Nicosia, Cyprus, The Old City within the Walls

Nicosia is the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, an island state in the Mediterranean sea. The capital was first violently divided into Turkish and Greek quarters in 1964 and divided further after the Turkish invasion of 1974.
Nicosia is the only divided capital since the Berlin wall was taken down.
During my recent brief sojourn in Cyprus to present my novel, Archangel, out of necessity, I spent most of my time in Nicosia.
Here is a photographic tribute to this ancient city that never fails to capture my imagination.

 View of the Folklore Museum.

Large earthen vessels used in the old days to store olive oil, olives, flour and other goods.

The double headed eagle is the emblem of the Byzantium and by extension of the Greek Orthodox Church.

 Church steeple

 The old Gymnasium Building

 Traditional Cypriot products

 Herbs

 With Koula, the shop owner of the Cypriot Herbs store.

 Traditional Cypriot embroidery

 Side door of the Church of Faneromeni, in old Nicosia.

 One of the icons flanking the entrance to the Panagia Faneromeni Church.

 The entryway to the Panagia Faneromeni Church.

 Behind this store is the demarkation line between the free area and the Turkish occupied area of Nicosia.

 Doors of Nicosia

I hope you enjoyed the brief journey around old Nicosia and the things that caught my attention. The city has a vibe, a culture, and an atmosphere that is very intriguing. Maybe it's due to it's long history through the ages.
Enjoy!

Maria

Japanese Kimono-Metropolitan Museum of Art

It was the day I took my goddaughter out to lunch to celebrate her new job. We met at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where I used to take her as a little girl. It's a great place to go in the dead of winter, check your coat and walk around the galleries, getting lost down the long corridors in the vastness of the massive building.

I was there a little early and I decided to swing by the new Kimono exhibit in the serenely elegant Japanese wing of the Museum.

 I was greeted by these Japanese sculptures guarding the entrance of the wing.

 Then I had the pleasure of perusing the resplendent kimono on display.

 Lacquer implements that are a set with the kimono.

Kimono have a lot of hidden meanings and symbolism. They are very ceremonial garments and it takes careful observation and knowledge to understand the function and origin of each kimono.

 Panels painted with kimono clad ladies.

 Kimono inspired robes.

 The fountain in the Japanese wing.

 A photo of a Japanese couple on their wedding day.

Japanese culture and art always capture my attention. There's a certain understated elegance that appeals to me. The kimono's exhibit, as you can see, did not disappoint. I was happy I had a few minutes to spare to enjoy such a rich heritage.
Enjoy!

Maria