Category: home

Some of Cyprus beauty

I’m back, back at my second home. For now. No idea what is going to happen after Brexit, I’ve heard so much my head hurts.

But anyway, a week back home definitely helped to clear my mind and decide what I want to do next. I’m still not feeling my best but I’m feeling better.

Thank you for all the lovely messages you sent me after my last post. I didn’t post to seek attention or make anyone feel sorry for me, I’d hate that.

At the end of the day living here on my own, away from my support network is my choice and I accept the consequences but pretending to be OK, happy and cheery all the time when I’m not, makes me feel much worse so I feel much better now that everything is out in the open.

I didn’t get to do a lot of sightseeing this time as I spent most of my time with my family and best friends (for more of my snaps of Cyprus check my insta https://www.instagram.com/eleni_zenonos or one of the many accounts I follow to remind me how beautiful my homecountry is https://www.instagram.com/heartcyprus

but here are some of the highlights:

-Laiki Geitonia- Old Nicosia- A traditional neighbourhood in the heart of Nicosia surrounded by traditional buildings, cafes, taverns and several souvenir stores.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSTge-eAAwn/

If you happen to  visit, make sure you walk down Ledras street for some nice food and go up the tallest building in Nicosia, on the Observatory where you get panoramic views of the city, including the occupied part (you can actually cross to the other side and see the other (occupied) half of the city and the rest of the island). Here’s a snap I took of the other half when I visited a while ago:

 

-Agios Iraklidios monastery in Politiko village. An old monastery (the church was originally built in 400AD, but the monastery was fully renovated in 1773) close to Nicosia. My mum’s favourite monastery, set in a peaceful, serene field with trees and flowers grown by the nuns there, who also make their infamous almond sweets. If you ever visit, you should definitely try them! And make sure you ask to visit the saint’s underground grave. It might feel a bit eerie if you are claustrophobic but how often do you get to walk around in a thousands years old underground cave?

If you go in the church to light a candle, turn to your right and go into the original part of the church. There is not much natural light but there are two small windows that let the sunshine in, it’s magical. I can’t describe the feeling but there is something special when you visit an old building that have been there for centuries, nurtured and loved by the nuns who are always smiling at you. You can see in their eyes how they’ve reached the higher levels of humility that fill their heart with peace and serenity.

In whatever mood you are, a visit will sooth your soul, regardless of any religion/non-religion views.

(Photos are not allowed inside the monastery, but if you want to see how it looks inside too, check Google images)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSLP5uBAROk/

-Panagia (Holly Mary) Chrisospilliotissa. A church/cave probably around since the 12th/13th century (there is not much information about it), built WITHIN a grand, imposing rock and covered in mural paintings inside.  Every time I visit I wonder how on earth they managed to build it!

If you enjoy a bit of history and architecture I definitely recommend it. There are no words to describe it really so here’s a snap:

-Finikoudes- Larnaca. A road full of palm trees, with a variety of restaurants to choose from on one side and Finikoudes beach and the beautiful, recently renovated marina on the other (there are many many more nice beaches and sightseeing in Larnaca).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSOyPllgtqv/

There’s much much more to this little but beautiful island which I can’t possibly fit in a post but these are the highlights from my most recent visit. More next time I visit, which will be summer!

Hope you enjoyed this 🙂

Love you all x

Eleni

My two homes…

If you are an expat (especially from Cyprus or Greece) ,you might relate to some of my thoughts and feelings about living abroad in your 30s.

For the first time for years, I’ve visited home feeling myself and eager to catch up with friends and people I haven’t seen for years (including the coolest lecturer I ever had and probably the best psychologist at least in Cyprus, if you live in Cyprus and need any advice or support, message me for details!), meet my little prince, my gorgeous godson and explore my homeland, something I haven’t done for years. And it felt amazing. I had the most amazing time (still one day left!) but I missed my second home too.

Millomeri waterfalls, at Platres, just stunning.

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If you live abroad, you probably know the feeling. Being back home feels amazing and sometimes I wonder whether I should move back at some point in my life. But then change my mind after a while and you probably understand why.

Being single in your 30s and living abroad is not easy for a small, close society to comprehend. Most of my friends are married and/or have kids and if you are not married you must have heard hundreds of times “You are getting older, you are almost 30, your cousin/sister/random people you don’t even remember/etc are married with kids, when are you getting married?”, “When are you moving back?”.

I’d like to have children at some point, but even if I get too old and that doesn’t happen, it’s not the end of the world. The most important thing in life is to be happy and enjoy life!

It’s difficult for others to accept that living abroad and having goals other than getting married and having a family is possible. And I understand that. This is the how they grew up and for them that is the ultimate goal.  But it can become frustrating being given ‘advice’ by everyone, even people who I don’t really know on what to do with my life.

After a week back home, I caught up with my best friends (sorry about the rest, I promise I will make it up next time!), met amazing people including probably the only 30 year old (ridiculously multitalented singer) who has a different mindset to most (guess what? he lived abroad for years!), spent quality time with family and even squeezed some time to go on day adventures. But it wasn’t enough. I could use another week or two. Then again, it never really feels enough. I will always miss my family and my friends.

On the other hand, I don’t think I can move back here permanently. I now have a second home which I miss dearly when I’m here. I miss my friends, my colleagues, my own space, my own life.

I now have no ties in Southampton or even the UK. I can move anywhere in the world, literally anywhere! And of course never say never. I have no idea how my life will evolve and where I might be this time next year.

But Southampton feels like home, even with all the changes in the last couple of months. And I can’t wait to go back and try new things, catch up with my friends, have my first mini holiday with Shebz (I missed you!!!) to initiate the celebrations of me becoming 30, make changes which I decided for once, and just have fun!

The lesson I’ve learned? Don’t get upset or take into serious consideration what other think is right for you. You know best, so trust yourself!

And the best advice I’ve received, from my 80 year old grandpa after I told him I broke up with my partner of 7 years (he easily forgets so he politely asked about him) “Are you happy? That’s all it matters!”

Love you all! x

 

 

We ‘ll go up, up, up…

A lot has happened since I came home and it’s only been 3 days! I won’t share all of it, because I’d like to keep some aspects of my personal life personal (but if we are friends on Facebook or Snapchat, I hope you are enjoying my updates!)

I recently shared the best picture I think I’ve ever taken so far.

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And I felt truly happy at that moment. Flying above the clouds, getting out of the routine, staring at the sun. Travelling towards the sun, what can top that, right?

And then I looked at the people next to me. A couple in their 60s, having wine and gin, laughing, talking about all sorts, holding hands…

At that very moment I thought, yes I am happy, being on a plane, going somewhere sunny. But it would made me even happier if I’d share that moment with someone special, like that lovely couple next to me, who looked like they ‘ve been with each other for years and years.

They now live in Cyprus permanently. I could imagine them having breakfast together in the sun in their pretty garden full of flowers, having a coffee and reading the newspaper, enjoying the silence and talking about random things and having a laugh every now and then.

I don’t need anyone else to be happy, you can be single and have all the fun in the world and after two breakups in 4 months, I think I had enough for now.

And I am not one of those people who thinks getting married and having kids is the ultimate goal in life, because for me it isn’t. 

But in the future, if I am lucky enough, I’d love to meet someone who makes me feel special and I make him feel special.

Someone who would be up for my crazy ideas and I’d be up for his. Who will love me for who I am and sticks with me even when life gets difficult and I’do the same for him.

Someone who I would share a special connection with and we will communicate with each other by just looking in each other’s eyes.

Go on trips and explore the world together, have fun and enjoy life together.

Sharing your life with someone special is beautiful and I haven’t had the chance to experience this special kind of love.

I won’t even mention my relationships in my early 20s, but my most recent ones  didn’t work out or ended too soon which made me wonder if I will ever find my Mr Sugar (thank you Cheryl Strayed for your awesome book, I highly recommend it!).

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If you found your Mr or Mrs Sugar, that special one, give them a special hug and a kiss today.

For now I am enjoying life with friends and family, living in the moment. Who knows what the future will bring?  Life is full of surprises!! And remember, never say never!

Love you all! X

PS. Special thank you to that one person who checks my blog every day 🙂