It’s day 2 in Cyprus and I woke up this morning and got ready for the day and everything that we had planned today. I got breakfast and waited for the bus in the lobby of the hotel. In the lobby, someone was playing the piano. I asked him what the song was and he told me that he was playing a Lebanese and French song. It sounded absolutely beautiful. Next, we all got onto the bus and drove for about an hour to Larnaca to see Hala Sultan Tekke mosque and the Church of Saint Lazarus. And to end the day, we went to the beach.
On the ride to the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque, we learned more about the history of Cyprus from our tour guide. As we already had been told that Cyprus has been inhabited by humans for about 12,000 years, she went into detail about the Neolithic period where humans during the stone age did not know how to make 90 degree angles and created their homes and structures in circular shapes. She also told us about the salt lakes and how they used to be flocked with flamingos but due to climate change, they did not see any flamingos migrate down this year. It was unfortunate that we could not see the flamingos. We made it to the mosque and went inside. It was beautiful and serene inside! Our tour guide told us that the greenery was placed there to resemble the gardens of paradise that Islam has promised Muslims after they pass. It truly was peaceful. Next, we saw the prayer area and the tombs of Umm Haram, who was the maternal aunt of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Hatice Adile Huseyin Ali, who was the queen of Jordan. Overall it was so beautiful and peaceful in the area and was amazing to see.
Next, we went to the Church of Saint Lazarus. The outside walls of the church had tombstones that were placed there to be kept instead of destroyed. It was beautiful inside of the church. The church was made of stone and was made sturdily. All of the wood inside of the church was intricately carved and then polished with gold dust and looked so artistic. We were told about the history of the church and went down to see the sarcophagus where it was said that the Saint was buried. It was definitely something that I did not expect to see but it was amazing.
Lastly, we went to the beach! It was a beautiful day out and the sky was clear. The ocean was cold at first but got warmer as we continued to swim. We chased a few small fish and went swimming. The water was extremely clear and clam. After swimming, I made a sand cake and collected shells along the shore. It was so much fun to unwind and relax. To end off the day, we got dinner and dessert and watched a live music performance. The vibes were amazing, the weather was warm, and it was the perfect way to end my second day in Cyprus.
