Back of Beyond

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A Tour of The Back of Beyond

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Finding Back of Beyond

Look for the Art Studio sign

- on the Latchi to Neo Chorio Road, just after the hillside Z bend, turn Left

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Back of Beyond

Situated in a tranquil valley

on the approaches to the Village of Neo Chorio and the Akamas Peninsula, this a perfect place for Harry and Sheila to gain inspiration for their painting and writing.

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The Studio

pop in through the back gate

- give the bell some 'wellie' and Sheila or Harry will greet you

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A Garden to Enjoy

throughout the seasons

offering peace and tranquility

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Lazy Lizard

- content in the Back of Beyond sunshine

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A Cool Corner

- poolside retreat

one of many interesting corners in which to sit peacefully.

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Springtime

the Judas tree in full blossom

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Time for a tune

Always ready for a musical interlude

- Harry, ever ready to join with friends in an impromptu session.

Sheila's Blog

Over the past few weeks the island has been soaking up some very heavy and much needed rainfall. The large dams are more than half full, and in this area the smaller dams of Argaka and Pomos have overflowed for the first time in ages.

wild anemones
Wild anemones
This kind of precipitation is good news for all of us, unless of course, you happen to own a property which has been built on hastily bulldozed landfill, or sited in a dry river-bed or a flood plain - not to mention on the edge of a watershed or a ravine. Or indeed if you live below a large concrete catchment area which causes masses of run-off water to head your way instead of being absorbed into the ground (and subsequently the aquifers) as it once was.

However, where it has seeped gratefully into the parched soil in, as yet, unspoilt areas like the Akamas, a magical transformation has taken place. While the UK has continued to struggle with near arctic conditions, springtime has quietly arrived in Cyprus.

Tiny narcissi blooming in the fields around us were soon followed by lilac, blue, pink and white anemones which carpeted the ground in places. Now the cyclamen, for which this area is famous, is in full bloom and some of the larger, showy wild orchids are flowering profusely beneath olive, carob, and pine trees which are displaying their newly-washed and glistening foliage.

In the garden the rosemary hedge is thickly covered in blue flowers, and scarlet and apricot hibiscus, together with white and lavender-coloured lantana, bloom beneath the climbing sprawl of red and deep violet bougainvilleas, while ivy-leaf geraniums trail from terracotta pots around the swimming pool.

For those of you who, like us, are lucky enough to be here, the beauty of the Akamas in springtime will lift your spirits and make you glad to be alive.

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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 February 2010 )