My Recent Trip to Cyprus

The Island of Cyprus: A Curious blend of Greek, Turkish, British and other European influences, like strong coffee. You can drink traditional coffee, espresso, or take it light, sweet, frothy, and on the rocks as a frappe. Those are very popular there during summer.

I finally saw one of those infamous archaic “toilets” I was warned about several years ago. It was in the old town of Lemesos. It wasn't just a hole in the floor. There were 2 stalls with doors in the Ladies’ Room. Inside of each, the floor was indented and curved in such a way to avoid spillage. There was also a trash bin for paper waste and a toilet tank suspended on the wall, with a roll of toilet tissue sitting on top. And this facility was located right at the bottom of Cleopatra’s Street at the intersection of Freedom Road! I don’t think Cleo would have approved.

Next time I’ll keep looking for a MacDonald’s establishment. The food is nothing special, but I bet the bathrooms are a little more modern!

Cataclysm

We went to the fair in the town of Larnaca, in the country of Cyprus, which coincided with Memorial Day weekend here.

There was cotton candy, ice cream, and grilled corn on the cob. There were many stands with nuts and dried fruits and a local speciality called suzuko (almonds or walnuts surrounded by a grape gelatinous candy, shaped in long tubes). They had some rides; a ferris wheel and bumper cars along with other rides that use centrifugal force to push you around or turn you upside down.

They were selling some of the usual items: jewelry, spelled “jewellery” here, hairbands and other adornments, tee shirts, scarves, toys and some more interesting items: towels, bras and lamps. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them at a county or state fair in the USA.

I was told that no one goes to the fair before 9pm. The whole family (including baby) is supposed to go to the fair after 10 o’clock mostly to be seen. The teenagers go to meet other teenagers.

It was crowded. I would say it reminded me of Coney Island 25 years ago.

The fair was called “Kataklysmos,” which is the basis for the word, cataclysm. I was told this festival was a celebration of Pentecost, but I don’t understand the title, since cataclysm in English means flood or inundation, or a momentous violent event like an earthquake.

I will share more of my observations during my trip to Cyprus and Greece in the near future.