the Troodos Mountain ranges, that is, the Troodos mountain ranges...

The title is in reference to our Tour Guide's favorite phrase, repeated before and after each sentence, used as a sentence by itself and used to refer back to the Tour that she was conducting..makes you wonder if she was actually convincing herself that that is indeed the name of the place...

Today we went on a day tour to the Troodos Mountain Ranges. These mountains are the highest points in the island of Cyprus and during the coldest times of the year, snow covers these mountains and turns them into a ski resort. The highest peak and the most popular ski resort is Mount Olympus, named after the mythical home of the Gods. Nestled within one of the towns in the mountains is the Kykkos Monastery, the most popular and richest Greek Orthodox monastery which houses the icon of the Virgin of Kykkos, handed down from the Byzantine Emperor hundreds of years ago. There is an interesting history behind the icon, its story is told here.

Random photos from Troodos:

The flag of Cyprus alongside the Greek flag

The grave of Archishop Makariou, former Greek Orthodox Archbishop and Cyprus President

A tourist takes in the Troodos view

Near the Shrine to the icon of the Virgin of Kykkos, handkerchief and tissues alike hang on the nearby bush branches. Locals claim that hanging them up and making a wish would guarantee the fulfillment of their wishes.

Rose bush outside the Monastery

The Kykkos Monastery from afar

From within the monastery:

frustrations of the day

First of all, I woke up late. Too late for the hotel's breakfast...so we decided to go out and do some serious "maybe" shopping and shooting. We ended up doing "real" shopping and before we knew it, it was too dark for me to shoot (no tripod plus I just wasnt in the mood to take out my flash) and it was time for mass.

photo pffft

I thought I'd shoot something after the mass, since the church was in the old part of the city where I wanted to shoot anyway. Lots of old houses very near the border. However, while I struggled to compose something to replace my 'PEACE' photo (my current fave), a local approached us and informed us that photography was not allowed, being near the border and having soldiers there and all....

WHAT?!?!? BUT BUT BUT.....!

*sigh* From what I know, taking photos beyond the border in the direction of the Turkish territory was prohibited BUT taking photos in the Cyprus side...?

I guess what bothers me really is the fact that that was the area where I wanted to take photos. And apparently I cant.

So I uploaded my 'PEACE' photo unto my old galleries at Filphoto and Photo.net.ph. I havent visited those in a while and it surprised me to see that some (and I do mean 'some') photos are still there. Until tomorrow's Troodos mountains trip, that'll have to do.

if the shoe fits

I have to add, we went to a shoe store that were selling Italian made leather shoes at more than 50% off. Wide-eyed, I looked around and spotted some knee-high boots. I love boots. And the fact that they're unfit for Manila and that the heels were not Manila-commuter-friendly did not daunt me. They were on SALE for heaven's sake.

So I tried them on. And lo and behold, I couldnt fully zip them up. I mean, I know I have uhm, not-so-tiny legs, but come on?! Surely these things are designed to fit women's legs? Women are supposed to have meat and muscle upwards past the ankle after all.

Apparently not. I heaved, huffed and puffed, to no avail. No boots for me. If next week I dont find any, I'll have to settle for pumps. And then maybe I'll drive a hole through a shoe designer's foot using those killer heels.

sidenote

I left home with a handful of happy thoughts.

There is something scary about leaving home for work travel on a good note...it reminds me of the last time I left with a happy thought. I suppose it doesnt help to be pessimistic, but when experience speaks, I cant help but listen intently.

One of the things that made me leave home relatively merrily was this:

the sound and sight of the past burning. I have purged myself if not completely, then at least physically of proof of past bad judgment. No one can ever say that I was that -- save for two people.