We walked around the foreshore and the girls played on the playground for a bit before we headed back to the car so we could catch up with our family friends. TV only vaguely remembered Uncle Cristos and Auntie Carola, but it didn't matter as we got a very warm welcome and had a wonderful dinner with them. It was really nice to catch up with them and to introduce the family.
Limassol has really changed and grown since TV was here in the late 1980s. The foreshore has become much more sophisticated and the rest of the city has expanded as well with lots of investment. We enjoyed walking through the old town section which had mostly old houses which were being updated and renovated. There were heaps of little shops to look at too which the girls enjoyed and all of the shop keepers were super nice. We also walked around the Limassol Castle but it soon got too hot so we stopped for a tasty ice cream. Different to that in Turkey but still very refreshing on a hot day. We also got to see more cats including some kittens who were a bit wary but fun to watch.
We had a nice morning by the pool while trying to further tame Steeven the guard cat. We found that having a pool right outside the door while on a hot holiday like this has been perfect. Having it right there has meant that a quick dip or swim were always a possibility. One consequence is having exhausted children, which was great because they had a nap in the car while the adults could enjoy a quiet conversation while driving to Limassol.
Since our villa was such a short walk from the beach meant we could walk down there and have a beachside dinner. Then we played for a little while and looked at the rocks along the beach. It was so very peaceful and relaxing. The calm and relaxation was what TV remembered from his trips here when he was young and Cyprus did not disappoint.
Once in the water the girls were really relaxed and ready to learn. They successfully did some of the exercises and were soon ready to go underwater. They both did really well but had some trouble with controlling buoyancy with all of the kit. Buoyancy control is one of the hardest things to get right and for the two of them small changes in breathing and depth make big differences in how buoyant they are. They managed well and by the end of the dive they stayed in control for the most part. They really enjoyed the experience and loved seeing some of the small fish and various sea plants. They are keen to go again.
MV and SV got to participate in an introduction to scuba diving course. Unfortunately EV was just too young and as it was MV was only just big enough. The class was run by Pissouri Bay Divers who ended having three instructors for the two girls. TV also tagged along to see how they went and to take photographs. After getting ready on the beach it was finally time to get in the water. The guides all kept it really light and fun so the girls felt really comfortable despite doing something totally new.
We spent the whole day pool side. It was a welcome break from sight seeing and gave us a chance to truly relax and catch our breath. Steeven kept an eye out as all the inflatables were blown up and put in the pool. He was rewarded with some ham for lunch. This was just the start we needed to our week in Cyprus. A flat tyre on the rental car was less ideal but turned into an interesting adventure for TV where he ended up helping the tow truck driver and getting thanked with an ice cream.
