Tochni, and the Evening Event by the Church

Saturday, November 13, 2010

TOCHNI, Larnaca, Cyprus

DINNER PARTY IN TOCHNI

The road descends sharply from the apartment where I stay, and I am out at 7.20p.m. I wonder around the church of the village where the party is taking place talking on the phone with a friend. I try to describe to him what is going on out here. There are many people walking towards the church. I walk and talk on the phone, going with the stream and at the same time taking photos.

The buffet is rich with Cypriot dishes, and I get acquainted with some ladies who are sitting beside me. The group of people I am sitting with doesn't seem anxious to hear the results of the contests, while I see more excitement on one or two tables just behind.

The band is playing and singing Greek songs, but I love hearing some Cypriot Traditional songs as well. I approach them and ask for some Cypriot music and dancing, and the man in charge informs me that this is exactly what they are going to be doing in a few minutes.

We chat a lot with the ladies and they are so excited with the whole idea of their trip, and the beauty of Cyprus. They tell me that they loved every place they visited, and pointed out that the Agrotourism Programme is a nice alternative for holidays.

It is true that the island is best-known for its clear blue beaches, however, if you go just a few kilometers inland to the villages of the country the visitor can find an entirely another Cyprus. Here, people who like to discover and capture the original spirit, come in contact with the past. (In fact this is what I myself is actually doing out here). By traveling through time and by getting acquainted with the abandoned villages of Cyprus, it is surely an experience never to be forgotten!

There is a cartoonist who seems very busy and the girls stand in line trying to get a copy of their sketch. When one of the girls from my table comes with her sketch I decide to have my own sketch drawn as well. I watch the way this man draws, but I have to admit that he does not always get the best result out of his sketches. Only few sketches are really good and wonder how he will draw me. The result? …..A failure!

It is about half an hour before midnight when I decide to return to my apartment. It has been a full and interesting day and I feel I need to get some rest. Before leaving I walk to the table where the people from the Cyprus Tourist Organization are sitting together with the person in charge of the Community, Mr. Michalis Vasilopoulos. I thank everyone for this beautiful evening, say goodnight to the girls and leave.

The party goes on with some disco music after I leave and I can hear and also see everyone dancing from my little kitchen window of the apartment.

Luckily I have plenty of time to pack my things and leave for the next destination tomorrow morning.