Cedar Valley

They say you should never go back, but we ignore such advice as curiosity takes precedence.

The first time we came to Cyprus we stayed in a nice hotel in the Troodos mountains and went to see it, hoping for a coffee and chat. It was a sad sight, empty and rather rundown, with a For Sale notice in the window. In fact there were several local businesses closed over the past few years, according to the proprietor of a restaurant that still thrives nearby.

We continued our nostalgia trip, to Cedar Valley, where the indigenous Cedrus brevifolia flourishes. As there are no parking areas along the route, photographs are only obtained by stopping on the road and snapping quickly before another vehicle comes along. Then up to Mount Olympus, up in the clouds, in poor visibility and fleece jackets wrapped round us, which were shed on our descent to the coast at Limassol.

The last time we were there the coast road was under reconstruction (with as much disruption as Edinburgh's tram installation); it was a pleasure to drive along in comfort. Then it was time to zip along the motorway back up to our apartment, to reflect upon the changes of the past seventeen years.