A Day in Paphos

South-African/English and fresh off the boat, I embarked upon a day trip to the enticing City of Paphos. This enigmatic Sea of Love beckons every type of visitor to its tranquil shores. A day trip with a taxi-bus to both Cumin (archaelogical site of roman mosaics and amphitheatre), and Paphos, costs around 20 Euros. From Larnaca this trip departs from Finikoudes beachfront. On entering the locale of Pahpos, the 'Goddess of Love' rises esoterically from the sea to greet visitors on the road set higher above the sea level at this point. A stop at this viewpoint presents a majestic display of deep-blue waters, coves, caves and rock. A photograph cannot capture the excessive beauty of this sea-view.

If you have been to Paphos Harbour before or not, it is a place that can be re-visited time and time again. The populated harbour is lined with restaurants, chairs and tables set out on the harbour's edge for the much-loved and appropriate alfresco eating. The waters gently lap in the background whilst visitors or locals enjoy breakfast, lunch or supper. Boats of every type congregate in the harbour and provide a truly Med-picturesque scene for onlookers. For those with tourist interests, a cultural streak or for intellectual stimulation - the Paphos Harbour Museum is 'right there' and centrally located for ease of access. Many shops line the waterfront where just about anything can be purchased. From sunglasses and suncream to high quality jewellery or rental cars/bikes. Whatever you need, whatever your interest - whatever you are looking for - this is where you can find it!

Despite your background - Paphos has it all and is universally loved. Many nationalities unite and comb the fringes of both Paphos and the island of Cyprus. This is also a useful area to buy that special gift for someone back home. Swimming in Paphos is a unique experience where an enclosed area resembles a roman bath and sunbathers lie like brown penguins on the concrete walls.

Persian Escape - Smugglers Boat - Instalment 3

Final Destination.
After a period of recovery, Alekkis was smuggled by boat from Turkey to Cyprus. Running from the injustice of Iranian dictatorship, running for freedom... he was illegal in Turkey, could not return to his country or he would be killed for his faith and for fleeing. Now, he sought to be a refugee in Cyprus. Again, during the dark and late hours of the night he was smuggled across the waters to Cyprus, entering on the Turkish side near to Nicosia. On arrival and without any sleep, Alekkis faced three entry check-points which included Cypriot, British (n the middle), and Turkish.
If Alekkis was turned away then he faced returning to his country where he would be killed. 'Life and death' was a reality. The first check-point, he strolled through whilst the guard slept and the second guard held up his newspaper at the moment that Alekkis walked by. He had planned to bare his story with absolute honesty and prayed that he would simply gain entry to register as a refugee. As he neared the final post, the guard queried him. He said, 'how did you get through the first two check-points?' Alekkis carefully explained his situation and how the guard on the first check-point was sleeping and the next was reading his paper.
The Turkish police said Alekkis would have to return to the middle check-piont, namely, the British and it would have to be their problem to deal with.
The British check-point represented the middle-man and peace maker. Constantly Alekkis asked God for help. At the British check-point, a high ranking woman official listened to him and was astounded at how he had got through the check-points. He begged her for his life. She pondered, hesitated and stated that this was a very difficult predicament for her to be in when her role for years had been to prevent anyone gaining entry.
She asked him, however, not to mention about how he by-passed the check point and she went away momentarily into a small, makeshift office.
On return she said six words, 'Get into the car over there.' She pressed her beeper from a distance and he followed the instructions. When she got into the car, she said 'I'll take you myself to the Immigration Police.' And so she did. She was a kind lady and God had again come to his Rescue.
Seven year on and he still lives here, having faced numerous trials and difficulties as a refugee. His faith was made complete and fully alive in this land. It has been a journey and a dangerous one at times. Alekkis has not seen his family in seven long years and it breaks many hearts. Some people fight for a dream - some people fight just for justice and freedom. A right we whould all have.

Persian Escape - Instalment Two

...they were headed in the direction of Cyprus. A planned and perilous escape, three young men left the Turkish shores as the clock stroke midnight with nothing more than a few items of clothing and little money. The Turkish poice were on their security boat at a certain position out at sea and they would shoot anything they saw out at sea by night which seemed suspicious. Tonight, the Turkish police were drunk. Nervously, the three young men neared and miraculously by-passed the Turkish police who were too busy endulging and raucously enjoying themselves to be keeping watch.

Relatively soon after reaching this milestone, the boat began to lose air. One of the men fainted with his eyes rolled back and in that terrifying moment the other two men didn't know if he was even alive. The other stood up and began shouting hysterically in Farsi, Turkish and other languages. 'Help! Help!' The third man, Alekkis, tried desperately to calm the uncontrolled ranting which would alert the police to their presence. He tried to reason with his friend, 'why are you doing this, we are both in this situation and this is not going to help. Either we work together or I leave you here.' He agreed, amidst hysterical crying.

Alekkis, the survivor, now alone in the crisis with one man unconcious and trying to deal with the other one who is no longer able to think clearly or assist.

Turning the inflatable boat around, he headed back to shore. The escape was over and now either they could get shot by the Turkish police or eaten by sharks in the water. Rowing alone, and having prayed to God alone to help him at this life-threatening moment, he felt a strong power behind him as he rowed and could not turn his head back to look. In moments, they were back at shore. What took three men about an hour to row, now took one man 15 minutes... Alekkis knew he had not been alone in this task and as the other two men ran off in panic once the third had been awakened, he sat for awhile to reflect.

Persian Escape

The regime threatened the existence of every individual and freedom still is a forbidden word in the hopeless country of Iran. The inhabitants speak the language of Farsi, are Muslim and Iranian/Persian nationality (not arab).

At the age of 27, Alikki lost hope in everything in Persia. As a devout muslim, he had tried his best conduct in order to serve and seek God whom he always fervently believed in. In every way he was experiencing difficulties and hopelessness with the country. His religion gave him only emptiness and no hope or joy. In an attempt to leave his country, he fled to Turkey. In Turkey, he was an illegal immigrant and learnt Turkish within six motnhs of staying there.

The turkish air above the buildings was thick with promise and opaque. The land was parched and Alekkis and his friend passed a church building where for some reason he felt drawn to the open door. As they neared to investigate what was going on inside, he discovered his own people worshipping God freely and in his own language in another country. Over time he was drawn back to this place to discover more of what it was about and he secretly began to read the Bible. His life was at risk in the household where he shared with a number of other young muslim men, some of which were fanatics and would not approve of his new discoveries. Eventually Alekkis and his friends had to leave Turkey which they attempted to do by crossing the sea, rowing an inflatable boat! En route across the lethal shark-infested waters...

Instalment 2 to follow.