I realized I involuntarily spend a lot of time thinking about other countries, how far are they, how do people there live or which are the local customs, how can these countries be reached, which other countries they neighbour with, what is the weather like there currently, are these countries very touristic…And, as I continue to dream and ask questions inside my mind, I am more and more convinced every day that we need to travel like we need to cover our bodies with garments when we go out in the street, like we need to learn something new every day in school, like we need to tidy up our rooms before we rush to work, etc. My point is that traveling should be treated as a priority in our lives, because traveling means knowing, and our mission on this Earth is to know our worlds, both inner and outer. While we eagerly explore the outside, the inside will be open for us in the form of a thrilling and exciting book, waiting to be read and comprehended. Some time ago, as I scrolled down the world’s map, I suddenly had this thought that I have never been to Cyprus, a small island in the Mediterranean, disputed by many empires throughout decades, finally gaining its independence as the Republic of Cyprus in 1960; even though it is quite close to Romania, it is just a 2.5 hours’ flight, the occasion never rose to visit it. Soon, my trip to Cyprus became a reality, and I want to share with you this beautiful reality which I was part of. I landed on Larnaca Airport on an incredibly sunny and pleasant autumn day. As I have written in my previous posts, I absolutely adore all seasons and I accept and embrace their caprices; but I must admit that it is quite surprising to see how seasons behave differently across the multitude of world areas. Late autumns in Cyprus are mild, soothing, warm and forgiving. On my way to the hotel in Limassol, I was completely goggle-eyed. The highway was nearly empty, traffic-free, there was Greek music on the radio, everybody spoke Greek (which to me was delightful, of course); they drive on the left side of the road and their electrical outlet plugs feature 3 pins (just like in the UK and Malta). An amalgam of details leading back to Cyprus’s history and the intersection of various people on this small island. There are some touristic attractions in Limassol such as archaeological sites, museums, monasteries and churches, but apart from those, I think Cyprus’s best offers are incredible natural landscapes combined with times of relaxation and easiness. So, I sat in my balcony, wrapped in complete and pure silence, and witnessed an early sunset which is hard to describe in words, of incomparable beauty. The sun rises and sets early during the autumn in Cyprus, it was about 16:45 local time when it began to descend into the sea, adorning the horizon with colours of the twilight. Then, I went out and enjoyed an evening promenade along the shoreline, picked up some seashells for my collection, and simply breathed the salty air in and then out, in an altogether dreamy condition. Seagulls sang, and the sea itself was blood-orange, as the sun sank deeper. One curious thing I saw were drilling machines somewhere far-off the shoreline, in the deep sea, probably exploiting oil or natural gases reserves of Cyprus. Hospitality in Cyprus is highly valued; thus, any tourist is treated royally and instantly given the sensation that he is at home. I wanted to have dinner in a quiet restaurant, and to have the sea at my feet, to feel its breeze and everything to be dim lit all around so I could feel the caress of my Domina, the Moon, all over me – I found what I was looking for at Limanaki Tavern, in the Amathus Resort. Relaxing elegance, darkness and dimness, flowers, sand and the majestic sea, undulating under one’s feet, fabulous dishes, the overall experience was flawless, perfectly in tune with how and what I felt. The night grew darker, alluring me to imagine recurring colourful dreams. I will take the risk of repeating myself and say once more that Cyprus is an oasis of relaxation. I continuously discovered this aspect while I was there. The sun saluted the Earth very early, so I quickly decided the day (my very last day on the island) would be devoted to some proper beach time! Got in the car, and drove towards Ammochostos area of Cyprus, to bathe in the waters of Agia Napa and Paralimni-Protaras, once mere tiny villages, which nowadays attract thousands of tourists each year. Have you ever dreamed about a secluded golf, with sand so fine it feels like a hydrating cream soothing your soles, and with waters so clear and warm that it feels you are bathing inside baby blue nectary or other godly liquor? I honestly have, on many occasions, but now, faced with the Fig Tree Bay on Cyprus island, I was vividly living this surreal dream. The water was scarily yet beautifully still, no reaction to human presence, other than love, openness and warmness. I was truly blessed to indulge in the sweet sun rays’ caresses once more before “winter is coming”; after some time spent on this incredible beach, I was all thirsty, my chocolate skin was all covered in salt, my hair was messy, wavy and sandy, as a matter of fact I discovered that I had sand everywhere in my clothes and in my bag so I was truly happy. This is how happiness looks to me at least. After grabbing a light traditional lunch (Cypriot meze), I rushed back to the hotel for some indoor delights in the spa area. The evening was destined to explore more around Limassol and I chose to be by the water again - we have a strong connection and I am irremediably drawn to it – in the Limassol Marina. Driving through the city on its long boulevards, I have noticed that it is clearly constantly developing, new buildings arise, new shops open their doors to the world, lots of people walking around, sipping delicious coffees in cafeterias, having dinner in cosy restaurants. Everything sends out a pleasant vibration. The Marina in Limassol is also very nice and pleasant, with a few alleys in between the canals and the anchored boats; terraces and coffee shops thronged with people made me feel as if summer never left this place. A scrumptious dinner, Greek live music in the background, the water discretely sparkling by my side, and the majestic moon reflecting in it, light thoughts, long black dress and high heels, I could not have asked for more since I already had everything I needed and wanted. The Old Port of Limassol lies quite close to the Marina and is worth your time for a walk if you ever visit Cyprus and the city of Limassol. I am very thankful for everything that is going on in my life right now, each day I wake up and thank divinity for granting me the right to live on this beautiful Earth one more day. We live and we learn, we travel and we explore, we discover ourselves and the places we visit, and this wonderful routine keeps us alive, it keeps our dreams alive, and our pursuit strong in attaining them and transforming them into sweet reality, a reality that suits us, which we long for with all our strength. Forgive others and forgive yourself, and you allow new doors opening for you.
My stay in Cyprus was short, but it brought me even closer to my belief that there is beauty everywhere and in each new person met. In Cyprus, I was embraced by the loving sun, I was salted by the soothing sea, my lungs were filled with fresh air by the warm wind and scented breeze, my ears listened to the harmony and silence of a quiet environment, while my eyes dreamt a real dream. Dare to dream, and one way or another, your dreams will find a way to become true!
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