The last breath of summer

the local cats don't stand a chance
with Anna around.....

We recently managed to get away for a few nights as part of a mid-term break for the kids and public holiday to commemorate 'Oxi' or 'No' Day, which marks the day in WWII that Greece refused to accept Musolini's request to co-operate with the Axis powers and Germany.  Oxi (pronounced 'ohee') day is significant here, with ceremony, parades and speeches across the country and also in Greece.  We spent the weekend down at a place called Protaras, which is a beautiful coastal area near Famagusta and the north/south border.  During the middle of summer, Protaras is very popular as a family alternative to Agia Napa but by late October most of the tourists have cleared out.  There is still a remnant of Russian and British tourists, the latter of whom seem to have a strange obsession of spending their days shirtless as they wander the main shopping street.  No doubt this is to catch as much vitamin D as possible before returning to the colder climes of Birmingham, Cardiff or Slough.....   

Konnos Beach, Protaras

Protaras has stunning beaches but mixed quality when it comes restaurants and general facilities.  'Themed' restaurants and pubs abound, and one can breakfast in Paris alongside a faux Eiffel Tower, lunch with the Flinstones and dinner in Stonehenge, complete with hauntingly real 17 foot (not inch) triptix.  Alas no druids serving the drinks. Ah yes, it's amazing what a bit of vision and papier mache can create when it comes to eating establishments.   


We had a lovely weekend.  The place we stayed in was a small apartment with cracking views across Figtree Bay.  The weather was cooler, but the ocean was still quite warm for swimming so we both managed to get in some good ocean swims.  On the Sunday, Ross was flying out to Athens so Sarah and kids dropped him at the airport on the way home.

Figtree Bay, Protaras

View from our apartment

Yesterday we enjoyed celebrating Sarah's 40th birthday.  Ross made it home in the nick of time, arriving back from Albania and Greece at midnight on Friday.  We had a really nice day together, and Sarah enjoyed connecting with family and friends through the day.  Some lovely wishes and parcels from Australia were greatly appreciated.  We had a family dinner together, and the kids enjoyed lighting the fire for the the first time this year.  

Sarah turns 40

Konnos Beach, Protaras

'And oh how they danced, the little people of Stonehenge...'