Monthly Archives: September 2019

Attention Hiking Lovers

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Hello and welcome back, after your summer break. The Cyprus Strollers are ready to kick-off their 11th season of operation on Sunday 6 October.

Over the first 10 productive seasons we have achieved

  • 160 hiking events
  • Covering 1543 km
  • Over 504 hours.

Please visit the Activities Schedule section on https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-schedule/, to view, download and study the program of weekly hiking activities for October, November and December 2019. For any activity that catches your attention, please visit the Activities Description section on https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/ to view, download and read a complete set of instructions.

Lots of new and exciting things are happening, and here are a few highlights:

  • There are 12 excursions scheduled
  • of these, 7 are either entirely new or hikes containing new aspects
  • There are 4 different Walk Leaders, who are responsible for leading the Cyprus Strollers on these 12 activities; this represents a great accomplishment, and is a clear sign of the true hiking spirit, a spirit of togetherness, sharing and giving
  • please join me in applauding George, Koula and Nicos, the Walk Leaders for October – December 2017, alongside Xenophon
  • We start at high altitudes in October, in anticipation of warmer weather, and move to lower altitudes in December, when cold and rain are more likely.

Furthermore, some things remain unchanged, and characterize the Cyprus Strollers as a unique hiking club; among them:

  • Commitment to first-class planning and organization
  • Excursions alternate between Saturdays and Sundays, thus appealing to more people
  • Dedicated website, fully informed, well in advance, in English
  • Our caring, multinational character; we are open to Strollers of any nationality, both permanent residents, as well as visitors to the island
  • Shared passion for hiking and enjoying the Cyprus countryside, in pleasant company
  • Well-chosen tavernas, serving us very good value meals at reasonable prices, because we honour them with our loyalty.

The Cyprus Strollers are committed to “Hiking made Pleasant”, our slogan. Please help us to carry on delivering on this promise, with your valuable contribution. Thank you and enjoy the many walks in store.

Our Weather – Personal vs. Political Considerations

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If you are spending this summer in Cyprus, you are probably developing thoughts about your weather preferences, along such lines: Do I prefer the hot summers or the cold winters? The humidity of the summers or the dry winters? How sustainable can summer life be when confined to air-conditioned spaces? What kind of summer weather do we experience, when the temperature difference between the coast and the high mountains is a mere two degrees?

Such is the changing summer weather on this island, and you are rightly concerned.

Next, you cast a wider eye, and reach out to the Amazon. This gigantic forest has experienced a reported number of about 45,000 forest fires this year, so far! You wonder why, and consider possible explanations, such as: not all of these fires can be the result of natural causes; why are the authorities not doing their utmost to mobilize international aid to put out these fires? What benefits could some evil minds be contemplating, for the day after this massive deforestation? Would it be plantations for human consumption? And construction works, in the name of development?

The Cyprus Strollers share a deep appreciation for the Cyprus forests. We understand that the health of our forests in Cyprus is very closely linked to the prosperity of the Amazon rain forests.

The issue is obviously extending beyond the personal; it affects each life on earth, and therefore becomes political. It is time to demand new actions. For in the words of poet John Donne (1624): “never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee”.