Gymnasium at Salamis
Years ago, when Christopher and I spent Christmas together in North Cyprus, we visited the spectacular Roman site of Salamis on Christmas Day. There is a set of huge Roman baths, still remarkably intact with a hypocaust system, box-flue tiles in the walls, and plunge pools lined with waterproof cement. There is also a rather impressive colonnaded exercise yard adjacent to the bath complex, as you can see in the picture above. There was a cafe/restaurant immediately outside the archaeological site, overlooking both the ruins and the beach, where we ate a rather good fish lunch on Christmas Day. I remember the waiter saying to us “I think this is a special day for you? I think I have to say ‘Merry Christmas’?”.
On this most recent trip, the tour not only went to Salamis (though not actually on Christmas Day) but we had an included group lunch at the same restaurant! So I thought it would be highly appropriate to scatter some of Christopher’s ashes into the sea off the very pleasant beach opposite the restaurant. I made my excuses while the rest of the party was eating their dessert, and nipped down to the beach to do the deed. I feel sure that he would approve.
Scattering the ashes
