17. Limassol, Cyprus

On Wednesday, the ship docked in the port of Limassol, Cyprus. The port city is a delightful blend of old and new, both commercially and religiously. The harbor is some distance from the downtown city area, so NCL arranged for shuttle buses to transport us the 3 miles to the city center. Since we are located on the Greek side of the island, the Greek heritage was very evident. A huge church, displaying various Greek Crosses on the exterior convinced us we were in a Greek Orthodox religious environment. However, there were a good number of women wearing a head covering as we walked around the city. Then we also saw a sizable minneret located close in to the commercial center of Limassol, and we were reminded that there must be a Muslim population here also. Historically, the island has been governed by both Greek and Turkish interests over the years. Currently the land is still contested. The larger, more well developed western portion of the island maintains it Greek culture and religion, while the northeastern extremity still considers themselves to be Turkish, and refuses to regard the current government as legitimate. A “No Man’s Land” separates the two areas geographically. Fortunately, we remained a long way from any contested area; nor did we take advantage of any of the inland tour options that were available today. Instead, we rode the shuttle bus into the city and walked around for several hours. We also stopped at a coffee shop that advertized internet availability. Coffee time for me and an ice cream treat for Cynthia allowed me to check our email and upload some pictures for future reference. Then we strolled through the streets, noting the very old and narrow streets in the first section we browsed, but then the streets widened and a more modern commercial district emerged. Lefkara lace seems to be the local artform that is found all over the business district of Limassol. The intricate stitchery must be terribly time consuming, and it is easy to understand why their handmade products are so very expensive. We found the merchants to be very friendly and conversational. Cyprus seems to be a delightful island culture, and I am sure it must be an attractive vacation destination for much of Europe that would not be so far away as to require a lengthy travel time to reach the place. While we did not visit any of the beaches, some of the postcard images in the shops suggest a beautiful and lively beach life is to be found all around the island. After our return to the ship, we had an earlier than usual departure. It was a peaceful scene, as the sun was still high in the sky, the blue sky and white puffy clouds reflecting off the crystal blue water. Again, we seem to be having an evening of smooth sailing, as I anticipate my first visit to Israel, beginning in the morning as the ship docks at the port of Haifa.