Day 16: Cyprus!

After a much-sooner than anticipated reunion with Costas, Ally and Paul at the Ercan airport on Tuesday evening, we headed south west toward the border between Turkish and Greek Cyprus. It was one of the best airport arrivals and welcomes I've had, particularly since coming to get me was no small feat for them either. Costas had to get automobile insurance for Turkish Cyprus, and all three endured a bit of a grilling at the border when they tried to cross. All of this after a surprising phone call at 5:30pm saying... "I've landed in Cyprus!"

We passed through the Turkish border later in the evening, with only one the final Cyrpiot border to go. While I had made it to the island, I still have a flip flopping stomach, concerned that they might not let me south. We pulled up along the road under the border lights, and a British woman, as border guard, approached the car at the Cypriot border. If their formality in checking passports was anything like the formality (ie. lack thereof) of the border crossing, then I figured the process might be relatively smooth. 

We handed all four passports over. She looked at each, and asked if I had brought anything with me from the Turkish side. She opened the boot, and peered inside my luggage.

She walked back to the front of the car and handed the passports back to Costas in the driver's seat.

We pulled away.

And then I was in greek Cyprus!

We drove right to Costas' parents home and enjoyed a delicious meal of pasta, chicken and salad with Greek white wine on the terrace- the nearby mediterranean sea bringing a breeze and salty, humid air. It was incredible. Dinner was topped off with a chocolate cake prepared by Costas' grandmother- adorned with candied orange and walnuts. It was surreal.

I asked what the cake was called, and Costas and his father both look at me and reply flatly,

"Chocolate cake."

Ally, Paul and I were shuttled by Costas- our generous host for the week- to our accommodation (a spare home belonging to another family member) in the town of Paralimni, not 10 minutes away. Not having slept much in my adventure to arrive in Cyprus (having done it less than 24hours after the original scheduled arrival), I slept as soundly as ever.

Breakfast of fruit salad, greek yoghurt, and sweet bread, my first morning in Cyprus.

Ally at our comfortable 'digs' in Cyprus, Thanks to the Savvides family!

We slept in until nearly noon today and packed our cool box, heading straight to the beach. The sea was warm and the air a perfect temperature. I still couldn't believe I had actually made it and was sitting on the sand in the warm sunshine, eating fresh fruit and taking in the view of the turqoise blue waters and rocky shoreline nearby. 

Hello Cyprus.



...and with holiday mode fully kicking in, I'm sorry to say that I can't promise daily blog posts. While it won't be daily, Iwill be sure to report on our Cypriot adventures... hunting, exploring caves, more beach, sunshine, wine, and tasty food.