On Christmas day we headed down to Curium, Elena running and the kids and I by car. Our vague plan was to do some combination of running, flying and swimming, which we managed, just about. I met up up with Paul there and Elena headed off with Kyle and Lara, back home to finish preparing Christmas dinner. Paul and I had given up trying to extend our flights beyond the 10 minute point, due to the winds not being very strong, so we too headed for home and Christmas some sustenance. A very lovely meal was enjoyed by all and Paul finally headed for his hotel early evening. A lovely day and a very different one for us, as well as different to the one most people would be enjoying in the UK.
Boxing day, we had been invited to spend with Dudley and Lisa and family, so around 10.30 we set out east, bound for Ay Nik. Duds had planned a barbecue and as well as us had invited friends ‘Gilesy’ and wife Lizzie with their two young daughters. We all ate well and drank lots and enjoyed yet another pleasant day of festivities.
On 27th, we set out for Famagusta with the specific intention of visiting the ancient ruins at Salamis.
This was our first visit to these antiquities and very impressive they are too. The area to walk around is much larger than some of the other sites we have visited and the ruins have largely been left unrestored. The attitude to these sites in this country are quite different to in other parts of the world, there never seems to be much budget for restoration or any sort of embellishments and it’s almost as if they don’t believe in the concept. There is a feel to the place, as if it belongs to everyone and there is no attempt to prevent children from getting right down to it and crawling all over the walls etc.
After an hour or two wandering around the site, we headed back to Famagusta and had a quick look in the museum there. Dudley had been trying to get into this museum for some time, but had never quite made it due to some electrical problem or another. Today it was open, so we managed to get in and look around. Set in the ramparts of the ancient city, there are quite a few artefacts and objects, which a worth seeing, but not that exciting really.
Next we came outside again and climbed on the rampart wall and explored a bit. The lack of any kind of a barrier at all make these sort of explorations quite scary, especially with five kids to keep an eye on, therefore after about half an hour, Dud and I decided that the stress levels were too high and we set off, back for their home across the border to Ay Nik.
After a cup of tea for the road, we headed for home with two very tired, sleeping children in tow. We arrived home about 7.30pm and ‘unloaded’ Lara into the house and to bed, while Kyle sat up a while longer with us and watched some TV.
A thoroughly lovely couple of days with good friends – thanks Dud and Lisa! X
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