Stone clean

When you see a private dwelling in Cyprus it often seems shabby and unfinished by UK standards. They certainly have their share of part completed public projects. 

I gather that you don't pay the full building tax until the house is complete, so you submit plans for a three floor house and stop after the first two floors are complete, leaving the place with no roof and a forest of reinforcing rods pointing to the sky.

By contrast, the churches all seem like they were just finished yesterday. The stonework is always crisp, and a beautiful clean golden colour. 



By comparison UK stonework is blackened by centuries of coal burning and eroded by years of rain and wind. I guess coal, rain and wind are in short supply in the Mediterranean, so stonework stays clean for longer.

PS: A fact we learned while on Cyprus. Have you heard of St Mamas? No, nor had I. 

Apparently he is the patron saint of tax avoiders...


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