The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower had just anchored off the coast of Limissol Cyprus. After riding in on the Liberty Boat, I was on the beach and looking forward to getting to the hotel room that a group of us were going to stay in while we were there. After taking the contracted bus to the second of the pre-designated stops, four of the six people that were all headed to the Grand Hawaii Hotel got off the bus.
First, we had to wait on the rest of the group, so we decided to split up; the other two went on to the hotel. My liberty buddy, Tracy and I agreed we would wait on the others in the liberty party. We remained in the vicinity of the bus stop watching for the others. After about an hour and 17 busses later we decided that we must have missed them in the crowds getting off the bus.
This is where the fun and our story really begins.
We decided to head out. We had the free tourist maps of Limissol that were being passed out as soon as we were on shore. We saw our hotel on the map just outside the “magnified area” on the map and we were already half way there according to our map. Looked like about one mile maybe one and a half. No problem we will be there in no time. The “ever conscious me” even stepped into a gift shop and asked “How far was the Grand Hawaii Hotel?”
“Oh it is not too far just a little ways up the road, only about two Kilometers or so.” The shopkeeper cheerfully replied, undoubtedly hoping for a fast sale of some trinket. I did purchase a large bottle of water, both to say thank you and because a seasoned traveler always keeps well hydrated.
With new found confidence that the hotel was “just up the road” we headed out. We started out enjoying the scenery. We walked along the beach where we both agreed the local scenery was to our liking. The attire of the beach going crowd kept our spirits up. There is just something about topless beaches and sailors just getting ashore, always a great way to take your mind off the walk.
I checked the map periodically to see our progress; we are trekking along quite nicely. We are making significant progress along the “magnified” portion of the map. One mile down and only about a half a mile more to go, right?
Wrong.
We started looking around and the area was getting less and less touristy and more and more remote. Gone were the beaches filled with people replaced now with weeds and rocky shores. Not being overly concerned (yet) but still not seeing the hotel. I notice that the wind has picked up, the sun is gone, the water has transformed from a beautiful tranquil green to an ominous choppy dark green/inky black and dark clouds are rolling in (now I am starting to get a bit concerned). There is no easy shelter in sight as the first fat raindrops start to fall. We quicken our step a bit around the bend, ahead we see it - no not the hotel - rather a little apartment complex that has a wonderful covered alcove. Whew, just in the nick of time we duck in, at that same moment the sky opens up and a huge gully-washer (downpour for those non southern readers) is upon us.
After about 20 minutes of studying the map and looking for a legend, attempting to reassess our current location, and still not finding one. I can see that we are outside the “magnified” area on the map. It appears that we are right on top of the hotel or at worst it should be just around the next turn in the road. We have already traveled best guess over two and a half miles. I honestly have no idea how far the hotel is at this point. Being the “seasoned sailors” that we are, a little rain, now muddy road, and lack of landmarks on a map won’t stop us! We head back out only slightly worse for wear.
Onward Ho! Now passing the estimated three mile mark.
Each bend seems like it will be the one. We come across some beautiful ruins that were being excavated. Here I am trying to walk and get some pictures of the ancient columns and building foundations. SPLASH! Oops! Yuck! I step in a huge mud puddle, in the muck up to my knees. Now my feet are completely soaked and my shoes are almost twice as heavy from all the mud now hitching a free ride. Our sprits are sinking with each and every step. Adding insult to injury the sidewalk ends and it would appear that we are going to have to travel on the side of a very narrow two lane road. After just a few steps I spy a wooden walkway on the other side of the road. Carefully we cross the road, seems simple enough, right? Except for the fact that the Cyprian’s drive on the opposite side of the road so you are have to look the opposite from what we are used to.
We make it on to the walkway with out incident, other than an upset local that let us know his frustrations with his horn and a few choice words which neither of us understood. As we walk along the beach the sun has once again started to shine and my shoes are shedding off the now caking mud. Things are once again looking up but still no Grand Hawaii Hotel.
The walkway changes to a beaten path after about half a mile. About a quarter mile ahead I see some buildings that look like hotels and I mention this to Tracy we quicken our step. Moving forward the anticipation builds, we are thinking this has got to be our hotel. Lo and behold our Mecca, we finally have arrived at the Grand Hawaii Hotel.
Dragging our tired yet relived butt’s inside, we spy the rest of our party sitting in the bar relaxing. They look us over and you can just see in their faces the questions like “Where in the hell have you been?” and “What happened to you guys?” We summarize our events, everyone started to chuckle and tell us that they had all caught a cab, because who ever they had asked said it was way too far to walk. Slightly frustrated and feeling rather icky, I headed for the room for a long hot shower and a change of clothes.
I have learned a valuable lesson during this course of events. Never trust a local, rather ask around to make sure you have good information and for Pete’s sake Never, Never, Never (yes, I said it three times) trust a free tourist map, spend a few bucks and get a real map. The journey was lovely, aside from a few minor mishaps. I will look back on my trip to Cyprus fondly for years to come. I am now wiser and more wary of the seemingly innocent events that led up to one heck of a walk.
Just in case you were wondering, when I took a cab the next day back down to the bus stop area of Limissol checking the odometer I discovered that we had actually walked around ten kilometers or roughly six miles.
Thinking back to the shopkeeper, maybe he did say ten kilometers and not two. We may never know for sure.
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