Fikardou. If you don’t speak Greek, don’t even try to pronounce it.

Though the trip to Cyprus was due to such a mournful loss for our family, we did take some time out of our very busy few days to visit a fascinating and beautiful place. There is a village that is said to be the oldest historically intact in Cyprus, less than an hour south of the divided Capital city of Lefkosia (Nicosia). Its name is Fikardou and it is deserted by all but 4 permanent inhabitants. Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage (Fikardou) list of sites of cultural and historical significance, it received the Europa Nostra prize in 1987 , for conservation and adaptation efforts undertaken there.

After stuffing ourselves at the tiny little village tavern with village sausage, grilled haloumi cheese, wild greens with eggs, fried chicken livers, pastitsio, lamb chops, salads, etc., etc., etc – and after a few jesting (but loving) comments that only close friends and family can make about my cameras being appendages on my body, I excused myself from the table to use what precious little time we had to go outside and photograph the surroundings. I had great company in my little nephew Marcos, who barely left my side during the entire trip.

I hope you enjoy these, there will be more to follow:

Advertisement