A Quiet Place -- Larnaca Edition

 

And finally, it was time to escape all that construction noise.  I had arranged to get to Demetris’ place early and, of course, he was able to oblige.

Once again, I benefited from having a place in walking distance to the next place.  Even with the rough, uneven sidewalks, I managed to lug all my crap to the new/old place and arrived 30 minutes early.  I was just about to message Demetris when the man himself appeared holding up a new Nespresso machine.

He helped me upstairs and set up the new machine while I unpacked.  After showing me a couple of new things about the place, he wished me well and reminded me to let him know if I needed anything.  Somehow, I doubt I’ll contact him. 

This is still one of the coziest, well-equipped places I’ve stayed in during my travels.  From having plenty of cookware in the kitchen (and now a nifty new coffee machine), a clothesline and pins, as well as plenty of water and other liquids in the fridge, the place is still run by a conscientious host who considers his guests’ needs.  And yes, there was a fresh toothbrush and toothpaste waiting for me in the bathroom.  Still love that.

I was happy to be back in the place though I was a little concerned about more construction noise considering the view from the kitchen window.

As well as the street behind the apartment that was completely torn up since my last visit to the city.

But I awoke every morning naturally and not to the sound of shouting and banging.  Ah bliss!

I’ll be spending the last of my 90-day visa in Cyprus in this apartment.  Where I go after that is still up in the air and for good reason.

A word about Santorini: thousands of earthquakes in one week, a volcano waking up, and most of the island evacuated.  I hope those folks are alright.  The island may be a big tourist spot, but people want to forget about all the Greeks that call the place home who are now at risk of losing everything.  I particularly hope that the folks I met at the hotel in Perissa got out safely.

Now there are concerns about Türkiye.  The waters receded off the coast of Istanbul because of all the underground activity around Santorini.  Geologists aren’t sure if it is just a natural reaction to the shifting of tectonic plates or if it might signal a coming tsunami.  It’s just a wait-and-see situation now. 

Sigh. 

Too many places I’ve visited and liked are not doing so well.  Maui still hasn’t recovered from the fires they had in Old Lahaina and then the nightmare repeated in L.A last month.  Now this?  I don’t want to get all biblical, but we already had the plague wipe out millions, wars are still waging around the world, the orange regime is wreaking havoc on the U.S., and the planet itself keeps expressing its disapproval.  Existential dread seems to be the theme for the rest of 2025.

The Road to Larnaca

 

Time to move again.  While the apartment was decent enough, I could not handle that noise any longer.  Since I couldn’t find anything I liked in Limassol, I figured it was time to make my way back to Larnaca.

No issues figuring out the bus system this time.  The nearest stop for the intercity bus was about a ¼ mile away.  But …

Why why why did I see the exact bus I needed pass by me while I was on the way to the bus stop?  Seriously!?  Oh well.  Time to sit and wait.

And wait I did.  I was glad that it was a proper, uncrowded stop with a bench and that, at the very least, it wasn’t raining. 

About a ½ hour later, a cab pulled up in front of me.  The guy looked at me with all my bags and asked “Larnaca?”  I said yes.  “Airport?” Finikoudes Beach, I replied.  “80 euros.”  Hit the bricks, I gestured.

I’d rather wait all day at that bus stop, on a gorgeous Cypriot morning, to spend 4 euros for a ride as opposed to 80.  That extra 76 euros is grocery money – that I would have to spend on food anyway.  No thanks.  I made the mistake of taking multiple overpriced taxis all over the island last year.  I have learned my lesson:  just take the bus.  The green intercity buses may make you wait awhile, but they are worth every penny. 

Instead of driving off, the cabbie just parked there for a while.  I thought he was trying to wear me down for a fare, but I think he just wanted a nap.  He got a good one too.  It was another ½ hour before the bus finally showed up.

An hour later, I was back in Larnaca.  My new home for the week was a short walking distance away, again over uneven sidewalks.  The host, an energetic Brit, met me at the apartment and showed me around.

And it happened again.  I don’t know how Cyprus keeps doing it, but every new place just makes me long for the old place.   The first place I had in Paphos was pretty nice, all things considered.  My biggest issue was the iffy hot water situation.  The second place was colder and had the same water issues along with being noisier.

My first place in Limassol was the dump with the broken toilet seat and the curtainless shower (there were also bugs in the electric kettle that I didn’t mention before).  The second place was decent enough for a studio, but the construction noise was insane.  And now this place … sigh.

Tiny, cold, with a mini-fridge and no microwave.  Not good.

I took my first and only cruise back in December 2019.  I think my cabin’s bathroom was bigger than the one in this apartment.  That’s just wrong.

And the host told me about the construction going on only after I booked (apparently, the listing mentioned it, but I must have missed it).  After the last place, I figured it couldn’t be that bad.  Right?

Just like the last place, the construction is directly behind the apartment.  The drilling and hammering and yelling also begins at 7 am.  And so does my headache.  I’ve booked the place for 9 days.  Brilliant.

I get it.  Winter is the best time to do repairs and upgrades before the busy tourist season.  But must the construction noise follow me from city to city? 

The only consolation I have is that I’ve already booked my next accommodation for my last three weeks in Cyprus.  It’s the same place I stayed in last year that I really liked.  Demetris’ place is also in walking distance of this apartment.  I walked by it multiple times and heard … nothing.  Really looking forward to that.

I’ve mentioned that Cyprus is #3 on the list of places I could live and I stand by that choice.  Having the weather be 65 degrees and sunny most days in the winter is a must.  But upon returning to Larnaca during this time, I don’t think I’d want to live in this city.  It just seems to be more run down than I remember.  Finikoudes Beach is still nice with all the restaurants that front it.  But there are way more dead spaces throughout the city now.  It gives it this hollowed out feeling that just isn’t working for me.

Limassol was a little too much for me, so I think I prefer Paphos.  The harbor alone is enough to recommend that place.