This is a view of Souskiou you may not have seen before. Normally, you would drive up the Diarizos Valley on the left. From that angle, it is easy to miss this village, especially in the summer months. It blends in very well with the surrounding hills, and from a distance just looks like a ramshackle farm. Be careful though, before you cross the valley in your car if you are planning a visit. The river that runs through the valley can be more treacherous than you think, and while a farm vehicle will have no problem navigating the potholes and boulders, your car may not be so lucky.

So, for the sake of this blog, we approached by a different, easier route. There is a map at the end which will show you the way. Our route also had the advantage of providing some stunning views to whet our appetites for exploration.

Even from a distance, a big white building dominates the village. That is Souskiou Mosque. We find that in the vast majority of the abandoned villages we visit, the mosque has been preserved while the rest of the village crumbles with age.

There is evidence of some cultivation as we approach the village. That's an olive grove in the foreground, looking only mildly dishevelled.

What soon becomes apparent, as we enter the village, is the variety of building styles. Some consist partially of mud, whereas others are more traditional rocks. Note too, the remains of an old cobbled road, similar to what you will see on the approach to Foinikas and other villages. This road continues up the valley.

Was this an old well? As you will soon see, Souskiou is not short of water features.