Like a child in a sweet-shop...

Pete and I were out early on the first full day of the holiday. We strolled onto a limestone hillside only five minutes walk from the villa, basking in the warm Mediterranean sunshine. 

It's hard to describe the variety of flowers, but every couple of steps brought a wonderful new species - stately Asphodelus and Allium, diminutive Gagea, sweeps of sugar-pink Cyclamen persicum, multicoloured Vicia and Lathyrus and a whole range of different bee-orchids Ophrys. I was definitely like a child in a sweet-shop - almost overwhelmed by the colour and variety. This is one of the most stunning of the orchids, Ophrys sphegodes subsp. transhyrcana or Ophrys morio - the taxonomists seem to be in nearly as much confusion as I was trying to sort out all the different forms!

The boys were enjoying the garden and pool, but we dragged them to the Baths of Aphrodite, where we had lunch at a taverna - grilled halloumi and Greek salads - delicious. We were then presented with two large bags of oranges when we left - there was something of a local glut!

The wind had got up by the time we went round the Botanic Gardens, where there were lots more new species. We then had a walk along the coast of the Akamas Peninsula, returning as dusk fell. 

We ventured into Latchi for our evening meal. It was definitely low season, and the harbour-side tavernas were vying for our custom. We chose the one with the friendliest waiters, which proved to be really excellent - another culinary delight.