The Arkamas is a national trust area of Cyprus and stretches for miles from St. Georges Bay to Aphrodite’s Baths, very near Latsi/Latchi which hosts a beautiful Marina.  However, beware I would not recommend you attempt driving across the Arkamas in a small vehicle as it is miles and miles of very rough terrain, great fun but you definitely need a larger vehicle, preferably a 4 x 4 or pickup truck.  The views along the way are stunning with lots of different coves at which you can stop and be virtually the only person on the beach.  After driving several miles from St. Georges where you will pass Banana plantations and Orange Groves you will see Lara Bay which is famed for the turtles which come annually, there is also a small restaurant at Lara Bay if you want to stop for some refreshments.

The Arkamas is a National Trust area so picking of plants etc. Is forbidden but you do see some interesting sights along the way, for example look at these pictures of these huge pigs we passed nearby Lara Bay.

 

 

 

Then further along towards the Latchi end we passed lots of goats grazing on the bushes, even saw a Dalmatian goat!

 

St. Georges & the Arkamas, Paphos, Cyprus.

 

St. Georges is a beautiful quaint peaceful and quiet fishing area just outside of Paphos.  There are no shops but you will always find an ice-cream van parked up if in need of cooling down.  If you go to St. Georges early in the morning you will see the local fishermen come back with their catch, otherwise if you go later in the day you can just enjoy the beautiful peaceful cove with the fishing boats moored up.  Or you can relax on the very small beach and dip in the sea and look across the bay to the views of the Arkamas Peninsular.  All cars are suitable for reaching this point as it is easily accessed from the main road from Paphos to Coral Bay.

Have a look at some of the photos below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few days later we visited some friends in the Troodos and I was explaining what had happened and asked them if they knew what the fruit was called – they are known as `prickly pears’ and their Latin name is the Opuntia.  They grow everywhere in Cyprus and the fruits are abundant; you can also buy them in supermarkets.   The fruit is normally ready for harvest during late Summer August/September. Our friend explained and demonstrated the use of a special tool to pick them to avoid getting splintered and advised to make sure you do not pick them on a windy day otherwise splinters/prickles could go in your eyes and cause serious problems.   Then once picked you cannot handle so to peel you stick a fork in one end and then cut away the prickly skin with a knife and scrape into a bin, avoiding touching!   Then you are left with a delicious fleshy juicy fruit, however you do need to eat them more or less straight away as they rapidly lose their nutritional value and can ferment once peeled.

There are also some medical studies which state the prickly pear helps reduce the levels of bad cholesterol and the pectin in the fruit can help reduce diabetic’s insulin requirements.  I would imagine they would also be a good trespasser deterrent if planted strategically by garden walls/fences.

Fried foods should only be cooked in Olive Oil as per the advice of Dieticians and Doctors and recent studies which show that Olive Oil is the most suitable oil for frying because it remains stable due to its anti-oxidization agents even at high temperatures.  Animal fats do not have anti-oxidization agents so they are oxidised very quickly with all the harmful health effects. Seed oils also contain anti-oxidization agents (tocopherols) but due to the high amount of unsaturated acids they contain they quickly oxidise when heated.  Seed oils spoil at a temperature of around 170-180 celsius whereby Extra Virgin Olive Oil can stand temperatures up to 230-250 celsius.



Often we hear that fried foods absorb too much oil and so become fattening however if a frying pan is used correctly, then the crispy coating on the food seals in the juices and does not let the oil into the food.  To obtain this crispness the oil should be brought up to heat almost to burn yet without being overheated and producing smoke.  If the amount of Olive Oil in the pan reduces whilst frying extra should be added but only when there is no food in the pan so that the temperature does not drop.  It has been proved that foods fried in olive oil absorb less than those fried in seed oils.  It can also be used many times for frying similar foods.



Try pancakes, scrambled eggs, fried eggs etc. 

We today went to Paws Dogs Shelter in Acheleia, Paphos and rescued a beautiful red boxer dog to keep our Brindle Boxer company.  We have named her Daisy and she is now happily playing on the balcony with Hummer – see photos:-

 

 

Daisy is very thin at the moment so will need some feeding up but we stopped off at the vets on the way back from the shelter to have her checked over and vaccinated and other than her weight appears to be fit and healthy and looks as though she will be a very loving dog.

It really is worth a visit to the Shelter if you are thinking of getting a dog I couldn’t believe how many lovely looking dogs and puppies were there in which I must say are kept in absolutely brilliant clean conditions – it puts British Dogs Homes to shame which are always so depressing and smelly!  Although it is so sad to think so many helpless dogs have been abandoned at least it is comforting to see them so well looked after while waiting for a new and loving home.     

 

Unfortunately it appears that some British and Cypriot people tend to just abandon their dogs when they no longer suit, i.e. flying back to the UK or after realising that owning a dog involves time, energy and devotion along with the obvious expenses.  Dogs and  puppies,(there was even a puppy Dalmatian at the centre looking for a home) appear to be abandoned on the streets daily. What have any of these animals done to deserve this treatment and disrespect?