Graham Mayor

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Cyprus 2009-10

2009 and the first pictures for the new year's gallery include snaps of the airport end of the proposed coastal footpath path.

Click on a thumbnail for a larger view of the photograph.

At the airport end of the proposed coastal path a lot of work needs to be done... ... but the path is still easily negotiable on foot. Parked at the end of the runway are these historic Shackleton aircraft. The path is as close as you can get to them, and they are not visible from the public areas of the airport.
You can stand at the end of the runway ... ... and watch the planes ... ... fly directly overhead.
This is as far as you can get without walking along the pebble beach. It is rare that there are no cars blocking photo opportunities at Kissonerga village church. After a mild wet winter, the fields of Cyprus are lush and in bloom with wild flowers such as this yellow sorrel ...
... but there is still snow on the upper slopes of the Troodos mountains. The coastal path at Kourion is deserted ... ... but a tad muddy.
The end of May brought some fantastic clear weather which provided a further opportunity to seek that elusive perfect picture of Morphou Bay ... ... and the central plain from near the summit of Mt. Olympos. It doesn't get any clearer than this. As summer progresses the sky will become hazier as the humidity rises, but the end of May, and beginning of June ...
... is the time for spectacular views ... ... from the trail ... ...around the summit of Olympos.
Photographs ... ...do not do justice ... ...to the majesty of the ...
... countryside viewed from this altitude. June also brings masses of insects. Thousands of butterflies seek out the flowers of the Whitebeam. Last week butterflies, this week swarms of ladybirds.
The Atalante Trail is not one we often undertake ... ... but it offers some splendid views. Here near the start of the 14 km path it winds behind the Troodos Centre ...
... and offers some excellent views of the main road from Platres Here looking across the road ... ... and here looking back towards Troodos Square
You also get a fine view of the old Troodos Platres road, where you will find the upper entrance to the Caledonian Trail. The old road joins the new road near to Troodos. Late October and the Whitebeam is laden with berries ...
... of a particularly attractive red 3 km in and there is a potable water source to top up those water bottles A last view of the Platres road before turning inland.
November and all is quiet in the harbour at Latsi ...  ...as a cormorant contemplates a meal ... ... nearby, the coastal path is deserted despite the sunshine.
In 2004 a severe storm destroyed the board walk that linked the coastal path with the Alexander The Great Hotel. Its replacement was again destroyed in October 2006. ... Following a temporary but substantial improvement, the whole area has now been re-developed. Adjacent to the Alexander The Great Hotel there was an ugly storm drain that suffered major damage in 2006. This has now been covered by an elegant water feature ...
... where pumped water cascades over a series of waterfalls into shallow pools. The storm drain is now completely enclosed. There is also a 'pier like' viewing platform ... ... with excellent views towards Kato Paphos ...
 
... the harbour fort ... ...and the grounds of the Alexander The Great Hotel.  

 

2010 - I resurrected my old and battered Ixus V camera to start the year with some pictures of Paphos by night that its replacement cannot manage
Interesting illuminated 'trees' outside Sakura Japanese restaurant in Kato Paphos A purple glow from Chloe's Chinese restaurant reflects with lights from 'Τα Μπανα' restaurant. The new coastal path lights ...
 
... illuminate the palm trees by the Almyra Hotel. Remaining with the nocturnal theme, the Easter bonfire at Kissonerga.