Last year, I did not enjoy my call at Limassol as much as I had expected to. Perhaps after well over three months’ travelling by ship, cabin fever was setting in. Today was much better! First of all, Costa Victoria which was ship No. 3 in yesterday’s Canal transit was berthed at Limassol stern to stern, at right angles to QM2. (The pictures, in a later blog, will illustrate what I mean).My shore excursion was a mere four hours trip to the remote village of Omodos, which entailed meeting in the Royal Court Theatre at 09.40hrs. I had a good choice of seat on the coach, and the company of Zita from Vancouver. It seems we have become “buddies”. Our tour guide, an enthusiastic Cypriot lady allowed several periods of breathing space in her detailed commentary, and I came away well pleased. It was a good choice of excursion. We stopped for a snack of cheese, ham, locally baked bread, wine, and above all, the best oranges I have tasted for years! At Omodos itself, most of us were taken to The Monastery of the Holy Cross, where in, we are informed, is a fragment of the rope used during the Crucifixion, housed in a Cross, but visible, and a fragment of piece of wood from The Cross housed out of sight in the back of another. One remains sceptical. The church which I believe is Greek Orthodox is lavishly decorated as are many places of worship in the Mediterranean. The photos below were taken during this excursion and I hope are self explanatory.
David 5/4/19 10.24am
The last three pictures were taken from the coach as we headed back to the port of Limassol. The rest are either taken inside the church, or of Omodos itself.
Best wishes,
David.
David's Cruise 