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Published: September 25th 2019
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Only a few days left of our holiday so we took ourselves off to the old town of Paphos.
Of course since our last visit over 30 years ago everything has changed!
We took a taxi rather than the local bus, glad we did because the bus stopped at the bottom of a very steep hill with steps leading up to the old town.
Our taxi dropped us off right outside the municipal market, although even this now has a modern facade.
We sat and enjoyed a coffee but seeing the faces of those people, young, old, fat & thin who were puffing hard as they reached the top of the steps made us think that perhaps the elevator just to the right was possibly out of order!!
The old market has had some renovation, mainly to the exterior but once we were inside the covered areas there was no air conditioning like the modern mall, just the fans above your head giving a nice cooling atmosphere.
All the usual tourist items on sale but also local spices, handicrafts and the like.
One very helpful proprietor who steered me to
several rails of beach dresses and assured me that his 'One size fits all' did just that. In fact he was true to his word so three colourful items were purchased.
David who doesn't usually like markets also found a helpful guy and bought a couple of belts to add to his collection.
We meandered through the different aisles and out into the open air of the old town.
The area had now been pedestrianised and whilst many buildings had been renovated many were in a state of disrepair.
Before I went off on one of my wanderings we sat in one of the squares enjoying a cold drink (my apple juice was served in what looked like a Kilner jar with a handle).
David was happy to sit and watch the world and I took myself down the narrow streets to find some of the real 'old town'.
Many of the old buildings were unoccupied, some quite derelict but to brighten up the area there were colourful murals on the sides of the empty buildings.
I also came across a couple of art installations
in the revamped areas, one a complete wall decorated with crocheted hoops, prepared by women of all nationalities, colour or creed. Very poignant.
Another insulation not quite so pretty with giant bugs coming down the wall in front if a huge wooden table top. Eeeeek not my favourite view but worth a photo.
As I continued my walk through the labyrinth of streets I came across a pretty alley with a couple of restaurants and above the alley affixed to wire stretching from one side to the other an assortment of lampshades hung. I had seen on other holidays umbrellas stretching across such alleys but never lampshades!
Some of the original buildings had wrought iron balconies, one building looked a little worse for wear but a pair of working boots were just hanging above the door which caught my eye.
In time I guess all of the old buildings will have been renovated or replaced but I hope the character is not lost completely.
Passing a church which for reasons unknown to me was all locked up and gated with security signs, it was soon time to
go back & find David. Just as well I found the alley with the lamp shades again as this was my marker back to the square where David was chatting to the proprietor of the cafe about his set menu choice. Made me laugh so another photo for the collection.
We headed back to where we had first enjoyed a coffee, passing a cafe with a living wall, it was looking very green & well cared for so it must have a good irrigation system here in the hot Cyprus sun.
We enjoyed a cold beer, glass of wine, Taramasalata dip with Pitta bread overlooking Pathos before heading back to the hotel for a relaxing and restful afternoon.
On our journey back we saw several yellow post boxes. A legacy from the British colonial rule, but after independence in February 1960 they were all painted yellow.
Well you learn something new every day !
Back at our hotel, time for a swim and then each day at 3pm it's "Strawberry Festival" time! One of pool bar staff walks around ringing a small bell, at same time carrying
a tempting looking sundae dish of strawberries & ice cream. We have been good and not been tempted until today.
We did share one so it wasn't too naughty but if was definitely nice!
Our days here are coming to a close so this will probably be my last blog but you never know.
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