Pissouri, Cyprus - beach day and Meze

Nothing on the agenda for today, Nicola and Dave's last day, so when we woke up as it was sunny we decided that of all the options available "Beach" was the preferred choice. We packed a picnic and a bag of towels and bathing suits (really??) and drove to Kyrenia Beach. (two coves over from Pissouri Beach, on a narrow, winding, pot holed road, through vineyards and carob groves).

We pulled up to an area with two closed restaurants, parked and pulled the lounge chairs out from under the restaurant decks.

There was NOBODY on this beach. I walked down to the water and waded, up to my knees,. but it was too cold to consider swimming.

Eventually (after about an hour) it clouded over and we drove inland and then back out to the next cove, Melanda Bay, and looked across at the beach we had sat on.

It was threatening rain so we drove home and ate our picnic on the table in the front courtyard, eking out the last snibbets of sun.

We had decided to eat out tonight and had stopped at Two Friends Taverna on the way out to make a reservation. They were full and couldn't take it. On our way back into town we walked down to the square and asked whether Platea Taverna would take a reservation. We have been getting Lattes there the last few days. We were told we didn't need a reservation so headed back at about 6:30.
Nicola and I ordered a half carafe of wine each (one red and one white), they were full to the top, and Dave had a large Keo. We ordered the Meat Meze (Mezay) for 3. This is something I will never be able to order by myself as they need at least 2 to order a Meze.

A Meze is a selection of courses. We started with a selection of dips (Taramasalata - fish roe, Tahini, Tzatziki,  olives and potato in garlic and lemon) served with rolls and grilled pita bread. We also had a Village Salad which I forgot to take a picture of which was basically a Greek Salad - lettuce, onion, tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese and olives.

There were three of us so each course held 3 of everything. Next grilled Haloumi, sausage, ham.

Chips (of course, the English influence) and mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce. Dave created his own Cypriot Poutine with chips, Haloumi and garlic mushrooms but I was trying to save room and didn't have any chips.

Chicken breast and Sheftalia (Cypriot pork and lamb sausage. The recipe may have lemon. cinnamon and other spices)

Pork souvlaki and lamb chops (no picture, don't know why, could have been the wine)

We couldn't believe the amount of meat. No shortage of protein. Dave happily ignored the only green (the salad, early on)

We finished with a slice of apple and a slice of the sweetest orange.