Xeros Valley Scenery
Lone Tree
I'm not sure where Alex was when she took this picture, but I like shots of lone trees on the horizon.
From Vretsia I wanted to drive through Paphos Forest down to Roudia Bridge. There are numerous ways you can do this. The most direct route is a lot of fun but not for the faint-hearted. You go drive straight down the fire break and keep going until you come to the Xeros River. Then you turn left. However, I was unsure whether that route was doable at the moment, so we are going to take the more traditional route and drive along the main forest track.
See The Film
Before we do that though, here's a short film we recorded with the drone.
Forest Views
There are many viewpoints between Vretsia and Roudia Bridge, so I decided to relaunch the drone. I think this view is looking towards a new farm that was built in the forest, for Kykkos Monastery. I was annoyed when they built the farm, as it meant that a shortcut I used to use was no longer accessible. Such is life!
Lots Of Forest
This view looks directly into the heart of Paphos Forest. It consists of several hundred kilometres of trees, and is a magnificant place to explore. Be forewarned though, that the tarmac roads that make their way through the hills are incredibly winding, and it can take a long time to get from A to B.
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Related Blogs:
Abandoned Villages - Vretsia
Cyprus has more than it's fair share of abandoned villages. The troubles caused the displacement of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.The environment itself has caused other villages to be abandoned for reasons of safety. Whatever the reason, the abandonment caused emotional pain and suffering to the affected people. So is it right to right a series of blog articles on them? I thought about this for a while, but decided that yes it was. Cyprus is a land built on antiquities, and these villages are just the latest example. I had no problem blogging about a Necropolis after all. However, some of these villages, and especially Ventris, do still get visits from the displaced families. So if you do decide to visit these places on the strength of these articles, please bear that in mind, and treat them with respect. The urban exploring motto "take only pictures, leave only footprints..." nicely sums it up.
Vretsia Tavern
We recently did a blog on the abandoned village Vretsia. Until recently, a tavern still operated there. Unfortunately, last summer it appears to have burnt down. It is now a very eerie place to visit...Related Pages
MapXeros Valley Scenery
The Xeros Valley is full of interesting places to explore. From Foinikas at the Asprokremmos Reservoir up to Vretsia and Roudia Bridge at the top end where it meets Paphos Forest. We recently took our drone for a spin to get some birds-eye views of the upper reaches of the valley. We think you will agree that it is a beautiful part of Cyprus.
Good Pages To Visit
FB PagePaphos Life on Facebook
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FB PageOur Facebook Chat Group
Paphos Chat has been created for people who like our site and want to chat using Facebook. You can also easily upload photos of any size here. A lot of people are members of the Facebook chat group and the main forum. It's entirely up to you.
ListBlog Locations
Planning a day out? Then use our map of blog locations as a handy guide. Some of the places we visit our closer to each other than you might think, so take a look and start planning your next adventure...
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.
