some truth in this rumour. Will endeavour to find out more and let you know.Now something very special for all you potential villa owners, who can't find exactly what they want. I have been asked to promote this Very Special Villafor a friend who's personal circumstances have changed. The villa is in an advanced stage of construction and therefore would be available early next year, a distinct advantage over buying off plan now something which may take two years to complete. There is still some flexibility in the design, do you want 3 or 4 bedrooms for example. Take a look at the link and let me know by e-mail.Poor old Smudge is feeling a little sorry for herself. She had the op. two days ago and was still a little sleepy for the last couple of days. Poor thing, a bald patch and a couple of stitches to show for it all. For those of you who might be interested the cost was 120 million TL, around £45 in old money
Joan and Susan started their winter exercise classes this afternoon, kalonetics or something equally energetic. They say that it is not too much hard work, just gentle stretching and toning exercises, guess we will just have to believe them and I suppose that the pool is now beginning to get a little bit cold, so this is an alternative.This afternoon, Peter and Averil Davis came round to see us and to bring round the electric blanket that they had kindly purchased for us in Argos before leaving the UK. Yes that's right, an electric blanket, something that Joan and I have never had before and it's not a sign of old age creeping on, just that the beds get bl***y cold here in January and February, so be warned
Interesting day today, the government resigned. Prime Minister, Mehmet Ali Talat, had been struggling with a coalition government that had lost it's majority, so today he resigned, probably in the hope of another early general election. This of course means that the controversial Leasehold Bill is now put on ice until a new administration is formed. The president has asked the leader of the UBP party, who are in fact the largest group in parliament, to try to form a new coalition. Interestingly, the UBP party are very anti the Annan plan as they, just like the president, believe that a confederation is the only way forward, for Cyprus as a whole. Lets just see what the next couple of weeks bring for us, very strange for all of us foreign residents here of course, as we have no voting rights for anything, but will be greatly effected by what eventually happens
Oh yes, I forgot another piece of information for those of you coming to live. On Wednesday morning, Joan and I went to immigration in Nicosia, to renew our annual residency permit. You have to do this every year until your 5th year, when you can apply for permanent residency. The cost is 215 million per year.
John and Pat Creasey are over here at the moment, keeping an eye on their home being built, which is in fact next door to that Very Special Villa which I put on the website last week. They also have some friends over, Terry and Irene, who are having a house built around Lapta, so we all went off to see Bob and Maggie at Henson's restaurant, somewhere none of them had been before. Terry ended up getting the last piece of Maggie's special steak and kidney pie, maybe I'll forgive him this once, but he had better be aware that next time I will get first order in.
An interesting early evening football game today, Man. United versus Arsenal. Neither are really teams that I would normally go to watch, unless of course they where playing Liverpool, but with Arsenal now one game short of fifty games without a loss and Manchester United determined to end that run, it could be an interesting game to watch, so it's the early dinner and Michael and I are off to see the fun.
Yesterday I finally managed to get some more 4 x 1 inch timber, so was able today, to finishthe log box I have been making. The idea is that this will live on the front terrace, outside the front door and can be filled at leisure, during daylight hours, which hopefully means an end to those occasions when we run out of wood, just when it is persisting down and we are nice and cosy indoors.
Quick rush to Nicosia this morning, with John Jackson and his family. They are having a villa built in Alagadi and needed some kitchen equipment and some air conditioners, so I took them over to see our importers and select the things needed. After that it was a quick rush back home and then a trip over the border with Joan to do some shopping and then pick up Arie from Larnaca airport. On the way back, we introduced him to The Ezıç Chicken Bar restaurant. Cheap, cheerful and very good quality. Just the place if it is a little later than normal and nobody wants to get involved with a stove.Arie is the son of our long standing friends from Niewkoop in Holland. He has been trying to get over to see us, since we moved over here. I think among other things his Mum and Dad were interested to see how things really where out here in sunny Cyprus
Now I have to start showing Arıe all the tourist sites, but before that he insisted in trying out the pool, declaring that it is just the ideal way to spend a holiday.We took a trip down to Kyrenia town as I needed to go into the shop and Arie needed some money. He and I also went to the old harbour and sat and had one of their very, very expensive beers, but it's something you just have to do as a tourist.We had warned Arie that this time of the year you can get changeable weather and this seems to be especially so when there is a new moon imminent. This evening we had the mostspectacular sunset and this was a prelude to a total eclipse of the moon, due at around 5 a.m. Thursday morning. Maybe we will also get some different weather over the next few days
HAIRY HARRY IS BACK. This morning at around 4 a.m., Arie got up to watch the eclipse of the moon and low and behold, Hairy Harry had returned. Arie said he was sitting on the curtain just watching him. Trying to explain that he is just a pet, didn't go down too well, so he had to be put out again.
The eclipse was a really magic affair, because it was so very clear overhead. At first it was possible to see the whole moon, as an almost perfect circle, and then very quickly it gradually disappeared until we only had total darkness. This picture was at alater stage of the eclipse, a few minutes before darkness was on us. It was also quite eerie because up in the village some of the dogs were howling.
The weather was a little overcast today, looks like the prelude to something much wetter than we have been used to over the last few months. Despite this we took Arie up to the top of the mountains, driving along the road that runs from St Herlarion through to the Karsıyaka village, which is to the west of us here. As usual, ready for the celebration day tomorrow, the army has put up thehuge flags between two mountain peaks, they can be seen clearly from down on the coast road into Kyrenia. During the last twelve months a complete tarmac surface has been put on this road, so it is now an easy, but still spectacular drive. The views from up there, are something else and next time you come over well worth the effort.
Just as predicted, we got a bucket full of rain early this evening. At least we don't have to water the garden for the next couple of days.
Today was a national holiday in TRNC, so Joan had a free day. Unfortunately the weather didn't look too good and in fact during the middle of the morning we got a good downpour. Yippee, no watering for the next week. By now you might guess, that this guy doesn't rate gardening too highly on his desirable things to do.
When the weather cleared up we all went over the mountain to Nicosia as this was an opportunity to show Arie the old town area and for him to buy a few bits and pieces, to take home to the kids. We introduced him to doner kebab,at a street side cafe in the old town. He was quite amazed by all this as in Holland, just as in most other countries ruled by the wonderful E.U., this sort of thing is something people remember with great fondness, but is totally banned by the intrusion of inspectors for almost everything. Beware folks in this land, everything you enjoy and take for granted, will disappear before you know it under a vast quantity of stupid rules and regulations.
Friday night, where else to go but Deano's. Arie has got to see us oldies at play so that he can report back to Holland. When we got there, everybody was still sitting outside, but Roger had packed his music gear into the car, as they had felt a few spatters of rain. Electrics and rain don't go well together. We all gathered round a big table and watched some really impressive lightening displays over Turkey and the sea. Suddenly it was, grab your glasses time and head off indoors as the downpour was quite heavy. Then the lights went out, the staff searched around for candles, to many choruses of Happy Birthday, to nobody in particular.
After the storm, today was a lovely day, but we were not able to take early advantage of it, due to a little problem with our kitten, Smudge. She had gone out early in the morning and whether she had eaten something, or been bitten by a snake, we don't know. Suddenly she started shaking and would not let us touch her. So down to the vets a.s.a.p. was the order of the day, where she was checked over found to have a very high temperature and given an injection and now has to have three more, each morning until Monday. When we got her back home she just curled up in her basket and wanted to be left alone, so we obliged.
We took Arie down toone of our favourite beaches near Kayala. You have to take everything you might need with you as it is a little remote, but certainly another eye-opener for him and a further proof as to why we came to this lovely island.Long may it remain just like this. We guess he will have lots to tell the folks back home, lots of pictures to show them and lots of experiences to relate. His Mum and Dad never could understand what all this remote living was all about and why we could possibly consider living so far away, so it would be nice to be the proverbial fly on the wall over the next few days.
When we left the beach we stopped off atthe Horseshoe Bar on the way back home, where we all enjoyeda couple of beers, or in Joan's case, a glass of red, to wash down the salt from the swim.
Today is the "Cyprus Today" newspaper day and a front page report regarding the setting up a new coalition government. Well it looks like an early election, as the UBP party was unable to find any partners, in amongst the other political parties, to form a government with them. There is talk of an election on 23rd January 2005 and I suppose that the coalition parties, who have just resigned, are hoping for a large majority this time. Don't know what this all means for that long debated land ruling that is now sitting on the back burner.
Vets first with little Smudge. Unfortunately she doesn't open before midday on a Sunday and who can blame her. So we all took advantage and had the full monty, bacon and egg breakfast, with trimmings.
It was a lovely day so we took Arie out east. The new road goes on out past Esentepe so we took that and then went on to Tatlisu and down on to the beach there. For those of you that remember, we reported on this beach back in July, on the 8th to be exact. Once again, Arie could not believe the peace and tranquillity that you can find here, so we just swam and then sat it out until the sun started to go down, which with last nights 1 hour adjustment, was around 4 p.m. We then drove home directly in to a full fire ball of dying sun behind the mountains, absolutely beautiful.
This evening, as it was almost Arie's last evening, we tried out a newish restaurant in town, The Beyiz (I think - but will confirm) as it was very good, but not easy to find. The food was Turkish style but lots of and very reasonably priced, we came out absolutely bloated, because we made the mistake of having a starter. Joan and I decided that we will introduce George and Susan to this one, so when we do I will give exact directions, after a second opinion.
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