Cyprus: Archaeological Sites

While based in Limassol, we visited archaeological sites of Pafos and Kourion.

Pafos has extensive excavations (UNESCO) dating from Greek and Roman times. The Tomb of Kings site has some very imposing and elaborate tomb monuments dating back to the 4th century BCE, so named "Kings" purely because of impressiveness not for actual kings. The Neo Pafos site, is a site still under exploration. The highlights were 1) the extraordinary vividness of House of Aion mosaics. 2) House of Dionysos - while not Villa Romana del Casale, there are more than a dozen rooms of mosaics 3) the extent of the Villa of Theseus - the size of the central peristyle could have been a forum.

In comparison, the Kourion site is not as special, but the setting is beautiful, high on a cliff by the sea. While it has some mosaics (now that we have been to Tunisia, I'm not as easily impressed), the extensive baths really caught our attention. They must have been pretty luxurious.

At Paphos Archaeological Park, the The House of Dionysus, with 2nd – 4th cent. A.D. Roman Mosaics, is covered, but with an open atrium, just as it should be. ;-)










House of Aion.




House of Theseus. Third below is a mosaic of the "First Bath of Achilles".






There are also a reconstructed Roman Theatre, a Roman Agora, a cool ancient city wall, and a modern lighthouse.










The highlight of the Tombs of the Kings site was the Doric architecture elements in 4 of the 8 underground tombs we visited. Plus, crawling and walking around the tombs was a lot of fun. And we had a good guide book.


















The wind was blowing while we were at Kourion. I'm holding on to my hat in this 4-second video. Link here.


The House and Baths of Eustolios are covered, and from them, there is an amazing view of the Mediterranean Sea.




There is also a small, mostly reconstructed, Roman Amphitheatre.


The views from the Kourion site were amazing.




The Roman Basilica.


The Roman Baths.

Cyprus: Skippable Larnaca

For visiting Cyprus, we decided to fly to Larnaca because the place has cheap flights. It's on the Mediterranean in the south of Cyprus. Obviously many people like Larnaka. For us, coming from Tunisia and Malta, Larnaca seems colorless and characterless, though it has a beautiful orthodox church, a few mosques, a fort, a couple of rather decent museums, a waterfront promenade, beach, salt lake with migrating flamingos....

Our first night here, John's computer display partially disintegrated as he opened it. We cannot warm to the idea of investing 700+ euros, sight unseen, on a new computer. One more thing to worry about.

The "cheap flight", with Emirates on flight to Dubai making a stop in Larnaca, was very comfortable.


Our apartment in Larnaca, located next to an Easy Rider Tattoo shop, was very close to the Church of Saint Lazarus. Yes, the Lazarus that in the Gospel of John was raised from the dead by Jesus. Lazarus was the first bishop of Larnaca (then named Kition), and his 2nd tomb is under the church.




The Larnaca District Archaeological Museum. Most artifacts are from Kition, the ancient Greek City that preceded Larnaca.






We ate a pretty tasty lunch at Falafel Abu Dany Vegetarian Restaurant.


But the best meal we ate in Larnaca was Falafel Sandwiches at the Lebanese Bakery across from Lazarus Church.


A Roman glass fish at the Pierides Museum.


The Larnaca Salt Lake.


Fishing Boats at the port.


John relaxing at the port.


The Mediterranean Sea with clouds.




Sunset view from our home in Larnaca: Lakis Court Apartments, 148 Ermou Street.

Malta: Heritage

Heritage figures big with the Maltese.

From the Temple people, they have incomparable stone age artifacts.

From the Knights of Malta, they have many interesting fortifications, all over the island. 

On the other hand, the Maltese are not so keen on reflecting on their Islamic heritage.

The conspicuous looking enclosed balcony (galleriji) much loved all over the island are just like the miradores in Spain. I used to call them Turkish windows as I associated them with Ottomans. It is obvious to me now they are Mashrabiyas, spread by Islamic conquerors.

What I found most interesting is that the language Maltese is a Semitic language, as in Arabic and Hebrew, but written in Latin script, from the Arab rulers 870-1090. None of the subsequent conquests changed that, except under the Knights of Malta Arabic was changed to Latin script, until the British came in 1800. Today almost everyone and everything is bilingual.

The churches in Malta were sumptuous to say the least. Below is the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady in Mosta, Malta. It is also known as the Rotunda of Mosta and is modeled after the Pantheon in Rome.


The Parish Church in Paola, Malta.






Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Valletta.


St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta.


Church of St. Paul’s Shipwreck, Valletta.






A church in Birgu (Vittoriosa).


The streets in Rabat as they were preparing for the Feast of St Joseph. The decorative street lamps that were up in advance were pretty spiffy/upscale.






Mdina, adjacent to Rabat, is a fortified city.




Here we are at the base of the Birgu (Vittoriosa) fortifications, looking across the water at Valletta's forts.


And from Valletta's upper fortifications, looking to Birgu (Vittoriosa) fortifications.




On top of the Valletta walls looking north.


Finally, some shots of enclosed balconies (galleriji). At night in Valletta.


Near our apartment in Floriana.


In Rabat.


On the Valletta waterfront.


The yacht basin in Birgu (Vittoriosa).




The main drag in Valletta.