Tuesday 25th October

A warm and sunny start to the day meant up relatively early and a bike ride.  There are two main routes to follow away from the house.  Along Kite Beach and inland or up to Faros lighthouse and the coast path finishing inland across fields to the village and home.  We chose the later today along the path that goes between the fields and the sea.  The picture here shows the same potato fields that I took only a few weeks ago and referred to the other day.  See how the field is now green with plenty of white flowers showing?

Once at the end of the coast path instead of heading straight across the fields we went on for a while along the road which runs between the salt lake and the sea to what is known as Spiros Beach.  Named after the developer who has built the lovely sea facing villas that I envy for their sea view.  We stopped there and walked for a while and sat looking out to sea before the normal field route back home.  All in all I guess we were out biking for about 90 minutes.  Good for the fitness levels and I have lost 5/6 lbs in weight since we first came to Cyprus back in August.  A slightly smaller waistline and tummy can only be good for the overall health.

After playing / working in the garden on the dreaded 'Charlie search' (this job is never ending) and a trip to the beach for two bags of stones (another never ending job) we went into Larnaca to pay the internet bill for the 'dongle' the equivalent of 32GBP per month for a very slow connection.  We have had an email from the developer saying the sub-contractor should start the cable works within the next two weeks, that was 10 days ago but no sign yet.  There is a saying here amongst the expats who know that the Cypriots are 'Arabs with shoes' and that is exactly how they work.  A complete Dubai style to everything, 'Inshalla' (God willing) it will all happen but first we need our two hour lunch break.

A wander around the streets in Larnaca shows it to have all of the designer clothes shops that you would see in a Dubai shopping mall, only on a smaller stage and possibly the world's smallest Marks and Spencer which could probably first 5 times into the Clacton one!  After an hour you have done Larnaca so it was a walk along the 'Avenue of Palms' and to stop at a bar with free wifi to write some emails and download the Times newspapers onto the iPad.  This was to be an expensive stop costing 43 euro for two beers, two glasses of wine, some chicken wings and nachos (crisps covered in a cheese dip out of a bottle) so it was back home for yet another snack and two episodes of the 'The Wire'.