THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS

WE ARE NOW ON THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN NEAR GREECE. THIS IS A FORMER BRITISH MANDATE AND THEY DRIVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD SO I REALLY HAVE TO WATCH WHERE I AM GOING BECAUSE THEY DON'T APPEAR TO BE TOO KIND TO WANDERING TOURISTS.

ATHENS WAS FUN. WE TOOK THE LOCAL SUBWAY EVERYWHERE AND WE EVEN HAD TO CHANGE TRAINS AT AT STOP WHICH SOUNDED EXACTLY LIKE THE WORD IMMODIUM, OR AMMONIA. BUT IT WAS EASY TO REMEMBER BECAUSE WE WERE LAUGHING SO MUCH ABOUT IT. MOST EVERYTHING IS WRITTEN IN GREEK AND I KNOW THE GREEK ALPHABET FROM MY SORORITY PLEDGE DAYS AND JERRY CAN EVEN RECITE IT. ANYWAY, WE MADE IT ALL OVER WITHOUT GETTING LOST. AT THE CHANGING OF THE GUARDS I WAS SO BUSY TAKING PHOTOS OF THE GUYS IN THEIR BALLET SKIRTS AND POM POM SHOES THAT THEY ALMOST RAN STRAIGHT INTO ME. I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS ON THE PATH THEY USE AFTER THE GUARDS CHANGE AND THE GUARDS GOING OFF DUTY WENT RIGHT ACROSS THE PATH I WAS STANDING ON. EVERYONE WAS LAUGHING. TYPICAL OF MY OBLIVION WHEN I AM IN THE PICTURE TAKING MODE.

SO NOW WE ARE ON THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS IN THE CITY OF LIMASSOL. CYPRUS IS IN A FEUD OVER TERRITORY WITH TURKEY AND THERE USED TO BE A DISPLACED PERSONS CAMP HERE AFTER THE WAR FOR JEWS WHO WERE TRYING TO GET INTO ISRAEL BEFORE IT BECAME A STATE. CYPRUS IS KNOWN FOR IT'S BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, NONE OF WHICH I HAVE SEEN YET. WE WENT THROUGH THE OLD DOWNTOWN AREA WHICH IS FILLED WITH SOUVENIER SHOPS AND CAFES. AS USUAL, THE MEN ARE SITTING AROUND THE CAFES DRINKING COFFEE AND SMOKING AND THE WOMEN ARE WORKING. WE WENT TO A MEDIEVAL CASTLE WHICH WAS NOTHING COMPARED WITH WHAT WE WILL SEE IN RHODES IN A FEW DAYS. I SUPPOSE WE WILL WANDER ABOUT SOME MORE, MAYBE TAKE THE CITY BUS ALL AROUND TOWN AND PERHAPS TRY TO FIND A BEACH IF IT DOESN'T RAIN. THERE REALLY ISN'T TOO MUCH TO SEE OF MUCH INTEREST OTHER THAN A FEW RUINS.

LAST NIGHT I HAD MY PHOTO TAKEN WITH THE CAPTAIN. HE IS STILL NOT AS GOOD AS ETHAN. WE ARE BOTH STILL O.K. AND HOPEFULLY WILL STAY THAT WAY BECAUSE WE MET THE SHIP'S DOCTOR LAST NIGHT AND HE HAS A VERY STRONG RESEMBLANCE TO LURCH FROM THE ADDAMS FAMILY SHOW. I AM PRAYING TO THE GREEK GODS TO STAY WELL. THE FOOD IS STILL GOOD AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE TRIP.