Walking the Kalidonia Trail

My friends Mary and Rob have never walked the Kalidonia Trail before and I assure them they won't be disappointed . The trail is easy and we can cover it in 2 hours.

We have water and some fruit along. The time we set off is kind of late because usually people walk the trail much earlier. On the way we come across people at the opposite direction but none is behind. It is lunchtime so I guess everyone is somewhere out eating.

We reach the waterfall and it is only us and a lonesome cat. I have no idea how on earth she is found out here and how she is surviving.

I suggest that we get to the peak and tell my friends that it is an easy climb so off we go. It is the first time I have friends along and if Mary and Rob enjoy this walk we can arrange others when they get back from their trip to Europe. I feel lucky to have met this wonderful couple. Time will show but I am positive that there will be more walks for sure. We take the very easy to climb pathway to the peak where the water falls off the cliff .



On the way back we see people walking the trail once again. I guess lunchtime for them is over while we are on our way to have ours.

We come across three ladies who have slippers on and they ask if the waterfall is near. I tell them that there is no way they can make it to the waterfall without having their slippers broken or getting wet from falling. I think after this they started having second thoughts and seemed disappointed. They smile and say that they will walk as far as they can make it at least!  

Mary is wearing a comfortable pair of shoes for a normal walk but they are inappropriate for walking the trail. She faced some difficulty earlier in one or two spots but luckily it was Rob around to give her a hand. A pair of sneakers is more advisable for a steady pace. There are five or six spots on the way where crossing the river is kind of difficult and some stones are slippery. The ones I have on are those that I leave behind. I try to travel as light as possible so I keep several things behind each time. The result is that I sometimes forget what I leave back in Larnaca and I carry new ones when I return. This time I remembered that I had my sneakers at home, but forgot to bring along a pair of socks and Niki made it all the way to her house to get me a pair of her own . This was the reason we were waiting for Niki after our morning coffee before the ride to the Tzielefos Bridge this morning.

We have our late lunch at Pegasus-Coffee Shop where Chrystalla, Niki’s daughter is expecting us. The restaurant belongs to the family. We ask for a variety of dishes and everything is fresh and tasty. Robert keeps telling us that "Mousaka" stands out.

I am suppose to spend another night here in Platres before I get to Kalavassos but after spending the whole day with Mary and Rob I am sure I will feel blue when I see them driving off. I don’t want to have the same experience like the one I had last year when I was visiting Vassa. Seeing my sister driving off I got so emotional that I started crying. I remember how anxious I had become that night that I had to make phone calls and arrange to leave and get to Larnaca the next day.  

We greet Niki goodbye and I apologize and promise to be back soon .

So, here we are in the car driving all the way to Larnaca. Mary is just as passionate with photography as me so Rob makes frequent stops on the way for pictures. (I believed that only Yianni is so patient to stop here and there for shots)!

We get home and Mum welcomes my new friends. She is an extremely sociable person with many friends and neighbours who care for her and love her. She tells Rob and Mary that they are always welcome home and when they leave she offers them some of those delicious apricots you saw in my pictures. So, yes,…. Mary and Rob had the chance to taste a few.

My friends are spending the next few days in Larnaca staying in a central city hotel so we arrange to meet either later tonight or tomorrow.

Another terrific day is over. With Mary and Rob along the day was amazingly beyond my expectations.