Cyprus by the sea

It's little more than an hour's bus ride from Paphos to Limassol and thanks to a previous visit by Alan, we have the inside knowledge to get off at the right stop and walk to the apartment. Getting into it, unstaffed as it is, is like accessing Fort Knox but once we're in, what a view!

The next day we're on again to the capital, Nicosia, our only inland stop. We pile into another choice apartment in a quiet part of the city. Historic monuments are thin on the ground; historic music, less so with sounds from the Doors and Creedence Clearwater Revival from the nearest watering hole! Nicosia is one of the world's few divided cities and while there are Greek-style churches on our side, a simple checkpoint takes us to the Turkish side for a few hours. It's fascinating to see at least one church in French Gothic style, dating from the 14th century when a motley crew of Franks and Crusaders occupied the island before the Ottomans took over.

And so and with some regret, back to Larnaca, which is very much a holiday resort. Here's a sample of some of the eating and drinking places we have visited along the way. Nowhere in the world (except presumably Afghanistan) can one escape an Irish pub. Note the spelling of the Flinstone Snack Bar in Paphos, actually rather a nice bar. Although most of the local food has been very good, perhaps our best meal is chicken tikka masala, also in Paphos. It's up there with anything in Brick Lane or the Balti Triangle!Read more