If you like Ayii Sarandi, here is a chance to revisit it. This is a long walk though and some of the terrain is rugged, so the short detour to the chapel n the cave is optional. You will still cover something in the region of 16 to 20 kms., enjoying fine views from the plateau and , if the sea is wild, some of the most exciting coastal scenery on the island.

Start anywhere in Protaras; most hotels are doing tempting weekend offers at present. Make your way to Prophitis Elias, the church on the hill at Protaras. Skirt round the left hand side of the crags and you will find a farm track that leads to the back of some new tourist places.

This dies out in a field with a dry streambed to the left. Cross the streambed and after a short scramble on the other side, you will find a track leading up through scrub. Eventually, after a short section of footpath, there is a cleared area with some old huts once used for army exercises. High ahead you can pick out the tiny dome of Ayii Sarandi on the outcrops of Phanos. The map indicates the detour to the chapel; otherwise follow the main route as shown.

The viewpoint marked at this stage gives a wide panorama, including the distant limestone outcrop of Cape Geco and the exotic development of the Protaras strip. Looking back you can see the slender finger of Karpasia pointing accusingly at Turkey. Continue south and soon you will reach a deep valley. Leave the track and descend into this to find pleasant walking through groves of wild olives.

By keeping left you will come to a quarry with a small building. This turns out to be another tiny church in the shade of a carob tree, Leave the valley just behind the chapel and cross about 50 meters of scrubland to a good track leading towards a couple of windmills. Go left at a farm before reaching these. The homestead and another a little further on form an oasis of human occupancy in the wilderness, Poultry scratch about, doves roost among the palms and there are pomegranates.

Ahead lies a prominent crag. On reaching this you will see Ayia Napa quite near and the outline of Cape Greco far to the east, and yes, you are going to walk all that way. Have courage, the descent is easy and all the way down to the sea will dazzle you in the winter sun. You pass a grove of eucalypts, a row of hives, some plastic green houses. Before you know it you are on the main road.

Just ten meters along the road to Protaras a good track leads down to the sea and a T-junction takes you towards the Cape. This rough road soon becomes a footpath, the path a line of Cairns that finally peters out into an area of reef limestone, full of shells and coral, deeply weathered into a Karst scene that would do justice to Yugoslavia. Careful; the rocks are razor sharp.

The best way is to keep near to the sea and soon you come to a deep cove with dark caves and fluted columns. Beneath the cliffs mushroom stacks speak of the power of the waves that come rolling I from the Mediterranean. The whole stretch from here to Cape Greco forms a rough platform where large waves break, showering spray onto the limestone formations. Soon the going gets easier. First a footpath and then a dirt road lead to the foot of an old cliff line.

From the headland a good footpath leads round to a deep bay. The limestone cliffs are weathered to grotesque shapes, ochre stained, and pitted with caves and crevices. You can watch the waves marching in across the bay and decide for yourself what you think of the fantastic outlines of the radar installations set up on Pidhalion.

Continue al the way round the headland and cross the road leading down to the end of the Cape. Keep as near to the sea as possible to see limpid rock-pools and a natural arch formed by the waves. The sea is gentler on this coast, the bays calm and protected. The church of Ayii Anargiri overlooks the next bay.

A new walking track is being laid out along the top of the cliffs, passing through dwarf juniper and pines. There are seats at frequent intervals, from which you can watch frogmen exploring the clear pools below. The first of the fine beaches of the Protaras area beckons. Follow the track high above this to Crystal Cove.

From here a variety of routes are on offer, taking you past the beaches of golden Coast and back to your starting point. The whole circuit will probably take about 5 hours, but of you are short of time, the coast round Cape Greco offers many possibilities for walking; and the view from the headland is magnificent.