7/7 – Wine Tasting, Pizza, and Nicosia

Boarded the bus around 8:15am today and hit the road on our way through the Troodos Mountain range. After seeing the highest point in Cyprus, we stopped at a small village called Omodhos and saw an original “linos” or wine press. We tasted a few local reds and whites including Commandaria, a red dessert wine related to Madeira. I had high hopes, but I think I’ve been spoiled by Tobin James and Liquid Love. All were much too sweet for me! We also tasted zivania, an almost pure grape alcohol that they actually refer to as “firewater”. No further explanation needed.

The Highest Point in Cyprus

Wine Press in Omodhos

The drive in to the capital was where we began to see the signs of this divided island. The city sits directly on the UN buffer zone with walls, guards, and barbed wire literally dividing the two sides. Upon our approach a clear representation of both the Turkish-Cypriot and the Turkish flag constructed from red and white rocks on the foothills of the Kyrenia range stared us in the face. It was definitely a change in tone from the tourist/beachy areas of the South.

We arrived in Nicosia in time to get lunch and take a quick walk around Ledra Street, a somewhat trendy shopping area bustling with people including some sort of Greenpeace assembly in the square. After a stop at the Cyprus Museum featuring some amazing pottery, coins, and limestone statues of Zeus, Aphrodite, and the like, we arrived at the Hotel Averof- our home for the next three days.

Ledra Street Building

A pizza dinner at a trendy little café was a nice change of pace from kebabs and gyros and I was able to enjoy the limóncello that Stacey and Jason bought me for my bon voyage gift! I’m not sure it went over so well the kids (yes, they do affectionately call me “Mom”!) but as you can see in the next post, they much prefer cheap beer and drinking games. Ahh, college. We walked around the streets of Nicosia in search of some young night life and quickly learned that “Super Night Club” does not mean trendy fun dance club as much as it means “Gentlemen’s Club”. Oops!

Me and Nadia toasting to Mr. and Mrs. Brown!

Me, Jordan, and a little bit of John taking a break on the streets of Nicosia.