Kato Paphos, Cyprus - "Ruined"

Rocks from yesterdays beach walk.

Of to Paphos today for the last of the archaeological site visits. On the way we pulled off the coastal road

just to look at the view and breathe the sea air.

I think he is a Stonechat.

We started the Kato Paphos site from the point were I had ended up on my last visit, at the castle.

Started in 2000AD and rebuilt once before its destruction about 250 years later

so it was difficult to know whether the marble column pieces being used as steps was from an ancient or recent reconstruction.

Dave went exploring in the tunnels under the castle that went out into the moat (escape routes? access from the sea? No signage can be very frustrating)

Excellent lizard watching though

The basins still work.

Dave sent this shot to his trainer, labelled "The Gladiator Workout"

After the castle we walked over to the Amphitheatre with the unexcavated Agora (marketplace) in front of it and the present day lighthouse behind it.

Column part and mass of Cyclamen.

We couldn't go into the lighthouse but the buildings around it

housed an exhibit about Cyprus' relationship with the sea including maps of trade routes, harbours and shipwrecks.

On the way back down to the Amphitheatre

there was a flock of Crested Larks,

having dust baths.

From here we walked to the House of Dionysus

which is ground I had covered before

and posted about before,

so will limit my photos of mosaics.

The Roman residence had unusually large rooms

and unusually large and sumptuous mosaics. Nicola has a phone full of pictures.

We didn't spend a lot of time in the city excavation

as, after 4 days of this, we declared ourselves "ruined" and it was time for lunch. An Ionic column capital.

Nic and Dave both had breakfasts and I had an avocado/prawn starter and tahini (I am totally addicted to tahini)

We walked around the harbour

to see what remained of the Venetian walls.

Difficult to take a pirate ship seriously with the washing hanging out.

That had shaken lunch down enough to make room for Gelato

I had a scoop of Creme Brulee and a scoop of Pear Caramel.

Full but happy.

Walked a little further for our second indulgence. I needed this, as the wine at lunch and fresh air had made me sleepy.  Caffeinated, I drove home.