Blogging Cyprus Part II...Tine

Day 2 in Cyprus: I was hoping to sleep in this morning and retired to bed without setting my mental and physical alarm clock – I was up at 5:45am. I said to myself “self, this is ridiculous go on back to bed you are on holiday!” (Well a working holiday… but self chooses not to acknowledge this). Self obliged. However, at 6:30 a.m., I was up again. It’s odd because I usually have little trouble sleeping in when the opportunity arises, and it is not for a want of being tired – my mind is exhausted and my body desperately needs the rest but I guess it’s just the excitement and unfamiliarity of a new environment. I went down for breakfast at about 8:30a.m., and then left the hotel on an investigative excursion round about noon. The hotel I am staying at is just a stone throw away from the beach and my first thought was when do the Cypriots work? I realized soon after of course that it is all the international tourists flooding up the beaches and crowding up the plentiful restaurants and bistros. I took a walk to the dock where a notable sight of interest is a glass bottom boat that doubles as a restaurant and café. I met a few interesting people - it is amazing everyone is so C.H.I.L.L.E.D in Larnaca and it is hard to believe that this is ordinary life for some. Of course this realization sent me into deliberation mode, and I debated with myself about whether I would prefer life in a touristy, beachy town as opposed to a normal town (“normal” being relative of course - Lusaka, Cape Town, London, Amman are all “normal” in some respects to me). My conclusion? No, because if this was my permanent abode, I wouldn’t have it as a therapeutic getaway. Satisfied with this insightful answer, I found a lunch spot and headed back to the hotel - allegedly to work on my paper which I am presenting on Thursday (ahem). A couple of hours ago I ventured out into the mellow evening for a brief walk. The rest of the crew arrive here tomorrow afternoon. After I check out of the hotel at noon I will head to the apartment and wait for them there. So far, this trip has really been one of the highlights of my year. I think sometimes God gives you just what you need exactly when you need it. I didn’t realize how much I needed to get away and sort through a few things in my head and these 2 days have greatly aided that process. The adventure continues…