 | Larnaca on the south coast of the island nation of Cyprus is the main entry point for international air flights and this is perhaps the main reason why many travellers find themselves here. But it’s a pleasant enough place with a few interesting things to see, before moving on. I spent a day walking many kilometres around and out of the town. I stumbled across Agios Lazaros, a ninth century Byzantine church dedicated to Lazarus of Bethany. The story goes that shortly after his death and then being resurrected by Jesus, Lazarus was forced to flee Bethany. His boat landed in Kition in present-day Cyprus, and he was later ordained a bishop, a position he held for thirty years. In 890 AD his tomb, bearing the inscription “Lazarus friend of Christ” was found. Byzantine Emperor Leo the Sixth had Lazarus’ remains exhumed and removed to Constantinople (but this time only his bodily remains). I’m reminded here of Paul Keating’s famous put-down of political rival Andrew Peacock – “a soufflé never rises twice”. And neither it seems, did Lazarus. I looked around the interior of the church before descending into the catacomb to inspect Lazarus’ tomb. Then for something completely different I hiked out of the town to the large salt lake near the airport. This otherwise unremarkable body of water becomes a temporary home each year to thousands of pink flamingos who fly in from Africa to winter in Cyprus and feed on the brine shrimp that thrive in the lake. The flamingos were already here, and I watched them feed and jockey with each other as the sun set. It was a long walk back to my hotel and the Christmas lights were twinkling across town as I made my way along “Finikoudes”, the promenade looking out over the still waters of the Mediterranean Sea. |
Thoughts turned to dinner, which I had at Zephyros on the seafront. I had the seafood meze, a mixed platter of sardines, larger fish, calamari, shrimps and octopus, served with pitta bread, salad and olives. And a small bottle of Cyprus wine. It was all excellent, and when I eventually ventured outside again, the air had become decidedly chilly.
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