22.02.25

Like in Greece, the translation can have multiple spellings. Where we live Kambia or Kampia, Almyrida or Almirida, Kalyves or Kalives, Xania or Chania. And the accent. I know Cretan is the equivalent of British Geordie, but here is much smoother, less emphasis on the syllables. And it feels very British. Well, it was. All signs are in both Greek and English. Lots of ex Pats. Hoarding adverts are in English. And they drive on the left … I’ve not been caught out … yet.

Lots of tourists, despite being only February.  Crete is largely protected from all year mass tourism, as November till March requires a flight change in Athens. Cyprus is major destination for Brits 30-34% of all tourists. Followed by tourists from Israel Germany, and Poland. Russian visitors are fast increasing. Chatted yesterday to two young charming girls from Russia and Israel who live here. They attend English school.

We packed up and were on the road before 9.20. A journey to our next accommodation, but with stops.

Edro II shipwreck

Built in 1966 and travelling from Limassol to Rhodes with a cargo of plasterboard. A storm in 2011 has given it a permanent home rusting just north of Pafos. The location is particularly pretty. Safari jeep tour stop, so quite busy. Did overhear a guide explaining that a nearby house had hosted UK Love Island.

Coral Bay

Billed as having a stunning white beach … not sure where!  They must remove the seaweed for the season. And then we saw a mountain of perfect sand ready to be spread. If all the accommodation is full occupancy, plus the day trippers … yuk!

On a spit is Maa Palaeokastro. Late Bronze age settlement of Greeks from late C13 to early C12 BC. Only a few generations.  Evidence of houses and defensive walls. A Linear A script was found … Minoan. Not a lot to see, but J being over 65 was free. I was €2.50

Tombs of the Kings

Found a much needed coffee en route. Actually, I had two.
A necropolis from C4 BC, not for royalty but aristocrats and officials. And there must have been a lot of them, judging by the huge number of underground tombs. The Romans pinched and excavated a lot of of stone, but remarkable how much survived.

Pafos

Being so close we could not ignore the city. We planned to walk a self guided tour. Think a) we were running out of steam and b) we just don’t like places that exist solely for tourists.

We walked along to look at the fort, where St Paul’s pillar is and a Frankish hamam.  Skipped the mosaics and the Archeological Park. And we were done.

Drove all of 300m to a superb hypermarket to stock up. Stocked up also on Gordons at under €13 /ltr. After our recent trip to Turkey, we suspect booze will not be easily available and expensive. 

Staying 2 nights in Pera Pedi.  An hour 30 drive along a quiet motorway east and the north up to the Troodos mountains. Most of this road blighted by wild fires from July ’25.  125 sq km.  Apparently 14 villages evacuated.  Amazing not to have seen property destroyed, as the Internet states 43 houses were completely destroyed with a further 29 severely damaged. 

Forecast for storms tomorrow pm! 😕