We were looking forward to our breakfast here, and rightly so. We took it in their lovely tropical garden amidst banana trees and palms. It was a feast – the reviews were accurate. But not too overwhelming. We used to spend a week every autumn in a fantastc b&b in Kalavasos, a village in the south. The breakfast there was overwhelming and there was no escaping it. I had to go out and buy indigestion tablets because there was just too much food pressed on you too early (for me) in the morning. The breakfast here was lavish but small portions, just right. We enjoyed it very much. Lots of home made jams and preserves from the garden trees, local cheese and honey, fresh fruit, shakshuka, their own olives, tiny spinach flaky pastry rolls and others stuffed with spiced apple. Good coffee. We didn’t need any lunch that’s for sure.
We’ve been to Famagusta many times and whilst we may do some sightseeing, primarily we are going to enjoy the great weather and explore the local beaches. Today we went to Palm Beach which is about a 7 minute drive from the hotel. Its the north end of the famous long Varosha/Maras beach, once one of the most famous in the Mediterranean,now largely backed by the ghost town of the past. It’s a weird sight to see a long strip of hotels and buildings, like Benidorm, now empty and decaying. I am at a loss to explain Varosha….it is the end result of prejudice, fear, religious bigotry. political expediency…. the end result is that it will eventually be bulldozed and re-developed.
Although you can go onto the main beach now, we chose to base ourselves at the Arkin Palm Hotel, probably the plushest hotel in the area. For 500 tl (about £15) we got 2 very nice loungers, 2 big umbrellas, towels and the run of the beach club and pool. The beach is super nice – fine sand, clean. And the water is gorgeous, crystal clear and a lovely pale duckegg blue in the shallows. We had a lovely lovely day. May go back again after we’ve explored a few more.
Tonight we had a lovely sundowner at the roof bar of our b&b. Lovely sunset views in all directions and a moon rising. It was 35C today – how’s that for nearly November. Then we headed off a few streets to the Land Gate, Ravelin Gate and to the Ravelin Gate Restaurant. A lovely little place on the hilly street, popular, famous for steaks. We chose them – sirloin – mine plain and rare, Bob’s with pepper sauce medium rare. Just very nice in every respect and a great vibe. Good veg and accompaniments. I had a g&t. Bob, a beer. We finished with Turkish coffees and Moldavian brandies…. £46 with service. What a nice evening.
