Musings

Knocking on the door   Fasoula village, which has 400 inhabitants, is 7 km north of Limassol and has existed since Medieval times. The name may be derived from the Frankish word 'fasoula', which means 'sickle'.  The village is a peaceful, rural retreat with several museums displaying traditional Cypriot life. Visits to the Agricultural Museum, Olive Press, Carob Museum and Folklore Museum require a prior appointment and are accessible all year round.  Several sculptures are displayed by the famous Cypriot sculptor, Philippos Yiapanis, who relocated from Famagusta to the village. Typical stonework can be seen in the centre of the village on Aristotle Street. A number of traditional taverns and coffee shops are located in this area. As spring approaches, the villages begin to display the vibrant colours we have missed during the winter months. The surrounding area is lush at this time of year with its blossoming almond, olive and carob trees. The ornate doo...

What we learn from almond trees  The sight of flowering almond trees currently in the Troödos Mountain range in Cyprus is nothing short of delightful. Not only do they add bursts of light to the drab winter landscape, but they also shed a delicate fragrance in the wind. When we see the almond blossoms, we know spring is on its way. History   Originating in the Middle East, almond trees are now found throughout the Mediterranean, Southern Europe, Africa and America. It is not known when the tree was domesticated, but evidence of domesticated almonds from as early as the 4th century B.C. has been found at the archaeological site Numeira in Jordan.¹  The almond tree is also mentioned several times in the Old Testament. Almonds were among the produce sent by Jacob as a gift for Joseph in Genesis 43. The miraculous budding of Aaron’s rod in Numbers 17 was that of an almond rod. The design of the lampstand in the Tabernacle was based on the motif of almond buds and blossoms (...