We kept in touch over the years. He built up the mattress factory started by his father and is now one of the most successful industrialists in Cyprus. His company also makes mattress making machinery which Costas designs. He visited us on trips to England when we were there, and we visited Cyprus in 1985 and 2000.
We stayed at Protaras in a very comfortable hotel, relaxing by day and socialising with Costas, his wife Katia and their two grown up sons, wives and families.
One day we made an excursion to the north of Cyprus. This was invaded by Turkey in 1974. There was fighting with Greek Cypriots resisting the invasion but Turkey has controlled the north since then. All Greek Cypriots fled and until recently the border was closed and the only access from Turkey.
Famagusta is an ancient town with significant Venetian buildings.
The cathedral has been converted into a mosque – a common feature throughout the north where all crosses have been removed from churches and other buildings.
Further north are the ruins of Salamis (not to be confused with the place in Greece where there was a famous battle with Persia in 480BC).
There were many lizards. This one was about 30 cms long.
The castle of St. Hilarion is on the north coast. He was an early Christian from Palestine who led the life of a hermit and fled to Cyprus to escape the attention his fame was bringing him. He established his hermitage at the top of an impressive rocky mountain and over the centuries it was developed as a defensive stronghold by Byzantines and Venetians.
At the top there is a lookout platform
but Costas found a higher rock to perch on.
There are numerous viewpoints looking down to the coastal city of Kyrenia.
