Jun 12, 2018 - Divided Nicosia, Cyprus

Once again we boarded a bus for a direct, easy trip to the country's divided capital of Nicosia. The Nicosia bus station sports a neon board with information about where to catch buses destined all around the country. Our first order of business was a trip to the post office, just a couple of blocks away from the bus station along the wall. Eschewing any other souvenirs, we collect stamps in every country to add to Christopher's substantial collection. The collection started with my grandfather, who had friends around the world and loved to...

Jun 8, 2018 - Paphos' historical sites, wine-tasting, and snorkeling on Cyprus

Ryan air decided where we were staying in Cyprus. In our quest to see all of the European countries, we wanted to make sure to include Cyprus. The cheapest flights were via Ryan air, arriving and departing (super early) from Paphos. So Paphos it was! An inexpensive bus regularly runs from the Paphos airport to the main bus station in the "old town," as well as the harbor area. Unfortunately, our flight out of Cyprus left very early in the morning, too early to take the bus, which meant an expensive taxi ride back to the airport (like at...

Apr 18, 2012 - Larnaca

4-18/19 Wiki Info Larnaca Still in Limassol: Since we heard nothing to indicate the visa to Iran would be available here in Cyprus, there was no need to get up early for a bus to Nicosia/Lefkosa. We had an easy going morning, Valerie talked to Nikos and he made it possible for her to stay at Mistral for 3 days at a reasonable price. We stopped at the internet where Bon heard from Iran...they say they have been trying to get a hold of the visa ministry to determine what the status is for our approval. No definite word as yet but Bon feels...

Apr 17, 2012 - Cyprus - Limassol & Kyrenia

You don't need to be a Facebook user to view the the Cyprus album, copy and paste the link https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151501802310707.833781.746395706&type=3&l=dc363065d1 Easter Sunday We had hoped to take a bus into town, but we are told it is the start of four days public holiday, and most places will be shut. Mid-morning people are coming back into the hotel reporting that almost everything is shut. The weather is not that flash either, so it is a good day to blob out. At lunchtime the hotel puts on Easter drinks and...

Apr 16, 2012 - Limassol

Our last few days in Cyprus before flying out 7:30pm Wednesday, 18th to Kuwait. 4-16 Wiki Info Limassol Back to Limassol via Paphos/Pafos...interesting that all the Turkish buses we have taken had governors which presented them from going over 80km/hr(50mph) . In Greece and now Cyprus S the buses can go upwards of 100km/hr, very curious since the highways in most cases are of equal quality and likewise, the buses. In fact, I'd say the buses in Turkey overall are better. We had arranged to connect again with Valerie but we needed more info...

Apr 14, 2012 - Cyprus - Famagusta

You don't need to be a Facebook user to view the the Cyprus album, copy and paste the link https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151501802310707.833781.746395706&type=3&l=dc363065d1 Saturday 14th April After breakfast we leave on another tour, this will take us to Famagusta, we will be back on the Turkish side. EUR79 each for this tour, and it includes lunch. The tour guide has a familiar twang to her accent, Mary spent a few years in Aussie – we could understand this one! She was born in Famagusta and was forced out in the invasion....

Apr 14, 2012 - Polis

4-14 A 15 minute walk to the old port and the bus to Paphos where we discovered - not unexpectedly - that all archeological sites and museums are closed. Wiki Info Polis Got the bus to Polis where our Mariela Hotel Apts and owner, Pambos, greeted us with tea, cake, and Easter bread. He gave us a run down of the town and sights on a map and told us this has been the wettest/coldest winter in 100 years!! Today has been overcast and in the afternoon/eve it began raining! Not all that unpleasant since this place is also very nice, the same...

Apr 13, 2012 - Lemesos or Limassol or ?

4-13 Friday the 13th, Mari's lucky day (she says, I think it's just a hoax!). Onward after a long pause - for us - going to Lemesos or Limassol or ?...very confusing here with at least 2 names for every town! Greek, Turkish, and sometimes ancient name when I try to Google or find info it seems no one can agree on just one name (sometimes even in the towns themselves!! Good to have these days 'off' to wash clothes, etc. even has been good getting rid of Mari's cold, I think her fits of coughing are over...good for all concerned. A walk...

Apr 11, 2012 - Cyprus

You don't need to be a Facebook user to view the the Cyprus album, copy and paste the link https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151501802310707.833781.746395706&type=3&l=dc363065d1 Wednesday 11th April An early start this morning, we are up at 6am. The bus will be here at 6.45 to take us to the airport. Breakfast is a coffee and some of the carrots we got at the supermarket the other day. Reception calls to say the bus is here, and we head to the lifts, but the lift doesn’t come, again. Finally we give up waiting and Tony heads down...

Apr 10, 2012 - Lefkosia, Cyprus

4/10 Well, our plan to meet Valerie did not work...we waited until 11 but she did not appear. However, around 9:45 I saw a bus heading out of town w/ a gal in the back who looked just like her and she was standing up seemingly waving. We went across the street to the internet until 2:30pm when we returned to the bus station. Surprize, there she was having just returned from her bus trip w/ school children to several of the sites in the area! And, yes, it was her I saw in the bus but she was unsuccessful in stopping the driver so she had...

Apr 9, 2012 - Guzelyurt - Morphou

Wiki Info St Mamas Darling of the Tea Party We had arranged yesterday to meet Valerie, French gal, at the bus station for the 8:30am bus to Salamis ruins (she is staying in Girne and 'commuting' to the various historic sites which seems very smart to me in retrospect). Sure enough she appears just as we walk up 10 min. before departure, a quick exchange of what our interval days were each like and off we went. Our explore of Salamis and this Royal Tombs a short walk away takes us the entire 4+ hours we have before meeting the return bus at...

Apr 8, 2012 - Gazimagusa - Famagusta

Wiki Info Famagusta Still in Dipkarpaz: 4-8 Since a hired taxi to Golden Beach/End of peninsula would cost $100 lira ($65 US) we decided to forgo that experience and instead we took a hike cross country (a choice we made once we took a wrong turn). The 2 km to the 'beach' bushwacking took 2 hours...the walk back via the road we should have taken took 45 min. All in all a fine adventure and back by 4, plenty of time to spare cooling off in the shade of 'The Arches' of Arch Houses waiting for the 5pm bus back. To Famagusta The bus to 'Magusa...