Sunrise

sunrise

Sunrise at 0702 this morning.

No One Top Story in The Cyprus Holiday News (1 October 2012).

Coffee at Sunrise Pearl

coffee at Sunrise Pearl

coffee at Sunrise Pearl

Two coffee lattes, one freddo cappuccino on the terrace at Sunrise Pearl overlooking the pools and beach.

The freddo cappuccino better than a few nights ago as the waiter instucted the barman how to make, but not as good as at patisserie amelie, partly due to lack of skill but also due to the use of inferior coffee, but far better than Costa (it would have to be very bad to be worse).

Sunrise Pearl is a 5* hotel in Protaras in Cyprus.

Moonbeams

Moonbeams

The last few evenings I have watched a full or almost full moon rise above the horizon.

A beautiful path of moonbeams across the sea to my feet which then widens into a broad swathe of moonlight reflecting on the sea.

This evening it was already dark as I walked in the sea. It was very warm.

No moon, hidden behind dark clouds. Then it emerged, not as a white disc, but as a fiery red flame.

Then it vanished behind a black disk, light all around. It was as though I was watching an eclipse of the moon. Maybe I was though I was not aware one was due.

I stood in the sea, transfixed, mesmerised.

Then my heart stopped as a ghostly apperition materialised in the sea. I then realised it was a woman coming out of the sea who I assume had been swimming though I had not noticed her swimming.

I noticed the moon was exactly in line with the rising sun that I had observed at exactly 12 hours early.

That would explain why the sea was so high this morning and the previous morning as sun and moon exactly in alignment exerting maximum gravitational pull on the sea.

It was 27C and the sea was very warm.

As I write tonight nearly midnight very hot and humid in the street.

Afternoon coffee at at patisserie amelie

freddo cappuccino at patisserie amelie

freddo cappuccino at patisserie amelie

I was passing by patisserie amelie. Having coffee? I wasn’t, but I thought, why not?

A very hot humid afternoon.

Refreshing a freddo cappuccino.

I have drunk more coffee in the last ten days, than previously in my life.

Patisserie amelie, a lovely little coffee shop in Protaras in Cyprus.

Freddo cappuccino at patisserie amelie

freddo cappuccino at patisserie amelie

Early hours of this morning, some time after midnight, I sat on my balcony overlooking the sea. It was too warm to feel comfortable. I decided to take a walk.

I took a walk to a coffee bar, patisserie amelie, where I sat outside with a freddo cappuccino.

Patisserie amelie, a lovely little coffee shop in Protaras in Cyprus.

No need for music, bar across the road, bar down the road, so loud, that loud where I was.

Finally got to bed around 2am, still very warm, awake gone 3am, awoke sometime 6am before the sun rose, three hours sleep.

Another very hot day. I decided to go out on a boat where it would be cooler, but boat rather crowded. A pity I did not go the day before, as was not many on the boat, but as I was going in the evening, decided not. Then the evening boat trip fell through when a friend invited me to join her for coffee.

No 1 Top Story in The Cyprus Holiday News (Monday 1 October 2012).

Dinner at Nicolas Tavern

chicken soup

salad

Dinner at Nicolas Tavern.

Excellent chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, followed by sea bream and pork chops.

As a few night ago, I had hoped to enjoy kleftico, but as little left and it is a house speciality, decided not to deprive others who may have been there for the kleftico.

Nicolas Tavern is the restaurant in Protaras for kleftico, cooked in the traditional way, slowly, slowly for many hours in a wood-fired, clay oven.

Fake reviews are being posted on TripAdvisor. These stand out like a sore thumb. It does little for the credibility of TripAdvisor that they are failing to root out these fake reviews.

Top Story in The Cyprus Holiday News (29 September 2012).

Freddo cappuccino by the pool

freddo cappuccino by the pool

I was going on a boat trip, I was looking forward to going on a boat trip to see the sun set, especially as there was a full moon and the sea was to be bathed in moonlight, but sadly it was not to be, a friend said come to my house and I will make you a freddo cappuccino.

I had suggested I take her to patisserie amelie and treat her to a freddo cappuccino, but she said no, come to my house and I will make you one.

And so it was to be, freddo cappuccino (iced cappuccino) sat by the side of her pool.

I suggested we went out later to dinner at Nicolas Tavern, but this was not possible as that evening she was going to a wedding party (around 3,000 guests).

When someone leaves

The Zahir – Paulo Coelho

When someone leaves, it’s because someone else is about to arrive.

— Paulo Coelho

Quote from The Zahir by Paulo Coelho.

Nappa King – Protras – Famagusta – Cape Greco

Nappa King setting sail for Famagusta

Nappa King about to set sail

Famagusta seen from afar

The Nappa King sails from the pier at Protras to Famagusta, then to Cape Greco.

On the way to Famugusta, passengers are picked up from a little jetty at Penera. This saves a 15 minute walk along the coast path. A pleasant enough walk, but not so pleasant when the temperature hits 40C.

Famagusta is viewed from afar.

Famagusta is a ghost town. It has been left in a derelict state ever since the Turks invaded the island in 1974. An illegal invasion to which the rest of the world turns a blind eye.

Caves are viewed at Cape Greco. Napa King then drops anchor in Blue Lagoon for swimming.

The trips last two hours. Two sailings from Protaras Pier, one in the morning at 11am and one in the afternoon at 2pm. On Tuesday and Saturday evening there is a trip at 6pm to watch the sun setting, then as it turns dark, to view the stars.

Coffee at patisserie amelie

Freddo cappuccino at patisserie amelie

Freddo cappuccino (iced cappuccino) at patisserie amelie, a lovely little coffee shop in Protaras in Cyprus.

Top Story in The Cyprus Holiday News (29 September 2012).