Living in the land where olives are one of the staples of life, it was really exciting this week to find the very large black, low salt olives which I have come to love at a much better price! Where I was first introduced to these olives the price was $10 per kilo which is about the price I think we pay in Canada. But the new source has them at $6.25 per kilo! The exact same olives so now I can indulge without feeling guilty - I am certain that these are the kind which do not add one kilo to the one eating them - Ha, ha!
There is fierce competition here in Cyprus within the bakery industry. Zorpas, Marangos are neck and neck in garnering the largest number of clients and have very brightly lit stores which are easy to access, so there is always heavy traffic around them. In fact both of these have stores relatively close to our flat. However, we do not find their products, particularly bread, very tempting - too much of commercial, too little of old home taste and texture. Healthy bread, called black bread here even though it is not, is not much better since some is merely white bread with caramel added to give it a darker appearance - like white sugar sprayed with molasses and called brown sugar!! Further away we have found a small independent bakery called Three Bakers. This one wins hands down! Good taste to the bread and excellent texture.
One loaf they make is called a village loaf and is baked in the old fashioned clay ovens which are first of all heated with a wood burning fire, and then when the clay is hot the fire is removed and the bread put in - slow cooking makes for a delicious bread - now that is something worth eating! Particularly when a staff member left some of the very best marmalade on my desk this week. Her husband had made it and it has that lingering taste of bitter that I so love! Please pass the bread and marmalade . . .
On Wednesday evening of the week we were saddened to hear of the sudden passing of the Minister of Education and Culture - a man deeply respected because of what he had done to advance the cause of education on the island! On behalf of the school I had to go and deliver a wreath the next day just prior to the funeral. Here, the practice is to bury the body within 24 hours so there is no embalming and preparations move very quickly! Students were particularly pleased to learn that the school was closed in honor and memory of this fine gentleman.
The suddenness of his passing reminds us all that God may indeed call us at any time so we need to make certain that our eternal destiny is in order!
Last evening we had the privilege of attending a concert put on by the Polish cultural society here in Cyprus and it was thoroughly enjoyable - Greek Cypriot soprano soloist and Polish pianist presenting songs of Poland and France! Delightful is all I can say!
The picture is to create a little envy as we suffer here so far from family and friends! We talked with Andrew in Toronto this morning and he told us it was -12ºC while here it was 16ºC. We are thankful for the sun, but need some rain desperately since there is the threat of rationing due to the low levels in the reservoirs.
Thank you for your continuing letters and concern!
David
posted by David & Marian Sloss @ 9:52 AM
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