Cyprus

Cyprus was hot. Cyprus is hot. Cyprus will continue to be hot! Apparently it is very pleasant when it's not summer time. But we caught the full force of an August heat wave.

The first night, we arrived at eight, after the public transportation had ceased to operate. So we stayed in Larnaka. Paul went out to buy water and coca-cola, but lost himself in the winding streets. After 20 minutes he saw a Carlsberg sign that he recognized and made his way back. In gratitude, we drank Carlsberg all the rest of our stay.

The next day we tried to rent a motorcycle for our trip across the island to our uncle and aunt's house, but we did not have the proper driver's licences.

The bus ride was exhausting and left us both in a bad mood that nothing but new 2nd Cousins could relieve. Our cousin Livia's children, Rahmla is three and Nagi 10 months. They are adorable!

Their house is truly unique. Located in a tiny town called Lysos, near the city of Polis - a greek word meaning city - their house was originally a three room sheperd home. Made of stone and mud, for years they lived there, huddling in the kitchen for warmth in the winter. Recently, however, they added a two story addition.

Our first day we went to the beach and swan in the ocean in the morning. Then after lunch went for a walk in the hills. We saw an abandoned Turkish village with a mosque and christian chapel right next to one another. Who says coexistence is impossible. The next day we drank a few brewskies by the seaside - at our uncle Roger's insistence - then took the long ride back across the island to the Larnaka airport.