Swimming in the Sun

View of hotel front leading to the beach

Another wonderful impromptu weekend, filled with sunshine, food, and laughs. This weekend a group of us ventured to Ayia Napa, home to some of the most beautiful beaches in all of cyprus. The weather kept berating us with forecasts of down pouring rain...LIES! We had a stunning weekend complete with sun burns. I can't tell you how nice it was to be in the ocean, felt just like being at home. I never knew how much I really love the ocean till I ventured here, now I miss home more than ever. The water was crystal Caribbean blue and the sun so strong I felt it hard to look at the water at times. We stayed in two lovely hotels (even though we did have some problems with staff...including but not limited to, not having a booking voucher, getting kicked out for swimming afters hours, and being yelled at for singing). Our second hotel was beautiful, and looked like something off the travel channel. On our final morning we sprawled out by the pool and soaked in the rays and just felt more relaxed than ever. I can't begin to explain the amount of peace I felt here. We got to venture to lots of cliffs and jetties that were massively attacked by the ocean. Huge waves crashing over massive cliffs creating lots of little protrusions on the shore. The people here were very friendly and seemed as though older generations love the off season just as much as us. We did have a couple run ins with some locals. Including one of our group members being proposed to by a shop owner and as a consolation for saying no was given a bag of oranges. Not what we were expecting by any means. The girls in our group along with myself decided t go out to dinner downtown and were extremely satisfied with our meal. I had the BEST penne polo I have ever eaten!! And a huge huge portion :) We also ordered bruschetta (delightful) and honey cake. Yum Yum Yummmmmmm. In some ways Cyprus surprises you with its cultural pace and other times you feel right at home. I can't say I'm having the typical study abroad culture shock but I know I'm not in Kansas any more. Love to all and miss you so very much!
xoxo MoMo

Nissi Beach and the little island we walked out to