The Moon and the Stars!

Set the alarm for 5 but I woke up at 430 and decided to go and see if it was worth rousing the rest of the house.  Stepped out of the back door and onto the pool terrace and looked up to a black sky just encrusted with stars.  So, so many.....  There is nothing to the rear of our house except mountains and hills so the light pollution is minimal and on a clear night like last night.... spectacular.  Living in the south east of England I forget how many stars there are!  It's unbelievable.  Then looked south and there was the moon high over the mountains in that direction.  There was just a sliver of white moon still visible, most was a strange orangey/red/brown colour.  It was a weird sight, almost like Mars had taken the place of the moon.  No wonder ancient peoples thought these things were in some way omens from the gods. Anyway, I went back up and woke Bob up and he came down and we sat there for perhaps 40 minutes watching the skies. It was still warm.  We could plainly see some of the constellations: the Plough, Orion's Belt.  No doubt many more but I'm not very knowledgeable.  Planets also visible were Jupiter, Pluto, Uranus.  Gradually the moon turned totally orange and then slowly sank down behind the mountains to the west.  Glad I got up to see it.  I believe it will not re-occur for 30 years so in all likelihood I won't get to see it again.

Anyway, shall make a point of getting up at least once a holiday to see the stars and I do recommend you follow suit if you come to stay at the villa.  It's a spectacular free show.

Went into Kyrenia this morning to run a few errands.  Bob and Stuart went to the Turkish barber and had shaves in the traditional manner.  Bob had  his ears and nose done manually.  Stuart was very brave and let them do the waxing.  They both looked spic and span when they came out.  I think it was a couple of quid for a very special experience.  They're going again on Friday.  Fi and I had a walk around the bag and shoe shops and then had a drink down on the quayside in the harbour.  Some new rather smart looking restaurants have opened which we must try.  I am always a bit disappointed by the food down there for all its achingly beautiful setting.  Still..... you never know.......  we will try one.

Did a food shop at the Ileli supermarket at the bottom of the hill.  Its like Aladdin's cave in there.  They have a very good wine selection but not a butchers like Starlings or a deli counter like Lemar.  Its nice to try them all I suppose. 

Came back and Bob worked on the pool lights and all is looking good.  Tonight we went to a restaurant called Archway which is a lovely traditional Cypriot place in the hills. They have a wonderful outdoor terrace which was delightful to sit on under the full moon.   We decided not to go for the full meze but instead had several meze starters followed by an entrée plate, fruit and coffee.  I had the mixed kebab entrée which was delicious.  Bob had sheftali kebabs which utterly delicious lamb sausages grilled in a caul that melts and bastes them.  


Came home and watched the second half of Strictly.   

C