Cyprus and real Turkish delight

It's a little cooler today, 19°C, but the uv levels are moderate, so a sun tan is building... not bad for January.

The land here is normally parched. Their spring, autumn and winter all happening between October and February. The rest is summer where the temperatures range from 32°C at the coast to 45°C inland. That coupled with high humidity would make it very unpleasant.

Electricity is very expensive and they still rely on oil fired power stations. As they're in the EU they do have the beginning of solar farms but I didn't notice the big wind turbines which have become so normal in many EU countries.

Water is scarce here too, and with reduced rainfall, prices for water is high. Desalination plants are being built, some of which are already in operation.

Limassol is massive, much akin to Barcelona or Madrid. The urban sprawl has begin to creep up the hills and new builds are under construction on the outskirts where we went.

I have not been to the central area of Limassol as it is over 2.6 miles away from our berth. There is a shuttle but I really couldn't face the trip in. Sounds a short hop but the traffic is so bad it would take some 40 mins or even an hour.

I went on a trip this morning which was interesting. Again, like Malta, if you want history, this is the place to come.

This tower is modern by comparison with many of the antiquities and this is pretty old itself. You may notice the steps up to what appears to be the main door. This would have had a drawer bridge. Above is a toothed addition near the ramparts. This is a funnel for pouring boiling oil down on marauding armies as they approached.

The birth place of Aphrodite was interesting but really busy. I think there were seven full sized coaches there when we went to see it.

The water was chilly but really pleasant.

For anyone unsteady on their feet, getting to the beach involves a long set of uneven steps plus a tunnel equal in length to the width of a wide road. It's narrow and only allows for people to walk in one direction. That too is uneven.

The beach is flat pebbles plus shingle and can be quite loose in places. Worth the view however. 

An interesting fact; the story of the birth of Aphrodite and the myth of Crete's appearance on the map coincides with the place a volcano erupted and created Crete in the first place.

Fact and fiction often play an interesting dance when it comes to myths and legends.