Paphos People

Well I seriously miffed , I typed this up once then lost it somewhwere , never mind here we go again. When we did this trip we did'nt know where we were going , as I do now I will add route info .

A Troodos trip with pictures .

Picked up from hotel just after nine , traveled out of town towards Episkopi , stoppe on a side road for an intoduction session , drivers name is Stellios . Told us the general plan for the day and indicated where we would be going ,






We drove through the area with a stop in a real Cypriot village , old people outside the coffee shop and so on , walked through part of it to get the flavour .

Travelled on to Agia Moni where we had a look inside the monestry and a history lesson , then on to Chrysorrogiassa monestry , this was the coffee stop , about 30 minutes , time for chat and enjoy the view .





From here we went off road , up into the hills through the vineyards and along tracks in the middle of nowhere , Stellios stopped a couple of times and got out only to come back with a bit of wild growing herb or a bunch of grapes .

Eventually we arrived in the deserted village of Vretsia , I cannot see how people managed to live so far out from all the things needed for daily life . No wonder people left . here is a shot of the village .




On through the forrest , up and down twisting tracks and then arrived at Roudia Bridge , we stopped here and had the grapes and some more great info from Stellios , this guy just oozes local knowledge , it's a beautiful spot and would be seriously nice for a summer picnic .




From here the guests took a short walk down the track to another spot down the river , this is a cave that is used by fruit bats , it is the one where hunters went in and shot them a while back , when we were there you could climb up to the cave and see them .

Then on down the river vally through amazing scenary and more info on the area , one small hold up wirh a fallen tree to move .





On along the track , or more like dry river bed untill we reached the monestry of Panagia Sinti , very old and partly renovated , had world heritage status . Beautiful paintings inside .





And the exterior.




From here we made our way to the lunch stop , I think this is a taverna on the edge of Armargeti , here we had a meze , costs extra of course and book at time of trip booking .

We had a good hour or so here , plenty of time to relax and chat , my lady and I managed to have a good chat with Stellios about Cyprus life and history , we also found out that he was well travelled , he had spent time living in France and was fluent in about four languages . He came back to Cyprus because he missed his family , so it seems that family bonds happen to everybody .

Back on the road and some tarmac and concrete later we came in to Episkopi from the back of the village down a narrow track , we were encouraged to walk up through the village to meet up below the big cliff with the church perched on the top .





According to Stellios the cliff is of a totally different rock than the surrounding area and was lifted up by an earthquake and plate shifting episode long ago .

From here we travelled back to Paphos on the main road , passed a couple of lorrys loaded with goats , all looking happy being driven down the road .

We got back to the hotel probably between five and five thirty.

We had a great time and would have no hesitation in recomending it . Okay so the back of a landrover is'nt always the best view point but there is ample time out of it to see things .

We did this in Oct. 2005 , when we came back in May 2006 and hired a jeep and retraced some of the route , we also went down to Lara and while in the cafe there the safari jeeps arrived and there was Stellios , we went and spoke with him and he actually apologised for not recognising us , as if he would be able to after doing probably six trips a week with different faces every day ,

But he did thank us for comoing over and chatting to him as it seemed the bunch he had that day were a miserable shower.


So there is a day out on safari , hope you enjoyed it , sorry if it's been a bit long winded , the first version was even longer .

_________________
Mike.

Live each day as if it's your last ,
cos one day it will be .

WOW

Thats great, I've never been on one myself but I feel as if I have now, only kidding mate, it gives everyone reading it an insight into what they can do & see

Thanks for the great post

Thanks Pete ,

as this was done in 2005 we only came for a week , we needed some chill out time so only did two trips , this was one and the other was the one day Egypt trip .

But this Troodos trip was the cause of me getting Cypusitis , it was so nice to go to places in the middle of the forrests and just enjoy the total peace and calm .

Hope we can get back this year but it might be Sept/Oct again , but thats a lovely time as it's not TOO hot.

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Mike.

Live each day as if it's your last ,
cos one day it will be .

Hi Mike,

I'd personally would love to live out in the middle of nowhere, like that village you went too, it would only take an hour of so once a week to come into town & get your goods to last, no neighbours, no fuss, just me, the missus & the pup.. what a life

I'd love to see & hear about your trip to Egypt too if you don't mind sharing that is

You could start a new post called 'Trip to Eygpt' or something & add pictures, it would be nice for people like me who've never been there

Really fabulous tale Mike...thank you for sharing it with us. Great pics too, which capture the flavour perfectly. Just wish it was as warm as that now...it's taters here this evening Lloyd

Thanks for that have done parts of it before nice to look at it again.
I would love to live a way from it all but untill the lottery comes up we need to stay where we can work.
Tricia

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new me new life, , never forget my cyprus life and friends .

Hi Mike

Thanks for sharing that and it is exactly the sort of thing we will be looking at doing.Especially the lunch bit.The pictures are great.

frank

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Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly!
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably
And never regret anything that made you smile Warning Internet forums may contain nuts

I have just found this thread..
great pictures

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REACH 1000`s of PAPHOS CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY FOR A FRACTION OF WHAT THE OTHERS CHARGE
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Whilst the optimist and the pessimist argued that the whisky glass was either half full
or half empty ? .
I drank it .....
The opportunist..

We did a similar trip in October 2004 when we were here just for a 1 week holiday. Our driver was Andreas and he was a mine of information and a laugh as well. It cost about £25 but the lunch was included at a taverna we were told is the "highest" in Cyprus. Meze with 2nds and 3rds if required and as much wine as required.

The trip from Paphos headed to the mountains wending our way to Troodos, stopping to see the Moufflon along the way to one of the monastries with a large museum. We stopped often for photo's etc and after lunch continued offroad to view some unbelievable scenery well off the beaten track. We walked from the landrovers at one point to a fountain you would not find by chance and thoroughly enjoyed the whole outing. Purchased a video at end of the day as a reminder (they brought it to the hotel couple of days later) well worth the extra £5.

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Helen

Of all the things I've lost............ I miss my mind the most! __________________________________________________
Never say Never!