What I Saw

17 Φεβ 2023

In his book Resor I Europa och Ősterländerne 1-2, Stockholm 1826, the Reverend describes his arrival to Cyprus after Rhodes, in September 1820.

In his book Resor I Europa och Ősterländerne 1-2, Stockholm 1826, the Reverend describes his arrival to Cyprus after Rhodes, in September 1820.

…It was hot, my tongue was burning. Not long after, at daybreak, a slight wind came up and together with it on board came some holy birds to announce to us that we were approaching land just as the first mate had said and by sunrise everybody was very pleased. It was the foremost north western cape of Cyprus, the holy island of the goddess of love, whose memorable beaches charmed my sight all day.

Outside Baffa the country seemed endlessly beautiful displaying green meadows and groves out of which the most beautiful, which was terraced, was called il giadrino di Venere. During the quiet and still moonlit night we were gently rocked along the coast that formed the former Paphian landmarks. The star system, clear and twinkling, was reflected in the waves that still seemed to rock Aphrodite to sleep. Mountains and hills were dressed in fine shimmering clouds and the Graces and Horae seemed to reach down to meet the Cypriot goddess.

Tuesday morning 5th September we arrived in Limassol, a small, neat, sea town decorated with palm trees, on the south west coast of Cyprus, and about 40 sea miles from Larnaka, where some of the Consul-Generals reside. They, together with several European merchants, reside in a newly built area, half an hour from there, which is called L’ échelle des consuls or salinerna, due to a salt swamp nearby. As soon as I got ashore in Limassol, I visited the Swedish Agent, Mr Demetrio Karalambidi Frankudi, a Greek who received me fairly hospitably, and offered me whatever could serve as a refreshment.

The 'What I saw...' series is made possible with the support of OPAP Cyprus and Active Citizens Fund.

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