daytrip to a byzantine Troodos church

Day trip to the byzantine church Panayia tou Araka, a UNESCO World Heritage, just outside the village Lagoudera in the Troodos mountains.

Along the way we stopped a few times by the road to admire the spectacular scenery. The next to last picture with views towards Morphou plain and western Pentadactylos mountains.

At the church daugther grabbed my camera, and took some pretty pictures. The picture with the sun bathing ceramic vases is by her. Oh, and by the church was this giant oak that husband had a little crush on.

I'm doing Pilates with a Finnish lady this term. It's definitely vitalizing, after years and years of no organized physical exercise.

Recently started doing training in digital marketing area, at the local firm I'm working for.

Not much knitting since before summer. Maybe correlating with the warm weather we had so far. Daugther is showing a poncho I finished a while ago above [more about this knitting project at Ravelry] and I might make one for myself eventually.

Paphos part 2 - the kings tombs

The tombs of the kings in Paphos is a UNESCO World Heritage. Carved out of solid rock, from 4th BC. There are Doric columns in some of the tombs. Situated by the sea, in the sunset it's quite a peaceful atmosphere here.

Paphos part 1 - the zoo

Along the road when nearing Paphos zoo are plenty of banana plantations. We've been enjoying Paphos bananas, which are smaller than average bananas and sweeter, from the nearby farmers market for several years. It was nice therefore to see how they are growing in real life.

When I first heard they have tigers and lions in Paphos zoo, I was exited. I'm not a fan of animals kept in captivity though. Wild animals are happiest in the wild. So with mixed feelings and equipped with rain coats and umbrellas we entered the zoo the other weekend. We learnt that Paphos zoo started out as a bird park, therefore today with an impressive variety of birds from across the planet. After which it has grown slowly to house more and more other, both local and exotic, animals.
My best moment this day, without doubt, was by the relatively spacious Mouflon area. Second attempt sighting one, I called - "Mouflon", "Mouflon", with an encouraging voice a few times. To my great surprise, a very very shy mufflon male, followed by a few females, suddenly emerged from their hiding place. As if expecting to seeing someone familiar. Quickly returning back to where they came from.

About the lions and tigers. While I guess the animals are as happy as they can be, being in a small fenced area. I left the zoo with a somehow uneasy feeling. My mind filled with fences and empty eyed restless tigers and lions walking back and forth just a fence away from me.

Well, at least it didn't rain this day, and the animals seemed to appreciate each others company. And, I met a Cyprus Mouflon.