Exploring Paphos In The Rain - Part 2
In the second half of my recent excursion into the wet Paphos countryside, I go valley hopping through Xeros and Ezousa, become re-acquainted with an abandoned village, and end up scrabbling through mud at a waterfall I hadn't seen before, tucked away behind the church in Choulou.
Xeros Valley
We finished the first half of this article in Saramiou. From there we drove towards Paphos, turning right at the sign pointing to Sinti Monastery. This road takes us into Xeros Valley.
Distant Sinti Monastery
That's Sinti Monastery, there. Last year there was a fire in the area. It is nice to see that the landscape around it is obviously recovering. The monastery is a lovely place to visit, but I won't be going here today, for reasons which will soon become clear.
No Road
When the road gets to the Xeros River there is no bridge. Well there is, but it isn't very functional. The Venetians would look at this and laugh. There is a sign here warning people not to cross when the water is too high. So I decided to get out and check it for myself.
Not Too Bad
The water is flowing fairly rapidly, but it's not too deep. So I shall give it a go. What I can't do though, is take the road to Sinti Monastery. That is a stone track, that runs behind where I am standing. Its course is now submerged by the water, and while I don't have an issue crossing the ford, there's no way I am going to try and drive across a river bed.
Nothing To It
If you are unsure when you get to a situation like this, it is always best to check first. It is better to retrace your steps than get stuck in the middle of nowhere.
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MapExploring Paphos In The Rain - Part 2
In the second half of my recent excursion into the wet Paphos countryside, I go valley hopping through Xeros and Ezousa, become re-acquainted with an abandoned village, and end up scrabbling through mud at a waterfall I hadn't seen before, tucked away behind the church in Choulou.
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eBookCyprus Road Trip 01: the Kathikas - Panagia Loop
Let me take you on a journey around the region of Paphos, Cyprus. Starting at Paphos itself, we travel to Akoursos, then Kathikas, Kritou Terra and Simou. We continue past Lasa and Kannaviou, before taking in the delights of Panagia. Getting a bit more adventurous, we visit the abandoned villages of Statos and Agios Fotios, before passing through Choulou, Letymbou and Polemi, and rejoining the main Paphos - Polis road.
The route is suitable for all types of vehicle, and requires no off-roading. The guide contains about 130 photographs including shots of all the road signs you need to pay attention to, as well as some of the highlights you may experience along the way.
There are also several maps which will help you keep your bearings.
You can do this journey in a day, or you can break it up into chunks. You can also do it in reverse, to get some completely different views. It is entirely up to you.
