Home -> Europe -> Cyprus -> Travelogue 2001 -> Wednesday 21 February

Stuck in the snow at Platres

The view from our balcony is clear that morning: snow, lots of it, with a temperature below freezing point. Quite a change within 2 days: from 22°C to minus 3°C, and on some places the snow is more than half a meter high.

Yesterday we had no idea what we are going to do, today. We hope there is snow only this high in the mountains and the roads will be ok when we get out of them, so we can try again to rach Paphos. On the car park of the hotel, Elisabeth looses one of the lenses from her sunglasses. We search in the snow for half an hour and then give up. But the next day, the snow has vanished and we find it back...

We decide to try to get off the mountain; after all, we have a jeep. But Teije doesn't know how the fourwheel drive workes and soon we are sliding down, going backwards towards the ravine. The breaks don't work and with some steering we manage to get the car to a halt on the roadside.

Other jeep-drivers pass us by, without any trouble and after quite some time, Teije finds this button which says: 4W. But this one button doesn't work, so he just pushes all buttons he could find. And yes, at last, there we go, uphill, back to the village. Because we are frightened a bit by this almost-accident, we decide to stay in the village and explore it once more, this time in the snow.

From the parking lot of the hotel goes a steep path down to a road that then climbs very steep up, to the road that surrounds the village. We watch a lot of cars trying to go up, but most give up halfway since they keep gliding backwards. People pushing cars, cars falling down, it is a comic view. Fortunately, no real accidents happen.

So we miss some interesting places in Paphos, but above all, we find it a pity that we don't have time to visit the Akamas. It must be a very beautiful area. But well, instead we have exerienced some exciting adventures, also an important ingredient of travelling. It is convenient when everything goes as planned, but we don't let things like this spoil our holiday. Shambling and sliding we defied the steep pathways in Platres and enjoyed the village and its restaurants in this beautiful winter weather.

Sometimes it is sunny, sometimes cloudy, some rain falls, and snow; four seasons in one day. In the afternoon it is getting warmer and the snow starts to melt. We are glad about it, for we have to leave early tomorrow morning. But, at least Teije does know now how the fourwheel drive functiones...

At night the temperature rises very quickly, but it is not warm enough to take off our sweaters. In the bar we have a last conversation with the owners of the hotel and then we are off to bed early.

Travel through Europe and Africa

with Elisabeth and Teije