Habib came early with two chaps and began infilling behind Alan’s wall and then moved the green fence back. Still not quite enough earth in there despite the giant mound we had delivered. We will have more infilling to do when the rest of the wall is built so will top up more then. We left them to it.
Drove to Famagusta which takes about 90 minutes from our house. We went out along the main motorway road past the airport and directly east. We made a first stop at St Barnabus Monastery near the ruins of Salamis for a coffee.
It costs about a quid to get in and I love sitting in the golden stone cloister surrounded by trees and cacti and just enjoying the peace. In order to do this, you have to get there before 1030 otherwise there are huge crowds of Greek tourists arriving on coaches and it loses all atmosphere. Anyway, we did get our peaceful stop and then continued on to the old walled city of Famagusta.
We parked in the free carpark near Petek’s Patisserie where we always park. Last October we spent a week in Famagusta and really enjoyed that – see the blog entry for that trip. Today we wandered up to the square, looked at the Mosque-Cathedral and then the ruins of the old Venetian Palace and the old Cathedral of St Paul and St Peter, now also a mosque. Wandered on up the main shopping street to the city walls and then back down again through the back lanes and charming old houses.
By now it was lunchtime so we went into Patek’s and nabbed a table upstairs. We each shared a main course so that we would have room left for CAKE!!! Bob and I shared a mixed platter of nibbles and Stuart and Fi shared a plate of chicken enchiladas. Then we went downstairs to the patisserie section to choose our cakes. Bob had a cream eclair, I had a carrot cake flavoured with nuts and orange, Stuart had a carrot cake flavoured with pistachios and Fi had a lemon cream tart. All were totally delicious. It’s such a popular place – everyone goes there. Been on the same site for decades. A must do in Famagusta.
We drove north to Salamis and spent a couple of hours relaxing on the beach next to the ruins. There’s a cafe there and you can have an umbrella and a lounger with pad for 100tl. The beach is sandy and the sea is warm and clear, although a bit choppy today. I still spent a fair bit of time in it. An extra draw for me is the fact that you are undoubtedly swimming over and among the ruins of the Roman harbour and gatehouses.
Left there at about 330 and took a scenic route home, going north to Boghaz, then inland, skirting Kantara Castle and going through Mersinlik. Amazing mountain scenery and golden fields and rock formations as old as time. Almost biblical in places. We emerged through the mountains and onto the coastal road along the north coast. A lovely trip till we hit rush hour around Kyrenia but never mind.
Tonight we went to Karaoglanoglu, to the Dogus Adres for dinner. A very old favourite by the seashore. In fact, the first restaurant we ever ate at in Northern Cyprus back in 2006. It was an amazing meal and still such good value. Bread, olives and nibbles while we chose from the menu. Then abut 5 cold meze dishes plus a large salad, then grilled cheese on bread, then a bowl of chips, potato slices, then our mains – mine was a fillet steak with blue cheese and mushroom cream sauce, nutmeg and butter mashed potatoes and mixed veg. Just delicious. Afterwards there was a dessert buffet to choose from and Turkish coffee or tea. We were stuffed. Stuffed. Very nice friendly service from the staff who have also been there for years.
Another lovely day.