Our first day trip was Saturday (2/4), and we went to Limassol, a coastal town about 90 minutes away from Nicosia. We got to see 2 castles, the boardwalk area, and an ancient amphitheater. I really really enjoyed this trip- so much that I can’t quite pick a favorite part.

When we got on the bus, we were surprised to be joined again by Demetria, our tiny Cypriot tour guide. She was like a celebrity when she get on the bus, and she always leads tours by pointing with her umbrella. On the bus ride down, we drove by some ancient huts that are about 10,000 years old. I believe these archeological sites are categorized as some of the oldest homes in the world.

Our first stop was at the bathhouse ruins and amphitheater. Saturday was our first really sunny day, and the first time we saw the ocean. The sprawling Cypriot countryside and blue sky and water was just gorgeous- I will remember this spot forever. Under the awning was an ancient town and bathhouses that used clay pipes to move heat between hot, warm, and cold baths. The amphitheater is the oldest one in Cyprus. Originally Greek style, it was converted to a Roman arena for gladiator fights- then eventually converted back to a theatre style. We sang a little bit in the center of the theatre.

After that stop, we went and visited the first castle. It was very square and uniform design- looked like a giant block. It was cool, but there wasn’t much to it- the design didn’t vary enough to be highly interesting to me. There was also the old sugar mill at this site. I got a coffee in our last few minutes there, but no drinks are allowed on the bus, so I had to drink the whole thing rapidly. Then, Dylan got a coffee, fist bumped the driver, then walked onto the bus. ???

Next, we headed into the city of Limassol to explore the boardwalk and shops. Groups were set loose on the town, and about 16 of us got a fancy lunch at a fish tavern called Pyxida, which is ranked pretty well on TripAdvisor. Zakee and I got a fish Meze, which is like a feast made up of a bunch of smaller dishes. I am not a big fan of seafood, but I prepared myself to eat a lot of seafood, and it was wonderful. I didn’t take great pictures of the meal coming out but there are a few in there.

After finishing lunch we were able to walk down by the water. All the guys brought swimsuits, but we didn’t have enough time or a suitable spot to jump in. There were tons of really pretty yachts, and the water color was fantastic. As we met back up with the bigger group, I found a cool little street table selling necklaces and other wares from a custom artist. We met at the second castle, which I liked much better than the first one. It had actual passages, surprises and a proper dungeon. It also had little side rooms with exhibits and artifacts, and cannons.

If this is how every program excursion is, I’m going to continue to make some fantastic memories here. It has been a long time since I had a ‘field trip’ style day, and now I get to do it with a bunch of friends at beautiful and historic Cypriot sites. 🙂