Buns in the Oven!
Each new day brings new experiences here in Cyprus and today was no different. I met some interesting people and made new, unforgettable memories .. Oh, and took way too many pictures 🙂
The day started with an early bus ride to a small town right out of Nicosia for our first video shoot for our documentary. We were heading to meet a bread maker who would show us the tradition behind baking Cypriot bread. When we arrived, I was so shocked to see that we weren’t at an actual bakery like the ones you would imagine. Instead, we were pulling up to a small building behind someone’s house with a gravel road leading up to it.
The clothes line outside the "bakery"
Inside the building the atmosphere was almost quaint. The rooms were small and crowded with clutter used in the baking process. While my eyes and body wandered around the small bakery taking in every little detail, my nose was just as busy picking up the aromas in the air. I could smell fresh bread, the oranges from the orange tree outside, the herbs used in the bread drying on a table and the coffee that had been prepared for our group. Speaking of which, considering no one there (by no one, I mean neither of the only 2 people there) spoke any English and we were definitely slowing them down by being there, they were so hospitable! They brought us Greek coffee, cold Halloumi and some bread they had baked.
Fresh bread waiting to be boxed up in the bakery
The orange tree right outside the bakery door
The fresh herbs being dried for the bread (they were actually grown right outside)
The fresh Greek coffee with cold Halloumi they brought out for us
Unfortunately due to space, I didn’t get to be inside the bakery during the process to watch filming. In the mean time however, I sat outside in the shade talking to Ioannis (John) our bus driver.
Part of the crew setting up for filming outside
While there was a huge language barrier, John understood when I needed him to repeat things and made a lot of jokes to lighten the mood. My time outside was well spent, hearing about him and his life. John is a native of Greece and has lived in Cyprus 16 years. He has traveled the world due to jobs like working on a ship and driving buses through Europe. John brought his camera out and showed me pictures of his hometown in Greece, his family, other parts of Cyprus and some of his close friends. And then he wanted a picture of me under the orange tree and I happily let him take one! John was such an interesting person, and speaking to him gave me a new respect for those who come to the US and don’t understand our language. It is so frustrating to want to understand someone and simply not be able to, despite what they may try to do.
A close up of Ioannis while he was talking about his travels
Me holding some fresh picked oranges under the orange tree
Overall my experience today can only be described as priceless. The experience at the bakery and seeing the generosity of the people here was amazing and something I will never forget. The people here can only be described as caring, loving and full of life. They each have their own story, just like Ioannis, and if you just sit down, open your mind and ears, and have a little patience, what you will hear and learn will forever change you. The people of Cyprus are teaching me lessons I never could have learned in the fast paced life of my American home and I will be forever grateful for this. Until next time .. Stay tuned 🙂