Omodos

After visiting Aphrodite’s Rock, we went to Omodos. It’s a small village in the Troodos mountains.

Gas station

Greek villages are white.

White houses

We had a meal and tasted some local wine.

Wine tasting

Evening

Weird souvenirs

Memi Mine Lake

On another day, we started the day with visiting three lakes, which appeared after mining activities. The Memi Mine Lake is supposed to be bright blue and beautiful. But on a rainy day it was dark green. The other two lakes were also dull.

Memi Mine Lake

Episkopeio

In the middle of Cyprus, there is a proper Russian Orthodox church with gilded domes. It’s unusual to see something so familiar here.

Apostolou Andrea Russian Church

The murals on the walls inside the church are done in an overly colourful realistic style. I find it kitschy. Churches in Russia are different.

Inside the church

The church is part of a whole complex, sponsored by a Russian businessman.

Territory around the church

I liked the mosaics of saints, placed in a little park with a playground.

Mosaics

Then, there’s a planetarium. Thematic decorations, such as inflatable planets and spaceships, are placed right in front of the church. Is this an attempt to show Russian culture in Cyprus?

Space decorations

An explanatory comment:

“With the Planetarium, we are decoding the wisdom of God through the greatness of the universe. The study of space and stars expands the horizons of man. The Planetarium is a great contribution to education and culture,” stated the Metropolitan of Tamasos and Oreinis.

A wooden spire peaks from behind the souvenir shop.

Souvenir shop

It is a small Romanian Orthodox church, built in a traditional wooden style. Charming and graceful.

Romanian church

Analiontas

Next, we visited the Monastery of Archangel Michael. No photos allowed inside.

Monastery of Archangel Michael

Welcoming cats live around the monastery.

Cats

Pano Lefkara

Finally, we went to Pano Lefkara, a village known for its jewelry and lace. It had a Christmas market, which wasn’t a pleasant experience given the rain.

Christmas market

Foreigners think this is English and Greek. At first glance, I also thought so.

Russian spelt with Greek letters

After dark it’s more cheerful with the Christmas lights.

Christmas lights