It's amazing how this holiday season has just flown by. A Christmas holiday in London and a few days in Paphos to welcome the New Year were more than enough for me to relax, recharge the batteries and begin the new term at school tomorrow. After London where Alkis and I spent a lot of time walking, catching buses and trains, sightseeing, shopping and going out, our short holiday in Paphos, on the western coast, was peaceful and very relaxing. Paphos is one of my most favourite holiday destinations in Cyprus as it combines the unspoilt beauty of tranquil beaches and the hustle and bustle of a small, touristy town. In winter, however, there are few tourists and it's much quieter. Once more, we stayed at Coral Bay Beach Hotel overlooking Coral Bay - one of the most beautiful beaches in Cyprus.
On our way to Coral Bay (Pegeia Village) at about 150 km from Larnaca, we had lunch at Captain's Fish Tavern at the village of Pissouri. Both the food and the service are excellent and prices are very reasonable.
The weather was a bit whimsical: Sunny days and blue skies were soon replaced by storms, strong winds and torrential rain. The whims of the weather, however, did not spoil our high spirits not for one moment.
On our first night at Coral Bay, we had dinner at the Japanese restaurant Samisen - not far from our hotel. On a cold, rainy night, Miso soup with chicken was the perfect starter. I also loved their maki, sushimi and teppanyaki salmon served with rice and vegetables. If you like Japanese food and happen to be in the area, give it a try. You won't regret it. After such a great dinner, we enjoyed our drinks in the festive and romantic atmosphere of the bar at Coral Bay Beach Hotel.
(Sorry my flash didn't go off in the last photo)
Today is the last holiday for the Greeks. On the stroke of January 6th, the "twelve days of Christmas" officially
come to an end. This day takes on a special meaning in Greece and
Cyprus. All over the world, the Greek orthodox observe the baptism of
Jesus Christ by John the Baptist, in the river Jordan. The Greek word
for Epiphany is Theophania meaning the "appearance of God" referring to
the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. According to tradition, we eat fish on January 6th, which reminds me that I definitely need to go back to healthy eating habits after having indulged in copious meals and desserts for two weeks now! Grilled salmon and a salad sound great for lunch today.
I know how much you love Japanese food and I'm glad you enjoyed it. In Japan, Miso soup is served for breakfast and seasonal vegetables are used to give it flavor. The chicken miso soup in your photo looks great!! By the way, have you learned to use chopsticks? :-) Here is my recipe for homemade chicken miso soup for you and your friends:
Ingredients -
¼ cup miso paste
5 cups water
2 tablespoons vinegar
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 cups frozen soybeans
6 mushrooms, sliced
4 cups chopped cabbage
2 cups boneless, skinless chicken breast
5 cups low sodium chicken broth
3 slices fresh ginger root
Preparation:
Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cut it into 2 inch strips.
Heat the canola oil in a saucepan and add the cabbage, mushrooms, and ginger. Sauté over a medium heat, stirring well, for 5 minutes.
Add the water, bring the mixture quickly to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove it from the heat.
In another pan, bring the chicken broth to a simmer over a medium high heat.
Whisk the miso with a few tablespoons of the warm broth in another bowl until it dissolves.
Combine this with the chicken broth.
Leave the cabbage and mushroom mixture off the heat.
Add the chicken to the miso mixture and simmer gently for about 10 minutes.
Stir in the soybeans and cook for another 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Take the soup off the heat and add the vegetable mixture and some vinegar. Stir well and serve.
(Serves 8)
Posted by: Haruko N | January 06, 2013 at 02:07 PM
I'm glad you're back and I can sense that you truly enjoyed your vacation. That's awesome. Just like you, I love Japanese food. Thanks for sharing these lovely photos.
Posted by: A Twitter User | January 06, 2013 at 04:48 PM
Awesome pics! Are u a photographer?
Posted by: James Parson | January 06, 2013 at 09:54 PM
Thanks for stopping by, James. I'm not a photographer. I'm a teacher who loves photography.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone
Posted by: Anastasia | January 06, 2013 at 10:45 PM
Christmas was really hectic for me. I cooked for the whole family, relatives and friends - 20 people in all. We had a great time but I was exhausted by the end of the day. New Year was more quiet, we celebrated at home, just the family. Great photos as always!
Posted by: Stefania | January 07, 2013 at 08:06 PM
I also like Miso soup and was looking for an authentic recipe. Thanks for sharing. I'll certainly try it.
Posted by: Stefania | January 07, 2013 at 08:07 PM
I visited Paphos and Coral Bay many times during my stay in Limassol - especially in the summer. I agree, Paphos has a very special character and unique natural beauties. I like the peacefull atmosphere in Paphos but also its cosmopolitan character. I used to go there often, mostly for work but I also had the chance to explore Akamasand then, at night I would enjoy discovering some cool restaurants, bars and clubs. I am planning a comeback - this time for a vacation only! Thanks for sharing all these great photos which remind me of the two wonderfull years I spent in your beautiful country.
Posted by: Alexia M | January 07, 2013 at 09:03 PM
Well, that sounds like a great holiday to begin the new year. I live so near Paphos and rarely visit. I guess I'll never learn to appreciate travelling to places next door even if they are so very different. But living on the coast makes me want to travel to the mountains when I have a weekend off work, which is rare these days. Happy New year!
Posted by: Sophia | January 07, 2013 at 09:30 PM
I am sure you will love it! It's the real japanese recipe for chicken miso.
Posted by: Haruko N | January 09, 2013 at 01:24 PM
Glad to see you had such a great time in Paphos. Your photos are truly awesome! Coral Bay looks magical even before a storm.
Posted by: Christina | January 10, 2013 at 12:02 PM