Fortune fell my way and as fate had it we arrived in Cyprus. The land was old and ancient and there was an err of mystery and intrigue. Off the coast south of Turkey, Cyprus has been in political turmoil from many years. But don't let that scare you away, it adds to the mystery and abandonment of the land. Relics and ruins make exploring exciting and adventurous.

One of the first places we explored was the birthplace of Aphrodite. According to the lore of Cyprus, the Ancient Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty - Aphrodite - was born of the sea foam here. As she rose from the ocean is a shell, she fulfilled the wishes of the people who inhabited the beach. They say that a rock or shell from her beach can bring you luck, good or bad...so be careful which rock or shell you choose to take from her beach, if you choose to take one at all.

A collection of the beach rocks from Aphrodite's birthplace. Choose your destiny. Many of the locals tell tourists that to take a rock from the beach is bad luck. As I searched for the perfect rock an old woman told me the story of Aphrodite. After her story, I decided it was best just to take a photograph instead.

The Tomb of Kings is a necropolis of caverns and caves that stretch on and on. Relics and icons adore some of the caves and are from a time forgotten. The major religion of the Island is Greek Orthodox so places like this aren't so secret. The clerics often visit the tombs for upkeep and it is not uncommon to find a group in prayer. The chanting can be heard through the caves and can add a certain amount of mystery and macabre as the caves are navigated.

The people of the island create many wonderful artifacts by hand still. Many of the intricate details can be lost in a machine prints so items like these doilies bring a certain amount of craftsmanship that can't be found anywhere else. The Cypriot people pride themselves of the crafts of their ancestors. Islanders like this one sit and sell their wears for a decent and negotiable price.

A time to remember... In Paphos there is a tree at the edge of the catacombs shrouded in mystery and lore. Adorned with handkerchiefs, ribbons, bibs and such, it is simply called the "Wishing Tree". A sacred place the locals believe can grant favors to those who seek them. Women wishing for children can tie an offering here for fertility, people wishing for a last glimpse of a loved one who has passed away may get that wish, or just someone down on their luck looking for a positive change.

As the land is explored some less traveled paths lead to beautiful sights. Is the face in the tree trying to tell you to stay away, or inviting you on a mysterious adventure. As we walked the path avery pleasant sight was revealed...

The sounds of water were all around as we descended the path of tree roots and rocks. Around the corner we found an untouched sight of clear blue water that was crisp and cold. A small dip in the water was refreshing but with so much to see we were on our way. There was so much to see and so little time...

Another discovered mystery was that of an abandoned ship. As we walked along the beach towards the north half (Turkey occupied) on route to Famagusta (the abandoned city), we came across this sight. No explanations required we began to think that sights like this are not that uncommon her in Cyprus. The beauty of the old wreckage conjured up thoughts of piracy and intrigue. What tragedy befell this ship. My imagination worked on overtime as we encountered sight after sight.

No matter where you are in Cyprus, you will encounter feral cats. Some friendly and some skittish. They are everywhere. I made the mistake of feeding one and it followed me around the entire rest of the day. These two were having a nap in the cool shade. I wonder what stories they could tell...?

Fagan, Thomas. “Aphrodite's Birthplace.” 2017. jpeg.

Fagan, Thomas. “Aphrodite's Birthplace.” 2017. jpeg

Fagan, Thomas. “A Rock by any other name.” 2017. jpeg

Fagan, Thomas. “An offering.” 2017. jpeg.

Fagan, Thomas. “pride in my work.” 2017. jpeg.

Fagan, Thomas. “the wishing tree.” 2017. jpeg.

Fagan, Thomas. “an apparition.” 2017. jpeg.

Fagan, Thomas. “the falls of paradise.” 2017. jpeg.

Fagan, Thomas. “Gilligan?.” 2017. jpeg.

Fagan, Thomas. “Cypriot cats.” 2017. jpeg.