Leaving the fickle cool edge of Melbourne's winter and my well mulched feijoa trees, I am back in shorts in the first blue sky days of Cyprus summer. Still squeamishly wriggling out of my winter body as the mediterranean sun softens my worries and wobbles...Licking my Mamma Mia lips as I ride pillion on our buttery yellow Vespa, i named Bumble, navigating wildly through the crooked pale streets of Larnaca to the farmers market to buy freshly pressed olive oil (pressed on the actual spot!!!) great swathes of herbs and (what looks like but doesn't taste quite like) watercress, sweet melon and zucchinis and delicious local raw honey. I'm delightfully in HEAVEN baby....
Determined to escape Melbournes winter once again with no plan other than to play as fiercely as possible, we will see what adventures come to find us this time. Plus as always my suitcase was well packed with art supplies! This time we have an apartment quite comfortably near the sea at Mackenzie beach in the small city of Larnaca, with a weeny glimpse of the water and a 2 minute walk to dunk in it, we are absolutely stoked.
And of course, I have already been creating, this time at Emira pottery studio having had a lesson with the brilliant Michalis on the wheel and painted my first 2 pieces. I have also purchased a luscious clump of clay to play with at our apartment and making wonky vessels seems to be quite a fun past-time. Ha!
Photos of our local cafe Nusa Beach bar, Sights on my walk to and from Emira pottery studio and the 2 vessels I made and painted, Nikosia (the capital) and the divine Hamam Omerye, the local farmers market we visit on Saturday mornings after our beach walk and swim, More photos of Larnaca sights including Saint Lazarus church and Bumble, our fun-ster buttery coloured Vespa.
Some of my favouritist things so far:
Going to the Hamam (aka Turkish bath...aka a full on Loofah/Sauna/massage/bath) Ohhh my goddess what a sumptuous sensory experience!
After our initial teeny glass cup of cold, sweeeet ginger tea, sipped in the luxurious stone waiting area, eyes literally agog with the byootiful lofty vaulted sandstone ceilings and the soft ambience of intricate glass lamps, we were lead through the ancient stone tunnels, ducking under low arches to reach the innermost chamber. (What an absolute adventure!)
Left there to marinate in the healing properties of steam, before receiving a seriously deep exfoliation and relaxing frothy light foam immersed massage then returning to nibble almonds, sultanas and Turkish delight from little velvet lined gilt vessels and more ginger tea before yet another massage and dressing to leave. Damn that was good!
Historically, the Hamam was much more than just a fabulous, relaxing place to take a bath. It was a combination of rites and rituals in which the elements of nature were redeemed to purify body and soul. In the old days Hamam baths were often described as "silent healers". Hippocrates, said that the hot and humid conditions of the Hamam bath offered the best possible protection for general health. He believed that the "artificial fever" created under these conditions promoted faster blood circulation, produced more antibodies and strengthened the immune system. I can tell you I felt like they sloughed years of stress and dead skin cells off me in those couple of magnificent hours and felt somehow spiritually cleansed as well!
Visiting Nikosia, the capital of Cyprus: Wandering through confusing streets crammed full of stripy poled barber shops and butchers, both plastered with photographs of their wares and pushed close like the awkward unlikely friends they are. Then magically the paved streets opens to idyllic scenes of bougainvillea billowing from overhead and animated souls gesticulating over coffees and my head spinning, with a grin stretched tight across my face.
Swimming in the mediterranean...We have adopted a fabulous early morning ritual of heading down to the quiet beach, tossing off our sandals and walking hand in hand to the end of the beach and back before deep breathing our way into the cool clear sea. Within seconds the chill is replaced with a soft sense of deep contentedness, as if my body has finally found it's charging dock. We then head to our local beach cafe Nusa beach bar for freshly squeezed orange juice. Happy am I.
Visiting the local farmers market on Saturday mornings...We zip our way on our Vespa (all of 5 minutes) to the centre of town where the local farmers come laden with colourful crates of their latest yield. Gnarly dirt ingrained farmer hands weigh our produce and ask for mere coins in exchange. We love the feeling of traipsing home with a backpack full of sun ripened fresh goodies for our week, having purchased directly from the families that have nurtured them to fruition feels so very wholesome. This week: Cherries, apricots, flatty peaches, more zucchini for Daryles scrummy fritters, corn for the BBQ, large gorgeous tomatoes, and salad onions. DEEEVINE!
Thank you for joining me on this Cyprus adventure....
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