My new favorite place. I had been looking forward to today’s field trip for most of our time here. The Karpaz Peninsula is the long skinny stretch of land that extends from the far northeast corner of the island. I had researched the area a little bit and discovered that it is almost like a nature preserve- probably more shaped by remote location and the displacement of people in the 1970’s than environmental concern but a preserve regardless.
We boarded our minibus around 9am and headed north past the Salamis ruins about an hour until we reached the Karpaz Olive Oil and Flour Mill. Houman interpreted a short tour for us from one of the proprietors including an explanation of the old mill, the new machinery, and ways for using waste (producing a compost-like stove pellet of crushed olive pits and skin). Next was a free tasting of their traditional oil, a rosemary infused version, and a carob extract served with pita and tea. So good!
They offered me a job as spokeswoman... I'm still considering it.
Somehow Umut (you’ll remember him as the self-proclaimed “King of Famagusta”) has also been crowned the “King of Karpaz” and he arrived with a group of 60yrs+ British travelers. We caravanned to the ruins of a church with more mosaics and then had a fish meze lunch at an open air restaurant with the most beautiful view of the sea.
I'm getting used to this whole head and tail on the plate thing.
The view from my seat at lunch.
Golden Beach
After lunch we stopped to look down on one of the most proclaimed beaches in Cyprus (and the world) called Golden Beach and continued on to the Monastery of the Apostle Andrew. As the story goes, as he was traveling from Jerusalem to meet St. John, his crew and passengers needed fresh water. He stopped near the very tip of Karpaz and prayed (or as Umut explained thrust his sword in to the ground) and brought forth a spring of fresh water now regarded as holy. There are stories of several miracles from this place and it served as a point of pilgrimage for Orthodox Greeks for many years and now can again since the borders between north and south have been opened.
Holy water spring.
I looked blessed, don't I?
Just north of the monastery we found a small miracle of our own- the most crystal clear and perfect beach I have ever seen- definitely a rival to the beauty of Playa del Carmen and the beaches of Cozumel. A couple of hours of swimming and an ice cream bar later, we were back on the bus with salty skin and tired eyes.
More of my favorite place...
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