Cyprus-Forum.com

[miltiades]

Milti, your shrink must be a happy man.

I'm an early riser, up by 3.30 -4 am, having prepared my morning brew of Green Leaf Tea.I sit on my veranda and take in the peaceful early morning, gazing across the sea and watching the anchored boats, brightly illuminated, cant see many stars, at least not as many as I saw last evening after enjoying my bottle or two of Retsina, quite fond of this unique taste of Greek wine.

16c the temperature right now, pleasant enough to allow you to sit outside and take everything in, my other ...quarter will wake up about 9 am, by that time I will have gone to the pier close by and wait for the sunrise. Those magical bright sun rays breaking through announcing the start of another day, if I'm lucky might even hear some birds chirping, that is if there are any left !!!

Have an early date with a fascinating and highly educated Greek professor, now retired from teaching Greek Philology and Philosophy at an American university. Met the honourable gentleman at a 24 hour mini market that I visit when in Cyprus, and chat to Alex the owner. The Professor is a young man of 87 but in good health despite being a diabetic. A very eloquent man who speaks Greek like no one I ever met, he has a sense of humour too, he promised to bring me a couple of his books, he wrote 12 apparently, mostly dealing with social life, many poems too he told me, I look forward to seeing him this morning.

Planning my trip to Paphos later on and of course Stroumbi The Great, have been promised some home made wine, this years vintage . cant wait to taste it !

Have a great day in the Paradise island of Cyprus.

[miltiades]

I had my meeting today with PANOS VOZIKIS , he is in fact 80 years old and not as I wrote earlier 87.

He very kindly gave me seven of his works, brilliantly and exceeding eloquently written, many poems and much philology
I find my self reading the first work " TA LEME" and feeling inadequate in my knowledge of the Greek language, this Professor, this brilliant mind can be searched on Google, much written about him.

I expressed my immense admiration and gratitude to him, in fact I have just called him and again offered him my deepest respect for introducing me to his brilliant work.

Indeed, Cyprus is PARADISE, more so having met this exquisitely unbelievably intellectual and having listened to his enormous vocabularies of the Greek language.

I also met MIHALIS PAPAS, a poet and a painter, born in Paphos but spent some years in London,

He too kindly offered me two of his works, written in English. Both of these gentlemen I met at my friends Mini Market.

Mihalis also gave me one of his paintings, tried to pay, a packet of cigarettes he said will do and a warm handshake.

Alas Mihalis has not been in good health of recent, but an interesting artist nevertheless.

I do make friends easily since I do not discriminate between rich and poor, well educated or not, this time however I feel that meeting Panos Vozikis has been the highest interaction I have ever experienced, will see him tomorrow morning again, and also Mihalis.

[Oceanside50]

Indeed Cyprus is paradise, just waking up in the morning in Cyprus gives me a taste of what paradise is like

[miltiades]

Spent 9 days in Sweet Sunny Cyprus, what a dream what a wonderful island.Arrived back in London on Sunday 17th
back to work yesterday and have already booked my Xmas visit on December 17th, this time for about 3 weeks, haven't done this for a long time !

Temperature in London right now 4c, Limassol 21c !!!

I started writing a poem about my eternal love, the everlasting and passionate love for my Cyprus and its people, the carefree attitudes that are still prevalent even in adversity.

So many shops closed down and up for rent, exorbitant rents I might add, yet I had the ...privilege of seeing some prices, ( most shops do not display prices) in a womans boutique, prices that make you cringe, who buys these exorbitantly priced cloths I wondered. A lady's short sleeved shirt, no pockets , no lining up for 379 euros!!! Reduced apparently by 80% !!! A sexy looking skirt at a mere 505 es, horrid looking boots for a song, 759 euros.!!!

Enough of these, but it does look that there are people in Cyprus with more bloody money than sense, PLONKERS!

The Limassol Pantopoulion, once bursting with activity now almost deserted, but I did mange to buy a half a kilo of snails and chat to the fishmongers who told that prices of fish have come down a lot, well I don't know I still think that comparing to UK prices fish in Cyprus is expensive.

How about kiddies books, astronomical prices for tiny mass produced booklets.

Life goes on in some quarters, villagers eager to shake your hand and warmly welcoming you to the village.

My meeting with Professor and Poet Panos Vozikis and his gift of 8 of his works to me were indeed the highlight of the glorious days I spent in Cyprus. We became friends and spent an hour or so in my apartment discussing one of his works, TA LEME, a poetic reprimand, a ferocious one too, to NEMESIS , the daughter of Night and Oceans.

Oh the Greek language, so expressive so insatiably artistic, so much so that I have begun again to study the wealth surrounding this multi facet language.

Will return to Paradise island, will breath its air, soak the sun and listen excitedly at the thunderous winter weather while consuming unlimited Cypriot village wine and zivania.

[repulsewarrior]

cheers!

[GreekIslandGirl]

Oh the Greek language, so expressive so insatiably artistic, so much so that I have begun again to study the wealth surrounding this multi facet language.

Must agree with you there. A very beautiful language. Perfect.

[miltiades]

Έγώ πού αγαπώ,
καί δέν γνωρίζω τι αγαπάω
τά γνωρίζω όλα
καί τά γνωστά άγνωστα πού λιμνάζουν
στίς συντροφιές μου, καί επαναλαμβάνονται.
Έχει σημασία ό τρόπος
καί ο τρόπος εΐμαι έγώ,
πού γελάω καί κλαίω—
έάν κλαίω ή γελάω.
Είναι πικρό ν' ανθίζεις λουλούδια
καί να μήν τ άγαπας
PANOS VOZIKIS

[miltiades]

Έγώ πού αγαπώ,
καί δέν γνωρίζω τι αγαπάω
τά γνωρίζω όλα
καί τά γνωστά άγνωστα πού λιμνάζουν
στίς συντροφιές μου, καί επαναλαμβάνονται.
Έχει σημασία ό τρόπος
καί ο τρόπος εΐμαι έγώ,
πού γελάω καί κλαίω—
έάν κλαίω ή γελάω.
Είναι πικρό ν' ανθίζεις λουλούδια
καί να μήν τ άγαπας
PANOS VOZIKIS

English version. If translated word by word the meaning diminishes..
I who loves
not knowing what I love
but I know it all
the known and unknown stagnate
within my inner circle, replicating..
Much significance in my way
and it is my way, laughing and crying,if I cry or laugh
What a tragedy to cultivate blossoming flowers
and not to love them.
Translated by MILTIADES , PROPERTY OF THE GREAT MAN PANOS VOZIKIS

[miltiades]

Ποτέ δεν εσταμάτησα να σ'έχώ στην καρδιά μου
με καρδιοχτύπια γρήγορα μετρώντας τις ημέρες
να νιώσώ την ανάσα σου , με κάθε ακτίνα ήλιου
περήφανη και ευφυής, λέει καλημέρα σ'όλους
Αυτή είναι η Κύπρος μου που τόσο πολύ λατρεύώ

A little poem to get get my taste buds energized....
coming on the 19th!!!

[GreekIslandGirl]

Ποτέ δεν εσταμάτησα να σ'έχώ στην καρδιά μου
με καρδιοχτύπια γρήγορα μετρώντας τις ημέρες
να νιώσώ την ανάσα σου , με κάθε ακτίνα ήλιου
περήφανη και ευφυής, λέει καλημέρα σ'όλους
Αυτή είναι η Κύπρος μου που τόσο πολύ λατρεύώ

A little poem to get get my taste buds energized....
coming on the 19th!!!

Book Cyprus Airways or you shall never hear the end of it!