Lawrence Durrell's House - Bellapais

AngelaT


Joined: 25/04/2011
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 18:42

Hi,

Does anyone know if Lawrence Durrell's house in Bellapais is still open to the public? I was looking at an old thread and apparantly it was at one time. I'm coming over in April next year and was hoping it would be. I have visited the 'Tree of Idleness' but would really like to see his house as well. Any help would be appreciated.



Thanks



Angela

davpat


Joined: 23/08/2011
Posts: 225

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 18:49

Angela,According to legend,there are 2 Tree's of Idleness in Bellapais,which one do you think is the actual one,by the cafe or by the restaurant??



Rgds,



David

AngelaT


Joined: 25/04/2011
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 19:00

I'm not sure. I was referring to the restaurant of the same name. But I think there maybe a possibility it is the tree at the cafe over the road. I think that they both claim to have the tree in question on their premises. It would be nice to know for sure.



I'd like to think that it was the one I sat under at the restaurant! (I've never been the same since!)



Angela

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 19:11

Re: Msg1,

Angela,

Durrel's house is now a private property, the owners open it to public only in September, if at all.



Re: Msg 2,

davpat,

it is a million dollar question!

You might be interested to read this thread:

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/show2.asp?messageID=46372

AngelaT


Joined: 25/04/2011
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 19:24

Thanks Clarissa2.



I will go and have a look at the house from the outside (hopefully without alarming the current occupiers - although I bet they are used to it by now!). Do you know where it is exactly?



I also looked at the link regarding the Tree of Idleness. I sat under the same tree that Julia shows in her pictures. I'd like to think it is that one!



Thanks for your help



Angela

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 19:29

Re: Msg 4,

Sorry for the typo: Durrell's house.



I was there in the first week of October - the house was closed.

ajaney


Joined: 24/12/2008
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 19:42

The house is in private ownership and is rented out (not holiday rental). If you walk up to have a look, walk a little further and follow the signs to the Gardens of Irini, this is an amazing little bistro and Deirdre who owns it used to go frequently the bitter Lemons when Lawrence Durrell lived there, well worth a visit

AngelaT


Joined: 25/04/2011
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 19:50

Thank you Ajaney.



I have seen the Gardens of Irini so I have a good idea where to look now. Is Lawrence Durell's house sign-posted?



Angela

BizziLizzi


Joined: 02/08/2011
Posts: 855

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 19:50

The general consensus is that the tree was a mulberry , which lets out the one outside the resteraunt (wonderful though it is) which is a jacaranda. There used to be another claimant - there was a magnificent large old mulberry in the centre of the carpark, Sadly it was cut down two or three years ago, allegedly it was diseased and had become dangerous, but it made space for several cars - sic transit gloria!



I gather that Durrell's house has been considerably modernised and is not recognisable so it might not be such a loss being unable to visit it.



There is another mystery about Bellapaise which fascinates me. The Turkish name for the resteraunt is Huzur Ağaç. but , accordingly to my dictionary, Huzur does not mean idleness but peace of mind or

c tranquility. This chimes in with "Bellapaise" itself which is a distortion of the French for Abbey (or Cloisters) of the peace.



I wonder if this was a mistranslation - Durrell of course spoke fluent Greek but not Tur

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 19:51

Re: Msg5,



Angela, walk straight upwards along the street right to the 'Huzur Agac' reastaurant , and in appr. 200m on your left you'll see the house, it has a yellow plaque.

BizziLizzi


Joined: 02/08/2011
Posts: 855

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 19:54

/contd.......................



........not Turkish.



Does anyone know what it is called in Greek or can throw any light on this puzzle?



Durrell did have a reputation for practical jokes - it was not beyond him to have invented a legend and

he is laughing somewhere about having left the mystery of which tree behind him!

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 20:09

Re: Msg 8,

Photos of the house:



http://postimage.org/image/1fq9qde5g/



http://postimage.org/image/1ft2m5k9w/

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 21:10

The house is available for renting now.

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 21:23

I can vouch for the fact that's it's very nice inside. Visited there a couple of years ago. Mind you, it's probably been done up since then. I seem to remember that it has a lovely courtyard garden with a plunge pool in it.

AngelaT


Joined: 25/04/2011
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
17/10/2011 22:08

Thank you very much Clarissa2. Them photos are a great help.



Deniz1 and Jeannie, unfortunately I already have accomodation for my stay but I doubt I could pay the rent required....even if it is only for two weeks! It must cost a fortune! The courtyard and plunge pool do sound tempting though!



Angela

snd1966


Joined: 10/06/2009
Posts: 353

Message Posted:
18/10/2011 04:22

email sent - and rent is in line with rentals in bellapais but unfortunately even though it has great views people want modern furnishings etc so it will appeal to people who love older properties.

AngelaT


Joined: 25/04/2011
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
22/10/2011 11:13

Hello,



Snd1966, can I access this e-mail? Does it show the property? I love older properties with some character.



Angela

snd1966


Joined: 10/06/2009
Posts: 353

Message Posted:
22/10/2011 16:06

check spam i sent it that morning or email wills@email-cyprus.com

begonia


Joined: 19/05/2009
Posts: 229

Message Posted:
22/10/2011 17:35

The house is called Bitter Lemons. I have stayed there a couple of times and it is lovely. I hope it hasn't been 'done up' too much as it was perfect.

snd1966


Joined: 10/06/2009
Posts: 353

Message Posted:
23/10/2011 08:45

It still retains its charm, and the kitchen is very much the same

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
24/10/2011 21:32

Angela T message 17, I hope these will show you some more pictures of Bitter Lemons.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/68972972@N02/



They were taken in 2007



Regards



Jean

AngelaT


Joined: 25/04/2011
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
27/10/2011 18:50

Thank you very much Jean. I have only just seen this message. Nice house! I like the look of the courtyard garden.



Angela