We’ve made it to Nana’s place. Actually, her real name is Louisa, but she’s just like your Nana who runs around fussing after you making sure you’ve constantly got cups of tea or coffee and snacks to nibble on at all times of the day. The only difference is that this Nana doesn’t speak a word of English, although she makes up for it by humming what sounds like the equivalent of Georgian boy-band songs. She’s actually our driver Zura’s real Nana, so maybe he got his love of music from her. Regardless, she’s an absolute godsend when you’ve got no luggage and a little bit stressed out about when it might actually arrive.
Losing it in Georgia
We’ve made it to Georgia! Home to Lay’s Potato Chips, southern hospitality and Coca-Cola. Oops, wrong Georgia. We’re actually in the country of Georgia in the South Caucasus. Depending on how you want to view it, you can make a case as to whether Georgia is in Europe, Asia or the Middle East. Having been ruled by different European and Asian powers for centuries (primarily Mongols, Arabs, Persians and Russians), it can legitimately claim to having a foot in all three camps. Geographically Georgia tends to placed in Asia, but culturally and due to the practising of Christian Orthodox religion, it definitely feels like Europe.
Hanging With Harry
London, Baby!
Both Veronica and I have been fortunate to spend considerable amounts of time in London during periods of our lives when it can be argued is the best time to be there. Far too high a percentage of our incomes were spent on having a good time and we both have amazing memories associated with it. There’s no way we can recreate those, nor would we want to now, but there were a couple of places where it would almost be sacrilege to not go and revisit with the kids.
Essential Essex
We’ve made it to London and all of the travelling Sowerbys have come with different objectives. Veronica’s here to spend some quality time with her brother and get some “London closure” (whatever that means). Annabelle and Emily are most definitely here for the Harry Potter Warner Brothers’ Tour. As for me, I’m here for the weather. From the get go I get exactly the type of weather I expected. When it wasn’t raining, it was grey, cold and windy. Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, it does not.
Marvellous Marsaxlokk and the Funky Called Mdina
Our last days in Malta are upon us and we’re heading to the quaint fishing village of Marsaxlokk, which is definitely one to remember for future Scrabble games. But first we’ve made a detour to Mosta to check out the Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, which has one of the largest unsupported domes in the world.
Going Gonzo in Gozo - Part Tlieta
Going Gonzo in Gozo - Part Tnejn
I’ve ditched C3, who’s gone looking for R2 and gone running. It’s a contest of wills between the caffeine I’m mainlining and last night’s red wine as to which will pour out my pores first. Either way, it’s not pleasant, so I’ve started counting lizards to distract myself. I make a rule to only count bonafide lizards. Imaginary lizards don’t count.
Going Gonzo in Gozo - Part Wieħed
We’re in a queue with 60 other cars waiting to get on a car ferry. I leave the comfort of the air conditioned Citroen C3 and stroll across to the port side cafeteria. Its selling all the usual food you don’t want and cheap coffee that nobody seems to be drinking. I’m in need of caffeine, but do I want to chance drinking bad coffee. Come to think of it, do I even have time to wait for the untrained barista to make this bad coffee. Maybe I’m better off back in the car.
Malteaser
Malta is reasonably little known archipelago situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea some 200-odd kilometres from the soccer ball island of Sicily. Consisting of numerous islands only the largest three, Malta, Gozo and Camino, are actually inhabited. With an area of 316 square kilometres, the country is only slightly larger than Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf, however, it has a population close to 500,000 compared to Great Barrier’s 900! This high population density makes it the 6th most densely populated country in the world, if you strip out special administrative regions and dependencies such as Hong Kong and Gibraltar.
Cypriot Split
In 1974, with genuine fears for the Turkish Cypriot minority after a failed coup by the Greek government to unite Cyprus with Greece, Turkey’s military invaded Cyprus and captured 37% of the island. While initially these actions had the tacit approval of the international community, it ended up requiring the United Nations to step in and cease hostilities. Refusing to give up the occupied land, in 1983 the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared - an act that has been recognised by no other country other than Turkey. The economic and human cost of over a third of the island’s inhabitants, from both sides, being displaced goes well beyond what any numbers can represent and is a genuine tragedy, of both the Greek and non-Greek variety.
The Greek Cape
Situated between the resort towns of Ayia Napa and Protaras in the far southeast of Cyprus, is a little slice of natural beauty called Cape/Cavo/Kavo/Capo Greco. Covering some 3.85 square kilometres, this peninsula provides a wide range of active opportunities including hiking, cycling, diving, fishing and swimming. Equally delicious when seen from land or water, this is another of one of those must-dos, when visiting Cyprus.
When Old Paphos is New Paphos
You just have to love a place that refers to itself as “new”, when it was actually founded over 1,400 years ago. The modern day Paphos where we are staying, was first named Nea Paphos or New Paphos in 400 AD having come into prominence after “old” Paphos (or Palaipafos) went into decline due to the Romans banning the worshiping of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, there is heaps to keep you occupied no matter how long your stay is.
Pfaffing Around in Paphos
Aphrodite's Sunset
Aphrodite, the Ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, sexual pleasure, and fertility plays a feature role in Cyprus’s history. Paphos in the south west of the country is credited as on of the chief centres of her cult worship (alongside Corinth) for a period possibly beginning in the late to the early third millennium BC and lasting up until 400 AD. Nowadays, you’ll see her name associated with UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Sanctuary of Aphrodite Paphia), Rocks (Aphrodite’s Rock), cave pools (Baths of Aphrodite), golf course resorts (Aphrodite Hills), numerous wines and countless restaurants and hotels on the island.
Troodos Mountain Village Wars
The Troodos Mountains has an astounding array of stunningly beautiful villages waiting to be explored. We’ve lost count of the number of villages that we’ve driven through and that we could easily have spent half a day in. There are a number that we have managed to spend some time in, albeit never enough, which we’ve laid out below. Let the wars commence for Cyprus’s most prettiest village.
Cobbles, Cottages and Cake
We’re in Lofou up in the Troodos Mountains, alongside a grand total of 50 permanent inhabitants and approximately six other tourists that we’ve seen so far. The town has a whole two sentences dedicated to it on Wikipedia, the first of which states how close it is to another town. Yet, even this early in our trip, I’ve got a feeling it is definitely going to be one of our most memorable places that we’ll stay.
Clay Day
We’re always trying to think of cool things to do for the kids. My solutions such as going for a run or visiting a pile of rocks masquerading as ruins or looking at another castle/church/museum for some reason don’t always get that enthusiastic a response. Veronica, however, tends to come up with experiences that get a whole lot more traction.