Blog Update: Three Months in Cyprus Wrap Up

In our last blog we mentioned Gina from WA State (who we met in Colombia) was coming for a visit. Our last days in Cyprus we enjoyed entertaining Gina and showing her the sites. We took her to see the 9,000 year old neolithic ruins, little circular houses built by hunter gatherers. Then off to visit the North Turkish side of Cyprus. Crossing the border is a little like the difference of black and white in the movie "The Wizard of Oz" a stark difference (see pics). The military border with barbed wire splits the city of Nicosia in two and is quite literally the dividing line between the east and west political hemispheres. Christian democracy on one side and Muslim dictatorship on the other. Democracy certainly looks better for the people and of those we talked to on the Turkish side wish they could live on the other side. We went to Agia Napa, a major tourist coast town and went on a boat ride to a couple of blue lagoon swimming holes as well as a short look from afar of the ghost town Famagusta. An interesting history of the war in 1974 if one is interested just google (ghost town of famagusta) what an education we receive traveling! The water was crystal clear aqua marine. I jumped in and was back out in two minutes, Leiann took a pass, but Gina swam for an hour with water temps about 60. Next we visited a carnival ride park and Gina and Leiann went on the 70mph sling shot, pretty brave of them, I watched. We took her to various caves and tombs where me and Gina pulled out our flash lights and descended back in time, dark and old, Leiann took a pass. In leiann's defense she did go into many tomb's and caves with me, but likes steps and light, dark damp and rocky gravel, not so much. Me and Gina hiked to the top of a mountain above Aphrodite's bath, a 1,000 foot climb, Leiann went half way up and then went back down to read her book. The three of us ended that day with a nice dinner on the beach watching the sun set over the mountain we had climbed earlier. We have made several friends here in Cyprus and will miss them and the island of love. We have learned much about history and Greek mythology. We have enjoyed the traditional Greek foods and music. We now have moved on to mainland Greece and moved into our new home for a month. We look forward to exploring Athens and as much of Greece as we can fit into a month and yet we always try to take time to chill. So stay tuned for more Chrysalis Adventures! Don't forget to go to the gallery to check our pictures.