Northern Cyprus: May 2015: Part 4

Fairly dismal weather in Cornwall recently and it doesn't look like we'll see any marked improvements soon. Searching for an antidote to the gloom, I came across a couple of 'draft' posts from our sojourn in Northern Cyprus earlier this year. I'm not sure why I didn't post them at the time but I'm glad I came across them as they are a nice reminder of happy AND WARMER AND DRIER times!

Whilst others decided to laze by the pool or go shopping, the Dynamic Duo of Bujold and Parsons decided to head for Buffovento Castle. Perched high upon a mountain, it gave the Crusaders a commanding view of the surrounding landscape.

Nowadays wherever we go, one of our first questions is "what is your Wi-Fi code?". In days of yore, it was "where's your jousting field?". At Buffovento, they would have nodded and said "down the hill a few thousand feet".

It follows from the above that if you can go down a few thousand feet, you can also go up. And go up we did. Although most of the climb was not as vertiginous as the stretch shown in the photo, it was still a decent stretch of the legs. But that did not daunt my companion who scampered up like a mountain goat or, to be more accurate, un chèvre de montagne or, to be pedantically precise, un très vieille chèvre de montagne.

The castle was build in several 'layers' and had an irregular shape due to the contours of the mountain it was built on. Although not visible here, most of the rooms were constructed with rainwater cisterns beneath them. Coincidentally, we've just spent some time at the Eden Project in Cornwall and they are making a big deal out of their rainwater trapping systems. A case of old technology being rediscovered?

Odd photos by the wayside Part XXVI. Almost as high as we could go and we come across a carefully placed empty bottle of J.P. Chenet - Ice Edition ROSE. What's the story behind someone carrying this all the way up? A proposal, perhaps, or an illicit assignment?  Or an upmarket picnic?

On a clear day, the coast of Turkey can be seen. But not on this day due to the heat haze.

Pentadacktylos - or the Five Fingered Peak. I would imagine that the ridge walk over the top of these would be fun, assuming that it was possible.

Some swallows nesting under the eaves of a house in the main street of the village of Bellapais. They deserve a mention in recognition of their acrobatics just over the heads of the people walking up the street.

Bellapais is famous for the remains of its 13th century monastery, of which this is the belfry with its single remaining bell.

The entrance to the refectory which is used for concerts and other musical events.

The spirit of Diana lives. It makes you wonder what sort of people are attracted by the name and the placard. Does Northern Cyprus have a 'care in the community' scheme? Perhaps I've stumbled across it?