Biking around Salt Lake

DISCOVERING NATURE WITH YOUR YOUNG ONE

Discovering nature with children is always fun, kids are easily amazed by the small wonders of our flora and fauna. I grew up in the Hungarian countryside, close to the deep, dark pine and oak forests, where deer, stag, wild pigs and pheasants were common sights. In Cyprus I found a different natural world, where you cannot see big-size wild animals, maybe rabbits or moufflon at the most, but only if you are really lucky. On our island migratory birds are the real attractions, among the most interesting animals to show to children and one the best places for observing them is by the Larnaca Salt Lake nature path. Unfortunately the mighty pink flamingoes have already left for this spring, but the sights and sounds are still unique around the lake, it could be enjoyed for another one or two months, before the big heat sets in.

Our son is almost three years old, so I found biking a great way to move around and discover nature in the saddle. We had a pair of bikes with my husband before our son’s birth, so when he was around 1.5 years old, we bought a baby-carrier for the back of one of the bikes and this is how we started showing him around and talking about whatever we saw. Of course, biking is not so safe on Cyprus’ roads and there are not enough biking paths in Larnaca especially there are quite a few bike roads both in Limassol and Nicosia that I hope Larnaca would also adapt), but if you know the right place, it can also be enjoyable and above all, safe.

I am sharing our biking experience with you as I hope that more and more families will discover it and Larnaca will be a bit of a biking town with the municipality’s investment into the necessary infrastructure as well (it is possible to cycle in Cyprus throughout the year, except for the hot, humid summer months). The Larnaca Salt Lake nature trail has been the favourite and most convenient for us to cycle on and gave me, as a mother, a chance to exercise a bit. It is relatively in the town’s centre, easily approachable from several entry roads. The two starting points are on Mekenzy on one side (just below Ktima Mekenzy, on Artemis Avenue, towards the old airport) and Kamares Aquaduct (on the exit road of Larnaca towards Limassol) on the other, and in between these two points there are several smaller roads leading onto the nature path (for instance by the Pattichio Ampitheatre nature park). The trail is very popular, pensioners also like walking here and thankfully the municipality seems to take good care of it: they regularly cut the fast growing weed on both sides of the road, smoothens the path with their special machines and regularly paint the benches where you can take a rest. I hope they would also extend the path around the whole lake one day!

We live in the Vergina area of Larnaca and usually approach the Kamares start of the path on our bike by taking the back roads, but you can also carry the bikes on the back of your car and just park the car here. This is the point where late in the evenings frogs are croaking, their concerts can be heard from far away. You cannot really see the frogs, as they are very shy and if they hear you talking or moving, they suddenly stop croaking. I found biking as a great way to expand our vocabulary and learn new words in action, so my son learnt the word “croaking” here as well as “reed” as we cycle in between the reeds further on.

After the parade of the omnipresent caterpillars a few weeks ago, now the snails are out in great numbers, big and small, carrying their houses. We stop sometimes and observe them, as they try crossing the road. Naturally we need to manouvre and zig-zag, in order not to smash them while riding. Besides the interesting plant life, there are of course other small creatures: giant ants, butterflies, bees, by the evening hungry mega-sized moscitoes and birds, birds, birds…singing everywhere and every time. Around halfway on the path is the wooden look-out house, where you can observe migratory birds. It is fun to climb up here on the stairs and stay a bit in the small house, listening to nature for a few minutes.

The bike trail’s length is around 4 kilometers each way, so we ride around 8 kilometers (around 10 kilometers, including the back roads from our home) each time, which is a great exercise and a fun adventure to do once or twice a week. This can be done easily in one - one and a half hours, depending on your speed and how many times you want to stop. After spending an hour or so out in nature, I feel refreshed both physically and mentally, ready to go on with the other everyday chores.

By Beata Pal Christoudoulou

LPN Mum

“Beata Pal Christoudoulou is a communications consultant at Action Global Communications, Nicosia, Cyprus”