A tourists day out

Not that much to write about, apart from the appalling weather we've had over here in the last seven days. Exactly a week ago today the heavens opened up and it pissed down and every time it did the roads were like rivers. There has been more rain in North Cyprus in the last seven days than in the whole of the last three years! last Tuesday we even had a mini tornado which trashed anything that wasn't secured down and a few things that were! On top of that, every evening we had a firework display in the form of thunder and lightening. I did think of taking a few photos but it rained torrentially each time that me and my camera was at a risk of drowning!

Last Friday morning I awoke to a brilliant warm sunny day and as the forecast said the rain would stay away till the early evening, I loaded the van with my camera gear and off I went. I was previously told about a road that goes along the top of the mountain range for about fifteen miles, so that's where I headed. As I hope you will see, all the views were breathtakingly stupendous. And as a bonus I managed to take a few photos of what I believe was a Eurasion Kestrel according to Google (Thank heavens for my super-dooper telephoto lens) Also I came across by the side of the road what looked like a pair of tank drive tracks, minus the tank. As you will see, whoever the bods were in the tank at the time had a very lucky escape! My intended destination was St Hilarion Castle which over-looks Kyrenia. The castle was a fitting end to my tourists day out.

My van sitting on a bend while I took a leak. Talking of which I had my garden fork with me and saw some interesting looking plants that looked a bit like leeks just poking their heads out of the ground, so I dug a few up for my garden (Never thought to take a pic) I will take some pics when they've established themselves. I only hope they are not Triffids!

Right in the centre of this picture is my rented traditional Cypriot villa nestled amongst all the crappy new builds. Taken from about 400 metres above sea level and from about three miles away.

A view looking due North towards Turkey. Now and again one can clearly see Turkey, depending on the temperature and no heat haze, which on this day there was.

The broken tank tracks....

....and the tank that lost them. There was a large board explaining what exactly happened but as it was in turkish, me no understood, apart from the year it happened, which was 1979.

A stunning view with Kyrenia to the left in the back ground.

This view is looking over the South side of the mountain range. The motor way (As they call it here) is no more than a dual carriage way and is the main route to Nicosia from Kyrenia.

Yet another stunning view looking towards the South West.

St Hilarion Castle from the entrance point.

This is looking from the lower garden and is the back of the castle.

The main entrance to the lower part of the castle. Originally there was a draw bridge here.

A view looking from the soldiers quarters.

Looking down on the soldiers quarters. By now I was breathing very heavily and sweating like a pig!

Nearly at the top now, phew! Kyrenia's new harbour can be seen at the top of the picture.

Alomost the hightest point of the castle and looking at the back of the royal apartments.

The Prince John Tower (From where the guards were thrown to their deaths!

The Eurasion Kestrel. In it's claw is it's dinner. The thing that looks like a piece of string is just some dry grass captured along with the prey.

It's giving me the 'eye.'

A bit of historical information about St Hilarion castle

St Hilarion castle's construction started in the 7th centuary, initially being just a lookout tower to warn against Arab attacks. St Hilarion Castle is thought by many to have been named after St Hilarion the Great, who founded monasticism in Palestine but this castle is actually named after a later saint. The saint is thought to have sought refuge in Cyprus after Arab raids and attacks on the Holy Land and his relics were kept and preserved in St Hilarion Castle. Although not much is known about this saint, he is said to have been a hermit and a monk. He came to live and die in the castle after fleeing persecution from the Arabs in Palestine in the seventh century.

St Hilarion Castle boasts a rich and varied history, and was first mentioned in 1191 documentation of Richard Lionheart’s campaign. In the early years of the Lusignan Kingdom it is thought that the castle may have been strengthened, and in 1228 was prepared for defense following demands for regency of Cyprus by Emperor Frederick II.

St Hilarion Castle was originally a monastery, and now comprises three wards. In the lower ward were the quarters for the men of arms as well as the stables. The middle ward is home to the church. The upper ward was for use by only royalty. In the fifteenth century parts of the castle were dismantled to enable the Venetians to reduce costs.