An Exhausting Entrance into Iguassu Falls

 Thinking we needed time for the airport lines we left our Mendoza hotel at 12:30 AM for a flight leaving at 3:15 AM to Rio de Janiero. We arrived at the airport, went straight to the Trip Store to buy a luggage tag and get my bag to be checked wrapped. When I picked it up in Mendoza after arriving from Ushuaia, the tag was gone and the zipper was broken. Dennis fixed it but I didn’t trust it. Finally we were on the plane and soon sleeping until… Flying in this part of the world at this time of year seems to often  produce unexpected white knuckle turbulence. It has happened on all of our recent flights. Dennis still prefers it to bus travel. Once in Rio we were told we had to recheck our luggage, redo security, etc. etc. But finally after about 18 hours we were in our hotel. Our G-Adventure starts tomorrow.

Today we walked about in the city of Foz do Iguaçu. And then booked a dinner cruise on the Iguazú River and the Paraná river. As we arrived music was coming from the boat. Very soon people began leaving the boat some dressed almost entirely in white with dashes of blue and many in colorful patterned outfits. Two Catholic priests joined the leave taking also dressed in white cassocks. They were all taking part in a religious river celebration, the Festival of Our Lady of Navigators. It is one of the largest religious festivities in southern Brazil. The Catholic Church synced it with the Afro-Brazilian celebration of lemarjá, goddess of sea and water.

Once we boarded, the cruise was very relaxing. Both rivers flow through red clayed banks filled with dense emerald, olive, sage, lime green trees and undergrowth interrupted at times with a cascading waterfall. Fishermen and picnickers dot the banks. The breeze cuts the sticky heat.

The food on the catamaran was scrumptious. Sorry, I just can’t use delicious again but it was. Not only did it taste good but it was beautiful. 

Finally the sun began to set behind the trees and it was time to get back to the hotel and get organized for tomorrow.  

A word from Dennis…

Yeah, the plane ride from Mendoza to Iguassu Falls, Brazil via Rio De Janiero was a doozie! Eighteen hours with a 7 hour layover in Rio. Sound exotic? Ahh, nope. That’s a lot of butt time and the older I get, the less padding I have back there. 

There were a few hiccups when we arrived here but between G-Adventures and Cindy, they worked out and we’re happy. 

As she said, the cruise was very relaxing and perfect following a long day of travel.

And on we go…🙂

Who cut the cheese?

 What's left to see after you've explored a very long history, think 9,000 years at least!? There's more. More ruins, more nature walks, more food, more churches and monasteries. And we got busy and got going. We took a walk through the Tombs of the Kings on a beautiful sunny day. 

There were no kings (or queens) buried here but there were very wealthy people whose final resting place was here. They were entombed from the 3rd Century BC to the 3rd Century AD. Some of the tombs were quite simple and some quite elaborate.

The park is well-laid out so that you can stroll along the paths, go down into the tombs, take in the many flowers, and also have a beautiful view of the Mediterranean.

Okay, so there's dandelion in there, just another sign of spring! What a beautiful day for a walk among the ghosts of the past. Imagine taking this walk at dusk when you just might see a filmy shadowy figure slip past you.

Is he wishing my head was on top of this pedestal?

They're always with us...

The next day, we headed off to the bus stop where we were being picked up by Sophia for the trip I had been looking forward to for months--making fresh halloumi cheese and a Cypriot breakfast. We started at a church with five domes in a small village not far from Paphos. The Agia Paraskevi Church is located in the center of Geroskipou and is a 9th century byzantine church.

From here we walked across the street to the family owned and run candy factory where we were able to taste many kinds of candy. And we could also purchase those we especially liked. 😋 Yum!

We liked the candies with nuts and honey the best and they somehow found their way into our backpacks. From here we drove further up the mountain to the village where Sofia has her kitchen and a delicious breakfast waited for us. Sofia had been up since 5:00 preparing for us.

Making Halloumi

And the bread goes into the oven

The result of all this work is a very satisfying and delicious breakfast. We enjoyed every bit of the wonderful food Sofia made for us. The halloumi was a special treat, warm and soft and fresh. BTW Sofia cut the cheese and put it in little pans which are later removed.

After breakfast we were able to have a brief walk around the village before heading back to Paphos for a look at an artisans cooperative near the old town market.

Who are those guys??

Once back in Paphos we spent a bit of time in the coop but then walked around a bit before returning to our villa. I think I overuse the phrase "a bit" as well as calling our apartment a villa but that's what it's called here. Oh well, I'm sure Denny E. Baby will enlighten you further.  

Word of wisdom from the man...

Cindy did a great job with he the pics of the Tomb of the Kings as well as the history behind it. It really was something to see and experience. Now I'll let you in on a little secret...thank goodness she made the decision a number of years ago to start a blog as we traveled. Wanna know why? Cuz I've got that old guy disease "CRS" (can't remember shit!!). Example, when she asks me if I remember the apartment we stayed at in Lagos, Portugal in 2020, I reply, "Sure I do." And change the subject to something I do remember about Lagos. Later, to cover my tracks I go back to the blog when I'm alone and look at the pictures of that trip. When we're together again, I bring up the subject of the apartment and "amaze" her with my memory. Pretty smart, huh? When you see her, don't mention this, okay? It's just between you and me. Clara, doesn't hafta know...er, I mean Cindy...(snicker, snicker). 😏   

Tidbits, Odds & Ends and Reflections

 A friend of ours, Kevin recently praised Cyprus for its beauty and long history. 

Another beautiful day in Cyprus

However, he cautioned, "It won't be easy to find a good glass of wine." To his point, I have to agree, we have not had good luck with that for either white or red. However I have hope. Today we are having a sommelier bringing wines to our apartment for a tasting of wines of Cyprus. Surely this is where we will find a truly delicious wine. If not, I found an amazing looking wine shop that I will find my way back to and I'm sure to find just what I'm looking for--something dry, not cloying, not sweet, but fresh and smooth. 

On another note, we have been enjoying both the beer and the brandy that is produced here. Did I mention they make a wonderful Aperol Spritz?  

And so our Sommelier, Gery showed up with several wines ranging from white to reds and some tasty treats as well. 

We started with this white which I quite liked. All of the wines we tasted were from the Paphos area so we have something to look forward to when we are there. We had a lively discussion ranging from politics in the USA to why we can't get these wines in Larnaca. Dennis, the man of a thousand questions threw her off her normal presentation. But in-between the questions we did learn quite a bit about the wine and the vineyards in the Paphos region. We are thinking we will book her to come again once we are in Paphos.

We tasted two whites, a rose and two reds. I particularly liked the Kolios Wines, 2016 vintage Shiraz-Merlot blend. It was very yummy, not too jammy and not too dry. As Goldilocks would say, it was just right! 

Gery left us all of the wines and told us how long they would last and she left us the remainder of the treats though there wasn't much left once we got started on them. Everything was locally produced and very delicious. We even liked the cottage cheese which isn't usually a favorite. We're looking forward to Paphos! You can get more information on Facebook winedeliveryonline or book her directly at winedeliveryonline@gmail.com.

My turn--

I really enjoyed listening and talking with Gery. She's from Bulgaria and has lived in Cyprus for about 10 years. She lives in the Paphos area and drove approximately 100 miles to make this presentation at our apartment. (Wow!) She said now is the slow season in Cyprus (winter) so

she travels whenever and wherever opportunities appear. She did a fantastic job, provided a wealth of info on Cyprus wines but to be honest, I most enjoyed her stories. Stories of life in Bulgaria, why she moved to Cyprus along with ______ (you know there's a man in this story). "What the hell is going on in America? Trump??--for which I had no explanation...as for wine?

 

I'll be totally honest. My "palate" is about as sophisticated as the rest of me and my life (you as my friends, have certainly figured that out by now, right?) Wine that is "dry but not cloying?" Wine that is "yummy but not too jammy?" What does that mean?? Give me the bottle and a straw and I'll tell you if I like it. 😋  Den E. Baby