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Savouring Cyprus - by
Dr. Derrick Hurlin
pg. 2 - Larnaka on foot
and at Night
Larnaca picture
courtesy http://www.cyprushotels.biz/
We could walk to the palm-lined promenade
from our hotel apartment, so that's where we went for dinner at one
of the many restaurants. On the beach, facing the promenade, was an
open-air stage, with a jazz band to entertain us. After dinner, the
waiter brought the bill - it was CS£11, so I put CSD£12
in the saucer, and we started to leave. The manager came running after
us, waving our money. "Wait! You gave too much money. It's only
eleven pounds." And he thrust a one-pound note into my hand. He
could have knocked me over with it! Honest Cyprus, where some people
don't even bother to lock their street-parked cars.
At the west end of the promenade, is a mediaeval fort. There, we joined
a free walking tour that happens every Friday morning at 10:00. Our
guide - she was a qualified civil engineer - showed us the old Scala
district of Larnaka, where potters still ply their craft in little tucked-away
studios. Artistic Cyprus - and we were to see so much of that.
On Saturday night, the Promenade was closed to traffic, and the locals
came out in crowds to show us the Festive Cyprus. Family groups, with
the toddlers in strollers, hand-holding couples, young folk just "hanging
out". All wonderfully noisy and cheerful. On the open-air stage,
adding to the gaiety, was a succession of Greek jazz singers drawing
the crowds. What was the concert for? Stuck on the pavement, for about
150 metres, was a line of masking tape - called The Line of Life. Passers-by
were tucking paper money under the tape, or putting coins on top. The
only "security" was four elderly ladies in chairs spaced along
the line, and a solitary, bored policewoman. The Line was filling rapidly
with money, and what was it for? Children with cancer. Compassionate
Cyprus.
One of the finest museums we saw in Cyprus, was the Pierides Museum
in Larnaka, just near the Marina. Here, in a single space, we walked
through all the layers of the long history of Cyprus. Well-preserved,
displayed and labelled artefacts way back Neolithic times. The curator,
Theodora Kyriakidou of the gentle voice, showed us round. She explained
that the collection was a private one, meticulously gathered by five
generations of the Pierides family.
next page - pg. 3 -
The Village of Pano Lefkara
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