Sirens Beach

First beach trip of the year.  An hour drive, and we were at a lovely Med beach.  The water was so clear, and although the beach was kind of rocky, it was a great day out.  

gorgeous

Laura, Julie, David

a Greek fisherman out for the day

The dark part of the water is my shadow- that's how clear the water is

Extract

The stores in Nicosia do not sell unsweetened baking chocolate, but they have every flavor of extract imaginable, including rosewater, walnut, and tangerine.

Share with a Diva

The Diet Code ad campaign is working. I got one that said 'share with a diva.'  I thought that meant my friend was a diva. But she thought it was me. So here is my best Kardashian-esque Diva face.

Cats!!!'

There are a lot of street cats in Nicosia. And they all know when kind people show up with food.

waiting on the nice lady to feed them

Sweet hidden path

That I discovered on a Harriers Hash event last night. I cant wait to walk this during the day.

greenery in the desert

Dust storm

It blew across the ocean from the Middle East, and kept us inside for six days. Cypriots said it was a once-in-every-ten-years experience.

 

University of Cyprus Library

A colleague needed to find some books about the Greek war of independence (from the Ottoman Empire) in 1855.  Not a lot of info is available on the internet. She was going to the library, and I tagged along.

nice windows, good workspaces

Like the upper floors at Miller Library, Colby College

But what a lovely courtyard

Wine jugs

These huge wine jugs are all over the island.  They were used for fermenting and storage. They held a year's worth of wine for an entire village. 

Cypriot Mezze: an exercise in futility

There is no way to finish this food.  No way.  Yet they just keep bringing it, and bringing it, and bringing more.  Even the Cypriots complain about the amount and wastefulness of the Mezzes.

1st - grilled haloumi (Cypriot salty cheese) lloutza (ham)

2nd- all of the amazing dips:  from left- tzatzki, tahini, taramsalata, Greek yogurt

3rd- Manitaria- marinated mushrooms

4th- Coriatiho llucaniho- Cypriot sausage

5th- Kipferes- fried vegetable croquettes

6th- zucchini with scrambled eggs (this was amazing, shockingly tasty for something so simple)

7th- stuffed grape leaves

8th- Fried potatoes (the Cypriots are miracle-workers with potatoes)

9th- liver and onions.  But somehow I lost the picture of this one.  Which is okay, since it was the least photogenic.

10th- Pork Souvlaki

11th- Stefado- beef stew (this was also amazing- I could have eaten only it, and been very happy)

12th- Paidakia- lamb ribs

13th- Souvlakotopolo- roast chicken

14th- marinated pork (at this point, I was sad that I was too full to even try a single bite of it).

15th- a nice light fruit course to end the feast

Hike in the Troodos Mountains

Remember the hotel in 'The Shining?'

We stayed at a lookalike this weekend. In the Troodos mountains of Cyprus. It was full of 1960s charm, and a touch of creepiness.

1950s charm with a permanent radio built into the wall- but no vibrating Magic Fingers

where are the twins?

Old, tall, beautiful trees

this is just pretty, not spooky

Overall, it was a lovely weekend out of the city.  It was 20-30 degrees cooler, which was lovely. And thank goodness, there was not a maze or a SnowCat anywhere on property.

Team building with the kids

Arent the students cute in their team shirts?  And since we were in the mountains, it was in the 80s instead of the 100s. 

Greek yogurt in Greek

Its Fage, the famous Greek yogurt, labelled in Greek characters. 

And what seriously IS the best honey in the world.   With some of the best almonds in the world. 

Every night...

my neighbors have dinner on their patio. I have been trying to emulate them.  But Lulu and I sit for thirty minutes, wheras the neighbors average two hours. 

Sushi in Cyprus

Its good. And within walking distance. And there are a lot of rolls with only fish and vegetables- and no cream cheese in sight!

I was pretty excited about the goodness in front of me.

Classroom views



What my classroom looks like on the inside

What my classrooms looks at through the windows