Salamis and Famagusta

Its long since I've written and much has happened. I will write a few impressions and post lots of photographs. By the way, suddenly my blogger interace is in Turkish and I'm guessing my way through it. I hope this blog does not appear in Turkish! (I just Managed to work out what 'language' is in Turkish. It is 'dIl'. Went to the dashboard and change the setting - my but I am cute!)

Since my last post we've been to Salamis and Gasimagusa (Famagusta) in the east, went on a boat trip on the calm (ha-ha) Mediterranean a Leonardo da Vinci exhibition the old city of Lefkosa, and we've been on a treasure hunt towards the west of the island. Furthermore, for those of you who think island life is just moonshine and roses, I hope to write somethng about my (and Jeanne-Marie's) work experiences.

The trip to the East (Salamis) was much more successful than our previous attempt. Armed with our newly restored camera and Bob in the car we set out bright and early. Well, not as early as we hoped to, but with kids, as some of you know, one always has to add an hour or so. Their sense of time and urgency needs some work. Sometimes as impatient as a one-day butterfly and sometimes the patience of a giant Gallapagos tortoise.

["Life is all holidays!" said a one-day butterfly. (It was lucky: it was born on a Sunday.) ]

Days are getting warmer and we had a great, windless sunny day. The Salamis site is both amazing from a historical perspective and because it was beautiful on the particular day that we were there. There are milions of Mimosas on the island that are in bloom. Furthermore, this island must have the world's biggest variety of yellow flower bearing plants. Everything among the ruins were covered in yellow. Historically it is incredible to walk on ruins that were occupied (and re-occupied) for more than 3000 years. It is estimated that the battle between the Myceneans and the Troyans that lead to the legend of the Trojan horse took place place in the 11th Century BC. Homer is thought of as writing about 1000 BC, but there is difference of opinion. And here we are, climbing and playing on the ruins! Archeology must be a very difficult and rewarding discipline. Each site represents layers and layers of history and the challenge s to unravel these so that history mkes sens in a linear way. Of course, history is not linear - the same script is played out again and again with different actors over centuries. The Mouse Trap has got nothing on this!

Martin taught me how to put hyperlinks on the blog. This helps me to not nore you with all the historical details, but to refer those of you, who are intersted in these things like we are, to read up more on these wonderful places. So, to all the fellow-nerds. Click on Salamis above for more juicy history stuff.

We wouldn't have minded staying much longer, but the brave little Daniel and Isabella have their limits. These dicctate that they stop walking and running abouut after a whle and demand to be carried. This leads to me and Jeanne-Marie contemplating our mortality and our spinal compression fractures from 'can I sit on your head, Daddy?' (Which might look in print like an innocent question, but is, in fact, a command) on our way to our demise. Reason took over immediately and we decided that having lunch in Famagusta was a grand idea. Bob, who was not overly blessed with pigment also took a pounding from the sun. We all decided that the vast site of Salamis deserves another visit.

We went to the old city, a site of great historical significance, seeing that it was there that my camera broke on a fateful day in March. I was back to set the record straight an am happy to say that I can now post a few cool pictures of the place. We had a great lunch at an outside place - the first time we actually ate out since we've been here (not counting the visit to the local version of MacDonalds). The kids are getting used to travelling and easier to take places - well, sometimes. This was a good day for the Viljoens. It felt like it should on an overseas trip. After a hot day of sightseeing one should be able to sit back and have a cold beer and enjoy the scenery. Bob is into TM, he is a vegetarian and he does not drink alcohol. Fortunately he does not seem to be offended when we partake in these earthly delights. I suppose one can take being considerate too far. Bob also abhors smoking, so we don't smoke. I suppose that is where we meet him halfway.

Later the afternoon we met Nick Pagan, a professor of English literature at the Eastern Mediterranean Univesity in Famagusta. Nice chap who has aa 6-year old. When we go to Famagusta agin, wwe might hook up with him so the kids can play. So, slowly we network. As an aside, as I've mentiioned before, this is a small place, which means that one has to behave. People get to know you very quickly. You bump into the same peoplle all the time. Everyone in the bank knows you, etc etc. We are also feeling a little more settled in and it was great just hanging out for a change.

In Famagusta we looked for ice cream and went into a shop run by a Bangladeshi. I took the opportunity to congratulate him and his countrymen on the excellent victory over SA in the CWC.

I will write about the other events in forthcomming postings. It is now late on a Sunday evening and I still need to upload photos.

till next time..