My motorcycle rides through the mountains of Troodos continue. After a visit to the beautiful monastery of Saint Neophytos, who refused to introduce himself, I continue north. Through small streets I pass vineyards, orchiards and olive groves.

The nature is beautiful and the country life is very calm. I hardly see any cars.

The landscape reminds me a lot of Greece

After about an hour, after leaving the monastery and coming through a few rain showers, I reach the Kannaviou Dam. The area is very beautiful, but the dam seems like a spaceship wrongly parked in the idyll.

A few easygoing people are fishing next to a no-fishing sign. A few Russian tourists take photos. I keep driving.

A small road leads from the dam up into the mountains. It meanders through a no man’s land of cedars. It’s getting chilly, but it’s very beautiful. Nobody comes towards me.

Only a few chapels appear on the way.

The landscape is a motorbike dream

At the only small café on the way I take the chance to drink a Cypriot coffee. Somehow a coach with British tourists ended up here after not seeing anyone for hours.

In the afternoon I return west and to the coast. The roads in the mountains are treacherous. More than once in the corners there is gravel on the asphalt and I can just about save the machine and myself. Good that there is no oncoming traffic.

Crushed stone on the asphalt – a deadly hazard for motorcycles

The landscape is literally in its best light at sunset. I leave the cloudy weather in the mountains behind me and come to the first villages during the golden hour.

The road slowly meanders back to the sea and I see more people again. I’m getting closer to Paphos and by the time I reach the town it’s almost dark. It’s time to eat.

I find a nice little restaurant and enjoy fresh moussaka with Cypriot red wine. A good end to the day. For the next day I plan to go to the west coast.