Adventures in Cyprus
In the summer of 1986, I went on my first overseas trip—a six-week stint at an archaeological field school on the island of Cyprus. To say this trip was out of my comfort zone is putting it mildly. Prior to Cyprus, I’d only traveled along the West Coast of the US, and my only experience with archaeology was a dig in Southern California. But at age twenty, I was eager for adventure, so I took a leap into the unknown.
For years, I’ve been wanting to turn these adventures into stories, which is why I decided to write a series of romantic comedies set in the world of archaeology. Naturally, the first book had to be set in Cyprus, since this was where it all began. But it was hard to recall the details since I hadn’t been to the Mediterranean in over 30 years. As I was poring over videos and travel blogs, a thought came to me—what if I went back? Once I started researching flights and hotels, I realized how affordable it would be to visit during the off-season.
Once again, I decided to take the leap. I booked a trip to Cyprus in mid-March 2022, with the plan of revisiting all the key places from my 1986 experience, many of which play an important role in the book I’m writing.
I also took a day trip to Kouklia, a tiny village located about twelve miles from Pahpos, where the archaeological field school was housed. Though I didn’t find the location of the school where we stayed, I did revisit the ancient Sanctuary of Aphrodite—the ruins of a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Not only did it hold some intimate memories for me, but the site plays a key role in my book!
Now that I’m back from my travels, I’m so glad I made the trip. Notebook in hand, I wrote down all my observations and marveled at how much the island had changed. In the 30+ years since I’ve been there, Cyprus is far more developed, especially in the harbor towns—more condos, holiday villas, high-rise buildings, and beachfront hotels. Yet other parts are still beautifully unspoiled, like the hills and villages in the Akamas Peninsula and the Troodos Mountains. During my travels, everyone I met was friendly and welcoming.
Back in 1986, after my six weeks in Cyprus, I was eager to explore even more of the world. Now, in 2022, I feel the same way. This trip is just the beginning—I want to start traveling again, not just to places where I’ve worked, but to countries I never had a chance to visit. Will I be able to do it? Will the world keep changing so that travel is no longer possible? I’m not sure, but for as long as I can, I want to keep having adventures.