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.
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