Behold the Great Rock of Episkopi! The information center is directly behind the tallest point and not visible in this picture. We had a steep downhill ride to get to the rock, with a hairpin turn to add a touch of excitement. The church on the top of the adjacent hill was built to replace the church that was destroyed in the earthquake. The church was erected in honor of Agios the saint who resided on the top of the rock in his last years. To the left of the escarpment, the parts of the rock face that fell off in the earthquake can be found. We walked around at the base of the rock and then headed downhill to the river valley. It was sunny and peaceful down in the river valley but the river was a small creek at best. I am guessing the three year drought has a lot to do with this.
70 meters tall is 230 feet
The church can be seen to the right
This is a view on the other side of the road of the rocks that fell off
As mentioned in the previous post this river valley has many different types of minerals at the surface level
At the base there is a protective fence
Its construction is both strong but also flexible to absorb the shock of falling rocks
Fence or no fence, I would not want to be here in an earthquake
At the far end there is a playground built around large boulders
A Sardinian warbler
Big boulders
Weathered rocks
An olive press
Next to a olive tree
Mill stones and an old church
All that remains of an old church
Heading into the river valley
Very narrow streets
Vary steep
Steep and a left turn so tight that we had to drive past, make a u-turn at the base and return uphill to make the turn
Back on track to head to the river valley
Down we go
Lots of orange groves in the valley
The steep side of the valley
This leaf looked like a hand at first
Off to the other side of the valley
Cactus and citrus
As far as the eye can see
Rock outcrops
Beautiful yellow flowers
More colored rock
Less vegetation up on the hilltops
Not a water crossing for regular cars
A kestrel
We could head the cow bells ringing as this herd was called to dinner
Sparkling water in the river
The sun is setting
Waterworks
The water gauge
This splash was the closest I came to seeing any new birds
The Ezousa is the third largest river in Cyprus but it clearly a seasonal river
Also not suitable for a car to traverse the river
Pasture land in the distance
Time to turn around
Coming back towards the Great Rock
Taking the road less traveled on the eastern side of the river
We can see the sea
A warning sigh ahead?
Should we beware of goats or is the road categorized as a goat level of difficulty?
The sunset is making the light house sparkle
Good night Cyprus
