After a great day of seeing some historical sites and more of Limassol, we headed east to Larnaca, where we were able to see some very important religious sites. We first went to Hala Sultan Tekke, a mosque that is said to have the tomb of Umm Haram, a woman believed to be close with the Prophet Muhammad. The mosque itself was just a normal religious space for people to come and pray, but the real reason it is considered one of the most important spots of the Muslim world is the tomb itself. It is amazing to see how beautiful the surroundings of the tomb were also. It shows how meaningful this site is to many people of the world. It is  also next to a very big salt lake which makes the mosque stand out, but show the amazing location.

Then we went into the center of Larnaca, where we got to go into St. Lazarus Church. The church has been around for around 1000 years and was amazing to get to see in person. Another reason of why it’s very important is that St. Lazarus, who is buried here, was said to be resurrected by Jesus. We were able to go see his tomb up close and while being a very small room for someone who is 6 ft tall, it was a very cool experience to see an important figure in Christianity. I also had the ability to ask the tour guide about everything in the Church and when it was made. She said that everything except for the actual structure of the church and the tomb were made in around the 18th century. I found this fascinating due to everything in the church being solid gold or very nice Greek Orthodox paintings of “Icons” of Christianity. It was a highlight of my trip so far. 

After the church, we were able to have some free time on the beach. It was very exciting to get to go and relax under the sun. I was able to go in the water, and it was very warm compared to home. The sand was also very different having a harder wetter texture to it than the beaches in America. My favorite part was swimming in the bright blue water. I had a great time at the beach! I can’t wait for what’s next in Cyprus!!!