The two hikes at Cape Greco on Sunday 19 March offered the large group of Strollers a multicolour experience. Many flowers had put on their best, to welcome our well-timed visit: yellow and white anemones, yellow mimosas, white sea squills, yellow wild mustard, white wild garlic, purple rosemary and irises. On top of this, we enjoyed the turquoise sea, all along the trails. Compliments to George for leading this excursion and to Michael and Kate for the photos. Join us on 25 March at Prophitis Elias https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/prophitis-elias-kionia-hike-sat-25-march/.

The outing of Saturday 25 February offered a unique combination of stroll and culture; we visited seven churches in Galata, dating to the 1st half of the 16th century, when Cyprus was occupied by the Venetians; we also visited the church in Old Kakopetria, from the same period. Importantly, we succeeded in admiring the treasures inside five of these churches. Participants further benefited from a splendid weather, the rich vegetation, walking along the river and from Yiannis’ story telling, by the big rock in Kakopetria. Join us on 5 March at Atalanti https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/troodos-atalanti-walk-sunday-5-march/

It was a softly sunny day when Pipis hills, not among the list of most visited hiking destinations in Cyprus, came alive with the sound of a harmonious group of Strollers, on Sunday 19 February. The slopes were dressed in the yellow colour of flowers, while the pine trees provided an air of freshness. Participants were richly rewarded with the long views and at lunch in Kokkinou taverna. Compliments to Angelos, who graciously led the club at short notice, and to George, Panny and Nicos for the photos. Join us on 25 Feb. at Galata https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/galata-kakopetria-cultural-stroll-sat-25-feb/

There was a very large turnout for the 1st visit of The Cyprus Strollers near the village of Kalo Chorio Klirou on Saturday 11 February. Participants defied the weather forecasts and were rewarded in many ways: a cloudy sky, without rain; a beautiful hike along Merikas, with the river flowing nearby for much of the way; the budding leaves of Mediterranean Hawthorn; the violet flowers of grape hyacinth; impressive ophiolite rock formations. Compliments to Laurent for leading the club, and to Christine and Dina for the photos. Join us on 19 Feb. at Pipis  https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/pipis-hills-hike-19-feb/

budding leaves

Strollers know better than anybody that what goes up, comes back down again; what starts, has an end; people come and people go. The hike at Delikipos on Sunday 5 February was a delicious outing, in which the club welcomed once more new members, and also bid farewell to Laura, who leaves Cyprus for her next career challenge. Hiking took place in perfect weather, there were a record eight dogs, the landscape was beautiful, and the taverna meal an experience not easily found. Compliments to Koula, Christine and Teresa for the photos. Join us on 11 Feb. at Merikas  https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/kalo-chorio-klirou-merikas-trail-sat-11-feb/

pigeon nest boxes/pezounarko

Are The Cyprus Strollers the club that can turn ordinary hikes into extraordinary experiences? The very large group of participants, including 45 new members, at the Rizoelia park stroll on Sunday 29 January may offer their answer, concerning an easy hike that promised little, ‘on paper’. Strollers enjoyed the moderate weather, the gypsum deposits, the two species of rare and protected plants (Campanula fastigiata and Gypsophila linearifolia), the first anemones which dared flower, the unexpected visit to a small church, the long views to Larnaca Salt Lake, and the fish feast at the end. Furthermore, an experience not-to-be-missed was the surprise recital Yiannis offered, on mandrake. Compliments to Marios, Christine and Teresa for the photos. Join us on 5 Feb. at Delikipos, where we shall bid goodbye to Laura https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/delikipos-hike-sunday-5-feb/

mandrake (belladonna)/mandragoras

The club welcomed lots of new and young participants at Platania on Saturday 21 January. The sky was cloudy, but clear, and helped us enjoy the views to the snow covered slopes of Troodos. Compliments to Christine, Teresa and Koula for the photos. Join us on 29 Jan. at Aradipou https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/larnaca-rizoelia-park-walk-sunday-29-jan/

Pointing at burnt forest

Snacks arouse interest of 2- and 4-legged Strollers

Glasses raised

Every person’s journey through life can be an itinerary in pursuit of one’s chosen Ithaca. The messages in the poem titled Ithaca, by Constantine Cavafy (1863-1933) sparked the mood of Strollers on the hills of Lythrodontas on Sunday 15 January, adding to the excitement in response to the very friendly weather. The meal at the conclusion of the two hikes was a superb experience; the random order of serving the delicacies helped participants appreciate the surprise element hidden in things happening not exactly as expected. Compliments to Alex and Marios for the photos. Join us on 21 Jan. at Platania https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/kakopetria-platania-spilia-sat-21-jan/

The Cyprus Strollers is a club of giving; participants benefit from its ample services at no charge. Therefore, it is ever so sweet, when members take the initiative and come up with opportunities for displaying their generosity. Such was the case on Saturday 7 January 2017, at the start of our 6th Season of activities, when our Dear Koula arrived with the traditional Vasilopitta cake for the new year; everybody had a piece and the walk along the coast between Oroklini and Dhekelia turned into an unforgettable experience.

Strolling was further inspired by reflections on the meaning of happiness (the word ‘happy’ is on everyone’s lips so many times, during this holiday period), aided by two lines of poetry by the English poet William Cowper (18th c.), and the illustration you can study below. Join us on 15 Jan. at Lythrodontas, for a further attempt to combine hiking with the world of letters https://cyprus-strollers.org/activities-description/lythrodontas-2-hikes-sunday-15-jan/

“Happiness depends, as nature shows, less on exterior things than most suppose.”