annie’s sanctuary

The rest of my trip to Cyprus when I went on a coach tour up the Troodos mountains

First pic is taken through a coach window

Just to keep you up to date about my next trip away from the UK

Yes I know youre thinking blinking heck 'she's off again'!!

Ah well this time its different it is work

As most of you who know me will realize well you should if you dont (..if you dont then you havent been paying attention so Slapped Hands!)is that I work with young homeless people aged 16 -21 the website to my place of work is on my front page.

Any way bottom line is I have finally managed to get one of the young people I work with a placement doing some volunteering work abroad

She will go to Spain Bilbao to be precise, for 3 weeks - another young person from one of our Newcastle projects will also be going along with her.

I will leave the link to the organisation that is hosting it in case you fancy a nosey.

http://www.intereuroparioja.org/ingles/pag_inter/intereuropa.htm

Sooooooooo I will acompany the two of them and stay Monday to Wednesday we fly via Paris CDG airport then on to Bilbao 2 buses later we will be at our destination..with a bit of luck I will hopefully let you know how we go on.

Will need to find a few pictures now wont I ?

;)

As it is Easter in Greece/Cyprus I thought it would be the right time to show some morepictures i took of some Easter displays i saw on my last trip.

It was a dull day so we had got in a taxi and went for a day out, the sun tried to shine but the rain won through at times.

But who cares I love new places and the constant sight of orange and lemon trees never ceased to amaze me.

These were taken in a restful park area where there was what appeared to be an old monastry.

In contrast to the bar opposite

It was in Agia Napa where a noisy crowd of football fans watching the Manchester United match I had left my mother there surrounded by attentive waiters eager to please the 'football mad Irish lady'

I loved the trees and shape of the building and the little old doors.

I have been to Greece in the past when it was Easter time That time I was in Kremasti on the west side of Rhodes where there is a very important church but it is so long ago now I forgot what church it was it was a beautiful experience lots of babies were christened on the Easter Saturday and then there was a lovely procession through the streets anybody could join in and we all carried candles it was very moving and peaceful.Little gifts were exchanged and all the children had painted eggs women carried baskets full of thenm and gave them out.The next day was lots of eating roasting the hogs on the spits( truly sorry if you are a vegetarian )and dancing and music galore.

I love the sea and beaches they are so relaxing and I like to watch the sea whilst listening to music.

I like to read whilst I am sitting on the beach it is one of my ideas of heaven.

The weather wasnt to good on my last trip to Protaras in Cyprus but I still managed to spend some time in the sea (Bbrrrrrrr chilly to say the least )and also strolling along the sea shore.

So for those of my friends (Jan !!!) who thinks I chose a war zone for my trip here are some pics especially for you ;)

Below is Nissi beach a few miles from Aiga Napa it was getting late so it was somewhat dull but it is a lovely beach the sea is turquoise and the sand is lovely and soft

Here is my mother who came on holiday with me she had just watched the football match in a local taverna ~~So she was getting out of 'hooligan mood' .

And below once again Annie in her usual state of excitement and exciliration at the thought of not having to go into work for a whole week

Or maybe it was the joy of knowing I could do my laundry in the lauderette at the hotel and maybe bump into a man who looked like the one in this advert :)

Oh and how could I forget about my lovely new friend George he was the Romanian night receptionist who spent part of his day lying on the beach fully clothed as you can see on a rock ...his only little Island to escape after his night shift.and.............he is setting me up with some voluntary work in Romania with accommodation whenever I am ready to go over there !!

I was lucky enough to have my first trip to Cyprus last week. The day after my arrival a barrier was removed that had been in place since 1974 when some parts Northern Cyprus became occupied by some people from Turkey.

No one has been allowed over this border since.

Purely by coincedence I happened to be in Nicosia for just ONE HOUR and in that time I managed to go to the area and pass over that border you had to have your passport and a visa. It was very emotional. Below is the first picture I took of the street.

There were lots of official people and some soldiers (Oooh put me down) but obviously you werent allowed to photograph them..I had already taken one before I realised and for some reason it came out un viewable ..it was as if the light was set to distort it, take a look below. Here are some more pictures of the other side some were desolate buildngs and others were normal businessess going about there day.