a special day on a special island

Its amazing how quickly a person forgets what is in front of them and takes things for granted………..Today, Tony and I took Karen and Wayne to the Troodos mountains. They’ve never been around the island and, as they are building a house here, we thought it would be good to show them some of the natural beauty. We’d been so busy looking after people in villas in Coral Bay and Peyia, that we’d forgotten just how lovely the landscape is.

The drive to Kakopetria village is amazing: we start by cutting across the Asprokremnos Dam in Paphos then wind a leisurely way up through the many villages, some of which are deserted, up to the Troodos, then dip down to our favourite mountain village.

The colours of autumn were everywhere: villages, recently bathed in sun, now shine with golden hues in the light sun and add tons of colour to pretty buildings and quaint churches. Stopping at Platres to shop and eat hot apple pie with ice cream, we marvelled at the colours in the trees – and at the magnitude of the landscape. Our vantage point scanned the tallest of treetops and took us from Platres towards Limassol.

Driving higher, we stopped to buy hot nuts in Troodos then climbed to Mount Olympos, noting sky runs, hungry for snow.

When we reached Kakopetria, it was a pleasure to see Wayne and Karens faces as they saw for the first time, this traditional old Cypriot village with its crumbling stone and wood buildings and lovely walkways. Stopping for a bite of lunch, we then meandered through the streets and back to the car.

The whole day has been beautiful: Cyprus is SO pretty at the best of times but the mountains, in Autumn (and 16 degree heat!) are breathtaking…………….next time you are here, please hire a car and go and see for yourselves. ~It truly does your soul the power of good.