We always fight for the life that we want, Pretending that it is within our reach, A life where we no longer have to grunt; Instead, flopping on a chair on a beach, Soaking the rays of the sum while they last. Instead, I find myself strapped to a seat, Hoping my clock could start to go fast, So work to be done would be complete. Playing repeat, I go through the same grind, Fighting to obtain another dollar Because my current debt has got me primed To continue my life in this collar. It’s possible to be victorious Thought they claim that the plan is not for us.
Throughout all of my travels, I have been able to experience many different types of locations. I have stayed in the largest cities in the world, and have slept in some of the smallest locations as well. I have spent time on various beaches, and hiked around the greatest ranges this world has to offer. I have been to the medium sized tourist destinations, and the ones the same size that are inhabited by the locals of the country, and the travelers hardly ever see. It is the variety that keeps me traveling, but if I am being honest, it is the smaller towns that hold a sacred place in my heart, and the ones that I always wish to travel back to.
During my recent trip to Cyprus, I got to stay in such a place, Pissouri, Cyprus. Now, this is my second time to this incredible and often overlooked country, and the last time I stayed in a bigger tourist destination, Paphos. Though I enjoyed, and would recommend it to anybody for its great food, and historical sights, it does not the same kind of charm as this small town does. Pissouri has the amazing restaurants, and walking streets that you hope to find in a European country. The locals are friendly and are eager to share the various types of wines that are created on the island. And the greatest part is that you automatically feel a relaxed, easy-going pace as soon as you enter the town.
Though the town sit perched on a mountainside that leads to the wine country of Cyprus, it still only a five minute drive down to the coast. I has come at the end of September which is the end of the tourist season, and it was easy to find a place to stretch out in the sun while still being able to enjoy the warm summer water of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located next to some restaurants that are not as nice as the ones that you can find in town, but they are still a nice place to hop in to get a quick bite for lunch.
But don’t eat too much because there is always dinner around the corner. I know when I travel back to the United States, I forget about the portion sizes at restaurants. I am always excited when I get to across the pond to experience the portion sizes that are more conducive to what I can actually comfortably enjoy. This was not the case in Cyprus. The portions out there were more in tune to American eating, and it surprised me when the meal was first placed before me. Despite these large portions, they did not skimp on the recipe in favor of the size. The food was outstanding, and I don’t know if I would have had the same kind of meal if I stuck more to the typical places that tourist gravitated to instead of this smaller town.
When I look back at both of my experiences while visiting Cyprus, they were both great. I enjoyed both trips, but to compare them would not do either justice. They were both great experiences, but I believe that in the end, I will have fonder memories of staying in this small town. It seemed to me that the smaller experience was custom made for me; whereas, the times I travel to bigger cities, it feels like an experience that anybody could have at any time they travel to one of these destinations. It is just who I am though, and you might feel completely different about your travels. Either way, there is a way to experience this wonderful country, and no matter which one you do enjoy, you have to put Cyprus on your countries to visit. It is a hidden jewel that you will not regret, and worth going to before more people make the discovery.
Until next time, keep on getting out there and enjoying experience both big and small.
Cyprus is one of the most beautiful countries I have visited in the European Union, but it is often ignored by travelers. I can sort of understand why, especially when it comes to Americans. It takes a bit of an effort to make it all the way over to Europe, and there are bigger name countries that they would like to visit before making it to this tiny island which in all actuality isn’t even a part of the continent of Europe. Still, there are plenty of reasons to consider this tiny island country to come and visit. It is home to amazing beaches, tall peaks that even offers skiing during three months of the year, ancient Greek ruins that have held up exceptionally well over the centuries, and most importantly, one of the oldest traditions for wine anywhere in the world.
Cyprus is a must for any wine enthusiast out there. There is only one place in the world that has spent more time creating wine and that is the country of Georgia. There are many varieties that can only be found on the island, but the most famous one is a dessert wine called Commandaria. It is considered the wine mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey that was made from dried grapes and was considered the best wine in the world. Though the recipe has not changed much over the centuries, there are still many variations of this nectar that it is worth traveling around the mountains of Cyprus to the various wineries to try what they have to offer on this selection of wine.
This has been the second time that I have voyaged to these various wineries. The first time I went on a tour which is a great way to do it. A person will come and pick you up in the morning and drive you around while you get to sip the various selections you come across. You never have to worry about drinking too much, and you will be introduced to some of the more popular wineries in the region. The second time I went, I traveled around on my own schedule, and visited some of the lesser known wineries. This does not mean that they do not produce great wine. It just means that they are a smaller operation, and you have to get off the beaten path in order to find their tasting rooms. It changed the way that I enjoyed the region and it came with a few unexpected surprises along the way.
My favorite surprise came when visiting the small village of Ayios Mamas. Up a steep hill indicated only by a hand painted sign is the tasting room for the Revecca winery. They only focus on the Commandaria wine that the region is famous for, and their production is only seven to eight barrels a year. The tasting room is a small room in what used to be the house of the grandmother who first inspired this winery. It has been converted, but it still holds the feel of walking into someone’s home with a welcoming smile. It was my last stop of the day, and the one that had me enjoy an adventure that I would not have gotten on a regular wine tour.
The owner of the winery first told us all about the operation as we got to taste two of the vintages they had. When our time there was ending, I asked where the vineyards were, and she explained to me that she was going out there after we were done there because it was harvest time, and if we wanted, we could go visit them with her. I have learned in all of travels that when out and somebody offers something like this, you always say, yes. It did not disappoint. We were able to go to the vineyard, taste some grapes straight from the vines, watch as the grapes slowly dried out in the sun, and watch as they brought in daily haul so get the process started with them. It was a side of wine production that not many people get to witness and it made the personalized tour much more memorable than the one I took last time. Now, I know that this is not something that will be offered to all guests who show up to taste the wine, but it would not have happened if we hadn’t planned our own day.
Both ways are great experiences, but I am grateful to the Revecca winery to give me an experience that I will never forget. Not only did I learn a lot about the process of how one of the oldest wines in the world was made, but I got to taste a couple that were the premiere example of these wines. If you do find yourself in Cyprus, make sure you take time to visit the wineries, but find those hidden gems that won’t bring in the crowds like the bigger establishments. Revecca winery would be the perfect one to start with.
Until next time, keep on getting out there and finding those experiences.
Can the world be held within a snapshot From that small moment when the shutter clicked To capture a time that we never sought Held in an album where pages are flicked? What makes this picture different than the rest, Glued in place by the four little brown tabs Where our vision is treated as a guest, Given glimpses of the past we can grab? Where have all of those smiling faces gone, Who once graced us by visiting our doors, But ever since the passing of the dawn, Can now be found on pieces of cardboard? Your smile is the one I miss the most, Though the album has been a gracious host.
This recipe is a long tradition That has been passed down to me by my mother. As I pass it to your generation, I hope you’ll pass it on to another. We will use the freshest ingredients As you blend them together in the pot. We adjust the taste by using the scents Whose unique detection my mother taught. It’s best brewed during a warm afternoon Where we enjoy each other’s company; We’ll wrap ourselves in the kitchen’s cocoon, Waiting to partake in the labor’s honey. We have to protect what could be a loss, So I will teach you how to make our sauce.
Open up another bottle of wine Because we have defeated this soldier. Fill up your glass first before you fill mine; We don’t need to see if this one’s bolder. It helps to fill the room up with laughter When we let this sweet nectar grease our brain. We’ll think about consequences after We have enjoyed our sleepy refrain. In the morning, we can see what we’ve done, Though our head will give us a reminder. The night before we had a lot of fun, Though we had no idea what we’d find there. It is the biggest drawback of the drink, Trying to ignore what we have to think.
Do not tell me of how someone has died; Instead, tell me of the way that they lived. I don’t want to know why the people cried, But what made memories of them vivid. They must have touched the lives of many folks As they made memories filled with laughter. Their friendships included ladies and blokes Pursuing a life worth going after. Let’s not remember the pain, but kindness That was spread around due to their presence. We have gathered, so we may bear witness Of how a life spent deserves reverence. Why would we focus on the suffering When talk of living is more enduring?
These things I do not want to do today: Carry a stuffed backpack upon my back In foreign airports as I make my way To a tiny upright seat where I lack The space needed to stretch out my long legs Next to another giant of a man Where we are in position to beg For a little real estate where we can Devour a barely edible meal That was heated up an hour before Or catch a smidge of sleep so we can feel Capable of flight through the storms in store.
Or to leave your home, so I can go fly, Having to hug out my final goodbye.
Batteries only hold so much power To keep individual clocks ticking. Eventually, there comes an hour When the hands on the face will stop kicking. How will a clock react when this day comes? Does it continue to live by design, Making sure the mechanism still hums, Ignoring inevitable decline? Or will it fight against the coming end? Will it play around with the way time moves, Speeding up or slowing down, which depends On the feel how the situation grooves. Can you tell me which behavior is right When a time piece puts up its final fight?
Ever since Denver International Airport was created, there has been controversy surrounding it. The designers had some bizarre ideas of how to give the place its decor, and it ended up with some really weird pieces of artwork. There used to be the murals depicting children presiding over the death of an animal on a World War II kind of battle field. There was the strange Native American music constantly playing on the bridge to Concourse A. And there were the strange gargoyle that could be found in the baggage claim area. The strange design of the landing strips along with all of this art created an environment ripe for the emergence of conspiracy theories. It did not help much that in order for Denver to be considered a city worthy of the international scene, they erected an anatomically correct giant blue horse rearing up on its hind legs and staring at you with its devil red eyes as the first thing travelers see as they leave the airport and head into the city.
Denver became a strange place in the mind’s of the people living outside of it all of because of its airport. Considering the airport recently turned twenty-five years old, the fine people of the city decided that it needed a remodeling. I have been to the airport a few times since and have not had time to notice the strange artwork anymore because everywhere I turned I ran into the signs of construction in process. Most of the time I came, I was in a rush to get out of the airport or rush to a plane that was getting ready to leave, so I did not have time to look for signs of the things that made this airport unique.
I got stuck in the main building recently, and had an opportunity to walk around and look for the strange sights that I had come to know over the years of living in Denver. I did not think that they would keep the bizarre artwork in the hopes of becoming more respected internationally, but I was surprised to see this was not the case. Despite having to navigate through the construction, they have done an amazing job of modernizing the building, giving it a sleek and user friendly kind of design. And though a couple of the pieces of art could have been hidden behind construction walls, many of the strange pieces that made DIA weird were still there. I could find the gargoyles, the Native American music playing, the horse, and a couple of these murals even though the oddest ones were still hidden. It made me relieved that DIA would embrace this weird aspect of itself, and I hope that it never loses it.
So the next time you travel through Denver try to find these weird aspects of the airport, and embrace the odd nature of DIA. And if you know of any weird things that I should find in other places in the world, let me know, so I can hunt them down for myself.
John Collings 