The Legacy of Joseph Barnabas in Cyprus

Sea caves just east of Agai Napa

Tuesday, I spent headache time in the archbishopric library, learning how little I know about important aspects of my research. Monday, however, we went to Agai Napa, a beach resort in the SE corner of Cyprus. We wanted to see an old church, check on good places for snorkeling, and mainly just explore an area we had not yet seen.

Agai Napa is too touristy for our taste. But east of town is Cape Gkreko and a national park, so development there is nil. We hiked to the top of the hill overlooking the cape and enjoyed a nice view of the coast. Then we went to an area where there are caves carved into the soft rock of the coast. The water is clear but seemed a bit rough for us to go snorkeling. Maybe next time.

Lynne and her rather hollow new friend at an old monastery in Agai Napa

Some Germans were leaping from the cliff into the water below and having a great time. I took several short videos of them plunging into the sea. And, no, I did not try it myself. Maybe next time.

No matter where we go in Cyprus, we manage to get lost. The signs are worse than those in PA, plus they are in Greek (imagine that). Going through towns always gets us. We cannot read the signs fast enough to take the correct turn. Then we have to drive around streets that are never straight, trying to find our way back. In the late afternoon, when I am tired, I don’t deal as well with such circumstances. But, in the end, we find our destination. So it was with our loop north to see more of the coastline and then west and south to find a fishing village that is the most picturesque in the entire island—according to the guidebook. What we wonder is how much the two seafood restaurant owners in the village paid the author of the guidebook to publish such misinformation.

German youth having fun leaping off the cliff into the clear Mediterranean Sea

We had a seafood dinner at the little fishing village and enjoyed the quiet. Then we returned to the noise of Nicosia. Tomorrow, we go into the occupied northern part of Cyprus. No doubt, we will have some adventures—good and bad. Trips are like that.