Saint Hilarion Castle Kyrenia

Cypriot History

The Saint Hilarion Castle lies on the Kyrenia mountain range, in Cyprus. This location provided the castle with command of the pass road from Kyrenia to Nicosia. It is the best preserved ruin of the three former strongholds in the Kyrenia mountains, the others being Kantara and Buffavento. The castle is not named after St. Hilarion, active in Palestine and Cyprus in the 4th century. It was named after an obscure saint, who is traditionally held to have fled to Cyprus after the Arab conquest of the Holy Land and retired to the hilltop on which the castle was built for hermitage. An English traveller reported the preservation of his relics in the 14th century. It has been proposed that a monastery built in his name preceded the castle, which was built around it. However, this view is not supported by any substantial evidence. Starting in the 11th century, the Byzantines began fortification.

Saint Hilarion formed the defense of the island with the castles of Buffavento and Kantara against Arab pirates raiding the coast. Some sections were further upgraded under the Lusignan rule, who kings may have used it as a summer residence. During the rule of Lusignans, the castle was the focus of a four-year struggle between Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and Regent John d’ Ibelin for control of Cyprus. Much of the castle was dismantled by the Venetians in the 15th century to reduce the up-keeping cost of garrisons.

The castle has three divisions or wards. The lower and middle wards served economic purposes, while the upper ward housed the royal family. The lower ward had the stables and the living quarters for the men-at-arms. The Prince John tower sits on a cliff high above the lower castle. The upper ward was surrounded by a 1.4 metre-thick Byzantine wall, made of rough masonry. The entrance is through a pointed arch built by the Lusignans. This was protected by a semicircular tower to the east. Within the ward is a courtyard, with twin peaks being situated to either side of it. To the north-east is an extremely ruined kitchen. To the west are the royal apartments, dated by various sources to the 13th or 14th centuries.

Although mostly ruined today, this was a structure in the northeast-southwest axis, with a length of 25 m and width of 6 m. It has a basement containing a cistern and two floors. The ground floor has a height of 7 m and a pointed barrel vault. The upper floor is known for its carved windows, one of which is dubbed the Queen’s Window. These are placed on the western wall, which has a scenic view of the northern coast of Cyprus, especially the plains of Lapithos.

The door that was bricked up by the people of Kyrenia

Cypriot History

The Four Seasons Hotel Limassol

The Jewel of Limassol

Situated on a sandy beach east of Limassol, the Four Seasons hotel offers a truly luxurious experience for your next beach vacation. Bring your holiday up a notch by opting for this 5-star oasis of undisturbed relaxation – from top-quality treatments at the Shiseido Spa to the large pool area and the rich variety of dining options, the resort has something for everyone, aiming to spoil its guests during their stay here. Recently renovated, the Four Seasons has a new look, plus a new Infinity pool just for adults.

Indulge yourself with a personalised treatment at the exclusive Shiseido Spa – let the expert consultants pamper you as you try some of the luxurious body treatments they recommend. Dine at the gorgeous Mavrommatis restaurant serving delicious classical Greek cuisine in sophisticated surroundings. Or, opt for the Vivaldi Fine Italian Restaurant – equally as gorgeous and boasting delicious modern Italian cuisine. Café Tropical serves a truly opulent breakfast and hosts a variety of theme nights, while Colours Café situated by the “Adults Only” swimming pool, offers tasty homemade gelato and pastries, delicious sandwiches and exquisite cakes.

Two outdoor swimming pools are in the centre of the large sun terrace: with separate sections for adults and children, there is space for anyone who wishes to have some fun in the sun. When you have had enough of that, though, and you want to hide inside, you can still benefit from plenty of recreational facilities including an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and a modern gym. Stay active and head to the tennis court or to the beach and try out the water sports on offer there – joining the diving school is a must. Travelling with kids? An animation programme with a variety of fun activities is bound to keep them entertained – daily quizzes, aerobics and tours will win big among the youngsters, so you can relax with a cocktail in hand and let your hair loose! The Four Seasons Limassol will take care of everything for you so that you can enjoy a truly relaxing and very luxurious beach holiday.

HISTORY

Located in the Larnaka (Larnaca) region, the village of Athienou is a large community found midway between the city of Lefkosia (Nicosia) (38 km) and the town of Larnaka (33 km), and can be reached by following either the A3 and the B17 route, or the A2 and B2 route. Athienou is one of only four villages located within the United Nations Buffer Zone, the other three being Pyla, Troulloi and Deneia.

Athienou has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, and is the continuation of the ancient city-kingdom of Golgoi.

The village has a rich wheat growing and bread-making history, and is famous for its delicious traditional bread – known locally as ‘Athienitiko’ which visitors can watch being made – and its pastries, as well as its dairy products, which visitors can watch being made. It also has its own special handmade lace techniques known as ‘Venis’ lace (or ‘pittotes’) and Athienou Lace (known as ‘oloplouma’). These differ from Lefkara lace linens (known as Lefkaritika) and are made exclusively in Athienou. The lace craft has been recognised as part of the village’s unique heritage and added to the UNESCO National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Click here to see the video of the creation of the Exhibition “Seven Stories. Lace and Modern Art”

Athienou is famous for its bread, known as ‘Athienitiko’ 

Other interesting sights include the archaeological site of Athienou-Malloura, the Kallinikeio Municipal Museum (which also exhibits finds from the Malloura site), and several old, restored buildings – including a traditional flourmill, which now serves as a museum of the traditional methods of flour production.

Athienou’s churches of Panagia Chryseleoussa, Agios Fokas and Agios Georgios are particularly notable for their historically significant icons and frescoes.

Athienou is encircled by the buffer zone, in a cresent shape ironically, leaving it somewhat isolated. It used to be just 10/12 Km from Nicosia, but since 1974, the journey to Nicosia involves driving south, half way to Larnaca, across, past Dali and then back, making it 2/3 times the distance. However there is strong support for a crossing at Piroi, which would be wonderful for the village.

Located a few miles out of Larnaca, on the outskirts of a village called Alethriko, there is a new Cat Sanctuary, named Sandy’s Cat Sanctuary, after a beloved Feline. There is a big problem with stray Cats in Cyprus and many of them are abused, poisoned, shot, run over or they just suffer full stop.

On the edge of Larnaca, near the airport, there is an abandoned restaurant next to Tekke Mosque, which seems to have become a dumping ground for Cats. Elias, featured in the video, has been visiting the Cats there for a long time and feeding them, but recently, there were a large number kicked to death and at that point, they decided to take as many as possible to the shelter, even though they were not really ready to operate at that point.

Animal lover Susan Antoniou (London) has always been an animal lover and it was her dream to do something about it, then finally last year, she was able to realise her dream, but being the main sponsor of the new sanctuary, which is a few acres of land in a peaceful location, not far from Alethriko.  At present, it is little more than several shipping containers joined together, with separate areas inside, for Kittens, Cats with FIV and so on.

The entire area is fenced off, but sadly, they got flooded in November, due to torrential rain, which will cost a lot of money to repair. There are obviously large monthly overheads, feeding the Cats, medication etc. This will only increase along with the number of Cats. The shelter is currently being run by Elias and a couple of friends, who devote nearly all their time for free, but it is too much for them alone.

In the first instance, they need donations to help with running costs, as well as improvements and additional facilities. Also, they are looking for a generous benefactor or Timber shed manufacturer to donate a few small garden rooms that can be fitted out as sleeping areas for volunteers who may wish to fly over for a few weeks and have some hands on experience looking after the Cats, which is so rewarding.

We need a lot of help, as it is in short supply with everything

I was only there an hour or two and every time I sat down, I was inundated by the fluffy little darlings climbing all over me, it’s actually very dangerous as the risk of falling for one them is VERY HIGH!

If you would like to support this wonderful cause, please feel free to contact them directly via their website below, or donate directly with Paypal or even contact them with a view to flying over and spending some time helping out. There is no space on-site yet, but they will invariably find someone to put you up while you are over……so if you fancy spending a few weeks in sunny Cyprus, saving the lives of these gorgeous innocent creatures, please get in touch.

I’ve seen cats eating bread, chicken bones, fish bones that get stuck in their throats, then die in pain, or cats which are poisoned, drowned, shot, or kicked to death.

Should you wish to sponsor the sanctuary arrange day visits for Cat lovers, enquire about adopting or anything else, please feel free to get in touch. This really is a wonderful cause and it was a privilege to visit this place, I will be returning on my next trip.

A few words from Susan…………

“I started the sanctuary to save all the stray cats because the majority of Cypriots show no mercy and consider them vermin. i would not go to cyprus as i could not bear to see those skinny, sick cats that nobody was interested in, worse still starving to death, searching through bins to find what they could to survive. I’ve seen cats eating bread, chicken bones, fish bones that get stuck in their throats, then die in pain, or cats which are poisoned, drowned, shot, or kicked to death.

The government is not interested in the cats, the same thing applies to dogs. i wanted to give them a home. lots of kittens are taken from their mums too early and abandoned at Tekke, which is a popular place for dumping cats and kittens. i wanted to give them a future, to live longer than just a few months, so i decided that rather than walk away, i would do something to save as many as possible, so i bought 5 acres of land to house all the strays.

I have friends that have done a lot of running around and i cannot thank them enough for the hard work they do every day to save the lives of so many strays. the plan is to rescue, help and neuter stray cats then hopefully find new homes for them. at the shelter they will have access to good food, safety and not be at risk of starving.

We need a lot of help, as it is in short supply with everything including food. i can only do so much , what i would really like is to have all the cats in Cyprus to have a good and safe life.”

SUSAN – CO-FOUNDER OF THE SANCTUARY

On a recent trip to the village of Koilani, in the Troodos mountains, to interview a friend, I was then fortunate enough to be taken to a local winery just outside the village called the ‘Costa Erimoudi Winery’

Costa and his wife Maria were more than happy to let me look around ( and eat some freshly made Soujouko which I loved)

The Wine made here is of the HIGHEST quality, and Costa took the time to explain the whole process to me. The Wine is produced in giant Stainless Steel tanks, but after the initial process, the higher quality wine is matured of OVER A YEAR in French Oak Barrels.

He told me that the barrels cost €850.00 each and can only be used four times, then they have to be discarded as they will no longer give the Wine the correct bouquet.  I quickly did my sums and worked out that the cost per litre is approaching €1.00 just for the Oak Barrels!

As we arrived, they had just finished making a batch of ‘Soujouko’ (a firm grape roll) which was hanging out to set along with a batch of Palouze(Grape Jelly) which is absolutely gorgeous.

This is a family business, producing high quality products that have a ready made market. I did ask Costa about that, he says that he has a number of waiting customers including specialist Wine dealers, Restaurants and Hotels, so no high street chain exploitation here.

The result of keeping out the National chains? 

Costa and his family are in CONTROL of their destiny, they decide what to make how to make it, how much to make and how much to charge. Maybe some of the people who have jumped on the multi-national ‘get rich quick’ bandwagon should take a look to remind themselves what they have given up.

If your are visiting the Troodos mountains, pay them a visit, try some Wine, BUY some Wine and don’t forget to buy some Soujouko!

When I visited Agoi Vavatsinia, I met a lovely couple who were from the village of Vasileia, which is a few miles west of Kyrenia. ‘Kostis & Avgousta’ have been together since 1957 and clearly love each other to bits. When they arrived at the restaurant where we were due to meet, they were holding hands! It was one of the sweetest sights I have ever seen.

https://youtu.be/U-Co8jzUebk

I spoke to them quite a bit during the day and watching them was really amazing, since the day the got married, he calls her his ‘Πέρδικα’ (Partridge) We were sat outside drinking coffee and Avgusta was inside talking to the ladies, after a little while (less than half an hour) Kostis got up and mumbled something about wondering where Avgousta is, he went to find her because he always wanted her to be by his side.

Some time ago, Avgousta was in hospital with a Kidney infection and a friend who was visiting, found Kosti sat at the dining table with his head in his hands crying, he said…..

“My Partridge is in hospital and I can’t be without her”

I just had to take a short video of them, a tall order with everyone talking so much, but never mind, it was  still a pleasure.

by Antony Antoniou

Agios Sozomenos (Greek: Αγιος Σωζόμενος Turkish: Arpalık) is largely deserted village in the Nicosia District of Cyprus, located close to the Green Line south of Geri, 3 Kms North of Potamia/Dereli and 6 Kms west of Pyroi/Gaziler.

Before 1974, the village was a mixed village. In 2001 there were only four registered inhabitants living here. According to Goodwin, Agios Sozomenos was named after an early Cypriot saint. Until 1964, the village was mixed, inhabited by Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In 1958, Turkish Cypriots adopted the alternative name Arpalık, meaning “place of barley.”

https://youtu.be/wqi9QVkf0z4

In the video we see the 16th-century Gothic church of Agios Mamas.

The village was always a mixed village. In the Ottoman census of 1831, the Muslim (Turkish Cypriots) population was slightly more than the Greek Cypriots (50.7%). In 1891 the Turkish Cypriot proportion increased to 69%. Throughout the British period, while the Turkish Cypriot population of the village showed a steady increase, the number of Greek Cypriots gradually decreased.

The film A Detail in Cyprus was made in 1987 by Panicos Chrysanthou about the village

HISTORY

Larnaca Airport was hastily developed towards the end of 1974 after the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey on 20 July of the same year, which forced the closure of Nicosia International Airport. The site on which it was built (near the Larnaca Salt Lake), had been previously used as an airfield in the 1930s and, subsequently, as a military installation by the British forces.

Larnaca International opened on 8 February 1975, with only limited infrastructure facilities and a prefabricated set of buildings comprising separate halls for departures and arrivals. The first airlines to use the new airport were Cyprus Airways using Viscount 800s leased from British Midland and Olympic Airways using NAMC YS-11s. Initially, the runway at Larnaca International was too short for jet aircraft.

The old airport was operating from 8th February 1975 until the 7th November 2009 when the new terminal opened.

Nobody who has travelled to Larnaca in the last 40 years would not feel sentimental at the sight of this airport. Even though the new terminal is stunning, this old airport was the quintessential Cypriot airport.

The old Taxi office was the usual point of contact with cab drivers who used to hang around here playing Tavli, drinking coffee and generally making a Cypriot nuisance of themselves!

The terminal was gradually improved over the years, but as the number of visitors grew, the terminal was eventually bursting at the seams and eventually a new terminal was needed.

After the new terminal opened, the old terminal sat there unused (apart from being used as a private terminal for visiting heads of state, VIPs, and private aircraft operators.

There was a FANTASTIC deal on the table in 2012, a Chinese investor was going to invest FIVE HUNDRED MILLION EUROS to develop the old airport and the deal was even reported as having been signed, but the Cypriot Government dithered so much in their response that the investor pulled out….so the old terminal continues to sit there as a souvenir of the past for the foreseeable future.

(NEWS ARTICLE FROM 23RD MARCH 2012)

The Island’s airport operator Hermes signed a multi-million Euro deal with Chinese company Far Eastern Phoenix early this morning for the redevelopment of the old Larnaca airport facility.