However, I digress. My Cornish holiday is for another post because I haven't finished posting about my holiday in Cyprus yet. Ye gods, I am slacking. That's what happens if you try and fit too many sneaky holidays into the diary. But the way I look at it, Izzy needed to be entertained during the school holidays, and spending 6 weeks baking flapjacks and cupcakes at home would be the equivalent of a self-administered lobotomy.
Anyway, back to Cyprus where I was holidaying with the Izzy (the hooligan), Steve (the ex), and Mr and Mrs W (the ex-outlaws).
Mr and Mrs W asked me if there was anything in particular I wanted to do whilst I was in Cyprus. As luck would have it, I had already researched 'things to do in Cyprus', and had come up with a marvellous idea.
I cleared my throat: "I would like to visit the Kykkos Monastery in the Troodos mountains please."
The monastery was high up in the mountains (at an altitude of nearly a mile), was founded in the 11th century, and was the wealthiest monastery in Cyprus. Result: single chaps with lots of money and a great view: we couldn't go wrong.
Mr W didn't look impressed, "that is berluddy moiles away," he replied in his Birmingham accent.
"Yow did ask 'er what she wanted to do," piped up Mrs W.
"Spose so," he acquiesced.
So it happened that early on Thursday morning, we set off on our journey through the Troodos mountains. And because I am as kind as a monk (and I wear black dresses too - we've already got loads in common), I have got some pictures for you ......
Pic.No.1 The journey to Kykkos got steep very quickly
Vid.No.1 A view of the Cyprus mountains (22 seconds)
Pic.No.2 And as we progressed along the two and a half hour drive through the mountains, the scenery got wilder and the mountains got higher
Pic.No.3 You can just about see the road winding up the side of the mountain. It was like something out of the 'Italian Job' except that we weren't racing
Pic.No.4 Mr and Mrs W posing with Izzy after we stopped in the middle of nowhere for a break. I quickly realised that Nintendos are more interesting to hooligans than mountains
Pic.No.5 Hurrah! It's me at last. When this picture was taken, it had been an hour and a half since we had last seen any signs of civilisation. Who knew that Cyprus was so big?
Pic.No.6 I tried to capture how steep the mountains were. But they looked loads steeper in real life
Pic.No.7 After nearly three hours of driving up steep mountain trails, we eventually arrived at the Kykkos Monastery. I thought I had altitude sickness but it was probably Bolly-withdrawel. I hadn't been able to find any in Cyprus
Pic.No.8 We had to walk around the Monastery to find the entrance. From the outside it looked a bit like a prison
Pic.No.9 But then it stopped looking like a prison when we spied the entrance with it's breathtaking gold mosaics
Pic.No.10 This was the ceiling of the entrance hall. Those blokes on the left were the 'Clothes Police'. Basically, if you weren't covered up enough, they made you put on modesty gowns (which they supplied)
Pic.No.11 This was the main courtyard around which the monastery was mainly built
Pic.No.12 Mr and Mrs W were asked to wear modesty gowns because their legs were hanging out. Gawd knows what would happen if the monks saw some leg. It could get out of hand quite quickly I suppose
Pic.No.13 A view of the upper terrace in the main courtyard
Pic.No.14 The terraces all had amazing gold-leaf mosaics. If I was a criminal, I would have taken a blowtorch and made some gold bullion
Pic.No.15 Crikey, Mrs W looks like a contemplative monk in this picture. Upon further questioning, it turned out that she was thinking about pies
Pic.No.16 This is a view of the second courtyard inside of the monastery. The door on the bottom right led into the shop. And all you could buy there were rosaries and bibles. They would clean-up if they extended their repertoire to hamburgers
Pic.No.17 In this one, you can see how far the monastery goes up into the hillside and you can see a chap's stomach resting on the balustrades
Pic.No.18 This was one of the corridors leading to the Monk's "cells". Apparently monks sleep in cells, not bedrooms ...... but I'm not sure why .... have they been bad or something?
Pic.No.19 This is a picture of the monks' well. Yep, I thought it was a boring picture too
Pic.No.20 The whole place was decorated in a spectacular fashion
Pic.No.21 There was a bloody great Galleon hanging down from the ceiling
Pic.No.22 It's about time I got another picture of me and Izzy in. Here we are standing in front of a mosaic of some religious chaps
Pic.No.23 A corridor leading to more Monks' cells. All the doors were tiny - why's that then? But I have to say that the cells were nothing compared to the monastery's piece de resistance ......
Pic.No.24 This was the monastery's church ........... I'd never seen so much gold in one place before
Pic.No.25 ..... and that was before I clocked the altar ............. Jeez! it was gold-tastic
Pic.No.26 It was like something that Indiana Jones unwittingly discovered after fighting his way through a snake pit and out-running a huge stone ball. And see those pictures of religious peeps in the background? Visitors were queuing up for ages to kiss them
Pic.No.27 As we made our way back out of the monastery through the first courtyard, I rued the fact that I hadn't seen a monk
Pic.No.28 But as luck would have it, I spied a monky-type chap just as I arrived at the exit. He's the one in the black dress
Pic.No.29 On the journey home, we spotted Mount Olympus (the largest moutain in Cyprus). It's the one in the distance with all the clouds over it. That's me in front of it. My flip flops have got a bottle-opener built into the sole
Pic.No.30 This is a lake that we passed on the way home ...... Cyprus sure is purrrrdey
Pic.No.31 Now this is intriuging ....... we passed this place called 'Polemi Concentration Camp'. Apparently it was used to imprison Jews in the 1940s and has remained untouched since then. But I can't find any records of it on Wiki or anywhere...... sinister or what?
Pic.No.32 But the best bit of all was sepnding the evening in a Cypriot restaurant called Spilies Tavern Bar (the most rubbish website on the planet - it hardly mentions the restaurant) that was housed inside a cave. The weather was warm so we ate outside on the veranda ..................
Pic.No.33 I ordered the 'meze' (a selection of 15 small dishes - a bit like tapas), and it was sex on a plate. Here you can see stuffed vine leaves and spicy cous cous. Nom nom nom. If you are in Cyrpus, go there. It is proper local cuisine
So my lovely, have you got up to anything exciting over the summer holidays?
Great photos, and what an amazing place that monastery is. Cyprus looks beautiful. Thanks for the trip.
ReplyDeleteHow could we/anyone have anything more exciting!! Cyprus has been on my mind ever since you started this holiday Annie. This Monastery is simply beyond believable! If only I had heard about this one back in high school when I was looking for one to join!!
ReplyDeleteBut then if I had I wouldn't have met you, right?
Great photos, great post and great Monastery!! Thanks for this.
I really like the "muriels". Modesty gowns? Pictures 13 and 27 give their little game away. More likely to be what they do want to see me thinks!!!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! You spotted the tiny women wearing short skirts - you tinker! You're a natural ;-)
ReplyDeleteAwww thanks Jim. It was truly amazing, especially the gold bit. It took your breath away! So you were going to be a monk? Blimey. I'm glad you didn't because you are right, I would never have met you :-)
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you. It was a bloody cool place. And in the end I saw two monks but didn't photograph the second one because he was giving me a dirty look.
ReplyDeleteBonjour de France... where the WiFi is... intermittent.
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing looking monastery. The frescos on the ceilings are beautiful and the church looks splendiferous. Must have taken ages.
Still, with no telly and no internet, they've got nothing better to do.
Morning Mash, so you are in France then? Very nice - whereabouts are you (so I can come and stalk you)?
ReplyDeleteI want to know where the monastery gets all its wonga from. If all the monks do is pray, make frescoes and wear dresses, how come they are so loaded?
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I have never had the travel bug in my life. I've always been just fine staying right here at home. But you've shown me a place I would LOVE to visit! The monastery is stunningly beautiful. And so clean! I need the monks to come to my house. The scenery I could easily get used to! Such a gorgeous place.
ReplyDeleteYeh, it's funny that [prepare for a sweeping generalisation]. Europeans seem to have the travel bug a lot more than Americans I have found! Mind you, you already have everything in one country - sunshine, skiing, scenery, etc. You lucky git!
ReplyDeleteThe monastery was bloody amazing, and you will have to fight me first to get them cleaning your house!! ;-)
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Following :)
ReplyDeleteThose pictures are amazing,. The one overlooking the lake is my favourite!!!
x
http://wondrous-marvellous-obsession.blogspot.co.uk
I love your written accent !
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you! Having lived in Birmingham, I have had chance to study it in detail ;-)
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Why thank you Zoe, and thanks for stopping by! x
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Awesome pictures! Love the shots of the mountains and the food looked amazing. I'm now following you back. Take care :).
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures! I especially like the one with the caption saying Nintendos are more interesting than mountains! Kids these days... :)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that Cyprus had that kind of topography. I thought it was just all beachy; but then I don't get out much. The couscous looks great; the grape leaves, not so much. Did you see any cute monks?
ReplyDeleteWOW! Love those pics. That restaurant in the cave is amazing! I LOVE Grape Leaves. SO yum!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by and joining in the blog hop...I came by to return the follow. :)
Tami
a
href="http://www.thethingswefindinside.com/">The Things We Find
Inside
I'll give you fifty cents on the dollar for those two gold candlesticks you shoved under your temporary habit gig.
ReplyDeletegorgeous photos - it looks like you had a lovely trip!! :)
ReplyDeleteWow!! That is like a trip of a life time!! Amazing pictures. One day maybe I'll get to take a trip like that. Thanks for stopping by earlier. Have a great week and I am following you back!
ReplyDeleteAbbot!!!! Hey ABBBBOOOOTTTT!! Who doesn't love Abbot and Costello? What has that to do in commenting on your post? Absolutely nothing as I took a vow of Silence right Now..................
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place, those monks liked their bling didn't they. Which reminds me I spotted in the paper the other day about a woman in Spain who restored a mural of Jesus by painting over it, the results were hysterical, sadly he looked like that chap in 'The Scream' by Munch afterwards.
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty cool I have to say. The location was stunning!
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It was ace thanks. Shame I am back in the UK!
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It's a deal. As long as you don't tell anyone!
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LOL. You are totally off your rocker you daft git!
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Yeh, they love their bling. Not sure who pays for it though. As far as I could see, all the monks did was pray, eat and sleep!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see that picture of the mural that ended up looking like the Scream!
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The grapes leaves were the dog danglies and cooked by a proper Cypriot. Yum!
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Topography? What's that - Something to do with the landscape? As you can probably tell, I got a U in geography!
ReplyDeleteThe grape leaves were actually bloody lovely. Cooked by a proper cypriot!
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Why thank you! and thanks for stopping by ;-)
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The food was wowsers. And there were about 10 different dishes. I could eat it all again!
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Looks like a beautiful vacation! Thanks for the follow! Following you back! :)
ReplyDeleteOMG What an awesome looking and sounding vacation!!!!!! LOVE your blog, your post, and your wonderful perspectives! I am your newest follower (returning your follow) and look forward to more visits.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing looking place. Great piccies and commentary as usual.....No holidays for me yet, though only two more weeks to go......
ReplyDeleteOooh yes - you are off to Brum. Can't wait to hear the stories from my old stomping ground!
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Thanks Meryl ..... looking by to stopping by your blog more too!
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Bloody marvellous it was. Sun, sea and shed-loads of wine. Couldn't be better :-)
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These are beautiful photos! It looks like you has a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL pictures, Annie! What a great trip! The views are incredible, even if there wasn't internet to share them right away. ;) I'm following you back and appreciate you stopping by! Have a great week!
ReplyDelete~Heather
Great pics but going without the internet fro 8 days would drive me crazy. I LOVE the cave restaurant--so cool! Newest follower from the GFC blog hop. Would love it if you could visit and follow back. Thanks for sharing! http://Menopausalmother.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteVisiting you from the GFC blog hop. I am happy to be a new GFC follower. Looking forward to following you and your blog. I blog over at www.dalaynadillon.blogspot.com, so come on over and see me sometime ;)
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know about the coffee mug swap I have going on right now with Brittney from Yellow Umbrella Designs. This is a mug swap with a twist, it allows for more networking to go on. I would love to have you join in on all the fun! Here are all the details on it:
http://yellowumbrelladesign.blogspot.com/2012/08/coffee-mug-swap.html
Talk to ya soon :D
Dalayna
breathtaking pics, anne! i followed you back. thanks so much for finding me, dear.
ReplyDeleteYou think?
ReplyDeleteoops, forgot to login... You think? lol better the first time. I'm outta here
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! You always make me laugh. Where you off to?!
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Why thank you, and thanks for stopping by!
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Hello Dalayna, thanks very much for stopping by. I shall pop round your place and check out the coffee mug swap - sounds intriguing!
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Hello there, thanks for stopping by. I shall pop over and visit your place too!
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It was absolutely marvellous thanks! Can't wait to go back.
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Why thank you Heather and thanks for stopping by!!
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Beautiful pictures!!! Visiting and following back from your visit to my blog. :)
ReplyDelete- Jaime
mrsmamapanda.blogspot.com
I wish I'd been able to get up to that Monastery, it is stunning. Not sure how they contemplate with all that busyness going on in the church though.
ReplyDeleteHow come you have all these new followers - got yourself a pimp? ;-)
Modesty gowns? Wowza that is a different world!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics, love Izzy playing her Nintendo in the middle of it all!!
I love the cave restaurant! Why can't we have places like that here?! =(
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog! I have just started following you back! Looking forward to reading more posts from you!
I love the cave restaurant! I wish we had places like that here =(
ReplyDeleteThanks for the follow, have just started following your blog and am looking forward to reading more posts!
Hello Joanne, thanks for stopping by and for following, it's nice to have you around.
ReplyDeleteP.S. do you have a link to your blog?
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I think the modesty gowns are to cover up people's flesh, so that the monks don't think about shagging.
ReplyDeleteThat Izzy is a heathen sometimes. I don't know where she gets it from!
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Eh up chick! Glad you like the monastery - it sounds like you have been to Cyprus - what did you think?
ReplyDeleteI got the new followers because I did a blog hop. Although I would rather have a pimp because it sounds more exciting.
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Hehe! I’ll see what I can do about getting one for you.
ReplyDeleteI have been there, remember me not knowing about putting the toilet paper into a bin? I liked it a lot but where I stayed was very rural. I made the mistake of thinking that the Brandy wasn’t very strong because it tastes so different from what I was used to...
Ok crikey, yeh, I am a div! I do remember your sin of putting the toilet paper down the toilet. TSKKK! You are a sewer terrorist ;-)
ReplyDeleteSo pray, do tell us more about the Brandy story ........
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My lips are sealed!
ReplyDeleteYou temptress, you!
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Chuckle, snigger!
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