Larnaca, Cyprus
After having too much wine last night, I woke up late. I was originally planning on going to Nicosia today, but could not get out of bed early enough. When I finally did break through the sheets and stand up, I showered, dressed, and then relaxed in my hotel room some more. At 12:20, I exited the hotel in search for some good food. I walked along the beach, northward, and past the Castle of Larnaca. I didn’t see anything that caught my eye and the prices were high; so I walked around some more, passing by the Church of St. Lazarus and many other buildings and streets I had walked by yesterday (including the Larnaca Grand Mosque, which was originally a Catholic Church built in the fourteenth-century by the Lusignan rulers of Cyprus; the church was then converted in to a mosque not long after the Ottoman Turks conquered Cyprus in 1571 AD). I then settled on a restaurant at about 13:30 and had stuffed vine leaves, moussaka, a baked potato, salad, bread, and some Cypriot (Keo) beer. After that mega feast, I walked back to the hotel on the Foinikoudes Promenade. After returning to my hotel room, I relaxed, watched television, and uploaded many photographs on to my website. After 19:00, I decided to find a place to eat dinner, so I left the hotel and walked south to Mackenzie Beach; I didn’t find anything that I liked and I’m still having trouble adjusting to western prices (Asian food was so much cheaper and realistic); so I walked north toward Foinikoudes Beach. I finally settled on a restaurant and entered inside; the final game of the African Cup was playing on the television and the South African manager and an Australian customer were watching the game; I then ordered Italian nachos (made with sausage bits), pork medallions marinated in Commandaria wine sauce, hash brown with onions, and beer (all cooked by the English chef). It was a full meal and it took a while to eat since I was busy talking with the Aussie and (after the Aussie left to pick up the “wifey”) the English chef. After dinner, I returned to my hotel (after buying snacks) and had more Cypriot beer (Keo again) and some chocolate. I finally went to sleep after 01:00.