P is for Pafos and T is for Tomb-Raider

I awoke VERY early the next morning (4.30am) partially thanks to the jetlag, but mostly thanks to the snoring. It is very much akin to a chainsaw. I took my sheet downstairs and curled up on the couch. This was after I had already tried earplugs and headphones to no avail.

Up bright and early and knackered I waited for everyone else to rise. Dad was first, naturally. Mum was second. We decided that today we would head into Pafos today. I really wanted to see some old ruins along the way so we headed out. First we went to Pissouri village as it was on the doorstep. Little old streets that are only one car wide, lots of stone houses and extreme sun. It is built on the side of a hill and over looks the bay. It is quite beautiful really but again, very dry. I haven't seen anything to say how people work here. There is little industry that I can see. Perhaps they raise goats and wine. Probably.

We next head over to the Temple of Aphrodite. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was quite lovely. There are lots of stones cast about, the remains of houses and columns. There are still a few mosaic floors that are open to the air and public. I got to visit the house of Leda where there is a mosaic of Leda and the Swan.

I took a lot of photos but that wasn't all I took... on the ground, amongst the dirt in the already excavated sections I came across some small peices of pottery with ceramic paint. When I first picked it up I was surprised by how bright the colouring was and I was a bit like "It can't be real, I don't even think they had those colours." Well, I went into the museum and yes, yes they do. I was stoked. Here was my little piece of Aphrodites Temple just for me. Mum found a second peice though it was uncoloured it was still pretty.
We next headed across to Pafos to visit the archeological dig. There I was able to look at things like the House of Theseus which I think is fair to say was rather palatial. I also visited the House of Dionysus, where they have the remains of all of these mosaics of various people and seasons and Dionyus himself. It is lovely and cool too as it is all housed inside an open tent so that the elements can't destroy it anymore.
After visting both of these houses we went for a walk along to the Odeion (amphitheatre) which is in surprisingly good condition. I sat in the seats that Greeks and Roman has sat in before me, I stood on the stage as the ancient actors had, and I had my photo taken with my shawl wrapped around me like a toga just because I could.
We were very hot by that point as it was the middle of the day. We grabbed some cold water and headed down to the port where we had an overpriced salad. Me and mum asked for avacado shrimp salad, which consisted of about two whole tomatoes chopped up, half a cucumber chopped up, heaps of lettuce (and I do mean heaps) and finally topped with canned shrimp and half an avacado. Best part of the meal was the garlic bread and the cold Keo shandy. The local beer is really tasty and is very smooth especially with lemonade. It goes down fast.
It was so hot by that point and I was sweating so much we decided to call it a day and headed back to the house. Not before we saw Aphrodite's rock. It was quite a mission to find and when we did there is no parking bay near it, so we found a look out point further along. Aphrodite's beach and rock is supposedly where she washed up. It is a very scenic place and I would well imagine Aphrodite stepping naked from the warm blue waters, hair hanging to her knees and people falling at her feet. Apparently you are supposed to swim around the rock three times and if you do you are in for luck in love.
That afternoon we went for a swim in the pool at the house and while drying off I got burnt. I am now sporting a lovely burnt-brown coloured skin and some serious tan lines. Still feeling jetlagged and not at all well, we have dinner out at the Captain's Table before it is time for bed. Tonight I am sleeping on the couch. I told Aunty Dorothy it is because it is too hot up in that room. That is only half the truth but I can't tell her the truth.