Riding in Cyprus – Pafos and its Castle…

When I reached the spot where I had parked the Big Fella, I found him deep in conversation with this beguiling creature…

The hussy that had the Big Fella captivated...!!

“Pardon the interruption, but have you seen Romos and his White Knight..?” I asked…

All I got in reply was a throaty hum from the Big Fella and a loud purr from “THE Baby”…

“Enjoy the moment my friend, because by this time next week, all you will be consorting with is donkeys and camels…!!” I said, walking off in the direction of the Pafos Castle…

Pafos Castle stands on the peninsula overlooking the yacht basin and harbour area...

The interior of the ground floor with its vaulted ceilings...

The Castle dominates the waterfront, and was built during the same period as the one in Larnaca and Limassol…

Prior to the Ottoman occupation, the Venetians destroyed the castle, but it was rebuilt in 1572, and formed part of the Ottoman’s coastal defensive system of Cyprus, which was a chain of forts along its southern coastline…

It is surrounded on three sides by the sea, and access to it is via a stone walkway…

It is quite small as castles go, and has a few large rooms on its ground floor, all of them with the high vaulted ceilings identical to those in Kolossi Castle…

After the British forces took over 1n 1878, the fort was used as both a storage area for salt, and a jail for long term prisoners…

From up on the battlements, I could look out over the harbour, and the throngs of tourists which had begun arriving down on the waterfront…

My grumbling stomach reminded me that it was lunchtime, and the sight of the restaurants below me beginning to fill up, and the smells wafting up to me on the wind, had my saliva glands working overtime…

Romos arrives and naturally parks where motos are not allowed...!!

Down in the parking below, I saw Romos hopping off his bike and waved to attract his attention… His timing was perfect…!! I had seen what I needed to, and was ready to take a break from my morning excursions…

The Gypsy Biker celebrates the storming of the castle...!!

View out over the harbour from up on the battlements... Tourists were beginning to arrive in their numbers...!!

I thought this place would be perfect for a meal and a coffee, but Romos had other ideas...!!

"Anyone see what happened to the Pretend Glass Bottom Boat...??"

A fine example of what is commonly known as "taking the piss"...!!

But Romos clearly wasn’t thinking about food when we regrouped back where I’d left the bike…

“I want you to meet a friend of mine who has a shop just around the corner… We can go there for coffee…!!”

So off we went, winding through narrow streets, dodging pedestrians, and passing 87 restaurants, all screaming my name…!!

"Stop mucking about with that camera...!! We have places to go and things to see...!!"

We parked next to a modern looking clothes outlet, and there I met Antonis Agas, an exuberant young man who was very keen to hear about my travels… He dashed across the road and came back with an ice cold Frappe for me, and a glass of water for Romos…

Just before we left, Agas asked me to sign a framed item of BMW memorabilia, (which shared pride of place with some of his other collectables), which I gladly did, wishing him the best of luck with his business and thanking him for the interesting half hour we had spent together…

Meeting new friends... Antonis Agas, proprietor of the Lee Clothing shop in Pafos...

My guide was itching to get back on the road, and after refueling the Big Fella on the edge of town, we headed for the mountains, and an afternoon that I will not be forgetting in a hurry…!!

Then we were back on the road and heading for the mountains...!!

©GBWT 2010