Cyprus and beyond - February/December 2000

Chosen from teletext's internet service 48 hours earlier - flew with friend Philip from Gatwick into Paphos (Pafos) - airport right by the water's edge - hotel was in Limassol (Lemesos). Photos feature both these locations and the tour below.  

Greek legends much more lively when told in the beautiful locations, Aphrodite belongs to the island in particular.  Guided excursions made to Pafos (including Agora where St Paul and St Barnabas preached) and Nicosia (Lefcosia) where we photographed the still war-damaged Green Line controlled by the United Nations and saw the sole gateway to the Turkish part of Cyprus. The tours were excellent value as they included a qualified lady guide and admission to related attractions.

Highlight was however the cruise (2 nights, 1 full day) to Israel and Palestine, wonderful surprise as I only vaguely knew about these, but booked the last available cabin with a local agent.  The tour on the 13th passed city of Tel Aviv and its airport, then went through the mountains to Jerusalem (Holy Sepulchre, start of Stations of the Cross, Wailing Wall) then Bethlehem via Garden of Gethsemane.   I'm fairly used to travel but all the old excitement returned, right from the Sunday dawn on the "Princesa Marissa" looking over Haifa (and Mount Carmel) onwards

The photographs on the four links are courtesy of Philip, not surprisingly I took the shots featuring him. Rest your cursor on an image to show the location.

Cyprus was so enjoyable that I returned in December to Larnaca Bay, in the area not covered in February. More of a dream sun and swim escape from storm-tossed England to the Palm Beach Hotel, nevertheless another coach excursion enabled a full day via the spectacular Troodos Mountains.

Alan