So, COVID shut down our work in Cyprus for two summers (2020 and 2021). This year, however, we are pushing ahead and trying to get our work back on track. It has been an unusual few weeks getting ready for the trip. In the past, I never really worried about packing or making sure I had what I needed for the field season, but after a few summers of not doing any international travel, I adopted a new approach to my travels – sudden and frequent panic. This technique resulted in frantic buying on Amazon, trips to stores, and waking up one night at 3:30 AM and realizing my rolling duffle had broken down on its last trip back from Cyprus and spending the next two hours reading reviews to order a new duffle.
The trip was relatively uneventful. My Pittsburgh to Philadelphia leg had a large number of Pittsburghers who were on their way to Las Vegas, including the older woman sitting next to me who called me “Bro” every time she talked to me. My Philadelphia to London leg was nice and quiet since the flight was only about 50% full resulting in me having a row to myself. The London to Larnaka leg was very crowded with only one empty seat – fortunately, it was next to me. This flight was on time allowing me to get the rental car and then pick up Bill. We spent the night in Larnaka before driving to Polis this morning. The weather in Polis is sunny and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and is expected to be like this for the next week to ten days.
We are set up at our usual place, Renos – and it looks like nothing has changed – still nice and quiet. We are staying in the same room we have stayed in for the last two trips. Our balcony looks out into a neighboring house’s backyard, which has always been a pleasant view because of the large number of flowers they grow. This year, the flowers have grown so high that you can’t see into the yard. The village looks almost the same, though one of our favorite places to stop by for something to eat or drink has closed.
We ran some errands this afternoon in an attempt to hold off the jet lag which was noticeable – a lot of nonsensical statements and long pauses in an effort to recall names, places, etc. We made a grocery run, and visited with the museum staff to discuss our plans for the summer. We then started discussing our plans for the summer and gathering computer files together to make sure we have everything we need. Since I mentioned going to the grocery store, let me assure you that I did find some potato chips to try out. Thousands and thousands of you have emailed me concerned over the pause in my potato chip research. Well, it starts back this week! Bill is trying to get me to go back through the chips I have already tasted and regrade them, to see if my tastes have changed – we will see if I am up to that. Meanwhile, a quick review of my past work (55 reviewed) will help set the stage for this season’s work.
The Potato Chips of Cyprus: An Exhaustive Study:
- Argentinean Steak — ***** (5)
- Baked Lays with Mediterranean Herbs — *****(5)
- Barbecue — ******** (8)
- Brazilian Mango and Chile — **** (4)
- Caramelized Onion and Balsamic Vinegar — ******* (7)
- Cheese and Onion — *** (3)
- Crunchips Barbecue Flavour — *** (3)
- English Cheese on Toast — ***** (6)
- Frit Ravich Onduladas Jamon Chips (Ham Flavoured) – ** (2)
- Frit Ravich Mediterraneo Chips – **(2)
- Goldies Bacon Extreme. Bacon – *(1)
- Goldies Extreme – *****(5)
- Greek Salsa — **** (4)
- Handy Snacks Cyprus Potato Chips Vinegar and Oregano – *** (3)
- Lay’s Baked Barbecue potato chips – ***** (5)
- Lay’s Cream Cheese and Bacon – ******(6)
- Lays Greek Salad Flavor – ****(4)
- Lay’s Heinz Ketchup flavored – **(2)
- Lay’s Pesto and Mozzarella with Cool Effect – ******(6)
- Lay’s Scoops Chili Flavoured – ***(3)
- Lays Cider Vinegar – **** (4)
- Lays Lasagna Flavored chips – ****** (6)
- Lays Maxx Deep Ridged Chicken Wing Flavour – ** (2)
- Lays Maxx Deep Ridged Salt & Vinegar Flavour chips – ******* (7)
- Lays Mozzarella and Pesto flavored — ******** (8)
- Lays Mushrooms in Cream – ***(3)
- Lays Sensations – Japanese Teriyaki – *****(5)
- Lays Smokey Bacon – ****(4)
- Lays Sour Cream and Black Pepper – ****(4)
- Lay’s Taste of Mediterranean 3 Peppers — ******* (7)
- Lay’s Taste of Mediterranean 100% Olive Oil — ******** (8)
- Lay’s Taste of Mediterranean Provence Herbs — ******* (7)
- Mama’s sundried tomato and basil chips -***(3)
- Mediterranean Herb — ****** (6)
- Mexican Peppers and Cream — ******** (8)
- Oregano — ******** (8)
- Oven Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Thyme — **** (4)
- Prawn Cocktail — ********** (10)
- Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce – ******(6)
- Quavers with Cheese — ******* (7)
- Replay’s Cheese flavored chips – ********(8)
- Replay’s Ketchup Flavored Potato Chips – *(1)
- Replay’s Terra Bites – **(2)
- Salt and Vinegar — ******* (7)
- Thai Sweet Chile — ** (2)
- Tsakiris Bacon and Cheese Flavoured Chips – * (1)
- Tsakiris Chips with Florina Peppers Flavor – ** (2)
- Tsakiris Chips with Graviera Cheese Flavour – ******* (7)
- Tsakiris Chips with Ketchup and Mustard – ** (2)
- Tsakiris Chips with Mytilene Sea Salt Flavour – ******* (7)
- Tsakiris Chips with Oregano – ****** (6)
- Tsakiris Chips with Vinegar Flavour – ****** (6)
- Tsakiris Chips with Santorini Tomato Flavor – ******** (8)
- Tsakiris Chips Sweet Barbeque – **** (4)
- Tzatziki — * (1)
RSM
Ancient History Ramblings 