Cyprus has several salt lakes. Some are in Larnaca, near where we live. We arrived in Cyprus in the heat of the summer when the salt lakes were dried out. But it rained a bit during the last couple of weeks and the lakes began to fill.
Salt used to be one of Cyprus’ main exports. Unfortunately, the salt can no longer be harvested for human consumption, purportedly because the nearby airport has polluted the lakes.
During the winter, when the lakes have water in them, thousands of flamingos flock to the area. These are a type of flamingo called Phoenicopterus roses, or Greater Flamingo. We had been told that the flamingos do not normally migrate here until January.
But I wanted to see these flamingos and God is concerned even about little desires like this one. So, one day as we were driving by one of the salt lakes, we spotted a group of flamingos! We pulled over and took some photos. They are rather awkward creatures but somehow they are also graceful. They make little squawk sounds.
Cyprus, and Larnaca in particular, created an advertising slogan: “They always come back.” This refers not only to the flamingos, but also visitors. 60% of visitors to Cyprus return to this island for vacation. Many of them are Russians and British, but there are people from many other countries as well.
When I came to Cyprus, I did not know about the flamingo migration. And when I learned about it, I thought we would be gone before the flamingos arrived. Seeing them was a little unexpected delight.
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