After a long few days of traveling, we finally flew into Larnaca. The ocean was clean and clear enough that we could see the ocean floor from the airplane window. With such a large shipping industry centered around Cyprus, it was surprising to see such clean water and minimal pollutants. After we got off the plane, we drove to our hotel in Limassol, and there were plenty of windmills that lined the highway in the mountains. Some quick research showed that Cyprus was trying to transition more towards renewable energies. 

That evening after we settled into our hotel, we explored the marina in Limassol and found a local cafe to have dinner. Walking through the town in the evening, there was a clear sense of community. Each building had its own character to it and you could sense the diverse history of the country. Much of the buildings had square and stacked architecture no taller than a few stories, the predominant building design in the 1960s. In the midst of these were historical sites varying from Byzantine churches to Roman mosques along with other Ottoman influence. While the city and squares were crowded and the streets and sidewalks narrow, nothing felt overshadowed, blocked, or stressful. Each part of the marina had its own piece of history even though it all seemed connected and each piece added to the character and culture of Cyprus and Limassol.

In preparing for our trip to Cyprus, we were informed about the large populations of stray cats that roamed the streets. At first, I think a lot of us including myself underestimated the cats’ presence. Soon after spending an evening in the marina, we quickly learned there were cats everywhere. They would greet us at the table, walk in the covered section of the restaurants, and walk the streets alongside people. Cypriots wouldn’t look twice if they crossed their feet at the dinner table. It was very cool to see how normal and integral the cats were to the Cyprian culture and experience. After the first real day, the excitement set in to know we had a whole two weeks ahead of us.