Tuesday 17 May: GIRNE

Today is a day of rest i.e no cycling at all! We fail to make much of an impact on the gargantuan selection on offer at breakfast before wandering into the town. Simon has a close shave by a Turkish barber with a cut throat razor. He even gets an ear trim which seems to involve singeing hairs using a naked flame. Certainly an enjoyable spectator experience. With skin as smooth as a baby's bottom we explore Kyrenia Castle enjoying glorious views of the old harbour from the ruined ramparts. We see the remains of a boat shipwrecked off Cyprus in 300bc, dated by the preserved almonds that were found intact in its cargo. Amazing. We then get a taxi to take us up the hill to Bellapais. I am not sorry that we are not cycling, neither the ascent nor the descent would have been pleasurable. We visit Bellapais Abbey and once again enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the sea at Girne below. We see the Tree of Idleness and the house that Laurence Durrell lived in (I finished reading Bitter Lemons last week) Back down the hill to our hotel where we spend the afternoon in comfort by the rooftop pool. We then both have a massage by a charming Balinese lady which is very relaxing and invigorating although leaves us a bit greasy. We then enjoy Brandy Sours on the roof terrace. We are getting rather used to all this 5 star living! Supper at Effendi: rather too cosmopolitan for our current tastes but interesting to talk to the English owner.