Category Archives: Uncategorized

Another buffet breakfast, seems like every hotel has them. Then off to Green Bay and Lombardi Bay. Hard to believe but there must be some Packer fans that named these bays. Stopped along the way. Cats and churches

So far behind…. I am now in the Southeastern part of Cyprus. Agia Napa. Staying at the Grecian Sands Hotel.

They are still adhering to Covid procedures. One person at a time for sauna and steam and you have to have an appointment and it’s 8 euro per 30 min. Massages. No combos in one day. They want you to do a treatment a day. They cater to people that stay for weeks not two dayers like me. Sat by the pool for a while. It closes pretty early like 6 pm. Then decided to walk down the street to get some dinner. There were many people out doing the same. So many hotels and restaurants. It’s the party area but must be more in the summer.

Just as I sat down a large group sat down next to me so I knew it was one and done for me. Walked back home and went up to the roof top bar and had a burger another G and T and a shot of ouzo! it was a beautiful balmy night.

Just sitting in my deck, enjoying some instant coffee and thousands of birds. They were very noisy last night and then nothing, they were silent until this morning. On my walk last night, I saw at least 50 cats. It seems like they feed them at night.

So yesterday, I left the Cleopatra hotel, basically understanding which way I was supposed to be going, but again got very lost. It took a few turns but finally I was on the right path but was a short and easy driving. I was listening to Elon Musks biography, so fascinating, not as interesting as my classic rock playlist but this is a recharge reboot trip after all. I swear my kids snuck my most hated song on my playlist, “You can’t always get” by The Rolling Stones. I love the Stones but this song is all wrong, you can get what you want!!

Now I am getting a free cigarette from the balcony next to me! Ugg.

Rest of the drive was uneventful, drove down the strip since I was feeling brave. Wandered through the streets. Kinda lost, found the highway and circled back, drive into the hotel, they couldn’t find me, wrong hotel. There are several with similar name Grecian Sands, Grecian Bay and three others. No big deal just hopped back in the car and drove four properties to the right.

Another interesting thing here was that I saw signs for Pelican crossing several times so I looked it up.

Never knew this and I don’t know where it comes from.

No, just cautious. Even walking at night. The media blows things up. I have asked people where and if there are refugees from Israel. They have no idea what I am talking about. They know there is conflict but that’s all. Everyone has a cell phone. Maybe they are censored?! I did not take my car into Turkish Cyprus, that would have been a little tricky. In the North it’s the Turkish Muslims and in South Greek Christians. Many darker complexioned people on both side due to the proximity of Middle East, India and Africa, so scarf or no scarf, I stick out!!

I was wondering about the flags:

The white and red flag of the Turkish Republic of Cyprus (TRNC) is a reverse mirror of the colours and design of the flag of Turkey. The North Cyprus flag dates from 1984 after the TRNC was declared in 1983. The flag as a white background with the star and moon in red – and a red stripe at the top and bottom.

Northern Cyprus:

Turkish Flag:

The Southern Cyprus flag is different, white stipe is for peace, orange for copper, green for olives.

That’s how long it takes for me to relax. I finally feel like I am on vacation. I woke up very early again and watched some Netflix. Way too many episode of Pact of Silence. I hated my last hotel and everything about it. I had to check out and I just said the hotel wasn’t my cup of tea and left it at that.

Drove to the nearby Tombs of the Kings. No kings here but high officials of the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. Kinda cool but once you’ve seen a couple….

Parked the car and loaded my back pack, got directions and walked to the Holy Cross Catholic Church. It sits on the buffer zone. They solved their problem by keeping the back doors which are on Turkish territory locked, since 1974!

I read somewhere that over 50 nationalities come here to pray! Wow

So then I started walking back towards my hotel. I was just a bit intimidated. I kept my bitch face on and no problems, but I was lost and no internet map. I kind knew what direction so I walked til I found a nice looking restaurant. Table for one. Yes drinks and lunch. Awesome food and nice people and just a few blocks from my hotel. Just happened to be one of the best restaurants in the city. Btw the city is divided North and South and also has two completely different names Lefkosia and Nicosia. The GPS says the streets in Greek, so I have no clue and there very few street signs with the names of the streets on them. The GPS took me very close to the hotel, but not quite. I parked the car and paid for parking and started walking the wrong direction and figured that out pretty quickly and found the hotel. Just one of the challenges of traveling

Great food finally!!

I have new directions to the hotel. Time for a swim!

After a quick buffet breakfast, not my favorite thing, I got in the car and drove West. I wasn’t sure if my GPS would work, but I had the whole day. I drove though the country side and over the mountains. There were beautiful views but a camera would not have captured the beauty. The ground is dark and very fertile looking. The vegetation is dark green. Further to the East the ground was much lighter. It’s beautiful but not golden like Italy.

I was planning to go to Polis. My guidebook described a waterfront that was spectacular. I never did find it. There was some construction along the way with detours that almost told me which way to go. I hate that the GPS gets so confused when you get off the route. It kept saying, go right, go left, make a u turn all within seconds. I figured it out. When I got to the fork in the road I decided to go to Aphrodites bath. Apparently she bathed in the pools here.

I drive to Polis, never found the harbor so I headed back to Pafos. I needed to get in the Mediterranean.

Time for the beach that was part of the reason for staying at this 5 star hotel. Some of their stars need to be removed.

I did dip a toe in, it was too cold, but amazing blues and greens.

I did a lot of reading today and was too tired to get out of the hotel for dinner so I ate in the lounge. This hotel caters the the all-inclusive crowd so their other offerings for other food are not great. Many restrictions, for food, for drinks, the gym opens at 10am, pool closes at 7pm. Too many rules for me!!!

These prawns look so much better than they tasted!

I have decided to leave two days early. So off I go to South Nicosia to the Cleopatra Hotel. This is the last divided city in the world, Turkish in the North and Greek in the South. There is a buffer zone and gates between. It will be fascinating. It’s about a two and a half hour drive but I have some spots to stop on the way!

Waiting out a sudden squall in a cafe. It started as a couple of raindrops and continued to a downpour. Amazing to see the servers here shoo everyone inside, grab the cushions and placemats and salt and pepper, then close the umbrellas. All without any hesitation, no one shirking duties and now they are wiping the tables and chairs off, umbrellas back up and back to business. The sun is back out and it’s a beautiful day. If this was in America, they would shut down for a few days and get unemployment. Exaggerating, of course.

I didn’t sleep well last night. I am not following my sleep rules. I got up early to sit on my balcony with coffee. I drove to the Archeological Site of Pafos. Incredible mosaics and ruins and a castle.

After the storm, it for sunny and hot very quickly. I walked a mile or so to the catacombs. So interesting that sometimes people are buried here and sometimes in a cemetery.

I walked around a bit then went into the church. It was communion time in a Catholic service in English. This church probably held 50 people. There was a mosque across the street. The whole area was 10 degrees cooler and shaded by trees. I had to cover my shoulders and knees with scarves left by the door. It was so hot inside. Mass ended and I took some photos and then listened to the priest and another clergy man talk about how the young people don’t want the old music in churches! Haha same in USA.

Pool time, reading and a nap. I decided to venture off the property and find better food. I chose Jimmy’s killer shrimp where I had some very fine servers from South African and a few not so killer prawns. I did get a telephone number with my check too.

I really was naive thinking I could just come here and expect public transportation to be easy. First, I learned it isn’t reliable, like no time tables. No trains just buses. Websites not working or updating. I had found a ap based taxi called CABCY and my ride did arrive on time, correct price quoted but dropped me off at the car rental spot rather than at arrivals so I could carry all of my stuff and then I could enjoy the contract nightmare of renting a car.

I had an ok night sleep, I woke to a creaking door, fell back asleep then the said door slammed shut. I had to investigate. Nothing so I was wide awake and watched a little Netflix, new series called Pact of Silence. On episode 3. I wanted to get up early and walk before it was too hot, but morning came too soon. I did walk for an hour though, seeing other people out getting exercise.

When I got back I showered and packed. I had broke down and rented a car. It was the only way I was going to see this Island properly. I was dreading driving on the wrong side of the road and wrong side of the car and a stick. I mapped it out and took pictures, especially since I wasn’t sure about phone service and literally the road signs are in Greek!

After being dropped off in the wrong place, I stopped at the airport convenience store and bought a SIM card. I had always meant to do this to make directions easier. The guy who sold it to me didn’t have the little wire pokey thing and suggested I use my earring but the gold was too soft. Pulled out a cheap earring still no luck. Went to the car rental, yes I will pay 6 euro more for non stick, automatic, what ever you call a modern car! And yes, I did actually buy insurance. I was nervous! Sat down and fiddled with the stupid sim and then when I finally got it inserted correctly, my phone said no luck. Took it back to the merchant. He muttered something that I finally figured out to be turn your phone off and then back on. Still didn’t work. He asked if I wanted my money back. Duh! He had to call a supervisor and she asked if I wanted my money back and where was my receipt.No clue but she handed me back my 20 euro and I was on my way. Checked my route again and off to get the car. I admitted to the woman doing the car inspection that I was nervous and she said she was too when she drove in right side of the road countries and not to worry. I cannot believe that I only got lost once! My phone worked the whole time. No scratches, no dents, no loss of lives, yes, George Bailey , I am talking to you who kept track of near misses, certain death and other cute deadpan phrases you stated on our Ireland trip years ago. I was honked at twice, not because of my beauty! Made it to the Venus Beach Resort where I will stay for a few days.

The drive was so beautiful. The ground is very white with limestone and the ground cover very dark, almost like a black and white photograph. The ocean is a beautiful cornflower blue. Time to nap.

I am always looking up places to eat, best restaurants, unique food and experiences. On Sunday I was looking at some places in Larnaca and for a Food Lab. Private cooking lessons with a chef named Stavri Georgiou. And guess who was the chef at the resto I was at last night? It was him! I thought maybe he was my handsome server but he wasn’t. The name of the Restaurant was Sea Natra. The food was top notch, but too much! I like to try everything!

I started out on the promenade around 10 am. It was already hot. I was headed to the fort.

Had a long nap today. And did some reading and research. Headed to Paphos tomorrow for a few days. Dinner after promenading.

Best salmon. Crispy skin, olives and capers, beurre blanc with fresh herbs over a delicate couscous. The truffle parm fries were top notch as was the citrus forward chimmichurri.