Today, we had an amazing day of sightseeing and beach going. We started our morning in Larnaca (about one hour from Limassol) at Hala Sultan Tekke, the most meaningful mosque in Cyprus. We learned from our tour guide that its importance comes from it being home to the tomb of a woman who was connected to the Prophet Muhammad. The interior of the mosque was quite normal. Hala Sultan Tekke’s significance stemmed from the tomb rather than the grandeur of the mosque itself. The courtyard around the mosque was beautiful. There were flowers, greenery, and of course, cats (they are everywhere in Cyprus). The site was in close proximity to the Salt Lake. This time of year, it looks like an average lake. But, in the summer, the water evaporates and only the salt is left behind.
Our next stop was the St. Lazarus Church, which is also in Larnaca. The church is located in the city center, surrounded by independent souvenir shops and restaurants. You can see the exterior in the featured image I have attached. The interior was stunning. Images of Jesus Christ and his apostles were framed in 18th-century engraved wooden frames, which were painted in gold. I found our tour guide’s discussion of the role of men and women in that church to be particularly interesting. Although women were once only able to sit in the balcony of the church, they were eventually accepted as full members. They moved down from the balcony and could sit with their male counterparts. At the church, we were able to see the tomb of St. Lazarus, who was thought to be a friend of Jesus. I found this portion of the tour to be a meaningful parallel between the mosque and the church. Even with different beliefs and traditions, the two religions both have the values of honoring the dead and believing in an afterlife.
The final stop of our day was the Larnaca Beach. It was wonderful! The water was relatively warm compared to the beaches in the U.S. It was also quite clear and free of large fish and crabs. The weather was perfect — bright blue skies and a slight breeze. The group had an incredible time swimming in the sea as well as exploring the local restaurants that sat on the road right next to the beach. We ate traditional Greek food, including kebabs and pita. My favorite part of our beach trip was collecting the beautiful seashells that were near the water.