Today we ventured into the Troodos Mountains. The town of Kakopetria is spread amongst the large mountains with greenery in all directions. Everywhere you looked, you can see flowers, plants, trees, and more along with the stone and mud brick buildings that hold so much history. Stone houses with red-tiled roofs huddle together, their upper floors decorated with cool, wooden balconies overflowing with vibrant colorful flowers. The roads themselves made of stone and slightly worn down made steps. The sides of the roads are wide enough for cars to pass comfortably and they had mini canals that bring clear, fresh water from the mountains down to be used in their farming and irrigation. The air was crisp and fresh and there was vegetation throughout. Rose bushes, lemon trees, and beautiful vines. The entire area is also filled with friendly cats that blend in well with their environment not creating any noise. Nothing could be heard except for the wind blowing, the water rushing and the birds chirping.

We also visited the Church of St. Nicholas of the Roofs. The church was well hidden in the Troodos Mountains and was not visible until we got close to the actual location of the church. It was made during the Byzantine Period. Inside the church the paintings still had their vibrant colors and there was so much detail in each. From shadowing and the lines, it truly was a sight to see. The garments that they wore were from that time period as well so we got a better understanding of how they lived and what they wore. The reason why the color and detail is still there is because the artists used fresco which is a method of painting in small sections over plaster so that the color seeps into the plaster and becomes a part of it. Inside of the church, there were many paintings and in the center was a painting of Jesus surrounded by angels and prophets. There were holes in the corner of the walls that contained jars that would absorb the echos in the church, which was fascinating. There were also paintings from two centuries, both the 11th and the 14th. Now, the church has a dome, but it would be damaged by its surroundings, so they created a roof to protect it, hence giving the church its name.