** 1999 Summary **
This is the 21 March 2005 edition of this page
- and it gives a summary of Roy's visits
last year.
Here is the list of the travels (including the UK!) which will serve as an introduction
to the brief summaries on each. Although the text on each follows-on from this list,
the list can also be used as a link to get to each item.
CYPRUS - The headlines
The 'Cyprus experience' lasted three weeks (by design, -not accident)from 13th January until 3rd February, and encompassed quite a few areas, namely:
**Walking tours of various parts of the island.
[These included parts of the West coast north of Paphos.
Inland areas east and north-east of Paphos.
The Coral Bay area. ]
**Two trips into the Troodos Mountains.
[The first of these was to visit a number of 'mountain villages - the second, a few days later being an attempt to reach the highest part of the island, - Mount Olympus. ]
**A jeep safari into the Akamas Wilderness.
[The Akamas is a large, wild unspoilt wilderness, where the conservationists constantly battle against the developers to test and conquer to establish their own 'rights'. At the moment, thankfully, the conservationists are winning. ]
**A trip into the hills for a 'Greek Taverna night.
[An interesting visit was made to CRAZY CHRIS'S, Chris being the owner, cook, entertainer, singer, musician, comedian etc..
On our night, Chris wasn't as crazy and inconsiderate as a drunken Scotsman, aided and abetted by a few lesser-drunken Irishmen.
Not my scene! ]
**A trip to Limassol to catch a boat to ISRAEL for a new experience.
[The will be covered in the following section in a later version of the web-site. It entailed getting a coach to Limassol, then a boat to
Haifa, then another coach to Bethlehem & Jerusalem. ]
**Renewing my Experience of Karting on a personal level, and attending Championship KART Racing at Limassol.
[Near our hotel, about 1Km away, was a Kart circuit whose director is Demetris Kaiser and on constant duty was his younger
brother Petros with whom I got on with extremely well. I had several sessions over the 3 weeks, going from elementary revision to
more and more advanced styles of speedy motoring. I experienced a range of circuit conditions from slightly damp to very hot and
dry. Karts always run on SLICKS so the damp increased the caution and the 'times'.
I can highly recommend this track, their cars and the operators for their understanding and overall interest and devotion to
motor-sport.
Petros, later, showed me his special competition Kart with higher power, disc brakes and competitive chassis etc..
Even better, he invited me to attend the first meeting of the season down in Limassol on the last Saturday. Apart from the large
numbers of mosquitoes down there - the racing was GREAT. It turns out that Petros was the 1997 Champion - but came second
last year (missed too many meetings due to the success of his own circuit!) - however, after a slow start with technical problems on the
Saturday, he showed his determination and is now in the lead in the 1999 championship points. ]
**Exploration of Roman and other remains in the Paphos area.
[Just north of the harbour area of Kato Paphos,seen below,
are collections of remains of 'Roman Houses' which I returned twice to investigate.They are Houses of Dionysios, Theseus and
Aion.
Somewhat further north is the 'Tombs of the Kings' - and several underground burial-chambers. These were repeatedly visited. ]
CYPRUS - The Story
THE JOURNEY TO THE ISLAND
'Twas on the Wednesday morning (13th January) that all my preparations, packings, plannings would start to come to fruition.
After a night of 'cat-napping' I eventually went to sleep at about 2.30a.m.. Only just in time because the electronic buzz of the alarm had
been activated for 2.55 a.m.!!
My central heating had already been programmed the previous evening - so it was just a case of getting up, dressing, collecting all the
prepacked luggage - and walking with the wheeled case and cabin-baggage to the place where my coach was expected to pick me up
(Malvern Link Railway station!) - and then head, comfortably, off to Birmingham Airport.
Having been met, after Customs, by the 'First Choice' representative, the 2hour checkin ordeal was suffered before boarding my
plane (a Boeing 757 of 'Air2000') for its cramped journey to Paphos. The cramped conditions were most noticed during the very
delayed breakfast. Being an airline which puts share-holders first, its main objective seemed to be to sell as much food, drink, duty-free
goods etc before dealing with the passengers requirements for pre-paid nourishment. It was just the same in 1997 - when I experienced
the same problems en-route to Zakinthos. They even bung the aisle-ways full with trolleys, thus preventing passengers from using the
toilets for a considerable portion of the journey.
THE ARRIVAL
At the airport we were met by First Choice representatives who told us what coaches were needed for each destination. My
'X4' coach (its identification number, not its 'type'!!) took me and a new, well-travelled, male friend to the Paphian Bay Hotel for free!
Unpacking and concentration were extremely difficult due to the apparent non-functionning of the air-conditionning system.
(Reducing the temperature, first to 15 degrees, then 10 degrees and finally 5 degrees only caused the temperature to INCREASE
further each time). Contacting 'reception' confirmed my worst fears. Each room does not have individual working controls, - as
'management' has decreed that they be under 'central control' having been disabled in November. They have a VERY GREEN policy
statement, very good in parts;- that is against anything that directly contributes to interferring with the Ozone layer is OUT. I was not
aware that cooling rooms had THAT effect!!
I was about to turn round and return to the UK, but first contacted Dorothy, one of our reps from "1st Choice". She said
that this happens each year - and the solution that she's found is to turn 'everything off' in the room and open the very large
window/doors to the outside, cooler, air. She also said that, at this time of year, there are no mosquitoes to invade one's room - so it is
OK. Thank you, Dorothy, for that wonderful advice. It kept me in Cyprus for the 3 weeks!
IMPRESSIONS
INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS OF AREA
A small, personal, investigation on foot showed that Cyprus, like Zakinthos, is a large building site. But that was only really true in my
immediate area. It improved as one retreated! The inland area showed, to my amazement, a signpost to a GO KART circuit - which I'd
have to investigate later.
We were provided with offers of walks to familiarise ourselves with the territory. I took two by Dorothy and one by Malcolm ( a rep
from Farthings). Between them, they covered coastal paths and inland paths to Kato Paphos and an introduction to better walks to the
North at Coral Bay, the start of which was got to by means of a bus from outside the hotel. Essentially, Dorothy fed us good,
interesting information on the Flora & Fauna of the island - whilst the interesting parts of Malcolm's walks were his introductions
to Roman remains,
MEALS AT PAPHIAN BAY HOTEL
I was here on a half-board sysytem, which allowed full personal explorations during the day, - with excellent breakfasts with 'fare' for
every palette PLUS an even better selection of evening meals. It took a while to realise how to select one's own preferences - but by
day three, all became obvious and EVEN BETTER. Our hotel (a 3 star) was a sister-hotel of one next door (a 4 star) and, food wise, they
were exactly the same - and when we compared experiences with guests at other hotels, they were both superior 'food-wise' to others
in the area! Furthermore, our 3-star outshone the 4-star with its homeliness. So we have done very well, after all!!
TOMBS OF THE KINGS
These Tombs were first visited by me on the 17th January on my way back from the Coral Bay area. With some good friends,
Pat & Mike, I called on this quite extensive area, for an initial exploration. [It has nothing to do with any Kings - just local
dignitaries - well there were several 'Kingdoms' throughout Cyprus in the past but they were about the same as our 'local councils'- the
'Kings' being their heads!!] There were about eight numbered tombs, so I visited them each in order. They were underground burial
chambers - but I got no digital photos that day - just 35mm stuff. In a later version I may well transform some into digital form.
KATO PAPHOS AND THE HARBOUR AREA
This area started near the hotel and ran for about two kilometers along the very inviting (except for the building work)coastline.
In recent years the building work has progressively grown and, in some places, is very intrusive. For instance, walks between the
coast road and the coast itself provide a sometimes good, sometimes repulsive, face!
The walk DOES NOT have to be repeated, fortunately, because of a series of single fare buses (just 50c!) that run between the hotel
and Katima, Coral Bay and the Kato harbour area. The most frequent question most people asked was " Have you seen the
Pelican?" Many people claimed to have seen it - but there appears to be TWO of them, rarely if ever seen together!!
The one that I saw first was quite a 'poser', used to humans and very friendly. Here are just THREE photos of the digital variety I got
as we 'hung around' together.
What a 'personality' that bird had!!
This 'bird' approached me with several 'bluffs', pretending(?) to want to bite my arm!!
I called its bluff after pre-thinking about any possible damage. I had seen people running
and screaming from such a prospect (on TV).
Its giant beak closed around my bare right arm, and I left her (?) to do whatever she wanted.
No one need have feared!! It was just like a very-gentle clamping with a soft-dry-leather
appliance. Having 'called its bluff', it gently released my arm after a while - and (you've gotta
believe me!) gave me an affectionate wink!
KTIMA PAPHOS
A bus could be caught from the southern end of Kato Paphos, outside the hotel - to Ktima. The destination was usually
given as MARKET. The first time that I travelled there by that means, - sure enough one could get off outside the Market. First
thing after that was to locate oneself on the map and make future navigation easy.
That's the theory anyway!! That's what I normally do!! But just as in Zante, last year, the Greek Islands (we can include Cyprus here!)
don't go in for precise maps. More than that!! This one too, was WRONG. From the bus-station (just a larger bus-stop) reality bore
very little resemblance to the map. Sure enough, the market was interesting - as were all the little streets. I had a nice meal outside a
friendly restaurant. After the meal I resumed the exploration.
After a considerable time, I came to a simple conclusion:-
The town & its streets were mapped to a 'reasonable' accuracy, BUT the position of the 'bus-station' had been moved since the
map was produced. On the next visit, I would start with that knowledge.
About a week later, I did just that, enjoying the market even better, its small streets,its back-alleys, its views from its elevated position
down to Kato Paphos and the Mediterranean, especially those
(a)from the precipice just east of the Axiothea Hotel &
(b)from the Municipal Gardens
Furthermore, I was able to walk all day exploring the prettier parts of this delightful old town - and the map was essential for a walker
who doesn't want to retrace his steps! The ability to visit Parks, Libraries, Town Hall, Byzantine Museum, Ethnographic Museum,
many churches, a stadium etc were all made possible by my now crumbling map. Once one recognised their 'methods' of mapping, it
became easier and easier!! That is because there are NO standards or conventions - either in the maps or the way in which they 'named'
streets. There were many signs in town and different colours and styles (and languages!) were used to indicate street-names. The name
wasn't always WHERE one entered a street (i.e at the 'end' or at a junction!) - or even at the other END. In one street,(Grigori Afxentiou)
a sign was half way along - by a school playing field.
What a laugh!! It was FUN exploring from then onwards. It was a problem-solving game, as found on American computers where the
creater of the game didn't want to give TOO many clues!!
MOUNTAIN VILLAGES
Before the ascent of Mount Olympus was attempted, there were visits to some of the Mountain Villages. These were done over a
couple of days and included such villages as:-
Omodhos
Kakopetria
Lania
ASSAULT ON MOUNT OLYMPUS
We left the Hotel in a coach which was to climb to near the summit
of Mount Olympus (the major peak in the Trudos Mountains) and soon after the
start, we heard that the summit was snow-covered and TOO DANGEROUS for the coach (and
most other things!).
Never mind, - the highest monastery is still ON!! (The Kykkos Monastery). We first
met the snows at a comparatively low altitude, at Agros Nickolaus, - a place that
hadn't seen snow for years! We climbed still further and the snow got a bit more
persistent.It was on the mountain roads so a great deal of care was exercised by our
driver.
It was impossible for a long coach to turn around on a narrow mountain road.
In addition to this, 'stopping' was not an option because of following cars!! The
ONLY OPTION was to go on further ... And that meant deeper snow!! And then we heard the
obvious report "Kykkos Monastery is OFF".
Never mind, the driver's guide knows another Monastery lower down, but higher than
our present altitude! That's good!! Well dubious anyway! The guide remembered that
admissions there are to SMALL parties only and NOT COACHES!
She then invoked Plan D - to attempt 'entry' by subdividing the party into two
smaller groups......
Unfortunately, after a long period of negotiations, this was disallowed and the coach had
to do a multiple-point turn on a VERY narrow road with back-seat passengers overhanging
the precipice as we (even Humanists!!) prayed hard! We then returned over the rapidly-
deteriorating road conditions.
To read more about the
above, and about explorations of further parts, see the
Cyprus extension
Return to Top of 1999 index
ISRAEL The Headlines!!
This was my first ever trip to that Country -
and was covered in a coach of the Nazareth Transportation Co Ltd.
We caught this vehicle at the port of Haifa, motored past Tel-Aviv
in the morning rush-hour and on to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. ...
More details of this trip in
The Israel Story.
Return to Top of 1999 index
SOUTH WALES - Easter with mate discovered in Florida!
This friend, Douglas Gibson, travelled around Florida with me in 1997. We had been planning to meet up again in the UK as soon as possible. That time occurred this April.
We rekindled my interest in the valleys of South Wales, since he lives just north of Newport.
We covered Electronic shops in Cwmbran, the historic Blaenavon & its Iron Works, went to the Valleys to North and west of Newport, had a Lunch in Triorchy, - with more food at Llantwit Major and made a visit to the village of the births of both Richard Burton and Ivor Emmanuel.
Return to Top of 1999 index
SCOTTISH HIGHLAND RAILWAYS (April 13-18 inclusive)
e.g Strathspey, Kyle Line, West Highland line to Mallaig and back
Two pictures of Mallaig's harbour:-
It had been very useful obtaining articles (with graphics)on both the Strathspey Railway and the West Highland Line, direct from the internet.
There were strong forecasts of much snow in Scotland, before my departure,
and to be truthful, those layers of the 'white stuff' (every place above 2000feet) made, in everyone's viewpoint, PROPER Scottish scenery. Fortunately, the roads were all passable with ease. It was great to have that contrast between passable roads and beautiful snow-clad mountains.
The Strathspey Line was the only one providing me with 'steam' - the others
all used Diesel for my transport.
Over the BRIDGE to Skye!!
Meanwhile, some gardens near the Steam Train station in Aviemore Village!!
An inclusive visit to 'The Glenlivet' made a very welcome and Scottish visit. On the return to England on the
stop at Moffat, I thought it worth paying homage to the guy who made such trips easily made. I visited the
grave of the engineer who invented the 'tarmac' road. Originally called 'macadamising', he was , of course,
John Loudon Macadam - who died in 1836 at the age of 81 years in Moffat (b. 1756 in Ayr).
A sentimental visit that I made was to the beautiful Eilean Donan Castle (photographed in better light - and painted in
earlier decades).
A further visit that I made (really a repeat of one I'd made in an earlier year) was the one to the enchanting
Waltzing Waters (at Newtonmore) which is a spectacular indoor display
of water, light and music - all skilfully
integrated!! **I recommend a visit there**.
Return to Top of 1999 index
AUSTRIA LAKE DISTRICT (July 9-18 inclusive)
Go to Austrian file for this report
CORNWALL - The Eclipse etc
Go to Cornish file for this report
Czech & Hungarian republics etc
Go to Separate file for this report
Return to Roy's home page for full list of books either finished or under preparation.
EMail (?) to:
Roy's Location.