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.