4/30/10 – Friday – Xyliatos - Lagoudera – Dinner with the cousins

4/30/10 – Friday – Lagoudera – Dinner with the cousins

Pictures are only thumbnails. Click for full version.

So, today I decided to follow Bobbe's advice and take a hike up at Lagoudera and see the Byzatine church. Driving along I came upon this little nugget of visual delight. The Xyliatos Dam. Quite tranquil with light misty rain falling. Stopped and took these pictures.

Moving on, I get to Lagoudera. By the time I get there, it's pouring down rain. This is Cyprus. Where did all the rain come from? And hail? I don't mind getting a little wet, but getting paintballed is too much for me.

So, I continued on took a leisurely drive back home and headed out for a hike around Lakatamia. after about 45 minutes of walking, I realized I was lost and would have difficulty in retracing my steps. I kept walking looking for someone to ask for directions. I find someone laying brick and ask him how to get to the St. Nicholas church in Lakatamia (at this point, I'm about 3-4Km away). He asks where my car is. I tell him at the church. He asks how did you get here? I tell him I walked. He thinks this over for a few seconds and decides I'm not some crazy person, and gives me directions. The perambulations led me to a bread shop where I bought some olive bread and Airani. Hey, I got hungry after 5K. Back to the house for a short nap and bath before dinner.

Does everyone remember the Cappari from a couple of days ago? Here it is in the bottle. Now we wait for the magic to happen.

Dinner with Bobbe, Stella their husbands and Julie @ Syrian restaurant. Had kebabs, koupes, salads and white coffe (strange hot drink with rosewater and hot water - I think it should be called clear whatever...) nice palate cleanser at the end.

Mastiha (this is the wikipedia link - click both) and pistachio ice cream was superlative, exquisite, divine and pretty darn good. We also had Mahalepi (see also here search the page for mahalepi). It was pretty good, but not as good as the ice cream.

After dinner, drinks with Julie @ Latin club. Mojitos - mmmm I like mohitos made with Cypriot mint better I think...

Random Thoughts:

I still haven't found a hat. This is more urgent as we'll be going to Protaras.

4/29/10 – Thursday – Zygi Fish!

4/29/10 – Thursday – Zygi Fish!

So, today we went to Zygi and had some fish with Poly and Nitsa.

Zygi is known for fisheries, fishing and well, eating of said fish.

Here are a couple of pictures from the restaurant and the surrounding area. First view of the Med since we arrived – Bonus!

We all had the barbouni (Red Mullet). Well, we had to. Not because it was the most expensive thing on the menu, but because it was so fresh. I think it was caught that morning. It was damn tasty. I was able to eat 4, and that's saying something.

Food Porn!

See the bread? It's toasted, with olive oil and oregano. Works just as well as garlic if you ask me.

Here are a couple of pictures.

Sneaky bastards - trying to avoid becoming a snack.

Dinner with Uncles Frixos', with Uncle John and families. Nadina made some excellent grub. Sat at the “small” table with the cousins. I really enjoyed getting to know them. Looking forward to doing it again.

Pic of the siblings + SOs

Picture of the cousins that were present. You can play Spot the Blogger with these....

Random Thoughts:

• I Really Really need to buy a freaking hat.

That's it for now... Stay Tuned...

4/28/10 – Wednesday - The free art gallery

4/28/10 – Wednesday - The free art gallery

So, today Cousin Bobbe picked me up around noon and we headed down into old Lefkosia (or Nicosia if you prefer – I will use them interchangeably throughout the rest of this trip). Yea, that one... Inside the walls and moat. Saw the old fortifications, saw the moat (now drained), the gates, Eleftheria monument and other interesting sights. Had lunch of grilled chicken, fried olives and salad at a local eatery and headed to a gallery to see an exhibition of Yannis Tsarouchis' paintings.

Here is a selection of the displayed works. Sorry, but all I had was my phone, so you'll have to imagine them in better quality. See if you can tell what the common theme in them is... Cousin and I had a great time debating the merits of triangles in art as well as Tsarouchis' use of light, shadow and well... the obvious.

The artist himself

So after that, we took a stroll through the narrow streets and ended up at the Green Line. The hostilities have eased in the past few years so after a bit of prodding, I got cousin to cross with me over to the “dark side”. We walked around a bit and scouted photo locations. Will post pictures when we go back.

Then, back to Bobbe's house for tea and Halloumi Bread. Chatted a bit about where I HAVE to visit next. Got back to the house for chilling and dinner.

After dinner, visting more cousins (Revekka, Frosa etc...)

Random Thoughts

• I REALLY REALLY need to buy a hat – Seriously – Before Saturday.

Contradiction of the day (this may become a regular feature depending on my observational acuteness).

• Guy puffing away on a cigarette right under the NO SMOKING sign.

• Oh and this sign says... "Air for Sale"

4/27/10 – Tuesday - the Elusive Caper Bush

4/27/10 – the Elusive Caper Bush

All pictures are thumbnails - click for bigger version.

So, today, cousin Polydoros and I went collecting Cappari. For the uninitiated, caper berries come from the caper bush. The caper berries (hereon referred to as Koutrouvi) are the unopened flowers, that are picked, and pickled. The Cypriots also eat the fresh shoots from the bush (also pickled). According to my sources the Greeks do NOT do that (no matter what Wikipedia says). The bushes here are wild and the collectors have to hike about looking for them (read: long pants, gloves and walking/reaching sticks.

OK, so you drive, stop, get out, grab your equipment and walk around looking for the freaking things. Poly tells me to start looking. I tell him I don't know what I'm looking for. Ahh, he says, let me show you. He shows me and I'm off and hiking. Equipped with dangerous knowledge, I spot several bushes and start picking.

On a side note, these things have thorns. Seriously. Look at the picture from the link above. Well, first time out, I was excited and forgot the gloves. Let's say that the bounty was paid with torn skin and a bit of blood. But Dammit, I was getting mine. Oh and did I mention that you have to watch for poisonous snakes? Apparently the walking stick is used to scare off the snakes by beating on the bushes around where you're walking. I did a lot of dirt-caning – ahem...

We walk around pick some, get back in the car, drive a bit and repeat for 10 or so times. Fast forward 2-3 hours, and we have a cooler full of the stuff. Poly says we have about 2.5 kilos of the tasty morsels so we call it a day and head to Lefkara for some refreshments. Quick snack and some water and we head back to Lakatamia

So there's a process to make the Cappari. Soak in water for a few days, changing the water to get rid of the bitterness. Then put in jar with vinegar and salt. Let sit and enjoy in 4-5 days. I'll try to keep you apprised of the process as it goes.

Here's a picture of my share of the bounty “in process”.

Late lunch at Uncle John's house, relaxing at home, visiting Androulla for coffee, and some more sheftallia for dinner.

Random thoughts:

• I REALLY need to buy a hat.
• Nature Likes to Hide - Heracletos
  
• So far there's no clear winner in the sheftallia battle from 3 different establishments. All are equally delicious. But I, dear reader, am determined to find the best. No matter how many I'll have to eat. I will suffer for your entertainment.

4/26/10 – Monday - Mahairas

4/26/10 – Mahairas

So, today the battery died in the beast... Quick phone call, got a jump and off we were to get it changed and take care of some bidness. I had the afternoon to myself so I decided to head up to Mahairas.

Some scenery on the way.

Proof that I was there

Well, as everyone knows, you simply HAVE to visit the St. Onoufrios church on the way. I mean how can one NOT visit their namesake's church? Well, it turns out that the old St. O was an ascetic (much like me...) Here is his history and some pictures.

Church from the outside

St. Onoufrios - Note the looooooooong beard and the resemblance.

Brief history of St Onoufrios. Click to enlarge

Blow up of the church's history

\/ Inside the church \/

Guess who this tavern is named after?

Here's Mahairas monastery

The eagle of Mahairas

This is a picture of the statue of Gregoris Afxentiou

Moving on, I wanted something to eat, but there's nothing to eat off season once you enter the forest. Drudge thru to the nearest town where I find a cafe. Ask the proprietor for a sandwich. While he's making it, I'm looking around and find something that looks like a still in the back room. I ask the guy if he's making zivania. He says no, I'm making rose water (Rodostemma). I ask if I can buy some. He says sure, here's a bottle, and hands me a 1.5 liter bottle still warm from the still. I tell him, I don't want to buy that much... I'd never use that much in my life. He starts looking for another container to put it in, but he can't find anything. I grab a Fanta bottle from the fridge, open it and tell him to pour it out, wash it and fill it. He agrees and I'm all set.

Head back to the house via a circuitous route. I tell mom I have a present for her and hand her the rosewater bottle (still warm). Happy mom. Says we'll have to go get some more. I agree. Find of the day was that!

Leaving the village of rosewater...

Decided that the trees needed pruning and got busy with that. Cousin Stella showed up with her son for a visit.

Dinner consisted of leftover kleftiko and fava beans with homegrown artichokes.

Damn them (all) things is tasty...

That's all for now... Stay tuned...