Lobsters and the Ghost City

As the sun was shining we opted for a day by the pool - mistake number one was not applying any sun screen util it was too late! Result was a rather lobster like appearance from yours truly for the evening! We did however, venture out into the environs of Amathusa, a short 2 Euro hop on the bus to Limassol. We found the old part of town and wandered aimlessly though the narrow streets lined with gift shops aplenty, selling leather belts, fridge magnets and little plastic penises which jumped about when you wound them up. Nice present for Tufty, I thought but didn't have the bottle to get one. On our return we were welcomed by the corpulent old gentleman who always sits in the same seat opposite the lobby entrance and has an opinion and knowledge about everything. He has a PhD in stating the bleeding obvious, "Been too long in the sun?"' He enquired. Sue muttered something polite in reply as I scuttled off to the lift with my pincers snapping.
We didn't feel like joining in the evening's festivities mainly on account of my beet root like forehead and Sue's sore arms so we retired after dinner to watch a film on the iPad!

Lobster Head

Today has been hire car day! Forms dutifully signed and with a tank full of petrol we headed off to the beaches of the east and the Club capital of Europe, Agia Napa. En route we took in one of the many Mosques on the island, more impressive from a distance than close up, I have to say. We arrived in Agia Napia expecting to see stragglers from the clubs making their way back to their hotels and apartments from a night of excess - what we saw were lots of octagenarians on bikes weaving to and fro and disrupting the traffic. Agia Napa has become the new Costa Geriatrica.

Ready to go clubbing in Agia Napa

As a young man I vaguely remember the crisis of 1974 when the Turkish army invaded northern Cyprus so I wanted to visit the nearest point to the deserted city of Famagusta, a city which my Aunt had visited in the 1960's and who brought me back a wooden wind instrument like a recorder, strange what you remember as a kid! We were told of an observation platform in the village of Deryneia that was right on the border that was run by an old couple who had been displaced when the Turks moved in. Apparently, families were given just 2 hours to vacate their homes and grab their belongings. Fuelled with interest we eventually found the observation post- it was closed. So we contented ourselves with a view through the barbed wire and gates and signs that told us not to take photographs. Why on earth would you want to take a photograph of wasteland? Parts of the city of Famagusta remain deserted and have been left as they were when the Turkish tanks took over in August 1974, tables and chairs still sit on the pavement outside cafes.


Back in the safety of our hotel we dined and coffeed with Phil and Barbara, a delightful couple from York who have 6 grandchildren, the eldest of which is nearly my age. We gave the show in the Apollo Ballroom a miss tonight. We need our beauty sleep for another action packed day tomorrow.