A short holiday in CYPRUS

I, together with my family had the opportunity to spend three days in Cyprus, the island of Aphrodites. As a Mediterranean island, Cyprus has much in common with our island Malta (but is much bigger!). I found the place very welcoming and familiar, and the people too are very similar to us Maltese. Cyprus has been divided in two since 1974. There is the Southern part of Cyprus which is part of the European Union, and the Turkish Republic of Cyprus in the North. You have to use your passport to cross the border, but even the Turks are tourist friendly and do their best to make them feel at ease.

We stayed in Nikosia (Lefkosia) but managed to visit Kyrenia in the North and the Turkish occupied part of Nikosia. We saw some UN soldiers here and there. We also visited Petra Tou Romiou where legend says that Aphrodite was born. Another beautiful place was Paphos in the South West of the island. Kyrenia, Petra Tou Romiou, Larnaka Beach and Paphos are all beautiful coastal and tourist resorts.

Time gave us the opportunity to cross the Troodos Mountains - including Olympus mountain, where there is the radar station. Life there is different and the views are splendid and magical at the same time. The countryside is made up of small villages, small churches, monasteries, cafes where you can eat Cypriot cake, bridges, herds of goats roaming in the greenery, streams of water, and much more.

This year's April was the Easter season and one may see colourful rabbits, easter eggs and chickens in the roundabouts or in the cities' corners, but also in the mountain villages.

Cars drive on the left side of the road like in Malta, and the traffic signs are in both Greek and English. The native people in general speak good English.



Right: Larnaka beach
Below: Snow on the Troodos peaks

























Right: Troodos Square

Images from the Troodos Mountains

Below: Paphos beech

Right: The Castle of Paphos

Left: Petra Tou Romiou

Right: Kyrenia and the old lighthouse

Left: The Pentadaktylos Mountains from

Kyrenia bay

Right: Kyrenia Castle

Left: Santa Sophia Cathedral/ Selimiye Mosque

Right: Grand Turkish Bath

Left: Part of the Venetian walls in Nicosia.

A Happy Easter to all my friends in Malta and overseas

I must admit that this blog thing has become part of my life. Thanks to internet, e-mail and this blog I managed to create an international network made up mostly of poets and poetry lovers, but not only. Recently I am also uploading some nice photos of the Maltese Islands for my overseas friends to see.

It is Easter 2009 and some of my friends sent me greetings messages and two of my poets friends from Greece send me Easter cards which I am publishing on my blog. Thanks Zacharoula Gaitanaki and thanks Zanneta

Kalyva-Papaioannou!! I want to reciprocate by wishing ALL of my friends from different countries, including Malta, a HAPPY EASTER. I don't want to forget though those less fortunate who aren't living a life so comfortable, including our Italian neighbours from Abruzzo (L'Aquila) who have suffered a strong earthquake.

Beautiful corners from Gozo

An island for all seasons. Nature and culture. Sea and countryside. Religion and free time.

A paradise for architecture lovers.

For the tourist who is in search of a relaxing

and busy holiday, Gozo in spring is ideal. There are

no huge crowds and no noisy partygoers. The

climate is mild and sunny. It is ideal for those who want

to hike in the countryside or along the coast.

Ideal for those who want to walk in the small

towns, all having something in particular and to

remember.

For those who are in search of night life, I suggest to

wait for the summer season.

More photos from the islands of Malta and Gozo

The coast is a spectacular view especially on windy days. The countryside is full of wayside (many of them Medieval)chapels.

Popeye village is a favourite place to visit amongst many tourists. There is also a small fun park for the children and a restaurant, with bar.

Other architectural gems which are found in both Malta and Gozo are the grain wind mills.

Poetry from Greece - Zanneta Kalyva-Papaioannou

I also received a new book from another Greek poet, Zanneta Kalyva-Papaioannou, from Helioupolis. The books name is A life's notes, with translations in English by Zacharoula Gaitanaki.

A life's notes has 10 poems in English. They all treat the theme of love from the female point of view. Zanneta expresses her sensitivity both as a lover and as a mother. In her poetry she addresses always the "you" who can be a lover and a child. Her language is simple but beautiful, honest and clear as nature and Spring. Hers is an example of positive poetry, treating positive sentiments. Many poems are linked to particular spaces such as Paros' Island, Varkiza and Dilophos.

Poems by Zanneta:

SPRING

Now, that you arrived Spring

and nature is flourishing,

now, that you arrived Spring

and the flower blooms,

love started again

to rouse us.

Bees fly

from flower to flower,

gather the scent

and treat us honey.

The scent of flowers

make us wake up,

love caught us

and we are all... in love!!!

TOGETHER on the MOUNTAIN

Together on the mountain

we met one day,

we were wandering,

picking the best wild flowers.

We were playing with a daisy

"you love me?" "you don't love me"

but I'll always remember

when you started kissing me.

You were telling me tender, beautiful

and teasing words.

I passed my time joyfully

and I felt loving you much more.

More poems from Eftichia Kapardeli (Greece)

Some weeks ago I received more post from Greek poet Eftichia Kapardeli. I feel very near people like Eftichia, Zacharoula Gaitanaki, Zanneta Kalyva-Papaioannou, Stathis Grivas, Nickos Batsikanis and other Greek poets, perhaps because we are people from the Mediterranean or because both countries (Greece and Malta) have an important historical background, or because there is a kind of familiarity between all of us, even though we never met personally, for the time being.

Above right: St. Andrious Cathedral (the New and the Old), Patras

Below right: Kalogria - Gianniskari

The following are some other poems of Eftichia translated from Greek to English:

CHILDREN'S EYES

The houses of the city tightened

the snow in the roofs stretched out

two lights in the end of the street

two children's eyes

they read the shades

of the persons who were passing

the smell of bread unfolds in air

Thousands of stretched out hands

Thousands of children's eyes asking it.

(Dedicated to the children who have no food)

A POEM

Snow... the last

white flakes

fall on the earth

Castaways resemble

in deserted beach

and the sea white blood

Photos from Chadwick Lakes and nearby (Malta)

Above right: The Medieval city of Mdina

Fortunately we had plenty of rainy days this winter. Chadwick Lakes are special during such wet winters as they make Malta resemble more European countryside rather than North African dry wastelands. Usually tourists say that Malta is yellow and made of stone, no trees. However, wet winters and springs prove the opposite.

The Maltese Islands countryside is also full of wayside chapels. For those interested visit:

www.kappellimaltin.com (in Maltese);

http://www.malta-canada.com/churches-chapels/index-Chap.htm (in English)