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a frappe was; I had never tried sheftalia, and
the only person I knew was Professor Michalis
Toumazou. Eighteen years later I am here,
speaking to you in Greek; I drink three or four
frappes a day and I have more friends here than
in America. Cyprus and the people of Athienou
welcomed me from the beginning, and after so
many wonderful summers, I feel as if I have
grown up here…We all have our own fantastic
stories to tell and we look on this place and its
people with affection and admiration ... all of us
at the Athienou Archaeological Project would
like to thank you for the years of friendship,
civility, generosity and hospitality”.
Clearly moved, Dr Toumazou received the
commemorative gifts from the Mayor of
Athienou, Demetris Papapetrou, on behalf
of the Municipality and from members of the
AAP, and in his turn presented commemorative
gifts with the AAP’s logo. The commemorative
gifts, the book – photographic album and the
ceramic magnet with the AAP’s logo were also
presented to all participants.
The Choir of the Municipal Cultural Club
of Athienou, under the baton of conductor
Christina Hadjistathi, brought more beauty to
the evening with their performance of Cyprus
songs.
Afterwards, all those who honoured the
celebrations with their presence packed
out the Kallinikio Municipal Museum of
Athienou, where they viewed the retrospective
photographic exhibition from 25 years of
excavations at Malloura. The photographs
depict the members of theAAP at work, in class,
as well as relaxing and enjoying themselves in
Malloura, Athienou and elsewhere in Cyprus.
The exhibition remained open to the public
until 30 September.
Inanother sectionof theMuseum, archaeologists
presented some of the more important finds
of the year, such as the limestone statuette of
Artemis, and sections of other statuettes and
animals.
A surprise for the archaeologists was the
screening of the amateur film “A day with the