First 1/2 of vacation

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And the adventure begins... the Nesher picked us up around 3am to go to the airport we got through the airport around 430 am everything was smooth our flight was at 7am we landed by 8am it very a very quick flight, we get into a cab to take us to the hotel (we notice automatically that they drive on the other side of the ROAD)!!! We get there to try to check in which is not until 1pm unless you pay 20 euro to get to your room earlier. We did that since both tx and I did not sleep a drop last night and we couldnt function without sleep. We wake up 8 hours later around 6pm starving and ready to get our vacation started. We did not want to go far for dinner since we were still exhausted. We noticed also that there were no crosswalks, no sidewalks, the currency is the euro and when we asked if we could walk into town the automatic response was absolutely NOT. Tx and I looked at each other and was like this could be fun.. not knowing what we were getting into. We found Gregory's which is a local "diner" or whatever they have and we just got some food which was simple and easy. This is a little about Cyprus.

Cyprus has 10,000 years of history. in 8200-2009. Tons of culture it is the third largest Island i the Mediterranean seas and is between three continents Europe, Asia and Africa. This island is Aphrodite's which was the god of beauty and love. 8200-1050 BC the prehistoric age, Cypriots mined copper and lived in single room dwellings and used stone rods to make jewelry. Change started to happen around 2400-2200 when it switched to the bronze era when they were allowed to have many room dwellings as well as start with agriculture and had organized cemeteries for each community. They also continued with the mining copper and making jewelry. In the late bronze era a script to communicate was created and trading with Egypt ad the Middle East began. In the later part of the 13th century Greeks settled Cyprus and then adopted Greek culture as well. In 1050-480 BC was the beginning of the iron age, iron replaced copper. 480-330 AD was the time period of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Cyprus was i the middle of the Greece- Persia wars and was under Persia rule for a while and helped create a Peace treaty with the grecian countries and Persia. 300-1191 AD Was the Byzantine period. Christianity was declared the official religion it was a very peaceful time for Cyprus mainly building new cities because there had been a couple earthquakes as well as moved the capital from Pafos. Stated to build wooden ships for trade and transport as well as built churches in the resemblance of the Roman Basillica, which includes rows and arch ways. The 14th Century was the frakish period (Nicosia) became the capital and in 1489-1571 exporting of agriculture goods began: of wheat, barley, sugar, cotton, wine and olive oil as well as textiles and lace. In 1571-1878 Cyprus was apart of the Ottoman empire, Latins were expelled from the Island and a muslim community started to be developed. 1878-1960 Cyprus was under British rule as a British Mandate. Cypriots wanted to be part of Greek rule and was an uprising against Britain in 1931. Cyrpus gained independence on December 13, 1959. Cyprus today is from 1960-2009. It is now considered the Republic of Cyprus and is a member of the UN, common wealth ad the council of Europe. Britain was able to keep two military bases on the Island. Cyprus as a constitution and 1963 suggested that the Turkish area be ruled by both Cyprus and Turkey. (The northern 1/2 of the country has been under Turkish occupation since 1974.) In may 2004 Cyprus became a member of the EU.

A lot of history but more adventures are to come. Bed early.. Lila

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