Real or Fake part 1

Not everything is always as it seems, sometimes it's too good to be true. Equally sometimes things are so bad they must be good.. Here are a couple of examples:

This iconic remains of a ruined classical temple is to be found on Cyprus. It has formed part of tourist posters for the island. None of your Disney world here:  What could be a better example of the layers of ancient civilisations that enrich this excellent island?

Unfortunately its a fake. Nothing this big lasts long on earthquake prone Cyprus, and this was rebuilt from its component parts lying around nearby. When you look closely, it is suspiciously well preserved. 

Nice picture though...

Nearby we have the amphitheatre at Kurion with its astonishing Mediterranean backdrop. Once again this is not quite what it seems. The whole Kurion site is being excavated in stages. It is, by the way, well worth a visit if you like antiquities. Almost everything has fallen down courtesy of the aforementioned earthquakes, but they couldn't resist the temptation to rebuild this amphitheatre, and it has come out looking just a bit too clean and square.

However it does get used for theatrical purposes, and it must be an amazing venue. These two images show early signs of Tobacco filter dependency....

So what's wrong here? This is Omodos, a very picturesque village in the Troodos mountains. This is also well worth a visit, but the reason it shines and sparkles in the sunshine is because it has had a major makeover some years ago to paint and tidy itself ready for the tourists. Sneak past the glass and lace makers,  past the sherry sellers, down the far side streets and you will find the original and genuine article.

Don't get me wrong. Cyprus is one of my favourite places. In the southern part they mostly speak English and they mostly drive on the left :-) The country roads are an education in themselves, and its warm and sunny all the time. They do like to restore stuff however. You will be hard pressed to find an Orthodox church that looks its age. In most cases the church interiors look like they were repainted just last month...