Troodos Road Race

Demetris participated in his first race today and what a race it was!  He is a pretty avid runner so when we saw a flyer for a 15K run in the Troodos Mountains it sounded like something he would enjoy doing. On the website there was a small course map and it mentioned that the first three kilometers would be uphill. We drove to the starting point the day before to allow Demetris to practice that incline. He came back saying it was tough but he would be able to manage at a slower pace. The next morning prior to the race the organizers described the race to the runners. After the initial steep incline, the remainder was to take place on a fairly rough trail. Surprise. Even better, there would be two uphills so steep that they recommended only walking those points. Basically they would run to the top of the mountain and back down. The downhill was no cake walk either. It followed the ski slope trail and the runners had to zig zag down to stay in control. Demetris managed to not only finish but to maintain almost the same average pace he usually runs. He took a few tumbles (okay four) and banged up his knee pretty well, but hung in there. I think that's great. While he was running, the kids also ran in their first race. It was 800 meters and all the kids got a t-shirt and a medal for participating. Sofia was a little mad that it was a "boy medal", only picturing boys.  We were dead last (I went with them) but Sofia decided she was too shy to do her best running and Alex kept stopping to wait for us. Plus, they were the youngest in the small group. The race I wanted to do started at the same time as the others so my turn is next!

Nice and clean before the race

We can race, too.

Proudly showing their medals

The final turn.  Slow down so I can take a picture, please.

Dirty and bloody crossing the finish line

OUCH!  Medical attention for the bloody knee.  He wasn't the only one.

Hot in the City

The temperature in Nicosia has been up around 100 degrees this week. In fact, a few days ago the high was reported to be 106. The sun is intense but the humidity remains fairly low so for me it is tolerable.  Along the coast the temperature is a bit lower.  Luckily, we have the pool and the beach to cool us off.  We spent the weekend at beaches in the Protaras area. Saturday we met up with Diana and family and Sunday we joined Themis and family. Demetris and I were able to get in some snorkeling which we both enjoy. We wish we could stay all day, but our main goal is to not get fried. Alex is like his dad and getting pretty brown. Sofia is our little toasted marshmallow.  She's pretty white to start with but beginning to get a bit brown.  Happy Father's Day Demetris!

She's a booger

Alex and Nayia

Burying Demetris

Electra and Nayia take a turn getting buried

The Wave

Last night was Tatiana's end of the school year celebration. All of the kids in her grade put on a show with the Mediterranean Sea as the theme. Tatiana was in a group of "waves". There were also fish, sailors, etc. It was a very nice program, at least what I saw of it. We got there a bit early to get a seat and then the principal spoke for thirty minutes before the program started. Our kids were really excited for the first half hour of the show, but after that they decided they had been sitting long enough. I took them outside to run around which was okay by me because it was plenty warm inside. We capped off the night by going out for pizza.

Festival of the Flood

The Festival of the Flood is a public holiday in Cyprus commemorating the great flood of Noah's Ark fame. The holiday was on Monday and since it was a long weekend, the entire family went to the village. When we arrived we discovered some swallows made a nest under the balcony in the courtyard area and we soon saw four baby birds peeking over the nest. It was fun to watch the feeding times, but it could be a little unnerving as the adult birds circled the area first and then swooped in pretty low right over us.  Demetris spent many hours over the weekend helping his Uncle Harris develop a field for grape vines. They began by putting four rows of poles in the ground and then connecting each pole with four wires across the top and one wire on the base of the pole. They planted two rows of grape vines for now and the plants will eventually creep up the poles.  Some of my old teacher skills kicked in before the trip and I brought some activities for the kids to do while Demetris was away. They had a good time with our homemade play dough and making pictures.  There was a very crowded street fair in Pafos that we went to one night. While there, our niece Tatiana won a turtle in a game. Now that is a funny prize!  Her mother, Diana, is less than thrilled.  On Monday we stopped at a resort area called Aphrodite Hills that is on the way back to Nicosia. They were having some activities for kids for the holiday that were open to the public.  Plus, it gave me a chance to see what the area looked like. What a beautiful place!  It isn't located directly on the sea but sits up high with views of the sea on one side and mountains on the other.  Instead of trying to entertain the kids at a restaurant, we stopped at the store for some lunch items and ate on the terrace. Besides the festival activities, they have an awesome playground with really nice beach sand on the ground. We hated to leave but I'm sure we will be back.

Busy making pictures

Our baby swallows

The play dough was a big hit.

The grape vine field

On the terrace at Aphrodite Hills

Traditional dancer doing the "dance of many glasses".

My little kitty cat

Basketball boy

Sofia loved the trampoline

The view at Aphrodite Hills

Alex did the zip line countless times