Day 2 Cyprus - Trimiklini and Troodos
We planned to have breakfast at the house and had bought supplies, but overnight I was chatting with Helen online and she told me about the Sigma bakery in the next village. Once she said that they sold freshly baked flaoones, all thoughts of some boxed cereal evaporated.
Sunday morning, to the sound of the nearby church bells, I opened the blinds and our whole bedroom was bathed in a golden morning light. I tried to stay in bed but in the end got up and began prowling the house. Soon Johnny was up and we got ready for the day. Britt hoped to get up ultra early and get some exercise, but the lure of an ultra comfy bed proved too much and she slept in till about nine. Soon after that we set off for and the Sigma bakery in Saittas, the next village along the Troodos road.
Though it was relatively early, the car park was full and the joint was packed. There was a crazy big assortment of freshly baked goods, that you select and take to the counter. YES YES YES there were flaoones and they were as big as a plate. We took our selection to the table and Britty followed with some substantial cafe lattes. This is what the locals do for breakfast on a glorious sunny Sunday morning. They go out for coffee and cake and its a great way to catch up with friends and family while taking in some superb views over the historic double bridge and across the valley. We scoffed the first flaoona and I went back for two more. I am notoriously tight with money but its a sign of how wonderful they were that I passed the card over without even flinching.
Since we were on the Troodos road we decided to continue and take the route to the top to Mount Olympus. The further we went, the more alpine the terrain, and the denser the pine trees became. The houses were larger and has a sort of ski lodge appearance. Most turned their backs to the road and faced the glorious sight of the valley that plunged away from the road. instead they drank in the vista of the distant mountains. There was a broad selection of building styles, including a very modern compound, that turned out to be the Columbian consulate.
From one of the vantage points we could see the full curve of the southern coast in the distance. Eventually we got to the top and the restricted area of the Akroteri radar and listening post. After a short walk we began the descent and pulled into a viewing spot that gave brilliant views to the north and the Turkish occupied territories. Johnny got a chance to take his drone up and got some winning views from about 40 meters high.
Further down the mountain we stopped in Troodos village and enjoyed a break in another restaurant with winning views across the mountains. Johnny tried to tempt me with coffee and a fabulous looking orange cake dripping with syrup, but my gluttony at breakfast had caught up with me and I couldn't face either. Johnny and Britt shared the cake and had a Greek coffee. I offered to read their future in their coffee grounds but Britt was unimpressed with the literal rantings of Mysterious Lily.
We took the scenic route home, visiting the incredibly turquoise (but otherwise less than scenic) reservoir in Saittas and wended our way back to Trimiklini.
Question: The local supermarket has a poster offering Trimiklini caviar. How is that possible? I might have to drop in tomorrow and check it out.
After a rest we headed out for an early dinner. Britt came through with a suggestion we go to Lania village a 10 min drive away to Platanos Tavern. Britt was brilliant negotiating the crazy spider web of twisty-turny streets and along the way we noticed so many interesting little alleyways. This was the village that supplied the rootstock for what became the French champagne empire. It's still the centre of the commanderia making district.
There was a lot of art sprinkled along the fences and every now and then there were huge photo banners of people who had lived in the houses at the beginning of the 1900s. We took a turn around the village as the sun was sinking and people were starting either to go home from their Sunday catch ups or start to plan where they will go for dinner. The tavern opposite was playing music that rang through all the streets. I think in Lania, the cat population may be larger than the human one,
Platanos Tavern was unassuming but we were welcomed in and cautioned by the owner to take an indoor table. She was right, as as soon as the sun set, there was a distinct chill in the air. A cloth was flourished over the table and the wood fire lit just behind us. We opted for 2 orders of Mezze, and the table began to fill with all manner of dishes. There were dips, olives, meatballs, sheftalies, chops, sausages, salad, bread, omelette, stuffed mushrooms, .....it was a fantastic banquet. We struggled to finish it and actually left a fair bit behind. By the time we left the place was full with patrons and the place was buzzing.
Over dinner we planned our Monday adventures. We will have breakfast at home then head off to Paphos for a day of sightseeing and museums.
WARNING WARNING there is another woman who is using the blog name Lilyonthego. She is an unhappy soul who is full of complaints about her relatives. THIS IS NOT ME and I wish she would cease using my blog name.
