It was April 5th when we did this walk which now seems ages ago.  Time is just flying too fast!

Ru

DEKS Walk # 13

Walk # 13 was not only a walk along the coast, but also a walk back in time for Denise and Deena. As a teenager, Deena had gone to the beach with her step-dad Erin. Denise told the story of walking along these paths from town to Erin’s mom’s home, a walk that took forever and soaked them with rain. Erin’s mom was not so happy with him for having made Denise go on such a long walk with only some oranges for snacks. For us it was a lovely walk though not many birds for Linda and Charmaine to see. I walked most of the way with Deena and TK who, along with the scenery, are the stars of this email.

First things first, Deena’s hair. Help from “Husband.”

Thanks to the tree in the background, it almost looks like TK has a crazy strange Edward Scissorhands hairdo.

Walking to the coast.

Linda contemplating the view.

Deena said water used to cascade down the hillside when she was “young.”

We had to explore the caves cut into the hillside. Deena and TK

Very picturesque.

The cove at the end of our walk

Pauline, Julia, Sue, Denise, Randal and his baby rock,  Me, Charmaine, Linda, Deena, and TK (a timer photo because Deena knows how to use my camera!)

Deena and TK on top of the world.

TK and his friend.

This tiny crab couldn’t decide if it wanted to hide or pose for us all.

Randal sifting through the washed up beach “treasures.”

Heading back to the car.

I don’t know what this is, but the leaves remind me of the head and bones of a fish on your plate at the end of the meal.

Husbands……..

Randal who doesn’t braid my hair but did give me my last haircut!

TK

In the background the point sticking up is the turn-around point for the Carob Warehouse Walk. If we had time Sharman and I could start at the marina and walk all the way here….”Had we but world enough and time.”

Just finished putting away laundry after finishing making a banana bread with Linda after our (Linda, Charmaine and Me) 3 1/2 hour walk in Kumyali.  Charmaine and Linda are of in the gym doing yoga.  No rest for the weary!  So now I am finishing the email about our visit to Salamis.

Ru

I really enjoyed our tour of Salamis, but we’ve done so much since then that I can’t remember many of the details. But I did take lots of photos so you can see Salamis for yourselves.

Salamis – Ancient Roman City http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/city/famagusta/salamis/index.html

The ancient city of Salamis became the capital of Cyprus as far back as 1100 BC. The city shared the destiny of the rest of the island during the successive occupations by the various dominant powers of the Near East, viz. the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Romans. The ancient site covers an area of one square mile extending along the sea shore. There is still a large area awaiting excavation and this is forested with mimosa, pine and eucalyptus trees.

Our tour started out with the myth of the founding of Salamis……

“In Greek mythology Teucer, also Teucrus or Teucris was the son of King Telamon of Salamis and his second wife Hesione, daughter of King Laomedon of Troy. He fought alongside his half-brother, Ajax, in the Trojan War and is the legendary founder of the city Salamis on Cyprus. Teucer was the nephew of King Priam of Troy and so the cousin of Hector and Paris – all of whom he fought against in the Trojan War.

During the Trojan War, Teucer was mainly a great archer who loosed his shafts behind the giant shield of his half-brother Ajax the Great. When Hector was driving the Achaeans back toward their ships, Teucer gave the Argives some success by killing many of the charging Trojans, including Hector’s charioteer, Archeptolemus son of Iphitos.

However every time he shot an arrow at Hector, Apollo, the protector of the Trojans, would foil the shot – an ironic reference to the fact that Apollo would guide Paris’ arrow into Achilles’ heel.

In his rage at Teucer’s success, Hector picked up a huge rock, and flung it at Teucer. The rock injured Teucer, so that he should retire from the fighting for a certain period of time. He does take up a spear to fight in the war after his bow is broken by Zeus. He once again challenged Hector, and he narrowly avoided the path of Hector’s flying javelin in the ensuing battle. He was also one of the Danaans to enter the Trojan Horse.

Because of his half-brother’s suicide, Teucer was disowned by his father and emigrated to Cyprus, where he founded the city of Salamis which he named after his home state.” http://www.salamina.gr/Default.aspx?tabid=476&language=en-US

While researching the myth I found the following information….

ART 198 – HISTORY OF WORLD CERAMICS

“ In this companion piece to the last image, we see the ‘Suicide of Ajax,’ in another amphora painted by Exekias. Note the similarities between this and the last piece. Exekias skillfully balances light and dark areas, and leaves large amounts of negative space. The double honeysuckle pattern again adorns the frieze above the action. Here we see Ajax, but this time alone. Achilles has been killed in battle, and the loyal Ajax has retrieved his body from the Trojan enemy, but in an act of humiliation, he has been passed over for promotion to lead the army by his fellow Greeks. Instead, they chose Odysseus to lead them. Unable to bear the humiliation, Ajax commits suicide. While almost all other amphora painters depict the actual act of suicide in recounting this tale, Exekias characteristically shows instead the action leading up to the event. Here, Ajax has rested his shield (painted with the head of the Gorgon medusa), his helmet, and his spears, while he crouches under a tree. He is planting his sword in a mound of earth, and will soon fall upon it and die. This act of preparation is what interested Exekias, the inexorable nature of fate, rather than the actual moment of death. Note that in the Black Figure technique, bodies become silhouettes, and the only way the artist could convey detail was through Sgraffito, the technique of scratching through the slip to reveal the clay color below. This can be seen in the characteristic ‘frontal’ eye of Ajax.” http://seco.glendale.edu/~rkibler/suicideofajax.html

photo from  http://seco.glendale.edu/~rkibler/suicideofajax.html I thought this was really interesting.

Ziba explaining the layout of Salamis at the start of our tour.

Where are the heads?

One answer is that they were removed in the Christian Byzantine era because they portrayed Greek and Roman gods. Another answer is they were removed and taken to the British Museum.

“The arrival of the Romans brought more peace and stability and, despite the rank of capital city passing to Paphos, Salamis developed as a major commercial centre and figured prominently in the rise of Christianity on the island. The Jewish community, feeling threatened by the rise of Christianity, revolted in 116 AD with terrible consequences which led to their slaughter or expulsion from the island. (Today there is a Jewish Chabad Lubavitch community in the South. http://www.jewishcyprus.com/)

http://www.riversideholidayvillage.com/salamis.html

I’ve been fascinated by the wild artichoke of Cyprus and here they’re carve into the column.

The complex at Salamis (basically a men’s club/spa of sorts) had rooms for everything: sweating rooms (sudatorium), hot water baths (caldarium), stoking rooms (praefurnium), swimming pools with cold water. You just had to be a rich, white male to use them.

We are in the steam bath with an underfoot heating system.

The entrance to the steam room was decorated with mosaics which we would have missed if Ziba hadn’t showed us and then told the story of the illustration.

This mural tells the story of one of Jason’s Argonauts who was “enticed by the lady of the lake to join her” as a way to explain finding all of the man’s belongings by the lake, but not him. Ziba really thought this was a recreated mural rather than the original

This might be the “cold room” where they swam but I won’t swear to it.

The gymnasium surrounded by columns.

Originally used by “naked athletes: “The word "gymnasium" comes from the Greek word gymnazein which means "to exercise naked." The name comes from the Ancient Greek term gymnós meaning "naked".” Later the area was covered over with grass and became a play space of sorts when the area was used as a school. So that’s why we have the word gymnasium meaning at times, a school or a gym.

Then we went off to the Latrines where men do business and walls have ears!

Rome for 44!

Ziba explained that the latrine was a place where men gathered to talk business and do their business. Their slaves would sit on the marble toilet stones first to “warm” them and then often help with other nastier assignments. Mostly the slaves stood outside the walls with their ears pressed to it to listen for gossip with which to blackmail their owners. So the phrase “doing your business” and “the walls have ears.”

Seating for 2.

Perfect planning… Now you see the columns………………….now you don’t, just the shadows.

The corner piece was placed and then the columns to get them in an exact row.

A system of aqueduct and cisterns supplied Salamis with water.

Cypress trees (behind the buses) were planted to drain swampy areas.

This is the theater where a reflecting wall behind the stage would “reflect” the actors’ voices back to the audience. In Greece the actors had their backs to the sea so breezes would blow the voices to the audience. Ziba, during her school days, was in the chorus of the musical Hair which was performed here. Cats and something we can’t remember were also performed here as it is still a “working theater.” Interestingly an amphitheater which is a complete circle gets its name from the world amphi which means double or both so it has “double theaters.” The amphitheater at Salamis was destroyed by an earthquake in the 6^th century.

We truly had a wonderful tour and this email isn’t doing it justice…so you’ll just have to go there and ask for Ziba Kaya for your tour guide…if she hasn’t moved to the US with her boyfriend.

Since Salamis we’ve been to Kaleburnu, several days with Heidi and Kalle and some local walks in between. And our Passover Dinner with Eve!   Eventually I’ll catch up

Ru

DoraMac

Charmaine and Linda on the dance floor.

I couldn’t get Randal onto the dance floor, but sitting them out was ok too.

Jill and Denise Margaret, Donkey Dave, Denise, and Kip

Denise cooks, teaches Turkish, leads walks, and SHE CAN DANCE!

Sue and Julia enjoying the performance form Bobby and Simon’s wife…good thing Bobby is the “skinny guy!

Simon and his wife were wonderful but our favorite performer of the evening was Deena!

Deena

Proud mom and best friend “Husband” as Deena calls him (affectionately.)

A very wonderful evening!

  Just got back late this afternoon from another wonderful visit with Heidi and Kalle in the Girne area.  It was the invasion of the North Americans as there were 4 of us this time: Linda, Charmaine, Randal and me.  It was just great (as Heidi would say) and I took a billion photos to share.  But first I need to back up to tell you about the wonderful dinner DEKS put on for the "soon to be leaving" cruisers last Monday night.  This is part one of two.

Ru

DEKS’ Farewell Dinner

Cruising season is beginning and lots of folks will be leaving the Karpaz Gate Marina, so DEKS hosted a farewell dinner.

Mom and daughter team: Denise in the kitchen and Deena tending bar.

Linda, Charmaine and I walked from the marina to DEKS so arrived ready for a drink.

Randal ferried two car loads of cruisers from the marina to DEKS so was ready for a bottle of Effes.

Charmaine, Eve, and Linda make plans for our reunion in Israel.

Dinner buffet….my favorites were the grilled lamb chops, but everything was wonderful.

And I ate it all!

Bobby and Deena behind the bar…notice Deena’s beautiful hair.

Deks used to stand for Denise, Erin, Keith and Sue. Now it stands for Denise, Erin, Kip, and “the skinny guy.” Bobby is “the skinny guy.”

Keeping track of everyone’s tab…better Deena and Erin than me.

Kip (one of DEKS’ owners) with her back to the camera and Donkey Dave and his wife Margaret, volunteer helpers.

Erin enjoying the evening too!

Brenda, Mick, Robin and Julia were some of the many British Xpats who were there too.

Everyone ate tons of food so after dinner it was time to work it off!

Kip and Margaret get the dancing started.

TK (Deena’s husband) looks on as Denise and Kip take a break from chores and have a good time.

Simon, a wonderful singer and entertainer, sang up a storm and Eve danced up a storm.

The dance floor belonged to the ladies!

Even I got in on the act…flying hair!

Part 2 completes our day in Büyükkonuk.

Ru

After lunch we went to the Children’s Park named for Alikko and Caher famous radio personalities from Büyükkonuk who set their sketches in Büyükkonuk village.

Alikko and Caher are described as the Cypriot Laurel and Hardy

The plaque at the park.

Nothing in the park was more interesting than the very small black goat on the other side of the fence.

Working off lunch with our future dinner in the bag on the ground.

We honestly had no clue how to use some of it. (Charmaine’s photo)

Charmaine, Linda and I set off on Walk # 28 in Walks of North Cyprus

Following the directions in the book took us ‘round Robin’s barn and back to where we started before we headed off the right way.

Father Time with his scythe

Bricks from an ancient Roman road (Charmaine’s photo)

Name: Agave, Agave Americana

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/node/69931

“Otherwise known as: Century Plant, Giant American Aloes

Habitat: A perennial succulent member of the Agavaceae family growing up to 8m in well-drained sandy soil in full sun and native to Central America. The plant develops from a series of rosettes, the leaves being serrated and blade-shaped, terminating in rigid spikes. There is a mistaken belief that the plant flowers every 100 years, hence the appellation Century Plant, however, it flowers after seven or eight years, from a single central stem that can reach a height of 8m, and bears rays of pale white flowers that then leave decorative hard seed pods. All basal parts of the plant are poisonous.

What does it do: Agave is named after the daughter of the Greek god Cadmos, the mythological founder of Thebes.

The plant was fermented into a powerful alcoholic beverage, known as pulque, by the Aztecs and featured prominently in their religious ceremonies, being given to those about to be sacrificed and consumed by the priests that would perform the deed, according to Hernando Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico.

Agave contains calcium oxalates, needle shaped crystals, that cause severe dermatitis if the sap comes in contact with the skin, and acute conjunctivitis in the eyes. The extremely sharp leaf terminals can easily penetrate the skin and will result in extensive bruising that will takes weeks to heal. Excessive exposure to the sap will not only give rise to serious skin disorders but will lead to long term diarrhea, headaches and myalgia.

The plant was introduced into Europe in the 16th century, although there are claims that there is evidence of Agave in Greece from the first millennia before Christ. Medicinally, Central American shamen used the plant as a treatment for inflamed rheumatic joints, jaundice, syphilis and pulmonary tuberculosis. The Aztecs made enemas from the root to treat dysentery.

An interesting aspect of Agave is that when the pulque is distilled into tequila, it is highly recommended by Mexican herbalists as a beneficial treatment for ulcerative colitis, Chron’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and colonic cancer.

Agave has many practical uses, ranging from providing a soap that will lather in sea water, fibre for ropes and nets, pens, nails, needles, stock hedges and razor strops; a syrup rich in vitamins is obtained from the heart of the plant.

Recent research reveals that Agave contains Hecogenin needed in the production of synthetic steroids, and the sap can be used to stop the growth of putrefying bacteria in the intestines.

Once the plant flowers it will die, but over the years it produces a series of offshoots that will continue to flourish.

Agave is very common in Cyprus, particularly in the Mezoria region, and in the past the municipalities would spray the flower stems and use them for Christmas decorations.”

Linda and Charmaine birding…

Well it was a short cut…. (Charmaine’s photo)

I thought I knew how to get back to the church in town, but it dead-ended in a family’s back yard. The people who lived there happily showed us the “path” to the church. But now that it’s snake and tick season we’ll avoid these kind of short cuts.

Buyukkonuk’s finest!

Then it was back in the car and home to DoraMac!

  Everything is starting to jumble in my head about where we have been when.  Thank goodness for photos to remind me.  It seems ages ago that we were in Büyükkonuk   but it really was only 9 days ago.  Since then we’ve had lots of other adventures.  One day I’ll catch up.  Wednesday we’re going to Kyrenia and parts west.  We’ll stay Wednesday night with Heidi and Kalle and then go on to see what we will see returning on Friday.  Since last Sunday we’ve been to Nicosia,Deks Walk # 13, a walk in Kaleburnu, and a farewell barbecue dinner at Deks last night. This morning was Turkish lessons.  Lots to write up when there’s time. 

   But in this email we’re returning to Büyükkonuk.

Ru

Yippee  Sox finally won a game!

http://www.ecotourismcyprus.org/index.php

“Büyükkonuk is a friendly Cypriot village where local crafts are still practiced and can be seen and purchased at the Delcraft Centre there. The countryside around is lovely with views of Kantara Castle in the distance. To the E the early/middle Byzantine church of Panayia tu Kira is worth a visit.”

Walks in North Cyprus

April 1^st Büyükkonuk held its first Outdoor Festival. The scheduled activities included a nature walk, hot air balloon, Duathlon, a rock climbing wall, a bike ride, photo safari and camping. We did our own nature walks and visited the ”festive stalls” but left the rock climbing wall and hot air balloon to the more adventurous.

First things first…pat a donkey.

As you can see from this photo, my B hat hardly fits my head anymore with all of my hair!

Lois and Ismail Cemal the force behind the Delcraft Centre and much of the eco tourism in Büyükkonuk.

Who will help make the bread asked the little red hen?

In this case it’s Lois leading a “Cypriot bread” making class.

Goodies for sale.

Linda and Charmaine bought something called Turunc Reçeli which seems to translate as Seville Orange Jam. Portakal is an “orange” orange.

Kids and balloons and food can be found at a fair anywhere in the world.

A souvenir key holder shaped like a church door will go back to Canada.

Face painting is a familiar activity too.

Anne Canalp interviewing Linda and Charmaine for Cyprus Today and then photographing the hot air balloon.

Everyone wanted photos of the “senior ladies” and they graciously agreed.

Isn’t she cute! (photo by Charmaine)

Waiting for kids to go donkey riding. (photo by Charmaine)

After my horse ride in China and the pony trek in the Philippines, I took a pass on the donkey rides tempting as they were. And no one over the age of 6 seemed to be riding so we would have looked odder than I had a mind to look.

The “Bird Man of Cyprus” Gavin Croucher and his family with Charmaine and Linda

http://www.kuskor.org/en/kuskor/cyprus-wildlife-guide.html

Charmaine and Linda are “birders” and have enjoyed lots of sightings in the short time they have been here. They made contact with the local birding association Kuskor and will take part in a watching expedition on April 14^th along the Karpaz Peninsular.

Anne recommended Fatti’s for lunch so that’s where we went.

He looks quite a character: The sign read’s Fatti Abanin’s Place

The barber chair and prices for hair, beard and “hair and beard”

Interestingly lira used to have lots more 00000 and there seems to be no discount for hair and beard together as you just add the price of them separately.

Once a barber’s shop, Anne told us it was converted to a restaurant by Fatti’s widow.

Cypriot crafts on the wall. The framed art are created from cut silkworm cocoons.

The family table out back.

Alfresco lunch which gave us a great view of the “oldish car parade.”

Yummmmm Tatar Böreğİ Turkish Dumplings (Charmaine’s photo)

We’d eaten this dish in Turkey where it was served in a yogurt sauce but I like this better served simply in the meat broth. These were filled with lamb with grated cheese on top and we ate every bit. We’d ordered two of these dishes and two of the Yahnili El Makarnasi which was a pasta dish topped with a fricasseed chicken leg. We went home with most of the pasta and had it for dinner with vegetables and that also made a wonderful meal.

In case you want to make it at home, here is a description and recipe.

Turkish Dumplings http://www.superluminal.com/cookbook/substantial_manti.html

One of the most ancient dishes in Turkic cuisine (in modern Turkey called Tatar B�regi, "boerek of the Tatars"), manti originated in Central Asia, and remains a staple food there. It is commonly served as a one-dish meal. This recipe offers two variations, one stuffed with meat and the other with a meat-pumpkin blend.

Total time 1-1/2 hours

Dough

8 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp. salt

3 eggs

3/4+ cup water

Filling #1: Meat

4 cups ground meat

1-1/2 cups minced onions

3/4 cup finely chopped parsley

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. black pepper

Filling #12: Meat & Pumpkin

2 cups ground meat

1-1/2 cups minced onions

2 cups pumpkin, or pumpkin and carrots, peeled and finely chopped

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. black pepper

Sauces and garnishes for meat-filled manti

3 cups peeled and chopped tomato

1/2 cup butter

1/2 tsp. cayenne

4 cups yogurt

2 tbsp. minced garlic

Melted butter

Sour cream

Combine all but 1/2 cup of the flour, and the salt, in a bowl. Make a well in the center and add the eggs and water. Mix well, then knead for 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and slightly stiff. Divide it into three parts, cover with a damp towel and let it rest for 30 minutes. While the dough rests, prepare one of the fillings. Combine all of the filling ingredients and mix well.

On a floured surface, roll out one ball of dough to 1/4" thickness, sprinkling lightly over the top with flour. Cut the dough into 1" squares. Place 1/2 tsp. of filling into the center of each square. Bring the corners together, sealing and pressing it into a tiny bundle; or fold it into a triangle. Seal the dough by pressing the edges together. Place the manti on floured baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the dough and filling.

Fill a large pot with water, add salt and bring to boil over medium heat. Add the manti and stir gently to keep them from sticking to each other. Do not crowd the pot. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the manti are tender but firm. Alternately, manti can be steamed in a well-oiled steamer; this takes a little more time, about 30-45 minutes.

If you are preparing manti filled only with meat, prepare the sauces. Combine the minced tomato, butter and cayenne in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat and cover the pot to keep warm.

Whisk together the yogurt and minced garlic and set aside.

When the manti are ready, transfer them to a serving dish. For meat-filled manti, pour the yogurt-garlic mixture on top, then drizzle with the tomato sauce and serve hot. For meat and pumpkin-filled manti, garnish with melted butter and sour cream.

Free fresh orange juice was served after our meal.

Signs out front of the restaurant.

Part of the car parade.

Next email will be our after lunch adventures

We’re on the whirlwind tour of North Cyprus so I’ve not had much time to write and share our adventures.  I hope to catch up one day…..  Anyway, here is a sort of preview through the photos of our new friends.  Wednesday we had a wonderful tour of ancient Salamis lead by Ziba Kaya and Friday we had a wonderful tour of Nicosia lead by  Selin Feza Akça.  While in Famagusta we had our teeth cleaned by Dentist Sultan Erenköylu and Friday night made new friends at Passover dinner on Eve’s boat.  And then there is our friend who owns the restaurant in Famagusta. We ate there while in Famagusta, but then we always do!  All of those people are connected to stories and eventually I will write them.  Now here is the preview.

Ru

Salamis

Sharing the latrine at ancient Salamis….only with a friend! Ziba Kaya our wonderful Salamis guide

(photo by Charmaine)

Learning from a master!

Sevgi Kara (in black) was training to be a guide.

Famagusta

An impromptu Turkish lesson from the owner of our favorite restaurant in Famagusta.

Her zaman burada yiyorus yemek. We always eat here. They have great doner and we always eat them.

Now let me see if I get that…..

Our wonderful and gentle Famagusta dentist Sultan Erenköylu (L) and her assistant .

Sultan is the niece of Denise’s husband Erin.

Randal having his teeth cleaned.

Nicosia

Linda, Charmaine, Randal, Selin Feza Akça, Tatiana, and Yena

Selin was our guide in Famagusta and had to tell everything twice; once in Turkish and once in English as our group was a mix of people. Tatiana from Siberia (with school time in Richmond, VA! and Yena who helped me when I tried to understand the tour in Turkish. Both Tatiana and Yena were studying to be guides and were also learning from a master.

Our Israeli friend Eve has recently returned

Friday night we had a Passover dinner of wonderful Chinese food. The egg rolls were hand-made and started out as blintz wrap! Here she is with Charmaine who is wearing her new “Cypriot” crocheted scarf bought at the Ladies Koop at the Büyük Han in Nicosia.

Ünal Dede and Hülya Koçak

Ünal is a well known guitarist and sailor in Cyprus and Hülya is his true love except just now she is living in Austria and working as a teacher.

Ladies who walk!

Linda, Ruth, Sharman with Sophie, and Charmaine.  We walked today and Charmaine took the photo with the timer. 

  We are on the whirlwind tour of North Cyprus!  Everyday we’re off on some adventure from early morning to night.  I’m really not awake enough to be typing but I’m afraid if not now, then when?  Along with having a great time with Charmaine and Linda, we have been having wonderful meals as they are both great cooks.  I’m the volunteer dish washer and am perfectly happy with that job.  This morning we were off by 8 am for our tour of Salamis.  After lunch Charmaine and Linda toured old Famagusta while Randal and I went off to have our teeth cleaned by Denise’s niece who is a dentist.  Lastly we did some food shopping getting back to the boat about 6 pm.  Dinner was great and now I’m just about ready for bed!  I will write when I have time but our days are very busy as our time winds down here in wonderful North Cyprus. 

Happy Passover and Happy Easter to all of you.

Ru

ps Tomorrow our friends American friends Bill and Judy are cooking dinner for us and Friday our Israeli friend Ev has invited us for a Passover dinner of Chinese food!  What a world.

Sunday we were off to Büyükkonuk for the Outdoor Festival and Sunday Market. We’d been to the Sunday Market earlier in the year with our friend Sharman when we’d had the use of Rob and Julia’s car. That had been one of the few Sundays when nothing much was happening. But we’d met Lois Cemal and learned a bit about Büyükkonuk so wanted to return with Charmaine and Linda. Thanks to Rob and Julia we knew that April 1^st was to be the first Büyükkonuk Outdoor Festival so chose this past Sunday to return to there. We weren’t disappointed and had a wonderful time. We combined a walk from my North Cyprus Walks book so it was a perfect day

http://www.mydoramac.com/wordpress/?p=9640 is the link to our earlier visit to Büyükkonuk.

Panayia Kyra Church:

On the way to Büyükkonuk we stopped in Sazlıköy to make the short walk to the Panayia Kyra Church.

“Located close to the neighboring village of Sazlıköy/Leivadya, this early Byzantine church dates to the 6th Century. Little remains of the original mosaics that decorated the apse as villagers believed that swallowing a piece of mosaic would cure ailments. Some 13th century candle smoke stained paintings can be seen high in the copula. Both a narthex and porch were added to this domed structure that is built in the shape of a cross. There is a well right in the middle of the little church.” http://www.ecotourismcyprus.org/aboutbuyukkonuk.php

We parked across from the Sazlıköy Muslim Cemetery.

After the walk we visited the cemetery which is always very interesting.

The path up the dirt road to the church.

Lots of lovely spring flowers.

The path to the church: perfectly lovely.

The tall grass around the church seemed to indicate there are not so many visitors.

The back of the church

Bushwhacking our way into the church through brush.

And startling the flock of pigeons nesting inside.

The well.

Exploring

Once there had been wall paintings.

“Some 13th century candle smoke stained paintings can be seen high in the copula.”

I was positive Charmaine had a photo that showed the images so I hunted for them on the Internet while she was busy, found none, so looked at her photos and they looked like this too. Not sure what I had thought I had seen. But even without paintings the small church was very “church-like.”

Group photo

Very carefully interacting with a thistle plant.

I told Randal the thistle would sting, but the purple color was just too tempting.

Walking back to the car from the church though trails leading the other direction were very tempting.

Then a quick visit to the cemetery..

Then back into the car and off to Büyükkonuk