I think Kourium is the Great Ocean Road of Cyprus. The beach is long and curving and the water still deliciously warm, despite the locals having largely abandoned the beaches as “too cold now”. As soon as we arrived, Aunty Mary, Stella and Dina settled into their loungers, but Ian took Helen and me on a tour of the ruins. We saw the streets, agoras (marketplaces), the houses and storerooms, and even the early churches. It was a full metropolis, even with far flung suburbs (like an ancient Wantirna or Mill Park). It as been beautifully preserved with mosaics and even the baths intact. To my utter astonishment, i found that houses in ancient times had "tricleanium". I wonder if they got it from the hardware shop. It was quite an experience.
On returning to the beachfront, we found the girls had had their swim and were giving a good impression of what it is to be a lounge lizard…flat out in the sun. After some small coaxing, Ian, Helen and I went in for a dip. I was pleased when Di suggested we go to the beachfront restaurant for lunch as it was hot and a bit blowly on the shore.
Lunch was again considerable, with calamari, chops and souvlaki…salad, bread, dips and of course our new favorite, Keo beer. There were a couple of untouched chops and Dina wrapped them up for Moggy’s dinner. When we weren’t looking, Di slipped our wallets into her bag so that we wouldn’t be able to pay for lunch.
We all went back to Helen’s for iced coffee and a chance for Ian to download the images from his camera. The Trimiklini mob were keen to head off home, and as soon as they did, Helen took me down to Debenhams to buy some cologne for my new favorite dentist.
We thought we might visit Toulla and Dimitri last night, but it was too late when we finished from Antoni’s, but as it was still early, we thought we would drop into Toulla’s unannounced. We tried not to give them too much notice so that they would not feel obliged to make too many preparations. WRONG! Dimitri (no different than when I saw him 20 years ago..except perhaps a little greyer) insisted that we were staying for dinner. While we chattered his wonderful gentle giant of a son, Andreas, peeled potatoes and made chips, set up the BBQ, set the table and began to slice up salads. He got a bit of a ribbing from his father when more of the potato was going into the peelings than the chip bucket. They have a lovely warm relationship that can take a bit of goodhearted ribbing. Andreas is still doing his national service and as soon as that is over, he plans to go to uni to study economics and computing.
Toulla did not arrive till late as her work does not close till 8pm, but as soon as she arrived she got a second wind and headed for the kitchen. It was generally agreed that we would upset people if we did not pop in to see Toulla’s brothers, Pano and Andro, so leaving Andreas and Dimitri to complete dinner, Toulla jumped in the car and we were off. Pano’s wife Maria was in and we had a cold drink whilst looking over photos of the family. Pano (father of 4, now) was at the kafenion he runs after his day job at the water board. He was there with Andro (who manages a huge electrical goods store), watching a soccer match on the telly: Cyprus versus.... We had a quick look at the renovations Pano had just completed. He has transformed his "refugee" house into something very elegant and beautiful. At the back they have a separate flat that is as big and well appointed as an apartment. this was where Uncle Nick and thea Yiannoulla used to live.
Toula took us down to the kafenion, for a reunion with our cousins and then we headed back to Toula’s whilst Andro left the kafenion, to go and get his wife from his married daughter’s house and bring her over to Toula’s. It’s hard to believe that Andro is already a grandfather. Andro has just returned from Slovenia, where he has spent a week having dental work done. Swelling the numbers at this impromptu party were Toulla’s koumbarous who arrived bearing palooze. It was a great meal and to finish it off, Andreas and Dimitri picked some mandarins, oranges and figs from the trees in their garden. Perfect!
How our cousins can show such hospitality at the end of a long work-week, to unannounced visitors, when they are in the midst of extensive renovations, I will never know! Toulla has some lovely children. Marianna and Nicoletta (who I last saw 20 years ago) have grown into wonderful young professional women. Nicolletta has completed her masters in Education and just begun wok as a primary teacher…and loving it. Marianna has almost completed her masters in archeology and has been asked to give an address to postgraduate students in Rome (all expenses paid and a fee to boot). Whilst she is completing her studies she is also working at the new Ikea that has just opened in Limassol. Toulla and Dimitri must be ever so pleased and proud of the loving, studious people their children have become. We have exchanged email addresses and hope to keep in touch.
I must go to bed as tomorrow is another full-on day. Helen is off to a christening . I’m going off with Uncle Andrew to Trimiklini to meet up with all the crew for the farewell Aunty Mary is hosting at a nearby taverna.
I hope you are all coping with the end of term rush to get folios and other assessments in on time. I loved getting your text messages and emails today. I’ll keep you posted, Love Lily/ Mum
