Today in Cyprus was a day kind of different from any of the others we have had here. We left the city of Nicosia to bus into the mountains, ending up in the Troodos mountain range in the hilly town of Kakopetria, where the people are known for their olive oil and wine production. The area had many plants and trees, especially many with citrus, another thing the town famously produces and is known for. The town was very small, with narrow streets and a select amount of houses and shops. During our free time in the town, myself and a few others found a trail that led into the mountains. We ended up almost 3000 feet above sea level, overlooking the scenic greenery, mountains, red-roofed historic houses, the Mediterranean, and even a castle-style mansion that we observed. This was a gorgeous hike that I got many very nice pictures from, and was one of the most enjoyable things I have done on the trip overall.

Beforehand, we had pulled up to see the stunning Saint Nicholas of the Roof church, named because of the protective dome it later got, just outside of the mountains. The church was very small and secluded, but it was very peaceful surrounded by all the trees and the mountains in the distance. The church had really detailed paintings of many religious figures inside, and it had sort of a Basilica look to it which I thought was especially interesting. We learned that the artwork was from the eleventh century, and I was shocked to see that it held up so well to this day. It was very interesting to see this historical religious center, which was a part of one of the most natural and scenic days I have had here in Cyprus to date.