Larnaca - a city where flamingos winter

Larnaca, a city on the southern coast of Cyprus, was not on my travel list. We bought tickets spontaneously, hoping to catch some late summer sun in November. Cyprus surprised me even before we got there. Firstly, it turned out that the country is not part of the Schengen zone, and I was anxiously waiting for my turn at passport control. "That's alright. Please pass," a border guard says. I breathe a sigh of relief and look at the signs in Greek. Cyprus has two official languages, Turkish and Greek.

On the first evening, we go to a local restaurant with live music. It turns out that there is a birthday party, and guests are dancing in a circle, throwing napkins in the air. Apparently, this is what locals do for fun.

Larnaca is the third-largest city, after the capital, Nicosia, and Limassol. But one day is enough to explore it without rushing . In the old town stands the stone church of Saint Lazarus, dating back to the 9th century. The square is decorated with a Christmas tree, despite it being the early days of November, and the air temperature being around 25 degrees. The water temperature is roughly the same, and I don't miss the chance to swim in the Mediterranean Sea.

The beach and the promenade of Finikoudes are named after the palm trees surrounding the area. The promenade starts from the medieval castle of Larnaca. For a small fee, we enjoy the view from the ramparts and take a look at the medieval pottery in the little museum. Taking a long walk by the promenade, we stop at the beach bar and watch planes taking off from the nearby airport.

Our final destination is Salt Lake, where pink flamingos and other birds spend the winter. The sky also becomes pink as the sun goes down over the water.