#Nikosia

[crzydg]

Nikosia, auch bekannt als Lefkosia, ist die Hauptstadt von Zypern und eine der ältesten Städte im Mittelmeerraum. Die Stadt hat eine reiche Geschichte und Kultur, die bis in die Antike zurückreicht. Nikosia war im Laufe der Geschichte von vielen Zivilisationen beeinflusst und geprägt worden, darunter die Römer, Byzantiner, Venezianer, Osmanen und Briten. Im Jahr 1974 wurde Zypern in einen griechischen und einen türkischen Teil geteilt, und Nikosia wurde zur geteilten Hauptstadt. Die Grenze zwischen beiden Teilen der Stadt verläuft durch die Altstadt von Nikosia, was zu einer einzigartigen Situation geführt hat, in der es eine Stadt mit zwei Regierungen und zwei Kulturen gibt. Im Norden der Stadt gibt es viele Besichtigungsziele, darunter die Selimiye Moschee, die ehemalige St. Sophia Kathedrale, die im 13. Jahrhundert von den Franziskanern gebaut wurde. Die Moschee ist ein beeindruckendes Beispiel für osmanische Architektur und beherbergt eine Sammlung von osmanischen Kunstwerken und Artefakten. Ein weiteres beliebtes Reiseziel im nördlichen Teil von Nikosia ist die Büyük Han, eine Karawanserei aus dem 16. Jahrhundert, die heute als Kunstzentrum genutzt wird. Die Han ist ein wichtiger Ort der kulturellen Begegnung und bietet eine Vielzahl von Kunsthandwerkern, die ihre Arbeiten präsentieren. In der Altstadt von Nikosia gibt es viele historische Gebäude, die renoviert wurden und heute als Restaurants, Bars und Geschäfte genutzt werden. Die Renovierung dieser Gebäude hat dazu beigetragen, die historische Architektur der Stadt zu bewahren und gleichzeitig einen Ort der Begegnung und des Austauschs zu schaffen. Trotz der Teilung der Stadt bleibt Nikosia ein wichtiges Zentrum der Kultur und Geschichte. Die Stadt bietet eine Vielzahl von Museen, Galerien und anderen kulturellen Einrichtungen, die sowohl die griechische als auch die türkische Kultur und Geschichte Zyperns präsentieren. Insgesamt ist Nikosia eine faszinierende Stadt mit einer reichen Geschichte und Kultur. Die Stadt hat im Laufe der Geschichte viele Herausforderungen erfahren, aber ihre Bewohner haben ihre Kultur und Traditionen bewahrt und weiterentwickelt. Nikosia und ihre Umgebung sind ein wichtiger Teil des kulturellen Erbes von Zypern und ein Symbol für die Vergangenheit und Zukunft der Region.

[deepdisireslonging]

Remembering the Forgotten

The Reader revisits the beach that looks up at her dig site. But on this trip, something or someone in the water calls to her. When she answers, who she meets is more ancient than any artifact she’s ever held. And all he wants to do is possess and pleasure her to thier heart’s content.

Pairing: Sea God!Loki x Archaeologist!Reader

Warnings/Promises: cw food mention, bad night-swimming safety, magic, SMUT, oral (female receiving), p in v, shadow tentacle/magic bondage, overstimulation, ritualistic-ish smut, divine sugar baby proposition, mutual pining, bad archaeology humor

Word Count: 5500 (oops)

Note: I had another dig in Cyprus and I got to revisit my favorite beach. Which of course gave me a few ideas. Unlike the reader, I did forget my water shoes. If you ever go to Cyprus, don’t be me. Sorry not sorry for this blatant self-insertion fic I came up with on my last day of the dig. Happy reading!

With squeals of delight, you and your girl friends dashed into the waters. The waters off Kourion beach in Cyprus were barely rippled by waves. Last weekend, with the entire island lacking a breeze, the sea had been as calm as lake water. But this weekend, they managed several soft breaking waves. Which was a wonderful escape from the high temperatures ravaging the summer. And this year, you had not forgotten your swim shoes to combat the pebbles that outlined the beaches like a low defense wall.

And the beach was packed with tourists. And locals. Pooling your money, your little group had snared the last rentable chair and umbrella.

Your friend, Chiara, sighed as she let a wave wash over her shoulders. “This is why we let you talk us into these trips.”

The last of your trio, Lara, re-emerged after dipping her head under the water. “Almost makes all of those visits to your sites worth it.” She spun in place, digging a hole in the sand with her toes. “This is the perfect way to wash off all that sweat we made in Paphos.”

“Hey. I made sure you both wore enough sunscreen. And we all had enough water.” You pouted, a little hurt by Lara’s disdain. “I warned you guys that Paphos was luminous. The Romans loved white stones. Which unfortunately reflects every ounce of sunlight, but it was helpful back before electric light. Some of those stones were dimmed because the Romans also liked to purposefully weather the stone. They thought it gave their structures a worn, domestic look.” You were only a little miffed that both of your friends didn’t enjoy the archaeology of the site as much as you did. Then again, you were the one who dug here. They had to be bribed into this non-dig trip with promises of shopping in Nikosia and Omodos.

Lara dipped her head apologetically. Glancing up at the cliff-face that abutted the coat, she asked, “so where’s your site? Can we see it from here?”

���Oh, yeah.” You pointed from one side to the other. “That white tarp structure on the left is the House of Achilles, named for the mosaic inside. It’s next to the back exit of the site. And right there is where the paragliders take off, off the cliff. The whole stretch here is the city. And there, just right of that dip in the cliff, is my site. Past the curve there is the house of Eustolius, a rich guy who built a bathhouse for the city after the earthquake in the fourth century. But the whole top there is Kourion.”

A rogue wave nearly topped the three of you, making you all laugh even as you sputtered around the salt water. When the water leveled out, you could touch bottom again. The sand under your toes was soft and completely devoid of seashells.

Chiara looked back to watch for more rogues. “That’s still cool that you worked here. Have you ever thought about moving to the island? You obviously love it here. With so many museums, and all your professor’s connections, you could probably get a job. Easy.”

You dipped your head underwater to delay your response. This topic was a secret sore spot. “I don’t really have the personal credentials for the museums around here. My Greek is tolerable.”

“But it would get better the longer you’re here,” Lara added. She jumped with you as a wave rolled through.

“Perhaps. But,” you licked your salty lips, “I’m not a fan of the schmoozing you have to do at events. I would like a museum lab job. But not if it requires me to make… appearances. Makes me feel like I’m an animal in a zoo.”

“That’s fair.” As a preacher’s kid, Chiara knew what it was like to be constantly on display. Never able to step out of line in case it reflected bad on her dad. “Maybe we can find you a rich British guy who wants to vacation here permanently.”

You all giggled at that. Almost like they had been summoned, a group of three guys waved and hooted at your trio. It made you all burst out laughing. But before they could swim close, you all took off over the waves for “deeper” water. Being Kourion, the water didn’t actually get deeper. But definitely further from the shore.

Chiara didn’t let the subject go. “Come on. You’ve joked that a good, arranged marriage would be excellent for your school’s archaeology department.”

“Yeah,” you said, rolling your eyes. “But I’m more likely to get hit on by a Russian than a Brit here.”

Lara gracefully drifted the conversation to something less embarrassing for you. She and Chiara began to plan the next shopping adventure.

But your focus had been stolen. Further out, near the line of buoys that kept people from swimming out to sea, you could see a man. His dark hair stood out against the bright horizon. The longer you looked at him, the stronger you could feel the current pulling at your legs.

“Earth to Y/N?”

“Hmm?” You turned back to your friends, barely noticing the sudden drop in current. “What?”

“Are there any sites you want to see around Famagusta?”

“Yes… but we’re not going to Famagusta.”

“Why not?”

“It’s in the North!” While you re-gave them a quick history of the island and it’s split into more-or-less two countries, you could feel eyes prickling over your skin. When you looked into deeper water, you could have sworn that your dark-haired man was joined by someone with hair like the sun. But then Chiara was dragging you all back towards the shore for gelato.

A wave swelled up from out of nowhere, quickly overtaking your trio. It wasn’t a rogue. But it’s undertow fought your arms paddling in the opposite direction. Like the sea wanted you not only to stay in the water. But to go out deeper.

Which was ridiculous.

All the same, as the three of you crossed the small stones to the hot sand, something from the water called to you. You looked back. Your dark-haired mystery was gone.

***

 “Why can’t I have her?” Loki slipped outside the buoys to the deep-water side. From there, nobody on the beach would be able to see them. While the mortals had put the line there as a deterrent for swimmers, he had applied magic to the rope long ago. “Brother, it has been a long time since I called a mortal to me. I have been patiently waiting.”

At his side, Thor crossed his arms. “These days are not like the old ones. The mortals will miss her. We can no longer take who we want while their families consider it a blessing. Now they send boats and pray to younger gods.” He followed Loki’s gaze in your direction. “Forget her, brother. Like you have all others.”

Loki nodded, even if that last statement was wrong.

Sure that you were far out of his brother’s mind, Thor dipped under the waters and swam out to sea.

But the dark-haired god lingered. With his magic, he could see you clearly sitting under that gaudy umbrella. He could smell the sweet sugar of your gelato. The warmth of the sun on your skin was cooled by the shade. He could taste each remaining rivlet of saltwater running down your arms and legs.

Loki leaned over the buoy. “Look at me,” he willed. After an eternity of seconds, you did. He knew you’d barely be able to see him over the waves and the glare of the sun. But he saw your head tilt to one side; curious.

He willed toward you another command. There wasn’t a chance that you’d swim out that second. But he could wait. He could relax under the waves until you stepped back into his domain, called by his silent whisper in your ear.

“Come back to me.”

***

Nightlife on Kourion beach was less stressful than the daytime. With the sun gone, the waves took on a foreboding warning. The only light on the waters came from the few restaurants sitting on the sand. Your trio was sat at the more expensive one in the middle. Next to your morning’s umbrella. This was also the one with the good gelato and other sweets behind display glass.

Chiara and Lara were happily munching on their desserts. You hadn’t ordered one. Instead, you were content to stare off into the waves, counting the stars that glimmered overhead.

The waves still called to you. Their relaxing pulse and crash pulled on you like a current, or like a string attached to your chest. You made up your mind.

“I’m going for a swim.”

Startled, Lara looked out into the waters. “Are you sure? It’s going to be really dark out there.”

You stood, shedding your wrap-around skirt and folding it over the back of your chair. “I’ll stay where you can see me. I promise.”

With the drop of the sun, the sand was cool under your toes. The water was pleasantly warm. Without your water shoes, you gingerly crossed the stones. Stepping into the sand on the other side was a relief. And further out, you could swim in waters less choppy than that morning.

Then you kept swimming out. And further. And further.

Looking back, you could still see your friends as if you’d never left the stones. And you could steadily stand on the perfectly smooth sand beneath the water. You could walk. Calmly, watching the stars and the shore, you kept walking backwards completely oblivious to how far out you were.

Until your shoulder blades bumped into the buoys.

“Hello.”

With a start, you dove into the water to swim away. But when you came up for air, you hadn’t moved.

The dark-haired man on the other side of the rope slid his eyes over you. They were bright, the same color as the Mediterranean on a sunny day. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I’m not sure what else you’d thought would happen. Poppin’ up outta the ocean like that.” Your heart thundered in your ears. The gentle movement of the water circled around you until you were calm again. “What are you doing out this far? In the dark?”

He grinned, dipping his head to face the water. “I was… I was waiting for you.” His eyes glanced over your lips. “The sea called to you, didn’t it? That’s why you came this deep. In the dark.”

For a split second, you considered diving under the waves to swim away again. But something about him… you had a feeling you would make it about as far as last time. “Who are you?”

Again, he grinned. This time, he kept eye-level with you. His canines were curved and sharp, like the teeth of a barracuda. He took your hand as you shivered. “I am known as Loki.” His hand, shimmery with salt water and the hint of scales, dragged you closer to the buoy. He kissed over your knuckles. “And you have nothing to fear with me.”

His kiss left your skin tingling. With a start, you realized why you had been so drawn to him that morning. “You… you visited my dig. Last season.” The tall, suited man. You had thought it odd for someone to wear so much black in so high a heat. But the kiss he laid on your knuckles was the same. The current of him was the same. As were his eyes.

Loki glanced back over the deeper call of the sea. “That – that I did. Though I would appreciate you not repeating it. I’m… I’m not supposed to visit land.” The water shuddered around him. “But, yes. We have met before. I was enchanted by you, Y/N. On land, I couldn’t call you to me. But when you and your friends came back to my beach,” he nodded, “I don’t usually believe in luck. Today has altered my perception.”

Your perception was changed too. The scales. The teeth. You should have been terrified. Instead, every word he said swam around your head like a sweet perfume. And like perfume, even if you did manage to get away, his thrall would linger. “Why me?”

“Why not you?”

“Because, I’m – I’m just—”

“Just you?” Before you realized what he was doing, the rope of the buoy drifted away, and he tugged you closer to his chest. The rope closed back behind you. “Just you: the archaeologist. The one who remembers the forgotten. Who gives stories to the lost. A woman who sees through dust and grime the beauty of the ancient and shares it with this new world.” He trailed his fingers across your forehead. “You chose this lonesome life.”

You started and reached back for the rope. When had it gotten so far away? “I am not lonesome. There was a whole crew up there with the same skills.”

Loki reached out, detangling your hand from the rope like a parent would their child from a sweet. “You saw things they didn’t.”

“It was my unit. My square of dirt to uncover. It’s my job to see things they don’t.”

His face drifted closer to yours. “But your view is unique.” Nose to nose, he smelled salty sweet. His grip moved further up your arm, leaving a tingling trail in its wake. “Let me show you ‘why you.’ Let me show you a unique view.”

This was crazy. He was probably dangerous. But, the scientist side of your heart, the one always yearning to learnt he unknown, wanted to see how this would play out. You wanted to know that ‘unique view.’

He smiled as you nodded.

The rope drifted further away.

“Wait!”

Loki stopped.

“I need… promise me that you will return me to my friends.”

“I promise: I will return you to your friends.” His words made the still waters ripple. The same way water echoes around a crocodile as it calls its mate.

“Whole and in one piece.”

His smile deepened. “I promise: I will return you to your friends. Whole, and in one piece.”

When the water stopped rippling, his arms wrapped around your waist. Above you, the stars barely moved. Around you, the water dragged on you like the wake of a large ship. The next time you blinked, Kourion beach was gone. In front of you, a large white stone, shaped like a clamshell, stuck up out of the water. The final steppingstone in a trio from the beach.

“That’s,” you gasped, “that’s Aphrodite’s rock.” You pushed him away to spin around. “But- but that’s two hours down the coast!” When you swam back into his space, you noticed dark tendrils surrounding his shadow under the water. “Who are you?”

“I am Loki.”

“Loki… what are you?”

He circled his thumbs over your shoulders while he looked out to sea. “I am the forgotten. The story-less. Will,” he whispered, “will you remember me, Y/N?”

The eyes that bored into you were more green than blue. And they were filled with so much desperation that your chest ached. You slid your hands up his bare arms to his shoulders. You rubbed your thumbs into his skin, mirroring the movement that he had stilled. “But… Aphrodite. Isn’t this her… her territory?”

He chuckled. Giving you gentle push, the water moved out of the way until your back was against the rough rock. “She won’t mind. We’re just borrowing it.”

You reached up to cup his face. This was crazy. He was acting as if… as if he was some sort of god. Long forgotten. Maybe he was. Who knew who all the ancients worshiped? How many temples and high places had gone missing through the millennia? In your own excavated villa… it was missing ninety percent of its painted frescos. All that lost data.

He was asking you to remember him.

“I don’t know if I can remember you.” Your lips trembled with shuddered breaths as he moved closer. His chest was warm under your hands. “I’m not sure if I’m dreaming or not. If I wake up—”

“Why does it matter if this is a dream?” He ran his nose along your cheek. “Are you willing to dream it? To dream it with this ancient artifact?”

You grinned, mirroring his movement with your nose and his cheek. “Old? You don’t look a day over nine hundred.”

“Why thank you.”

As he spun with you in his arms, you laughed. He laid you on a flat place on the rock that jutted out into the water. The waves were picking up. They drifted over your chest, your breasts sticking half above and below their touch.

Biting your lip, you ran your fingers through his dark hair. “You know, they say if you swim around this rock seven times… Aphrodite blesses you with her beauty.”

“You don’t need such a blessing.” Loki crawled over top of you, kissing your forehead. “And you’ve been talking to a younger crowd. The older story is that she re-grants you your virginity for swimming around. Will you want such a blessing after tonight with me?” His mouth fell open as your tongue darted out to wet your lips. His heaving breath said he could taste the salt on your lips.

“Depending on how this goes…” you arched your chest up into his. “Seven laps won’t do the trick. And, if I am to remember you… why would I need the blessing?”

Eyes glowing, you couldn’t tell whether it was with moon light or desire, Loki dipped his head to press a deep kiss against your lips. Your whole body responded. Immediately, your hands dug into the soft skin of his back. Your legs wrapped around him, tangling you two together like old lovers. When he kissed the under curve of your neck, his sharp teeth dragging over the sensitive skin, you trembled.

Was this a trick? Had he brought you here to drain you?

“You have nothing to fear from me, Y/N.” Loki kneaded his hands over your breasts. His body rocked into yours like a beginning storm. He whispered, “nothing to fear.” With a snap, your swimsuit was gone. Which left more of your skin to slide against his. The soft scales that covered his body made him look like he was filled with moonlight. Their edges caught at your skin like thousands of tiny kisses.

And you could feel him.

His length laid across your lower tummy. You hesitated to look down at it. Chiara’s spicy books had nothing on the heat and weight of it. The weight of him, ready for you. Waiting who knows how long for your return so he could have you. You felt precious. Like a beloved artifact newly found.

You cried out as his fingers curled into you. Out to sea, the waves crashed higher and higher. As did your pleasure. Loki sucked deeply at the valley between your breasts. You arched into his taste and ground down into his touch. Impossible as it was, you felt more than his two pairs of hands traveling across your skin exposed to the water. You thought about the tendril shadows you’d seen. Your definition of impossible was changing by the second. Especially when Loki mouthed at the side of your breast, then licked your nipple into his mouth. You were receiving lovemaking from a god. Your mind spun.

Digging a hand into his hair, attempting to move him as you liked failed. Loki knew what you needed. How, you didn’t care. But his fingers curled when you needed. They scissored you open in time with your gasps and moans. And his thumb circled your clit before you could begin to beg. But you begged anyway. Here was a god. Pinning you down to a goddess’s rock in the middle of the night. You begged for more. More of him. You wanted to feel him. Wanted to be full with him.

“All in due time, my love.” He kissed you deeply, darting his tongue between your teeth to taste more of your mouth. “I need to prepare you.”

“I’m ready. Please. Fill me. Fuck me. I’m yours, Loki. Please.”

He growled. The rumble pressed into your chest, making your thighs tremble around his hips. Curling his fingers rougher, Loki hummed with delight as your slick seeped into the sea around his touch. He slid back into the water, disappearing underneath it. But he dragged your waist further down the rock, until your hips were underwater too. Only then did he dip his tongue into your heat. You cried out to the empty night sky as he ravaged you with his long tongue. Fingers and tongue toying with your walls and your clit, your vision blurred quickly. His tendrils pinned down your writhing hips before you could crawl away from him.

And he kept going. Through a second and a third of your release. The sharp teeth at the edges of his mouth teased with danger. When he finally brought his head up out of the water, he stared you down like a creature untamed. His green eyes shined like back-lit emeralds. He placed his hands on your tummy and rested his chin there.

“Do you still want more, mortal?”

Despite a voice screaming in the back of your head that you’d had plenty… your body begged louder for more. Every cell was alight. Every nerve ending crackled with desire for what Loki was offering.

You reached for him. His fingers tangled with yours. Leaning up, he pinned your hands to the rock on either side of your head. He kissed your forehead while his cock rutted into your sex.

“That wasn’t an answer, my love. I need an answer. Or perhaps you’d like me to take you back to your friends already?”

Frantic, you shook your head. “Please. Fill me. Loki… need you.”

“Of course.”

Despite your whimpered pleas, Loki entered you slowly. You breathed out one breath in time with his thrust. And had to inhale for another. The drag of him teased with your sensitivity. With a final thrust that Loki groaned through, you came again. Your hands clawed the air, still pinned down high above your head. Loki panted. He watched your face as it contorted in pleasure. His scales rippled as your sounds washed over him.

“I could keep you forever,” he murmured.

Was that a threat or a promise?

He didn’t give you time to consider it either way. Fully seated, he refused to move. Instead, his fingers slowly circled your clit. The stars disappeared from your sight as you closed your eyes. Pinned down by your wrists in his other hand, you did your best to roll your hips to inspire him to move. But dark shadows wrapped around your thighs. They pulled your thighs away from Loki’s waist, spreading you open and capturing your movements. Loki increased the speed of his fingers. Unable to move, your voice made up for the difference. You cried out his name, Begging. Pleading. For what, you could never specify. But he understood. Loki gaze focused on the place where your bodies connected. A few moments later, he watched your body spasm around him. Your walls clamped down on his cock, making him moan.

“Only a few more to go.”

“What?” You opened your eyes. Under the starlight, you barely saw the tendrils dart through the water. But you felt them. You felt them wrap around every inch of you that was possible of shifting or arching. They took hold of your wrists, pinning them together. A few wrapped around your waist, pressing you into the rock. More crisscrossed over your chest, between your breasts, squeezing them and pinning down your torso. Within seconds, you couldn’t move a muscle. Except for the ones currently wrapped around a god.

Loki slid his hands up the underside of your thighs. “Look at you,” he purred. His thumbs smoothed just shy of holding open your lower lips. “Gorgeous and spread out, just for me.  My brother be damned.” He thrust once, joining your cry with his own. “All mine.”

Every movement was his own. You could do nothing. Except make every sound that your body willed. Pinned as you were, it heightened every in and out. Every delicate tracing of his fingertips across your skin was like fire. And you were very willing to burn. Or drown. The water crashed against you with the same force as his hips. A tendril kept your head above water. But as Loki’s pace stuttered and faltered, the shadows lost their strength.

You whimpered, “cum with me. Loki, let go.”

“Not yet.” He restarted a steady pace.

“Why not?”

“You’ll see. It’s part of the view.”

The view. The only unique view you cared about at this point was how Loki, your great god of the sea, looked like he was about two seconds from going feral sea monster on you. His eyes were wild and wide. Like he could see every tremble and tremor of your body. His breath stuttered as if he could feel your crashing pleasure like earthquakes. Your eyes crossed, blurring your vision of him. But that was part of the view too. As pleasure once again crested over your body, Loki’s grip tightened around you everywhere. His reaction was a mirror of what you were doing to him.

As your body came down from it’s high, the tendrils lightly squeezed and massaged. You fought to catch your breath. When you opened your eyes, Loki was panting above you. He cupped your face in his hand, pleased when you pressed your cheek into his palm.

“Can you give me one more, love?”

“Oh, Loki…”

“Just one more. I know you can. You’re doing wonderfully.” With a flick of his wrist, the tendrils moved away until you could only feel him. He leaned down to kiss your forehead. The mixture of salt from the sea and your sweat made his mind spin. Quickly, he gripped the base of his cock. Still impaled within you, the fluttering of your walls kept him on edge. “Just one more. And then you’ll be mine.”

A smidgen of clarity tugged at your mind. “What?” What was he doing to you?

“One more, Y/N. Then all will be revealed.”

Finally free, you reached up to wrap your arms around his shoulders. It brought Loki close enough that you could feel his breath on your skin. It made you breathless, his last first drag out of your sex. When he slammed home within you, his shout rang against the stone under your head. Yours traveled to echo against the sky. You felt blissfully numb. With so much thrumming of your nerves and how worn out your pussy was, you were about ready to pass out into your deepest sleep ever.

“Give me one more, Y/N. Can you feel it? How perfectly you fit into my arms? How every pulse and beat of your heart matches mine? Can you see it? How well we fit together?” Loki gripped your chin, making you refocus on his face. “Please. Stay with me.”

Something about his tone told you the plea wasn’t just for tonight.

Then he was moving like the sea in a hurricane and you couldn’t think. Your hands clambered to feel him everywhere. Your thighs tightened around his hips. Your legs wrapped around him, locked closed at your ankles. He had pinned you into place. Now it was your turn.

He moaned as your nails dragged down his back. Panting and falling forward, Loki glared at you with a smile as you clamped your walls around his length. He kneaded your breasts in retaliation. Pinching your nipples between his fingers, he tugged on them to guide your body into an arch. It deepened the reach of his cock. Delighted, he wrapped an arm under the small of your back as you wailed his name. He could feel your release coming. And this time, he had no desire to hold back on his own.

“Come with me, Loki.” You ran your trembling thumb across his cheek. “Make me yours.”

“Yes, my love.”

The waves crashed against the rock around you. Gently misted with sea foam, you finally smiled as Loki filled you. The rush and heat of his release sent you spiraling into an orgasm of your own.

Loki continued to thrust, chasing the final sparks of pleasure. When he finally stopped, he gently pushed your sweat-stuck locks of hair off your face. He kissed your forehead. You closed your eyes under the tenderness of it.

When you reopened them, Loki had you stretched out on your own square of soft sand on Aphrodite’s pebble beach. He stretched out beside you, finally giving you the view of his whole form. His fingertips ran up and down your arm. You splayed out your hand on the sand, steadying yourself. How many times had he made you cum?

“Seven.”

“Hmm?”

He grinned. “One orgasm for each magic lap you could have taken.” Laughing with you, he especially watched some beads of water pool in the hollow of your throat as you laid back. “Stay with me.”

“Loki—”

“You will want for nothing. While I am mostly confined to the water, on land you will have everything you need. You can do archaeology year-round, if you want. Or only once a year. I can arrange everything. You need not struggle with finding a place to belong. You won’t have to… how did you put it? Schmoozing.”

You laughed, but felt a weight grow in your chest.

“The mortals are building new villas near here. You can pick one out. They’re an area that’s going to be called Aphrodite’s Hills.” He scoffed. “Since when do gods stay in the place of their birth? I can assure you, the one they sometimes call Zeus does not visit Crete.”

“Loki… I can’t.”

He froze, staring up at you. “Why?”

“For starters… you promised to take me back to my friends.”

His body shuddered. “Whole. And in one piece.”

“Yes.” You licked your lips. “I’m sorry. It’s just… I need – I don’t know what I need.”

Loki took back his touch. He dragged his finger through the sand instead, carving runes and spirals into the granules. “You’re not leaving for a while yet, right?”

“We leave a week from tomorrow.”

He nodded. As his voice stuttered, his eyes bored into yours. Begging. “Then think about it. You don’t have to decide right now. But… before you leave, visit the beach. Any beach. And bring me an answer.” He looked back down at the sand. “Even if it’s no.”

You curled your finger under his chin, guiding him to look at you. “I will.”

It only took a minute to give you back your swimsuit and return you to Kourion beach. The glow of the restaurant illuminated your friends in the distance.  Loki held you close and pressed his lips to your forehead. “Come back to me,” he whispered.

“I will.” You kissed him back. It took everything within you to pull away. “And no matter what happens… I will not forget you, Loki.”

He smiled, dipping his head before he could overwhelm you with how much he didn’t want you to leave. You drifted away, back under the buoys. With a nod, he sent a wave that carried you back to the beach. When you looked back, he was gone.

Lara waved as you walked out of the water. “There you are. We lost sight of you for a second when the waves got big.” As you joined them at the table, she shrugged. “Still not much of a swim. You were only out for, what, five minutes. Was it too dark and scary out there?”

Five… five minutes?

Chiara interrupted, “hey, we were just talking: you sometimes lick pottery to see if it’s glazed right?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s the oldest thing you’ve licked?”

You stammered, trying to think while your body was trying to recover from your divine experience. “Um, two- no. Three… thousand years old. My first dig was in the Levant. An Iron age site. I couldn’t tell pottery from bone. Bone sticks to your tongue while ceramic doesn’t—”

Lara laughed. “The oldest thing you’ve licked was three thousand years old. Damn! Would make a good t-shirt: I lick ancient things. Am I an archaeologist or did I go down on the old gods?”

Slapping at her shoulder with a giggle, Chiara urged her to be quiet as the people at a neighboring table looked over. But you were too busy thinking to notice. If you took up Loki’s offer, perhaps you could be one archaeologist who could boast of having done both.

*** An earlier trip to Cyprus: Aphrodite’s Rock (S, Bucky Barnes x Reader)

Masterlist

Other Loki Fics:

When in Paris (S, AR)

Sweet Revenge (S)

To Love the Sea:  Y/N is the daughter of a sea-side innkeeper. The area is known for its draw for pirates, but one pirate is feared above all others: Captain Loki. He offers to take her on adventures; is she willing to take the plunge? [Series Master] (S, complete)

[tealingual]

World Capitals in Finnish

I have only included the capitals that are not written the same way as in English! Alger - Algiers (Algeria) Ateena - Athens (Greece) Ašgabat - Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) Bagdad - Baghdad (Iraq) Belgrad - Belgrade (Serbia) Berliini - Berlin (Germany) Biškek - Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) Bryssel - Brussels (Belgium) Bukarest - Bucharest (Romania) Damaskos - Damascus (Syria) Dušanbe - Dushanbe (Tajikistan) Havanna - Havana (Cuba) Jerevan - Yerevan (Armenia) Kairo - Cairo (Egypt) Kapkaupunki - Cape Town (South Africa) Khartum - Khartoum (Sudan) Kiova - Kyiv (Ukraine) Kööpenhamina - Copenhagen (Denmark) Lissabon - Lisbon (Portugal) Lontoo - London (United Kingdom) Luxemburg - Luxembourg (Luxembourg) Masqat - Muscat (Oman) Moskova - Moscow (Russia) Nikosia - Nicosia (Cyprus) Pariisi - Paris (France) Peking - Beijing (China) Pjongjang - Pyongyang (North Korea) Praha - Prague (Czech Republic) Riad - Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) Riika - Riga (Latvia) Rooma - Rome (Italy) Soul - Seoul (South Korea) Tallinna - Tallinn (Estonia) Taškent - Tashkent (Uzbekistan) Teheran - Tehran (Iran) Tokio - Tokyo (Japan) Tukholma - Stockholm (Sweden) Varsova - Warsaw (Poland) Vilna - Vilnius (Lithuania) Wien - Vienna (Austria)

[bastianoenrico]

Λευκωσία. #Nicosia #Nikosia #Zypern #Cyprus #Cipro https://instagr.am/p/CtzFbg5qQ8_/

[fondsinformation]

Deutschland wird zerstört durch eine Besessenheit ihrer Politiker, Russland zu vernichten - meinen Alex Christoforou und Alexander Mercouris. Deutschland zerstören die eigenen Politiker Alex Christoforou und Alexander Mercouris analysieren auf THE DURAN in einem ausführlichen Gespräch die aktuelle politische und wirtschaftliche Krise Deutschlands. The Duran ist ein Podcast, der sich auf Nachrichten, Videos und Analysen zu aktuellen Ereignissen konzentriert und auf mehreren Portalen verfügbar ist. Alex Christoforou hat in den USA einen Bachelor- und Master-Abschluss in Betriebswirtschaft erworben und lebt in Nikosia. Alexander Mercouris ist ein in London ansässiger Autor. Er hat sich ausführlich mit den rechtlichen Aspekten der NSA-Spionage und den Ereignissen in der Ukraine im Hinblick auf die Menschenrechte, die Verfassungsmäßigkeit und das Völkerrecht befasst und ist ein häufiger Kommentator im Fernsehen und Redner auf Konferenzen. Er war 12 Jahre lang als Rechtsanwalt am Royal Courts of Justice in London tätig und spezialisierte sich auf Menschenrechte und Verfassungsrecht. Christoforou und Mercouris diskutieren im Podcast vom 09. 11. 2024 unter dem Titel "Besessenheit der deutschen Politik, Russland zu vernichten, macht Deutschland kaputt", wie die Regierungskoalition unter Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz und die deutsche politische Elite allgemein durch die antirussische Politik zunehmend unter Druck geraten. Dabei wird deutlich, dass die deutsche Wirtschaft unter den geopolitischen Entscheidungen leidet, während die politischen Kräfte auf eine Weise miteinander ringen, die wenig Raum für Lösungen lässt. Die politischen Konflikte innerhalb der Scholz-Koalition und die Machtambitionen der Opposition Christoforou beginnt das Gespräch, indem er auf die schwierige Lage der Ampel-Koalition eingeht. Er beschreibt, wie die CDU und ihr Vorsitzender Friedrich Merz ihre Opposition gegen Kanzler Olaf Scholz verschärfen und vorgezogene Wahlen fordern. Merz sehe in der Schwäche der Regierungskoalition offenbar eine Gelegenheit zur Machtübernahme und kritisiert deren Ukraine-Politik. Gleichzeitig hebe er die Vertrauensfrage als Druckmittel hervor, um Scholz in die Defensive zu zwingen. Dieser politische Konflikt sei nicht nur taktischer Natur, sondern zeige eine grundlegende Uneinigkeit darüber, wie Deutschland in der Ukraine-Frage und gegenüber Russland handeln sollte. Besonders deutlich werde der innere Konflikt zwischen Scholz und Finanzminister Christian Lindner. Während Scholz finanzielle Unterstützung für die Ukraine forciere, verweigerte Lindner dies mit dem Hinweis auf die angespannte Haushaltslage und plädierte stattdessen für alternative Maßnahmen, wie die Lieferung von Taurus-Raketen an die Ukraine. Mercouris analysiert, dass Lindner diese Position gezielt wählt, um Scholz vorzuführen, wohlwissend, dass Scholz gegen eine solche Eskalation mit Taurus-Raketen ist. Damit stellt Lindner Scholz absichtlich in eine politische Zwickmühle, die zeigt, wie sehr die Regierung an ihren Widersprüchen leidet. Für Mercouris ist dies eine inszenierte Situation, in der Lindner seine Haltung als Verteidiger der deutschen Haushaltsstabilität herausstellt und sich so ein politisches Alibi verschafft, um die Koalition zu verlassen. Die wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen der Russland-Politik und der Energiemangel Mercouris und Christoforou gehen darauf ein, dass die deutsche Wirtschaft von der aktuellen Regierungspolitik schwer getroffen wird. Die Entscheidung, russische Energieressourcen zu boykottieren und Nord Stream 2 zu stoppen, führte zu einem erheblichen Preisanstieg für Energie und zu einer drastischen Verknappung der industriellen Ressourcen, die für die deutsche Produktion entscheidend sind. Mercouris hebt hervor, dass die chemische Industrie, die stark auf günstiges Erdgas angewiesen ist, in eine Krise geraten ist, ebenso wie der Maschinenbau und die Automobilindustrie. Diese Branchen bildeten bislang das Rückgrat der deutschen Wirtschaft, erleben nun jedoch Produktionsrückgänge, Entlassungen und Standortschließungen. Mercouris verdeutlicht die Dimension dieser Probleme am Beispiel des Automobilsektors: Während Deutschland früher sieben Millionen Autos pro Jahr produzierte, sind es nun nur noch vier Millionen. Die deutschen Industriegiganten wie Volkswagen und Daimler kämpfen damit, ihre Produktionslinien aufrechtzuerhalten, was letztlich die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit Deutschlands auf dem globalen Markt gefährdet. Politische Lähmung und fehlende Bereitschaft zur Kurskorrektur Ein zentrales Thema des Gesprächs ist die politische Unfähigkeit oder Unwilligkeit der deutschen Führung, die Richtung zu ändern. Christoforou und Mercouris analysieren, dass die führenden deutschen Politiker einer antirussischen Politik folgen, die aus der Sicht der beiden Kommentatoren vor allem Deutschland selbst schadet. Mercouris sieht hierin eine gefährliche „Besessenheit“, die keine Alternativen zulässt und die politischen Akteure blind für die negativen Auswirkungen auf die eigene Wirtschaft macht. Diese starre Haltung zeigt sich besonders bei den Grünen, die in der Koalition eine starke Stimme haben und die sich uneingeschränkt für eine Fortsetzung der Sanktionen und die weitere Unterstützung der Ukraine einsetzen. Mercouris beschreibt die Grünen als Vertreter einer Wählerschicht, die weniger abhängig von der industriellen Basis Deutschlands ist und die darum weniger unter den wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen dieser Politik leidet. Die Wählerbasis der Grünen, die Mercouris als tendenziell wohlhabender und entkoppelter von der industriellen Arbeitswelt beschreibt, ist in seiner Sicht nicht direkt von der wirtschaftlichen Abwärtsspirale betroffen, die die Russlandpolitik mit sich bringt. Scholz wird in diesem Zusammenhang als eher pragmatisch dargestellt, allerdings in einer schwierigen Situation: Er stehe unter dem Druck der grünen Koalitionspartner, insbesondere von Annalena Baerbock und Robert Habeck, die eine sehr harte Linie gegen Russland vertreten und somit Scholz kaum Spielraum für eine weniger konfrontative Politik lassen. Mercouris zufolge fehle Scholz jedoch die politische Stärke und die Weitsicht, um sich gegen diesen Einfluss durchzusetzen. Alternative Stimmen und die zunehmende gesellschaftliche Kluft Christoforou und Mercouris betonen, dass in Deutschland zunehmend alternative politische Kräfte Gehör finden, die die aktuelle Krise thematisieren und die eine Abkehr von der bestehenden Russlandpolitik fordern. Sie verweisen auf die AfD und auf die politische Bewegung um Sahra Wagenknecht, die beide die harten Sanktionen gegen Russland kritisieren und sich für eine stärkere Rückbesinnung auf deutsche Wirtschaftsinteressen einsetzen. Beide Gesprächspartner sind der Ansicht, dass diese politischen Kräfte durch die kommende Krise weiter an Einfluss gewinnen werden, da sie die Sorgen und Nöte einer wachsenden Zahl von Bürgern ansprechen. Mercouris betont, dass die Tatsache, dass es ausgerechnet die AfD und Sahra Wagenknecht sind, die eine alternative Perspektive artikulieren, die etablierten Parteien noch stärker in ihrem Kurs verhärtet. Dies mache die politische Elite noch entschlossener, an der konfrontativen Politik gegenüber Russland festzuhalten. Diese Haltung führt aus seiner Sicht dazu, dass Deutschland unbeirrt auf eine wirtschaftliche und politische Katastrophe zusteuert, die einem unaufhaltsamen Kurs auf den „Eisberg�� gleicht – ein Bild, das er verwendet, um die Inflexibilität und das Scheitern der aktuellen Politik zu illustrieren. Die historische Dimension und das „deutsche Dilemma“ Mercouris hebt schließlich hervor, dass die heutige Russlandpolitik eine lange historische Tradition der antirussischen Strömung in Deutschland widerspiegelt. Diese Strömung habe seit dem Ersten Weltkrieg immer wieder zu schweren Krisen und wirtschaftlichen Rückschlägen geführt, und sie sei letztlich dafür verantwortlich, dass Deutschland auch in der Vergangenheit wiederholt auf eine katastrophale Konfrontation zusteuerte. Er sieht Parallelen zur heutigen Situation und vergleicht die deutsche Führung mit Kapitän Ahab, der im Roman „Moby Dick“ von einer unaufhaltsamen Besessenheit in den Untergang getrieben wird. Ausblick: Der unausweichliche Wandel Zum Abschluss des Gesprächs reflektieren beide Experten darüber, dass Deutschland in einigen Jahren möglicherweise in einer völlig neuen politischen und wirtschaftlichen Realität leben wird. Mercouris erwartet, dass Deutschland und die Europäische Union, sollten sie ihren Kurs nicht ändern, wirtschaftlich deutlich geschwächt und in einer globalen Randposition sein werden. In ihren Augen wird die Verweigerung der politischen Klasse, sich von der derzeitigen Besessenheit gegen Russland zu lösen, den wirtschaftlichen und gesellschaftlichen Niedergang Deutschlands beschleunigen. Christoforou und Mercouris sind sich einig, dass Deutschland ohne eine substantielle Kurskorrektur in eine Abwärtsspirale geraten könnte, deren Folgen für die nächste Generation noch gravierender sein könnten. Wie aufschlussreich fanden Sie diesen Artikel? Wie denken Sie darüber? Read the full article

[carpediempm]

Nikosia, Cyprus

[greenbagjosh]

Day 2 and 3 - 10th and 11th October 2009 in Kyiv (original post)

Привет, как ты? Сегодня мы совершим пешеходную экскурсию по Киеву.

Привітання, як справи? Сьогодні ми здійснимо пішохідну екскурсію по Києву.

Прывітанне, як справы? Сёння мы зробім пешаходную экскурсію па Кіеву.

Today, Saturday the 10th October 2009, is the great walk day in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. The weather is supposed to be cloudy and cold, maybe in the upper 40s / around 8 or 9 Celsius. Rain is not forecast until Sunday the 11th.

What time zone is Ukraine in? In 2009, it was the same as in Bucharest, Athens, Istanbul, Sofia and Nikosia, as well as Kaliningrad and Minsk, using daylight savings time, so one hour ahead of most of Central Europe, and one hour behind Moscow and St. Petersburg. At that time of the year, the sun rises no earlier than 8 AM (go up north to about 60N latitude, it may not even rise until 8:45 AM!). So that makes waking up a bit difficult for those who came from lower latitudes. We will make it to breakfast time somehow! I showered and got dressed and put my camera in my day bag. Somehow I went the wrong way down the hall, and ended up with a view of an Orthodox church Микільський собор / Mykilʹsʹkyy Sobor, and I found the other USSR-era elevator that served the even floors, as opposed to the odd floors.

The hostel building itself did not have a specific breakfast room, so there was a restaurant close to Vulitsa Mykoly Pymonenka. I had some coffee with eggs, bacon and toast. I probably sat at the table for half an hour, thinking about the Lonely Planet walk route. I wondered if I would also have time to see the Пам'ятник жертвам нацизму / monument to victims of Nazism site, called “Babin Yar” and near the Dorohozhychi metro station.

After breakfast, I walked to a ticket kiosk and bought a ticket for the trolley bus. I caught the bus at Vulitsa Hoholivska and went to the Lukianivska metro station. Just like on the metro, the busses also had the “Обережно, двері закриваються.” announcement with next stop. I bought a few more turquoise tokens for the metro, and rode the green line to Zoloti Vorota, changed to the red line at Teatral’na (did not hear the Natalya Morozova song that time, but the next time I was not so lucky), rode one stop to Kreshchatyk and exited to Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the central independence square, where the walk supposedly started. My only goal was to complete the walk before sunset and not get turkey-dropped, a common “lost-wallet” scam of some unscrupulous locals.

The walk started off, crossing the Vulitsa Kreshchatyk, which was blocked off to normal vehicular traffic for the weekend, and follow along Arkhitektora Horodetsko to the Mykola Yakovenko statue. That led to the Gorodetsky House that had chimera gargoyles sculpted on the outside, and also the presidential administration building. In the Ukraine you can take photos of the outside of the presidential administration building without the local police and secret service really caring too much, but if you do the same in Minsk, Belarus? You can get into big trouble, but more about that later.

After the presidential palace, I walked southwest on Vulitsa Bankova, to Vulitsa Liuteranska, and to the end of Vulitsa Shovkovychna, where the Ukrainian Parliament building is located, and has its own traffic signal (I think you may have seen the parliament building in the video). At that time, about maybe 11 AM was a demonstration at the Mariinsky Park next door. I spent maybe ten minutes listening and realizing I did not understand well enough what was going on, so I walked further towards the Dnieper.

Saturdays when the weather is good in Kiev, couples making their wedding photos like to go to the Mariinsky Park for example. I must have counted six or seven couples in total, having photo parties and such. Even at one stage, I saw a Chrysler 300C extended limo driving along the driveway. The park consists also of the grounds of the Dinamo soccer stadium, Park Bridge and Museum of Water, as well as the Friendship of Nations Arch. I think that is where I saw my final wedding couple, or so I thought.

After crossing the Congress Center at Vulitsa Mykhaila Hrushevskoho, I took a break at Volodymyrska Hill, I ate some beer nuts and drank one of my bottles of Kvass. I think I was at the halfway point, and it was around 1 PM. I did not run into any turkey droppers. Not yet anyway.

After the Volodymyrska Hill, I walked to the St. Michael’s monastery. Nearby is the funicular train, marked in Cyrillic as “Фунікулер”, that descends to almost the shore level of the Dnieper at the Metro station Poshtova Ploshcha. And it costs about 1.70 UAH per ride. The monastery chapel explicitly forbade the wedding parties to film at that spot, as there was a written sign in Ukrainian to that effect. I took some photos of the golden domed monastery before moving on to the bell tower of Saint Sophia. The clouds gave way at that moment and it must have warmed up to the mid 50s, or about 12 to 14 C.

After the Saint Sophia bell tower, I walked along Vulitsa Volodymyrska to the Golden Gate Park. I think this is where the first failed turkey drop happened. The turkey drop is some scam where a local has some money in a plastic bag and he drops it, and if someone picks it up, they are the turkey. That is how I understand it. If there is any money, it is best to leave it alone and nothing will happen. Until the next person anyway. Information on that scam at https://www.lonelyplanet.com/.../for-all-the-great-kiev.... The next one would be along the Булвар Tarasa Shevchenko after St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral. Don’t think anything of that turkey drop and then walk further to enjoy a bit of the Taras Shevchenko Park, before taking a break at the Shalena Mama café. I had a glass of Kvass there, though they served meals, and I was more in the mood for a bowl of borsht at the Viola’s Bierstube. Sadly since after my visit in October 2009, the Shalena Mama closed down years after, and was replaced by a Domino’s Pizza. Gosh, even Kiev is not immune to globalization.

I found the Viola’s Bierstube just at the intersection of Bulvar Tarasa Shevchenka and Vulitsa Khreshchatyk. There is, or rather, was, a statue of Lenin, at that intersection, but it was replaced with a big stone with Ukranian engraving. Across the road is an underground mall, connected to the Bessarabsky Market. In the Viola Bierstube I had a beer and a bowl of borsht – passing on the four ounces of complimentary mustard that they seem to freely give out, they do the same thing at the original Bierstube on Vulitsa Velyka Vasylkivska near the Ploshcha Lva Tolshtoho / Palats Sportu metro station. I was careful not to spend too much, as most places in Ukraine do not accept credit cards. After making it to the Bessarabsky Market, I had reached the end of the walk as stated in the Lonely Planet Guide. I think it was getting around 7 PM or so, and sunset was around 7:30 PM. I had other places I wanted to visit, but I was feeling worn out. Even the original Bierstube was a bit difficult to find but I think I found it on Monday the 13th.

I went back to the hostel, left my day bag in the room and went to Vino e Cucina on Sichovykh Striltsiv for pizza. The pizza was good. I went to bed after walking back home. At some point, I would have to get a train ticket for Minsk in Belarus for Monday evening arriving in Minsk on Tuesday the 14th. I would try my luck the next day at the Кіїв Пассажірскії rail station.

Tomorrow Sunday 11th October 2009 is the pilgrimage to the Lavra, a large campus of Ukrainian Orthodox chapels, near the Arsenal’na metro station. Also the city military museum (some content there can be disturbing) with the Motherland Monument, Indian food, rickety tram ride on a USSR-era Tatra unit, and the monument to WWII victims. To cap it off, a dinner on Khreshchatyk and breakdancing just like from the early to mid 1980s. Stay tuned for more!

Спокойной ночи и до завтра!

На добраніч, і до завтра!

Дабранач, і да заўтра!

[kikotapasando]

Kòrsou a logra un paso importante den e proseso pa drenta un akuerdo di dòbel impuesto ku Siprus.

Germaine Rekwest, ku ta representá Minister di Finansa di Kòrsou, Javier Silvania, a firma e teksto preliminar di e akuerdo di impuesto na Nikosia, Siprus. E akuerdo aki a drenta den vigor despues di negoshá basá riba e Pòlitika di Akuerdo Fiskal pa Kòrsou. E akuerdo ta buska pa eliminá barera fiskal i ekonómiko i hasi e dos paisnan mas atraktivo pa desaroyá aktividatnan ekonómiko. E teksto ku a…

[markusweidner]

Der alte Flughafen von Nikosia liegt mitten in der UN-Pufferzone. Hier ist seit 1974 kein Flugzeug mehr gestartet oder gelandet. Illegal die Pufferzone zu betreten ist mir zu „heiß“. Aber von der Nicosia Mall aus kann man das Terminal und auch eine seit 50 Jahren dort stehende Maschine gut sehen.

[korrektheiten]

271 Illegale an einem einzigen Tag: Droht Zypern ein Illegalen-Tsunami?

Zuerst:»Nikosia. Der EU droht der nächste Illegalen-Brennpunkt: Zypern. Dort sind am Sonntag 271 Bootsmigranten an einem einzigen Tag angelandet. Den Behörden zufolge ist das die […] Der Beitrag 271 Illegale an einem einzigen Tag: Droht Zypern ein Illegalen-Tsunami? erschien zuerst auf ZUERST!. http://dlvr.it/T50ytM «

[howardhawkshollywoodannex]

Lily James and Cate Blanchett are stepmother and daughter in Cinderella (2015), photographed by Haris Zambarloukos. Haris was born in Nikosia, Cyprus, and has 40 cinematography credits from a 1997 short to A Haunting in Venice (2023). His entry among my best 1001 is Locke.

His other notable credits include Venus, Mamma Mia, Thor, Eye in the Sky, Murder on the Orient Express, Belfast, Death on the Nile, and Meg 2: The Trench, often working with Kenneth Branagh.

[theart2rock]

Hardraw schliessen sich Pitch Black Records an

Die Heavy-Metal-Band HARDRAW schließt sich Pitch Black Records an Die in Zypern ansässige Heavy-Metal-Band HARDRAW ist mit dem zweiten Album der Band, „Abyss of Mankind", das am 5. April erscheinen soll, den Reihen von Pitch Black Records beigetreten. Bei der Gründung im Jahr 2011 genügt ein kurzes Zuhören, um zu erkennen, dass traditioneller Heavy Metal tief in HARDRAW verwurzelt ist. Obwohl die Band ihren Wurzeln immer noch treu geblieben ist, hat sie sich im Laufe der Jahre erheblich weiterentwickelt und ist nun mit einem überarbeiteten Kader zurück, bestehend aus Szene-Veteran Jimmy Mavrommatis (ARMAGEDDON REV.16:16, MIRROR) am Gesang, Nikolas „Sprits" Moutafis ( SOLITARY SABRED, MARCH TO DIE, FRIENDS OF HELL) und Andreas Kyriacou (RECEIVER) an den Gitarren, Adamos Adamou (ex-R.U.S.T.X.) am Bass und Vangelis Moutafis (DRAGONBREATH) am Schlagzeug. „Abyss of Mankind" ist ein transformatives Heavy-Metal-Album, ein über ein Jahrzehnt angelegtes Projekt, bei dem HARDRAW triumphal glänzt, indem es eine kraftvolle musikalische Erzählung liefert, die ihr Wachstum und ihre Widerstandsfähigkeit widerspiegelt. Das Album besteht aus acht Titeln, die jeweils die künstlerische Reife und die Synergie der Zusammenarbeit der Band bezeugen. Die Soundpalette von HARDRAW hat sich durch die Gewinnung neuer Mitglieder erweitert und präsentiert eine dynamische Stilmischung, die von knochenbrechenden Riffs bis hin zu komplizierten Melodien reicht, alles eingehüllt in eine düstere Atmosphäre voller Intensität und Kraft. Der Schlusstrack des Albums verdient besondere Erwähnung, da er dem Andenken an den verstorbenen Mark „The Shark" Shelton (MANILLA ROAD) gewidmet ist; eine wirklich emotionale Hommage, die Worte allein nicht beschreiben können. In dieser Hommage an die verlorene (aber nicht vergessene) Heavy-Metal-Ikone schließen sich zwei legendäre Sänger, Gianni Nepi (DARK QUARTERER) und Harry „The Tyrant" Conklin (TITAN FORCE, SATAN'S HOST, JAG PANZER, CLOVEN HOOF), mit HARDRAW zusammen eine außergewöhnliche Leistung zu bieten, die dazu beiträgt, diese herzliche und kraftvolle Hommage noch weiter zu steigern. Der Titel wird zu einem ergreifenden Moment auf dem Album und zelebriert das Erbe eines wahren Metal-Helden. Das neue Album von HARDRAW ist ein Beweis für das Engagement der Band für ihr Handwerk (und ihre Wurzeln), markiert gleichzeitig ein neues Kapitel auf ihrer Reise und festigt ihren Platz im Metal-Bereich. Aufgenommen, gemischt und gemastert im Steel Fortress Studio von Nikolas „Sprits" Moutafis, ist die Produktionsqualität akribisch, fängt die Essenz jedes Instruments ein und lässt die emotionale Tiefe der Musik durchscheinen. Das in Zusammenarbeit mit Kostas Tsiakos gestaltete Albumcover fängt den thematischen Inhalt vollständig ein und schafft so ein zusammenhängendes und immersives Erlebnis für den Hörer. „Abyss of Mankind" erscheint am 5. April auf CD und digital und fällt mit dem Auftritt der Band beim bevorstehenden „Open the Gates II"-Festival in Nikosia, Zypern (5.-6. April) zusammen. Festivalveranstaltung hier: https://www.facebook.com/events/359977229834024 Weitere Informationen, z. B. Details zur Vorbestellung sowie einen Streaming-/kostenlosen Titel-Download finden Sie unter https://www.pitchblackrecords.com Tracklist: 1. The Cry of Persaina 2. Hunter x Hunted 3. Crime Reborn 4. Abyss of Mankind 5. The Path 6. Crimson Lake 7. Second Coming 8. The Riddle Disciples HARDRAW Online - Facebook - Instagram - Spotify - Pitch Black Records Quelle: The Metallist Lesen Sie den ganzen Artikel

[sakrumverum]

Christen in Nahost: „Mehr in Menschen als in Steine investieren“

Jüngere Christen in Nahost wünschen sich grundsätzlich, in ihren Ländern bleiben zu können. Wer sie dabei unterstützen will, sollte „mehr in Menschen als in Steine investieren“: Das sagte uns die palästinensische evangelische Theologin Viola zum Abschluss eines Treffens in Nikosia über die Perspektiven der Kirchen in Nahost. Alles lesen https://www.vaticannews.va/de/welt/news/2023-04/christen-nahost-viola-raheb-in-menschen-statt-steine-investieren.html

[carpediempm]

Nikosia, Lefkoşa, Cyprus

[crzydg]

7 Tage Nord-Zypern

Tag 1: Karaman, St. Hilarion

Ihr erster Tagesausflug führt Sie in das charmante Dorf Karaman und zur beeindruckenden Burg St. Hilarion. In Karaman können Sie einen Spaziergang durch die engen Gassen machen und die traditionellen Steinhäuser bewundern. Die Burg St. Hilarion ist eine der am besten erhaltenen Burgen auf Zypern und bietet einen atemberaubenden Blick auf die Umgebung. Sie können die verschiedenen Ebenen der Burg erkunden und die herrliche Aussicht genießen.

Tag 2: Bellapais, Kyrenia Castle

An Ihrem zweiten Tagesausflug besuchen Sie die Abtei von Bellapais und die Burg Kyrenia. Die Abtei von Bellapais ist ein wunderschönes Beispiel für gotische Architektur und war ein wichtiger Ort für die Franziskaner. Sie können durch den Kreuzgang spazieren und die Aussicht auf das Meer genießen. Die Burg Kyrenia ist eine beeindruckende Festung aus dem 16. Jahrhundert und bietet einen Blick auf den Hafen von Kyrenia. Sie können durch die verschiedenen Räume und Gänge der Burg gehen und mehr über ihre Geschichte erfahren.

Tag 3: Soli und Vouni

Am dritten Tagesausflug besuchen Sie die antike Stadt Soli und die antike Stadt Vouni. Soli war eine wichtige Stadt in der Antike und ist bekannt für ihre römischen Ruinen und Mosaike. Sie können die verschiedenen Gebäude und Denkmäler erkunden und sich auf eine Reise in die Vergangenheit begeben. Vouni ist eine weitere antike Stadt und ist bekannt für ihre zypriotischen Tempel und Theater. Sie können durch die Ruinen spazieren und mehr über das Leben in der Antike erfahren.

Tag 4: Nikosia/Lefkosa

Ihr vierter Tagesausflug führt Sie in die Hauptstadt von Zypern, Nikosia oder Lefkosa genannt. Die Altstadt ist bekannt für ihre engen Gassen und ihre historischen Gebäude. Sie können die venezianischen Mauern und das Büyük Han besichtigen, ein Karawanserei aus dem 16. Jahrhundert, das heute als Kunstzentrum genutzt wird. Die Stadt bietet auch eine Vielzahl von Restaurants und Cafés, in denen Sie die lokale Küche genießen können.

Tag 5: Famagusta

An Ihrem fünften Tagesausflug besuchen Sie die Stadt Famagusta, die für ihre antike Stadtmauer und ihre gotische Kathedrale bekannt ist. Sie können durch die engen Gassen der Altstadt spazieren und die Überreste der antiken Stadt bewundern. Die St. Nikolas Kathedrale und der Othello Turm sind zwei weitere wichtige Sehenswürdigkeiten in der Stadt. Sie können die Geschichte und Kultur der Region hautnah erleben.

Tag 6: Salamis und Dipkarpaz

Am sechsten Tag besuchen Sie die antike Stadt Salamis und das Dorf Dipkarpaz. Salamis war eine wichtige Stadt in der Antike und ist bekannt für ihre römischen Ruinen und Mosaike. Sie können durch die Überreste der Stadt spazieren und die beeindruckenden archäologischen Stätten erkunden. Nach dem Besuch von Salamis fahren Sie weiter in das Dorf Dipkarpaz, das für seine atemberaubende Landschaft und seine historischen Stätten bekannt ist. Sie können das Dorf und die Umgebung erkunden und den Golden Beach besuchen, einen der schönsten Strände auf Zypern. Da Dipkarpaz in der Nähe von Bogaz liegt, empfehle ich Ihnen, in einem der Hotels in dieser Gegend zu übernachten. Bogaz ist bekannt für seine charmante Küste und bietet eine Vielzahl von Restaurants und Cafés, in denen Sie die lokale Küche genießen können. Am nächsten Tag können Sie entweder zurück nach Famagusta fahren oder Ihre Reise in Richtung anderer Orte fortsetzen.