April 10, 2008

Continued from April 9
. . . Salamis is believed to go back to the 11th century B.C. The ruins in our photos date from the Romans. The extent of the site is mind boggling. It certainly made for a very enjoyable and enlightening walk.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamis,_Cyprus
We then headed back home through Famagusta, which still has a wasteland from the war in 1974. Hotels and buildings are derelict and standing right beside the inhabited area. Nothing can be done about it, since the Turks are using the area as a bargaining tool for negotiations, and the Greek Cypriots won't bargain, as they say it was theirs in the first place. It is a very sad state of affairs, but one that seems impossible to arbitrate since both sides have suffered greatly. In the meantime, they are living peacefully side-by-side, and there is a lot to be said for that.
We came back across the border at a British Base, and felt the familiarity of the south side. It was a good experience, and there is still much to see and do in the north, so hopefully we will attempt it again later. And here I leave off the tale, as I return to my reality of laundry etc. It is still a pretty good reality though, as it is now 27C with a forecast of 30C for the next week. Dale just finished painting the garage floor, and had a swim. I think I will still wait for the water to warm up a few more degrees before I jump in.
Take care and keep a list of the things you especially want to do when you visit. We will keep checking it all out for you.
Love,
Laurel