BACKGROUND INFO:
Last night we sailed past Lebanon across the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the third largest island in the Mediterranean, Cyprus, with a population of 1.2 million. Turkey invaded the island in 1974 with an eventual settlement after international pressure. The island has been divided for the past 40+ years but now the Greeks and Turks seem to get along pretty well and are allowed to cross each other’s borders. Turkey now controls 37% of the island. Our guide today and her family had houses and a farm in the northern part which was taken by the Turks when they invaded. She said now the Turkey government is selling it to European investors. 80% practice the Greek Orthodox religion. Cyprus is a major tourist destination with over 1 million coming here from Europe and Russia for the beaches and sun. They enjoy 340 days of sun here each year. As with Greece, Cyprus is also in financial trouble since 2012. The island is dominated by two mountain ranges. They make a wine here on the lower slopes of the mountains. It is called "commandaria" and is more like a port wine. I bought a small bottle today in the village of Omodos. Nicosia is the capital city of both countries making it the only capital in the world of two countries.
The US navy ships that launched the 59 missiles into Syria last week were located in the part of the Mediterranean Sea we are in now.
Here is the link to the photos I took here back in 3013. We have 6 ports days in a row so not sure about getting new photos uploaded in a timely manner. Our tour today again visited the ancient ruins on the city-kingdom of Kourion but the other two stops were different so today's photos will be mostly different.
https://goo.gl/photos/zQ7rk4zdihK3QUFw8
WHAT WE DID TODAY:
Our 5 hour tour, "Kourion, Temple of Apollo, & Omodos Village", departed the ship at 8:30 this morning. The first stop was same place we visited back in 2013, the ruins of ancient Kourion. Civilization dates back to nearly 4000 BC during the Bronze Age. The ruins we saw here today primarily date back to 325 to 50 BC. The Roman Empire made Cyprus a possession in 50 BC. There were several earthquakes here over the next 400 years so it Kourion was many rebuilding programs here. You will also be seeing photos of the ruins of the House of Eustolius which was built during Roman period just after 50 BC. It was also remodeled extensively during the 3rd and 4th century AD. You will be seeing photos of the mosaic floors that were unearthed by archaeologists. You will also be seeing a theatre probably built towards the end of the 2nd century BC. Once again earthquakes extensively damaged it but it was restored several times 1st, 2nd, and 3rd centuries AD but it was completely abandoned in the 4th century. It has been restored again and can seat 3000.
Our next stop was at the ancient ruins of The Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates. He was said to be the God of Forests. This dates back to 2000 BC but most of the large scale building works were done during the Roman period beginning in 50 BC. The temple was built outside the what was the residential area and a street connected the two.
Next we drove into the mountains to the small wine village of Omodos. It was a very nice place with souvenir shops, a courtyard with outside cafes, and a Greek Orthodox Church. The locals were still celebrating Easter there today. The Priest carried a small Cross to all the houses and businesses today. There were lots of locals in the streets dressed nicely. Several men had double barrel shotguns and were shooting them into the sky the whole time we were there. One guy even unleashed a burst of AK 47 fire. Scared the crap out of Rebecca! We could not get into the church to see it as the Priest was holding a service when we arrived. We did some shopping. I bought 3 bags of "Mantoles" which are peanuts coated with carib syrup (like chocolate) and sesame seeds. I also bought the small bottle of Commandaria wine, a couple small cookies, and the owner through in a small loaf of the special bread they make there. At another shop Rebecca found a pair of earrings she just had to have. Only 10 euros so less than $10. I have been needing a new belt and found one at a leather shop for less than $10 (10 euros). We had a lot of time to kill so sat outside at a cafe and had cappuccinos.
We arrived back at the ship at 2:00 pm. I have been working on uploading photos and writing this ever since. It is now 3:45 and we sail at 4:00 pm for Rhodes where we will be arriving there tomorrow morning at 10:00 am.
Tonight is formal optional dress and our favorite on the Compass Rose menu, beef Wellington. Gotta have a martini when wearing a tux!! We are going to the Krew Kappers (crew member show) at 6:00 pm before cocktails and dinner. We want to see Peter Cutler's show tonight. His first was excellent.
Here is the link to today's photos. Got them finished next morning.
https://goo.gl/photos/htcnQpbckxu5BynK7
WHAT WE DID TODAY:
Our 5 hour tour, "Kourion, Temple of Apollo, & Omodos Village", departed the ship at 8:30 this morning. The first stop was same place we visited back in 2013, the ruins of ancient Kourion. Civilization dates back to nearly 4000 BC during the Bronze Age. The ruins we saw here today primarily date back to 325 to 50 BC. The Roman Empire made Cyprus a possession in 50 BC. There were several earthquakes here over the next 400 years so it Kourion was many rebuilding programs here. You will also be seeing photos of the ruins of the House of Eustolius which was built during Roman period just after 50 BC. It was also remodeled extensively during the 3rd and 4th century AD. You will be seeing photos of the mosaic floors that were unearthed by archaeologists. You will also be seeing a theatre probably built towards the end of the 2nd century BC. Once again earthquakes extensively damaged it but it was restored several times 1st, 2nd, and 3rd centuries AD but it was completely abandoned in the 4th century. It has been restored again and can seat 3000.
Our next stop was at the ancient ruins of The Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates. He was said to be the God of Forests. This dates back to 2000 BC but most of the large scale building works were done during the Roman period beginning in 50 BC. The temple was built outside the what was the residential area and a street connected the two.
Next we drove into the mountains to the small wine village of Omodos. It was a very nice place with souvenir shops, a courtyard with outside cafes, and a Greek Orthodox Church. The locals were still celebrating Easter there today. The Priest carried a small Cross to all the houses and businesses today. There were lots of locals in the streets dressed nicely. Several men had double barrel shotguns and were shooting them into the sky the whole time we were there. One guy even unleashed a burst of AK 47 fire. Scared the crap out of Rebecca! We could not get into the church to see it as the Priest was holding a service when we arrived. We did some shopping. I bought 3 bags of "Mantoles" which are peanuts coated with carib syrup (like chocolate) and sesame seeds. I also bought the small bottle of Commandaria wine, a couple small cookies, and the owner through in a small loaf of the special bread they make there. At another shop Rebecca found a pair of earrings she just had to have. Only 10 euros so less than $10. I have been needing a new belt and found one at a leather shop for less than $10 (10 euros). We had a lot of time to kill so sat outside at a cafe and had cappuccinos.
We arrived back at the ship at 2:00 pm. I have been working on uploading photos and writing this ever since. It is now 3:45 and we sail at 4:00 pm for Rhodes where we will be arriving there tomorrow morning at 10:00 am.
Tonight is formal optional dress and our favorite on the Compass Rose menu, beef Wellington. Gotta have a martini when wearing a tux!! We are going to the Krew Kappers (crew member show) at 6:00 pm before cocktails and dinner. We want to see Peter Cutler's show tonight. His first was excellent.
Here is the link to today's photos. Got them finished next morning.
https://goo.gl/photos/htcnQpbckxu5BynK7
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