On The Island

I watched the England game in the evening…nothing to be said, they are out of the World Cup!!

Following that, Amanda invited us to drinks and food in the evening, so football finished and I went to her house. It was a lovely evening and just what I needed, a few glasses of punch and a few glasses of wine, excellent food and being waited on. The perfect hosts and a great evening, thank you Amanda, Omar and not forgetting Richard who was also looking after us so well. It was after midnight when I arrived home.

[slideshow]

I had arranged to go on a trip to Troodos with the Foreign Residents Assocaition. I have to say I didn’t feel like going when the morning dawned as I was worried about whether I would ever get back to Lou and Rhys’s wedding. Really good if the mum of the groom didn’t make an appearance! However I went and we had a lovely day and quite honestly it took my mind off travel plans. I didn’t know we were going to a monastery and so when we arrived at Kykkos Monastery, Patti and I and several others were handed glamorous purple gowns to wear (to cover up). Troodos was as beautiful as ever. Kykkos I have visited many times before but is always worth another visit. The day reinforced the prices increase in the South…3 euros for a small cup of hot water and a tube of Nescafe to put in it!!  It was a good day.

[slideshow]

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it is better not to say how I personally feel at this moment in time about the announcement below!!!

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/europe/cyprus

On 25 June Cyprus Turkish Airlines (CTA) and Cyprus Turkish Holidays Ltd ceased operations and a planned partnership between Cyprus Turkish Airlines (CTA) and Atlas Jet will now not proceed. Passengers affected are advised to seek advice in the first instance from their travel agents or tour operators regarding their position. There is no ‘help line’ available yet for passengers, but Cyprus Turkish Airlines can be contacted on the following numbers: (+90 392) 44 458 49 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (+90 392) 44 458 49      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 228 3901, 228 3045 or 227 1706.

It was very windy again.  I had arranged to go out to lunch with Gwen. On the way we saw three puppies fending for themselves. Gwen had to go into Ankara travel and so whilst I was in there I made enquiries about CTA flights.  I explained I had booked online but I have to get back for Lou and Rhys’s wedding!!! Sheniz was extremely helpful and told me to give her a call on Monday. So, I am still ‘up in the air’, no pun intended, as to what I am doing when.

Gwen and I then went on to ‘Back in Time’. They are still doing their ‘2 for 1’ meals at lunchtime and delicious they are too.  We sat outside facing the stunning view of the sea. A lot of customers chose inside, because it was windy  but it was far better outside. Trish and Mike were as friendly as always. Sadly they have to sell the Sports Bar due to ill health. I sincerely hope they find a buyer very soon. Mike did his usual entertaining, singing along to the 60’s music…..that took us back! If you haven’t tried ‘Back in Time’, then do, as you will not be dissapointed.

From there we went to Ileli and Gwen bought some puppy food and a bottle of water. We didn’t have a bowl for the water and so the girls in Ileli, kindly cut down a large water bottle to use, bless them.  We went back and fed the puppies, it was as much as I could do not to put them all in my car and take them home. Gwen had called KAR, so hopefully they will be collected soon.

The one picture is of Gwen and the view from ‘Back in Time’ and of course the other is the puppies, the brown one has big paws so I think he is going to be quite large! Does anyone want to give one of them a home?

[slideshow]

Off down to the beach again first thing in the morning. Only us down there. The sea was a lot rougher and Rosie got a soaking when the waves crashed in, even before she started swimming. I bought Cyprus Today on the way back. A troubled day yesterday with promises of news of CTA and none forthcoming, CTA staff marching in protest and trying to prevent other airlines from leaving Ercan. Passengers sitting at ariports. What a mess. All CTA seem to talk about is the 36 years they have been flying…well, they are not now!

Later reports say that a deal has been done with Atlas Jet.

From http://www.trncpio.org/trncpio/en/index.asp?sayfa=haberdetay&newsid=353

“CYPRUS TURKISH AIRLINES PARTNER ATLAS – JET

The General Assembly decided to take Atlas-jet as partner after long discussions related to find a partner to the CTA which is having financial difficulties.

Council of Ministers which convened under the presidency of Prime Minister Irsen Kucuk approved the decision of CTA’s General Assembly and announced that a five years partnership contract shall be signed with 50-50 rights with Atlas Jet.

Kucuk stated that they gave great importance to protect the employees anf to keep the continuation of the national airline CTA and added that according to the partnership agreement which shall be signed today maximum number of personnel around 450 shall be employed, the power of administration shall belong to Atlas-jet with a proportion of 3 to 2, the rights shall be shared by 50-50, and the name of CTA shall continue, and the CTA can be regained after 5 years.

Prime Minister Kucuk stated that CTA has sold nearly 100 thousand tickets and 73 thousand passengers should be carried to Cyprus until 28 July and added that the partnership agreement should be signed urgently this morning in order not to damage tourism in the country.

Kucuk also stressed that the flight rights of CTA shall continue and the flights to Turkey and UK shall continue.”

[slideshow]

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!

I have just read on Cyprus 44 that Cyprus Turkish Airlines have gone bust. It seems flights have been cancelled and people stranded at Ercan and Stansted airports.  “A company trading whilst insolvent” is one of the quotes from the board. I understand there is a meeting planned for this morning. Well, I have a CTA ticket booked to go back to the UK for Lou and Rhys’s wedding and also all our tickets are with CTA to bring the boys out for 4 weeks in the summer. I wait to hear more. Well, we supported the country’s airline!!

A lot of rumours during the day but nothing concrete. It seems we have to wait for 48 hours to hear what is going on.  Not that I would have known anyway as the internet went down just as I was going to watch Wimbledon and was down for the rest of the night.

[slideshow]

It was a little cooler. I caught up with a lot of jobs. In spite of doing everything that the garden centre told me to do with our little almond tree, it is dead. I was so disappointed.

[slideshow]