CYPRUS – Paphos Coast

I have just discovered this post I drafted some time ago, but for some reason I never published it. I guess I had intended to improve it in some way, or add some more photos. So now I think I might as well publish it – finally. These photos were taken a few years ago in the Paphos area of Cyprus, where I have enjoyed a few trips in recent years.

“Sol Alter” above, a sculpture by Yiota Ioannidou, next to the castle at Paphos Harbour. One of several sculptures along this coast which were commissioned in 2017 when Paphos was European City of Culture.

 

 

 

 

 

The Lighthouse, in the grounds of the Paphos Archaeological Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

I usually visit Cyprus in the winter, when the weather can be unpredictable, but still better than in the South West of Ireland!

Paphos Castle next to Paphos harbour. It was originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect the harbour. It was destroyed in the earthquake of 1222 and later rebuilt by the Lusignans in the thirteenth century. In 1570 the Venetians destroyed it, and later it was again restored by the Ottomans. Now a tourist attraction and used as a backdrop for festivals and events.

 

 

The harbour has some unusual looking boats, mainly for tourist trips.

Tourists gather below at sunset beside the Castle at Paphos Harbour to take photos.

 

 

 

“Red Poppy” sculpture by Andreas Paraskevas, also commissioned for the European Capital of Culture in 2017, when Paphos had the title.

I have also made several other posts on Cyprus

PAPHOS ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK

TOMBS OF THE KINGS, PAPHOS, CYPRUS

CYPRUS – Agia-Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa

WINTER IN PAPHOS, CYPRUS

TIME AND TIDE – and Flaking Paint (old boat at Latchi)

THE MAGIC OF LIGHT  (Zygi Harbour, Cyprus)

 STAVROVOUNI  (Cyprus)

STAVROVOUNI 2  (CYPRUS)

APPROACHING CYPRUS

CYPRUS, IN THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS

TROODOS MOUNTAINS 2

Thanks for your visit. Do take a look at my website where I many photos from Cyprus available for purchase

AGIOS SPYRIDON

This was a boat to fall in love with. I did so in December 2018, when I stumbled upon it in Latsi (Latchi), Cyprus. It was such a beautiful old wooden fishing boat, dry docked, and totally neglected. It seemed so wrong that such a lovely piece of craftsmanship  would now be so uncared for, although you can be sure that thousands of tourists have passed by and like myself have taken many, many photos.

Last year I posted some of these photos here after my trip to Cyprus. I didn’t know anything at all about this boat at the time and didn’t manage to find any information. I didn’t even know that it was named Agios Spyridon

My earlier post can be seen here: https://helenebrennan.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/time-and-tide-and-flaking-paint/

On my most recent trip to Cyprus in December 2019, I went to take a look to see how this old lady was getting on. Alas, I found it in the process of being demolished. There were some local photographers there to record it  and I got the impression that it was a bit of an event.

 

 

 

 

Since my return home I did some more research and was delighted to find some information about it. It seems she was built in 1950 on Crete and  was one of a type  of fishing vessels known as karavoskaro.

On dry land since 2004, the boat was supposed to have been restored but unfortunately that didn’t happen and total negligence forced a decision to have her demolished. Considered to be worthy of being listed as a monument of nautical heritage, it has been digitally recorded in a joint project between the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus Institute.

The 3d image, which you can pull around with your mouse and view from all sides  can be seen here:

http://ephemera.cyi.ac.cy/sites/ephemera/3D1/Latsi_Ag_Spyridon.html

I am familiar with 3d photography as I too was involved with a project to digitally record ancient monuments in my area.  http://www.corcadhuibhne3d.ie/sites.php  A number of these sites were recorded by myself. This development in imaging is a brilliant tool we now have to record any objects that would otherwise disappear from us forever. We may have had photos, but to view objects in 3d is so amazing.

If you click on any image here you will get a better quality view.

Thank you for visiting my post.

AERIAL PHOTOS 2

Leaving Dublin Airport early on a December morning, below.

When travelling, I really love to pass the time taking photos out through the aircraft’s window.  For those who will only accept technical perfection, this is not for them. Scratched windows, sometimes with condensation and reflections do not give a perfect image, and often, depending on the position of the sun there will appear  a spotty effect on the images. But in general I’m happy with a pleasing image and to gain that I’m often happy to forfeit technical perfection.

Below are mountains in Europe, I guess the Alps.

 

 

 

Spot the plane in the centre of the picture below.

 

 

 

Arrival at Cyprus below, showing one of 108 dams and reservoirs in Cyprus.

 

The following photos are views on the flight from Kolkata to Aizawl, Mizoram, via Imphal

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for viewing my photos. If you would like to see more aerial photos please take a look at my earlier post:

https://helenebrennan.wordpress.com/2019/03/26/aerial-photos/

Also, there are more photos on my website:

https://www.helene-brennan.com/c22-aerial-images

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TROODOS MOUNTAINS 2

 

Here are some more photos taken in the Troodos Mountains in Cyprus. This is a beautiful area with lush scented forests and picturesque villages. I have named some of the villages, but unfortunately, some are forgotten.

 

 

Trooditissa Monastery, above, viewed from the road.

 

Village in the mountains.

 

Omodos Village, a wine producing village at an altitude of 800 metres in the Troodos mountain range, in the beautiful area of ‘Krassohoria’, just 42 km from Lemesos town.

 

 

 

Dora village, above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for viewing my photos. Please visit my Cyprus Category on my website:

http://www.helene-brennan.com/c857-cyprus

Also see my other posts on Cyprus here

PAPHOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

CYPRUS, IN THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS

WINTER IN PAPHOS, CYPRUS

TIME AND TIDE – and Flaking Paint (old boat at Latchi)

THE MAGIC OF LIGHT  (Zygi Harbour, Cyprus)

 STAVROVOUNI  (Cyprus)

STAVROVOUNI 2  (CYPRUS)

APPROACHING CYPRUS

TOMBS OF THE KINGS, PAPHOS, CYPRUS

 

 

PAPHOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Cyprus is an archaeologist’s paradise. Layer upon layer of historical architectural ruins lie all over the place, and especially here in the Archaeological Park in Paphos. History has not always been kind to earlier civilisations, with foreign invasions and earthquakes destroying many wonderful buildings and works of art.

Some of the ruins here are as old as 2000 years or more, and some date to medieval times.

Here are several photos of these ruins, which include four roman palaces (with some well preserved mosaic floors), castles and amphitheatres.

Thanks for viewing my photos. Please visit my Cyprus Category on my website:

http://www.helene-brennan.com/c857-cyprus

Also see my other posts on Cyprus here

CYPRUS, IN THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS

WINTER IN PAPHOS, CYPRUS

TIME AND TIDE – and Flaking Paint (old boat at Latchi)

THE MAGIC OF LIGHT (Zygi Harbour, Cyprus)

STAVROVOUNI (Cyprus)

STAVROVOUNI 2 (CYPRUS)

APPROACHING CYPRUS

TOMBS OF THE KINGS, PAPHOS, CYPRUS

TOMBS OF THE KINGS, PAPHOS, CYPRUS

The Tombs of the Kings in Paphos, Cyprus, is a very famous UNESCO Work Heritage site.  A must see for all visitors to the region. It dates back to about the 3rd century BC and it was a  burial ground for the richest, most powerful Ptolemaics of the time. Apparently, no Kings were buried there, but it was given its name because of the impressiveness of the rock hewn tombs.

Excavations began there in 1977; tomb raiders had long since removed most of the artifacts. A few pieces remained, that were inaccessible to the raiders.

 

Individual niches or loculi are cut into the rock in many of the chambers

 

 

Some of the rock cut stairs have survived well, but many are not easy for old knees nowadays.

This is a well preserved tomb with lovely doric columns.

 

 

Above can be seen hole in the wall made by tomb raiders to gain access to an adjoining tomb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tourists building stone piles in the area. The whole place is littered with them – stone piles, that is!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for visiting.

My earlier posts on Cyprus are:

CYPRUS, IN THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS

TIME AND TIDE – and Flaking Paint (old boat at Latchi)

WINTER IN PAPHOS, CYPRUS

APPROACHING CYPRUS

THE MAGIC OF LIGHT  (Zygi Harbour, Cyprus)

 STAVROVOUNI (Cyprus)

STAVROVOUNI 2  (CYPRUS)

Do checkout my website category on Cyprus:

http://www.helene-brennan.com/c857-cyprus

 

 

 

 

CYPRUS – Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa

Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa, in Paphos

Cyprus is an archaeologist’s paradise. There are several ancient sites, all over the country and several of them are in Paphos where I stayed, and excavations are ongoing.

Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa in Kato Paphos is a very interesting site where over the centuries from the 4th century until the 16th century, a number of buildings of Christian worship were created and destroyed.  The exact history seems very complicated, and involved Arab invasion and Earthquakes, building, destruction and rebuilding many times.

The existing church is used for worship in recent times. I didn’t think it was open while I was there, but I understand that it is beautiful inside. Worth a look judging by the photos I have seen.

Here are several photos of the current building and the ancient ruins that surround it.

Below is a photo of an information notice at the site. If you click on it you will get a sharper, more readable version.

 

 

 

The ancient sites of Cyprus are particularly noted for their splendid mosaics, some of which you can see below.

There are raised walkways around the site, offering great views of the mosaics and other remains, without damage to the antiquities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Paul and St Barnabas are believed to have visited this place to spread Christianity in 45 AD, and it is believed that St Paul was tied to a pillar by the Roman soldiers and whipped  39 times, before the Roman Governor Sergius Paulus was converted to Christianity. The photo above shows the pillar marked with a red arrow.

Thanks so much for viewing my post. If you would like to see more of Cyprus, I have made a number of other posts on Cyprus. See the links below, and watch out for more to come.

CYPRUS, IN THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS

WINTER IN PAPHOS, CYPRUS

TIME AND TIDE – and Flaking Paint (old boat at Latchi)

THE MAGIC OF LIGHT  (Zygi Harbour, Cyprus)

 STAVROVOUNI  (Cyprus)

STAVROVOUNI 2  (CYPRUS)

APPROACHING CYPRUS

Also, do checkout my website category on Cyprus:

http://www.helene-brennan.com/c857-cyprus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CYPRUS, IN THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS

This was December 2018 in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. A beautiful area getting away from the popular coastal areas. I would expect this to be very popular during the hot summers, and it is noticeably much cooler up here at any time. Indeed, they have a skiing resort here, but there wasn’t much snow about when I was there – just a sprinkling at the top.

Apart from the stunning scenery, It was quite wonderful to smell the aroma of the pine trees. It made me want to breathe more deeply. It seemed more intensely perfumed than anything I experienced before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up in the clouds on Mount Olympus. There was a smattering of snow here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for viewing my photos. Please look out for more Cyprus posts.

Previous Cyprus posts on:

WINTER IN PAPHOS, CYPRUS

TIME AND TIDE – and Flaking Paint (old boat at Latchi)

THE MAGIC OF LIGHT  (Zygi Harbour, Cyprus)

 STAVROVOUNI  (Cyprus)

STAVROVOUNI 2  (CYPRUS)

APPROACHING CYPRUS

Do checkout my website category on Cyprus:

http://www.helene-brennan.com/c857-cyprus

WINTER IN PAPHOS, CYPRUS

The following photos are somewhat randomly presented, but they give the flavour of the frequent shift from warm sunshine to stormy weather in Cyprus in the winter time.

APPROACHING CYPRUS