Out of the Blue..........

......is when something unexpected or unforeseen happens as it did during the past seven days to me. Retired in the evening feeling normal and woke up in the morning unable to put my foot or leg to the ground. It was necessary to bang on the floor for help, I wonder what I would have done if I had been alone? As each day past the pain and disability in my knee deteriorated rapidly. Luckily when I eventually got in touch with my doctor, she saw me quickly, and within two hours of the phone call I was armed with some anti-inflammatory pills. She diagnosed inflammation behind the tendon in the front area of the knee. The experience during those first few days made me appreciate just how difficult it must be to be disabled and unable to carry out the most mundane or simple tasks we do each day. It is such a relief to be back to normal thanks to my doctor and our great National Health Service. 

Soon we shall be exploring sites from classical antiquity, hopefully in lovely weather, something that requires stamina and a good walking ability.

via

There is no blue without orange and yellow

Vincent van Gogh

In a letter to his brother Theo - Vincent once wrote "There is no blue without yellow and orange, and if you put in the blue, then you must put in the yellow and orange too, mustn't you?"

Be like the bluebird who never is blue,

For he knows from his upbringing what singing can do - Cole Porter

Once in a blue moon

Cotswold Church

Blue skies

Smiling at me

Nothing but blue skies

Do I see

Ella Fitzgerald

 Blue eyes

"Now she looks pale and small, but her eyes make me think of wide open skies."

Veronica Roth, Allegiant

Local Bluebell wood

Blue and green should never be seen!!!!

Blue horizon

Cape of Good Hope, South Africa 2017

No matter how far you travel, the horizon is always far beyond your reach.

******

"When we look up, it widens our horizons. We see what a little speck we are in the universe, so insignificant, and we all take ourselves so seriously, but in the sky, there are no boundaries. No differences of caste or religion or race.

Julia Gregson, East of the Sun

Salamis

 I loved exploring Salamis - arriving in the early morning mist before the sun had broken through, we had it to ourselves. Strewn around its ancient stones were carpets of wild flowers adding to the enchantment of this magical sleeping city

The outer buttressed walls, with the sea just visible beyond, gives some idea of the scale of this city from antiquity.
Salamis was one of the most opulent cities in Cyprus during the classical period with a history dating back to the 11th century BC.  Due to Salamis' strategic location beside the sea it became an important commerical port at the end of the 8th century BC and was particularly important for exporting copper

In connection with sea transportation we saw these remains of an ancient 4th century BC Greek merchant ship. First discovered on the seabed in 1965 and now housed in a special room at the castle in Kyrenia.

The Gymnasium was built during the first century BC and is where young Greek men gathered for physical workouts and cultural training. Each year one person from the town was elected to financially support the gymnasium and provide the athletes with olive oil used to rub into their bodies before the games.

Located near to the Gymnasium is the Frigidarium - a cold water bathing room where slaves provided the althletes with massages before they went into the Gymnasium. After their workout they would then visit the Tepidarium - medium hot water bath followed by the caldarium - hot water bath.

Replicas of classical statuary discovered at Salamis stand around the site 

St Barnabas and St.Paul visited Salamis establishing a church a few miles away. 

After surviving eathquakes and pirate raids the city was abandoned in the c7th AD when the population moved to what is now Famagusta

For thousands of years Salamis was completely covered in sand which helped to protect the remains until excavation work began in the mid c20th.  There is still a very large area awaiting further excavation work again lying hidden beneath sand and Pine trees.

Salamis cannot be compared to other well known sites such as Pompeii and Ephesus, but it is a lovely place to visit and a privilege to be able to enjoy it on your own.

Although the city was originally founded by the Greeks much of it was destroyed during several earthquakes, and most of what is visible today was built by the Romans
The amphitheatre is unusal in as much as it is free standing. Most Roman theatres tended to be built into hillsides.   

The latrines were a social gathering place for Roman men - the large area of latrines at Salamis had 44 seats with fresh water flowing constantly through the deep channels removing waste out into the sea.

The remaining marble columns and flooring reveal just how palatial Salamis must have been

 Lovely detail in these two Roman marble solomonic corinthian columns sculptured and carved in opposing directions

The old Roman road continues ever onwards to yet even more hidden treasures awaiting discovery