Archbishop Makarios was elected the first president of the Cyprus Republic a few months before independence from the British in 1960 (he had earlier been deported by the British for refusing to condemn the violent anti-colonial campaign). A plan to move the national leader's statue from the Archbishop's Palace (in the background) in Nicosia to a higher mountaintop setting has caused upset in the still divided city, and the statue has been subject to a paint attack which the authorities have done their best to conceal before its removal (but I got my mobile in under the tarpaulin!).
Posted on 1st October 2008
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The village of Mosfiloti existed in the Mediaeval times and was constructed around the monastery of Agia Thekla, established by Saint Helen in 330 AD. Under the monastery ran a spring with holy water used by the faithful to heal skin diseases and cases of eczema. The monastery was recently renovated and re-established by two sisters (biological and religious) from Nicosia and is open to the public. The Mother Superior, Constantia, is an accomplished ikon painter
Posted on 1st October 2008
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Early public art involving the community (whether they wanted to be or not!)
Posted on 1st October 2008
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Came across this odd local scene whilst buying film in a side street shop off the main square – before hitting the tourist madness of the pyramids
Posted on 1st October 2008
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Saw this from the back of one of Cairo's mad taxis.
Posted on 1st October 2008
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Umm Kalthoum, Egypt's biggest diva. Considered a legend in Arab countries, her voice also reached parts of the west at a time when Middle Eastern music sounded strange to western ears. Because of religious and traditional views in early 1920s Cairo, she began her singing career disguised as a boy. Later, as a successful, influential public figure and fervent nationalist, Umm Kalthoum lived on Cairo's Zamalek Island,on the the Nile and became an ambassador for her country. The monument to her has been erected on the site of her villa there.
Posted on 1st October 2008
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People living and working in the back streets of Alexandria seem to enjoy decorating the place with whatever is at hand. There seems to be a thriving fibrous plaster casting studio nearby, happy to let their reject ceiling roses and other plaster details be used to add texture to area.
Posted on 6th September 2008
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As we came out of Alexandria train station, after the wave of hustling taxi drivers hit us we were bombarded by waves of imagery and text - everywhere. This brightly coloured mosaic was almost lost in all the noise!
Posted on 5th September 2008
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A clash of world views – This classical Titan god is standing facing a 19th century gothic church across a busy Manhatten street.
Posted on 31st July 2008
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