Festivities in Paphos

The morning seemed to disappear on Saturday, then suddenly there was a whirlwind of make-up, hairpray, nailpolish and we were flying out the door to attend the wedding of Soulla's, sister's daughter. Helen wore the most lovely sheer green silk dress that really flattered her new slimline figure. she tried to force me into a black sparkly thing, but I was happy to wear the dress I'd brought with me.
I must be getting into things as I'm beginning to see the web of relationships between all the people I meet. I saw the bride's mother at the video shop yesterday, and the other bloke behind the counter was the bride's brother in law (yes...a terrifying memory I hear you say).

Well, the terrifying memory got a big work-out as I had to assist with directions again. Helen has no problems with the directions to Paphos but the irregular layout causes some heart-stopping moments. It was going to be too long a day if we went to the "dressing of the bride" so we caught up with everyone at the church. Soulla was not really expecting us to get their unaided and the whole thing was complicated by her not having any charge in her phone. Well a curious thing is happening..now that Helen has to drive everywhere on her own, she is developing a sense of the roads. We got as far as the far reaches of Kato Paphos before we stopped to ask locals for the direction to the church. Luckilly (or not) for us, we found a taxi station. I felt sure we were in safe hands. From the car I could see there was lot of nodding and notetaking, but when Helen got back to the car, things seemed less promising. The taxi driver was a foreigner with an exotic line in directions. "go right at Alexander (is that street or hotel???), the right on until Mcdonalds, then up (???) until the Crazie (???), until just behind" . Well, miracle of miracles, we found the street, Maccas, a steep, winding road and the "Grazie" Italian Restaurant...and even more miraculously, a car parking spot in what looked like Noosa's main street at rush hour.







When we arrived, the whole road as strewn with guests who were spilling out of the most lovely church perched impossibly high on the hilltop. It was so perfect, it looked like a Hollywood set. One of Soulla's lovely nieces was on lookout for us and rushed us down to the front row.





The wedding was a joyous, noisy affair made even more chaotic by Helen's many introductions of me to the extensive network of friends. It went a little like this: "this is little Soulla's sister in law, big Soulla, and this is her husband, who lives in Kew in Melbourne. The family are in the rag trade, but also made a mint during the Sydney Olympics when they went north to develop property. They are in Cyprus now to set up a state of the art tyre recycling operation, like their plant in Australia. By the way, the husband is also the president of the Melbourne Cyprian community". This was one of the many such introductions I got. Soon my head was spinning.


The bride and groom emerged from the church to a riotous wecome of baloons, silver confetti and the roar of a dozen Harley Davidsons (???) at full throttle. Why...it appears that the groom has a great love of them and his motor cycling friends wanted to escort him from the church to the hotel where the reception was to be held, in a motorcade. If it wasn't noisy enough already, it became even more so as the wedding merc (a brand new black shiny job, with a huge spray of asiatic lillies attached to the bonnet) proceeded down the hill blasting its horn, only to be followed by a couple of me=toos doing the same.

Soulla whisked us off to her apartment for a drink and an opportunity to rest our feet for an hour or so, before we piled back into the cars for the trip to the hotel. When I saw the hotel, I suddenly felt a bit underdressed. maybe the black sparkly job was agood idea after all. It was an imposing 5 star affair, and the extensive palm lawn outdoor areas around the pool were set aside for the meet and greet. The tradition is that hundreds (yes, literally) are invited to the greeting with extensive drinks and nibbles for a couple of hours, then there is a sit-down meal for maybe "only" 300 or so. Everyone brings an "envelope" and this helps the couple to buy their house. It is normal to get many thousands of pounds, but Helen whispered that they have had the odd groom take off with the cash and abandon the bride at the reception.

The bridal couple led in the procession and cut the cake on the japanese style bridge that spanned a massive pool. They then decamped to the other side and for the next two hours, shook the hands and received the good wishes of who knows how many hundreds of people. It was a wonderful, warm, velvety night and with the whole poolside gardens lit by candles and tinkling music filling the air, it was a magical affair

Of course this was just the beginning, as we were invited to the wedding celebrations proper, and as we entered the ballroom, found ourselves seated at a top table, right in front of the wedding table. I think that Soulla has as many lovely friends as Helen, and they made us feel very welcome. It seems that everyone is connected to us by relatives, or the Australian/ Melbourne connection an even with my hamfisted and sparce greek, were happy to regail me with their stories and ask us to drop in for a visit. It's very welcoming place but this constant round of meeting and greeting can be exhausting. It must be impossible to keep any kind of secret in a place like this. Everyone knows what is happening to everyone..the good, the bad and the ugly.

It was midnight before we left for the trip back to Lemesos. the party was still in full swing, with some highly exhuberant dancing both on the floor and on some tables, as we sneaked out. Helen had more staying power than me, but I was feeling like a very wilted Lily..and we had to think of resting before the mnimosino and visit to Uncle Andrew's for a big family get-together on Sunday. Life is just one long party.

Helen steered us home through the dark faultlessly (well, there was one small diversion as we missed a turn as we came out of Kato Paphos and "chucked a yewie" at some lights with a no U turn sign, only to face back where we had come and find a police car pulling over some other driver. gratefully they were too busy with him to bother with us). It's spooky driving on a near empty freeway at night, but Helen is not fazed by it and we were soon home. Bed, bed...please!!!

Its sunday morning now and the sun is beginning its climb over the hills that I can see from my bedroom. I can just hear the bells from a nearby church calling people to worship.

Well, that was saturday. love to all. Keep you posted. lily

Saturday here

Saturday doesn't seem to have a different routine to the work week here. Helen got in late, so I let her sleep and went outside to water the garden. I couldn;t work out all the intricacies of the bore so I just had to settle on using the normal hose. Some time later Helen woke and paid me back with a big plate of freslt picked figs..yum.

I hear it was an all blue and white affair in Melbourne with Geelong easilly dusting off the opposition in the AFL Grand Final. Go the Cats! Thanks for the lovely picture of the footy hooligans on the couch.

We were planning to go out with some of Helen's regulars for a saturday coffee, but A's aunty Eleni rang for help. she'd had a very bad night with painful knees and begged a trip to a local hospital. it was a chance to see the local medical system up close. The building was sparkling and new but there seemed a curious absence of staff. There was no-one at the desk and even though we went into the A&E entrance, there was no-one to speak to. After a while a couple of guys sauntered by and we asked them if the knew if there were any staff about. one took a mild interest in us (nothing flashy mind you but he did go off to see if he could find a staff member). The other one, a bit punchy, dishevelled and with a 2 day growth just kept chewing away at whatever he was eating, whilst wandering off. The other guy came back some time later and said that he'd look at Eleni's knees. A short time later he was prescribing a series of pills and lotions, as well as advising Eleni to make an appointment to see her own doctor...all easier said than done as there were no clerical staff to make the appointment and anyway, the last time she went to see him, there was a 16 week wait.

Well, at least we had pills and potions so it was off to the pharmacy..but it can't be just any pharmacy. It has to be the special pharmacy, where Eleni knows thw pharmacist (how is one any different from any other?).

Anyway, will continue the post later. It's time to put on the good clobber and drive off to Paphos for a wedding. Cheers, Keep you posted.

Love, Lily

On the prrrrowl!

What's up Dox? Well the girls are out on the tiles tonight.

Will they get there? Who knows...there is only a vague idea about the route, but that's never stopped anyone.

The glad rags have been dusted off and there's a certain glint in their eyes. Who is Remos anyway?

Playing the tourist

Well today started early. I was so shattered yesterday that I went to bed at 3pm and woke up at 3am. I got up once to go to the loo and scared the daylights out of Danae who was all dolled up to go out with her dad. Suddenly a rumpled, disoriented stranger loomed out of the darkness and stumbled off towards the bathroom...Lucky the girl did not scream.

The good thing about waking up ultra early is that there is nothing to distract you from corrections. I got through two and a half sets and felt that we could go out today with a clean conscience. Of course, before we set off Helen had her daily lesson on the computer. This time I showed her how to open up widgets hat give you the weather, time, calendar, dictionary e.t.c...

We breakfasted on a high chol meal of eggs, bacon and fried halloumi before setting off for the day's adventures.. award. We planned to go into the city centre and play tourist as Danae has gone camping at Troodos for the Duke of E award.

It's never as simple as it seems though, as a cousin has asked Helen to field calls from prospective tenants. As it was difficult for various relatives to take the prospective tenants through, that somehow also became Helen's job and we had to lob into Uncle Andrew's to pick up the keys. It's like Grand Central Station there with his various daughters, their husbands and even grandchildren passing through, leaving messages and getting a bite to eat. We sat at a table eating gliko (preserved apricot) as this maelstrom whirled around us.

Visit over and rental property keys in hand we joined the other maniacs on the road. Helen tells a cautionary tale about traffic etiquette and road rules. They had a visitor from Aust who was as alarmed as me about the scant regard for road rules. Apparently he was going to show the locals how to do it…Well he had a crash 25 metres down the road. The locals had no sympathy…” you were so busy clicking indicators on and off and reading road signs etc that you weren’t watching the other drivers”.

Our first stop was at the seafront where the travel agent is. I thought you might enjoy the snap I took of a mini minor. Locking the door involves locking up the padlock which has been welded to the outside. Mr Bean could not have done better. Helen has organized to cash in her cruise ticket and get 2 cheaper tickets for a 3 day trip to Egypt. We cross the sea to Port Said and travel down the Nile.

We sauntered through all the little lanes with all the other tourists, when suddenly, duty called. A neighbor was going to be late back from Nicosia and asked Helen to pick up Ifigenia from school for her. Actually it was probably time to go home as it was baking hot and were starting to feel it. At the school Helen met up with old friends again. An elderly lady from Scotland (a mother of Helen’s friend Catherine) was there to pick up her grandson. Is there any one in this city of 130000 or on this island, that does not know and like Helen?

Tonight I’m either home with DVDs or minding Helen’s friend’s children so they can go to see a Remos concert. Danae got tickets from her dad but as she is on camp, Helen is using them. At first Helen planned for me to go with her but she could see that I was not likely to get as much of a buzz as her friends at the prospect of 2 hours of non-stop Greek music.

It's late afternoon on a friday and the traffic has developed a new frenzy but we are out again, meeting an agent at the rental property. We keep making phone calls and giving each other directions, but we can't find her. In the end Helen leaves me in the car and takes a hike to track her down. She's on a parrallel road apparently. With the agent in tow we screech around to the property. New problem... right key but wrong door. Helen tries to cajole the lock into cooperation, and I try to assert some authority (by giving the door an almighty kick) but nothing works. We catch sight of Petros, (our cousin's young smoothie of a son). He finished work at lunchtime and has been at the gym all afternoon. He looks like he could shoulder the door down. "Can you get the door open Petro?" apparently not as he shrugs a "don;t know" kind of look and throws up clouds of dust as his new black Merc dissapears into the distance.

Helen resorts to describing the property in glowing terms and the agent looks convinced as she makes copious notes of the many and varied features.

We are on the road again but not bound for home yet. There is an aunty to see. She's done some clothing alterations for Helen. Yes, you guessed it..coffee and a catch up on the latest news. Aunty isn't feeling well. She has badly swollen knees that have become very painful...but her greatest anxiety comes not from the fact that she is in pain but because she will not be able to get to the local church and its the celebration of not one saint, but two! Some time later we are back into the traffic and belting home.

Well, must go now, love to all. Will keep you posted. Lily

all the old haunts

Today was the day for putting shape and colour to all the places that Helen has talked about over the years...of course we had the obligatory visit to the mechanic for the car. The headlight was fixed but today, the drama was that it was leaking coolant. I took an instant liking to the mechanic as he was called Perry. There was a long explanation, but no action. It's a wait and see situation.

Of course we had a rello just around the corner (Eleni's mother) so yes, we dropped in for a drink and chat. After that it was off to see the Jasmine apartments that Helen managed for a while. The owner, George downed tools and we lad a long catch-up over cold drinks. He is very keen for Helen to go back there so he can leave the hotel in trustworthy hands whilst he has a holiday. I marvel at how many really nice friends Helen has. So many people welcome her with real warmth and affection. She must be doing something very right.

Then we went on to and last of all the Aston hire car place that Helen was working at recently. That whole area looked just like the Gold Coast..all apartments, entertainment venues and restaurants. the beach was littered with terracotta bodies who ignored the attractions of the shady trees and basted themselves under a driving sun.

I saw a great sight..people order coffee and it arrives by scooter, carried on a metal tray hanging off the handlebars. Maybe I could do the same and get our Vespa to pay for itself. The other matter of some note is the large number of cathederals being built...maybe with the crazy way the locals drive, these give them some feeling of security.

I must have no staying power as by two oclock I just wanted to go home for food, drink and a nanna nap. that's where I'm going now...

Keep you posted, Love, Lily

Getting into the vibe

Hi everyone.
I'm starting to understand how things work. We work in the morning and "visit" a range of people as we drive at speed through narrow, winding streets. We lob in, there's a lot of excited shouting, invitations to coffee, gossip, and suddenly we belt off to someone else we have promised to see. Suddenly its 10 pm and we go home ...but others go off in family or friendship groups to get a meal at a tavern...Yes, that's life.

We caught up with Soulla and her family in Paphos. She took us to see her new house plot, and of course on the way, dropped in to see a childhood friend who has a printing business (yes, coffee) so she could get a piece of card (as well as marriage advice and a bit of philosophy).

Of course, Zacharia (the printer) gave Soulls a CD of music to try and we drove off at speed with a lot of oppa and jiving (where else.. to Soulla's sister at the video store, so that she could make a copy of the CD for Soulla and Helen).
Then off to the limani (port) to get fake Dolce and Gabbana glasses and watch the rehearsals of some massive theatrical being staged in a theatre constructed over the water, on scaffolding at the Medieval castle.

Suddenly we are racing back to Soulla's as her husband and Zacharia have decided to go out for a bite with their families. They try to press us to go out with them but we insist that we have to go home..but not before we get some souvlaki at a roadside eatery. Soulla takes us home to get Helen's car but we go in and finish the souvlaki before we take off for the ride home. Suddenly, Soulls is dragging out a lot of new dresses she bought recently and insisting that Helen try them on as she might like to wear one at a wedding we are going to on the weekend (whose wedding???...who cares). There's lots of discussion about the right shoes and jewellery. Suddenly Zacharia is there and we all decamp to outside for another load of greetings and farewells.

Ok, which way is Lemessos? We are not really sure as Soulls has given three sets of instructions and has variously confused left and right. It's no use asking me as I get lost at the best of times and it's all greek to me. Perhaps with a bit of divine intervention and a lot of instinct, Helen gets us on the highway to Limassol...but why is it all so dark? Yes, one of the headlights has blown so we can go back in "dingy: or use high beam all the way and risk blinding other drivers...there is a lot of swapping between these two options.

Finally we get home and bed is looking very good, but there is a squeal from Helen;s room as she catches sight of a massive fireworks display over the harbour. We race up to the tarrazza, a massive area of roofspace thet is used like a massive sundeck. It's a wonderful show. The lights look like stardust against a very soft, velvet sky.
To bed..to bed..and is it any wonder that I fall asleep immediately.
I wonder what tomorrow holds...?

I'll keep you posted, Love Lily

old Limassol

We spent the whole morning slaving over the computer. Helen can now skype to mobiles, landlines and computers. She can download images from the camera, create a folder and save them. She can rotate, resize and remove red eye. She can burn images to a CD (and she even knows where to buy CDs). Is there nothing this girl can't do?

After all that, we had beans for lunch and set off to trawl around old Limassol, down by the docks. The place looks untroubled by the 21st century.The old moorish architecture melds beautifully with the colonial style. The old market square (agora) is now full of restaurants. The tables are shaded by the dripping green of trees. There is a small version of the Vic Market in the centre. I even found an old koureion, a hole in the wall affair that looked like the one in which Dad learnt his craft. The old guy even looked like dad.

It's a spot of dinner cum afternoon snack and we are off to Paphos. now.

Love to all. Keep you posted. Lily