08.45 It's nice to sleep until you wake up on your own. Just now I was out on our balcony here at Hotel Metropole, Limassol. Out there, I heard the familiar sound from an alarm clock. Someone else has also woken up. I wonder who that might be?

09.35 A lazy morning must at some point be changed to an active day. We should now leave the hotel to find a suitable place for breakfast. Our hotel can not help us with this service.

09.47 We're at the restaurant/bar Saint Andrews a short distance from our hotel. We are not here for golf but for breakfast. We found this place yesterday and it seems promising.

10.31 It has been a good start to the year's penultimate day. There was coffee and a hearty breakfast, English breakfast for me and big sandwiches for Christer. Now we're going to brush our teeth and get ready. We will soon head out to discover Limassol for real. Yesterday was just a taste, a peek.

11.25 Above us is a nice, warming sun. We have walked along the sea, through the Sculpture Park and have sat down at a small modern amphitheatre in the park. Now we read in our books. These small moments make it feels like vacation for real.

12.27 Our moment of reading has only been disturbed by cycling children, children playing and some flies. We will now continue our journey here in the city. First we'll walk along the sea heading for a park and maybe a zoo.

A perfect breakfast at the restaurant Saint Andrews.

Maybe she is dreaming about a life at sea?

Along the sea, Limassol.

A perfect place for a walk, Sculpture Park.

12.38 We have walked along the promenade and the sea. We have looked at birds and eventually left the area by the sea and crossed the lively 28 October Avenue.

12.47 We just made a stop in our discoveries. We are now inside the Municipal Gardens. It is the English name of this park/botanical garden. It is, quiet, nice and leafy green. Birds are chirping and the city feels far away. At the petrol station outside the park a litre of diesel costs 1,215 euro. In this park there is a mini zoo and a lot of children playing. We skip the visit to the zoo. They have just a few animals and it is probably meant for children.

13.04 We have sat down on a bench and talked about this summer's travel plans. A really cheap flight ticket to Ecuador and Peru might be waiting for us. Shall we go there this summer? How do we fund it and when do we buy it? No, now we must get back to the reality here in Cyprus. It is time to leave the park but first a toilet stop.

13.26 A new stop has been made. We are once again at a Starbucks Coffee, this time on Anastasi Sikouri. It was assumed during payment that we would pay together. Once again this happens. If two foreigners is too close to each other at a counter people believe they should pay their things together. However, they have no problem with our names being written at the time of ordering. Christer called himself Chris to make it easier for the staff.

14.20 We enjoyed the pleasant winter sun on the outdoor terrace, had coffee and decided to walk home along Agiou Andreou Street leading to our hotel. On the way we saw Santas that hung from a wall and oranges that hung from trees. We have seen both before. We also found graffiti from a lovesick individual who wanted to describe the emotions with big red letters on a wall.

14.37 We are back in our room. This thing with ships and the Adriatic Sea is not a good combination. First Norman Atlantic caught fire and ten people perished. Now there is a report that Blue Sky has alarmed about possibly armed illegal migrants on board. On land, it is not much better. It is reported about a possible coup attempt in the Gambia. They have also found the wreckage and 40 bodies presumed to be from flight QZ 8501. It would be tragic if there were bodies from something else.

15.03 After a short stop which included battery charging and changing of trousers, we will now go out to see more of Limassol.

Christer is entering the Municipal Gardens.

A cat enjoys the sun in the park.

Municipal Gardens, Limassol.

Christer is visiting Starbucks Coffee.

15.35 We have walked through the old town, found a suitable restaurant for dinner and have now paid the entrance fee for the Limassol castle with its museum. Here we walk around with other tourists among the old ruins from mainly medieval times.

15.49 The castle is certainly worth seeing. In the different rooms are old armours, weapons and texts/inscriptions on miscellaneous stones from tombs and buildings. There are various epochs and cultures depicted and you get a view of all the different sovereigns who have ruled here in Cyprus. Except from what is exhibited, the castle itself is an experience with the large rooms, narrow small spaces and stone stairs.

16.26 We have left the medieval experience behind us. Before we did that, we were on the roof of the castle and from there we had good views of the surroundings and the harbour. We also managed to catch a spectacular sunset where the sun went down and hid behind a cloud. It was a fantastic light show.

16.35 Here at dusk and in the modern era, we now have sat down at Taverna Rizitiko. We will order kleftiko, a Cypriot specialty that is on their menu.

16.41 We could order kleftiko. But it was not possible to get it. They had run out of the specialty, buried goat. We had to order some other dishes instead. It'll probably be fine.

18.13 I ended the dinner with a local dessert and then we paid for all of it. A young accordionist was asked by the waiter to leave our table. Now we´re going on a local bus towards a shopping center in the city's western fringe, My Mall.

Christer stands outside the entrance to Limassol castle.

Inscription from the 16th century.

We are walking around exploring the different exhibitions at the castle.

Medieval fashion.

We were amazed looking at this fantastic sunset.

View from the roof of the castle.

Orange trees outside Limassol castle.

18.27 We have been sitting on the bus all the way to the last stop and we are now arriving at My Mall, a huge shopping mall for a city of Limassol's size. It is the largest in Cyprus and was built in 2009.

18.35 Some kids are playing inside a large plastic ball with something that might resemble snow. The white stuff flies around the small ones. It is a giant ornament, a large snow globe or whatever it's called. We are resting on a bench and plan the next move.

19.35 During our walk here in My Mall, we have found an ATM, the café Costa Coffee and an ice rink. These have now been combined. We have for our withdrawn money bought coffee at Costa Coffee and we are drinking it by the rink. Down there on the ice are people skating around. It's a nice entertainment watching these when drinking coffee.

20.39 After seeing a skating man with shaky legs who made Bambi on ice resemble Plushenko in comparison it has now again become time to take the bus back to the city centre again.

21.18 We are once again in a bus. The bus journey is a multicultural experience. Many are staff from the mall on the way home. There are Africans, Asians and beside us we have two Romanian women. It's time to end another day of travel. Today we have been efficient, got things done but still managed to enjoy a lot.

23.35 Another day draws to a close. To give it a worthy end we'll enjoy an evening beer, a Keo each. Then it is a good night's sleep. It is the last night for this year.

My Mall, Limassol.

Skating amateurs enjoy themselves on the ice rink at My Mall.

Wednesday 31st of December

08.55 The last time I wrote something on this date, it was a Tuesday and the location was Madrid. Today it's off to another of Europe's capitals, Nicosia. We will go there to celebrate the New Year.

09.12 A quick look from the balcony and down the street has given the less cheerful realization that Saint Andrews have not opened for the day. Does this apply to other cafes and similar as well? Hope not! We shall soon know. It's time to go out. Our breakfast plans need to be changed.

09.22 A bit away from where we live is Bono's restaurant (http://bonogourmet.blogspot.se). Here it is actually open and we have ordered breakfast. They offer some words of wisdom. Men: No shirt, no service. Woman: No shirts, free drink. Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free puppy.

09.58 It was great breakfast here as well. Bono’s is a little different and the place is probably as much a bar as restaurant.

10.26 We are now in our room one last time. Saint Andrews down the street has finally awakened to life. Soon we leave this room and this street. When we paid for breakfast, we saw two boxes of cakes.

10.45 We have checked out and strolled away from the hotel. Now we sit down and feel good. We are on a bench in a park between the main road and the sea. We are waiting for a local bus to the city's long distance bus station which is located in the port area (new harbour) near My Mall where we were last evening.

10.59 We regrouped to a bus stop. Soon bus 30 came and we boarded. On the way to an appropriate seat my big backpack hit one older gentleman in the back. He believed that I was carrying a deadly weapon. I apologized, and the apology was accepted.

Breakfast at the diner Bono.

A short break before catching the bus to the bus station.

The bus to Nicosia prepares for departure.

11.10 Since boredom is more agreeable than stress, we are in good time at the bus station. Now we just take it easy before we get on the next bus.

11.29 The bus arrived before it should be here. Though it may be that today is reckoned as a weekday and then it is in time. We are a little uncertain about bus times for just this day. During the wait, we were offered to go by limousine to Nicosia for 65 euros. We didn’t accept the offer. Christer has also assisted a couple with information on bus number and fare for local bus services to central Limassol.

11.44 We are on the road through Limassol. It really takes some time before we come out of this long, narrow city running several miles along the sea.

12.14 The last capital comes closer. This will be the sixth new capital we will visit this year.

12.52 We have driven around in Nicosia's suburbs and released some passengers near a hospital. Here you will also find IKEA store.

13.09 The bus has stopped due to the traffic. We are in Nicosia and are approaching the bus station on Plateia Solomou.

13.28 We walked a short distance on narrow streets and now we´ve checked in at Sky Hotel (http://www.skyhotel.ws) in Nicosia. It is commerce to the fullest outside our hotel. A lot is offered or sold. We are waiting on a sofa in the lounge for room, 109 to be cleaned. A white dog growls, barks, whine and wags the tail out there. It might be the grilled meat which attracts the dog. Some persons are also smoking hookahs/water pipes.

13.42 We went into the room as the cleaning lady went out. Soon we´ll go out again. Our room has two large beds but no balcony. The lady who checked us in has promised us free breakfast although it is not included in the price.

Our bus trip has reached its end. We are in Nicosia.

Meat is prepared outside the hotel entrance.

Our room at Sky Hotel.

14.41 It is time to leave the room and fill our bellies with delicious food. Around Easter, we were in Europe's northernmost and westernmost capital. Now we're in the southernmost. It is a variation on our trips.

14.53 We weren’t far from home before we got to the restaurant Il Forno di Jenny. The owner is supposed to be from Iraq but the restaurant is some how Italian in its image. Here we have ordered mixed grill and beer, always a safe bet.

15.37 They offered exquisite cold beer and great food at an affordable price. We do not regret our visit here.

15.54 Time flies and soon it's a new year. Lunch was tasteful and now we'll just pay and go on.

16.41 We have walked and photographed in the local area. We've gone on the pedestrian street, Ledra and streets adjacent to it. We have met a begging Santa. Life is tough for the old man. Outside the old town's narrow streets, we found a huge hole where a new square is under construction.

18.59 After some time in the room, we´re on the move again. We have been at the border to the Turkish part of the city and country. Now it's time again for coffee at Starbucks Coffee. The girl at the counter asked if I could wait while she arranged with previous guests' orders. Sure, I said. I can wait the whole year.

It´s hard to resist.

Delicious lunch at Il forno di Jenny´s.

Santa is struggling, begging in Nicosia this time.

People on the move during New Year´s Eve.

20.24 We left Starbucks as they were closing for the night and year. Another place that is closed is the shop where we had planned to buy something to toast with at the stroke of midnight. In addition, most restaurants are closed. We have, however, found a kiosk where we bought a bottle of cider each. Now we're at the Chinese restaurant Bamboo (http://bamboorestaurants.com.cy) for dinner. They close at 21.00. There seems to be no culture to go out and eat at New Year here. On one of the streets, we have seen a man carrying a large cake box. Cake can be important around the New Year here in Cyprus.

21.19 We ate the food, drank up and went home. At the reception there was some problem. Christer pointed to the keys and said room 109, no reaction from the man behind the counter. A new attempt was made and the answer was, OK, you want a room? No, we have a room, the key please! OK, which room? 109! No problem, just ask and we will help you. We thought that was what we had done?

23.12 It is quiet and calm around us here at the hotel. Not much is heard or happens. We will soon celebrate a New Year in a new capital. The former capitals where we celebrated a New Year on our travels are Rome, Muscat and Madrid. Nicosia seems unfortunately compete in the category of "most boring city to celebrate the New Year in". Past participants there are Belfast and Muscat.

23.33 An alarm thunders, rings throughout the building. Is it fire, burglars or what?

23.38 I walked past bewildered guests and down to the front desk. In the stairwell was a man with a mobile in his fist. He talked on the phone and pressed the buttons on a box on the wall. Suddenly everything became silent and I returned to the room to write this.

23.59 It is time to bring out the cider bottles. Only one minute remains of 2014. On the TV, it is an entertainment programme with dancing well dressed people.

Christer in front of the entrance to Sky Hotel.

Expensive and boring dinner at Bamboo Chinese Restaurant.

Not much to choose between when celebrating New Year.

Thursday 1st of January

00.07 Happy New Year! Kalí chroniá! This is probably the lamest New Year in the seven years on foreign soil. They are cutting a cake on TV. It seems to be the thing on the island. What a miss by us. We only have Somersby Cider to drink.

00.20 Last year, we prophesied that we in 2014 would be visit fewer countries than we had done in 2013. This prophecy has proved to be true. We have been in around ten years in 2014. I think that 2015 will be even weaker. We have since 2004 been in at least ten countries every year. This year we can drop below 10. Al-Jazeera TV takes a closer look on the recent elections in Tunisia.

00.49 I will, before family and friends in Sweden even had time to toast in the New Year, curl up in my bed. What remains is to say Kalinichta.

08.46 I have woken up in what I think is the 75th capital I´ve slept in during our travel years. Out there the sky is grey. Today we will walk around in Nicosia. Will the weather bother us?

09.26 Today's breakfast was served in the nearby Moroccan restaurant. This morning a door was open from the front desk to the restaurant.

10.18 After the traditional morning routines in the hotel room, it is now time to take a plunge into the city's pulse. We wonder how the urban buzz of the capital is this year's first day, New Year’s Day 2015.

11.08 The rain clouds have left the city. We have looked around among various streets and now sit down between the Omeriye Mosque and Turkish baths Omeriye Hammam. The sun shines and warms us. It's nice. What about the city? Well we are not completely alone in the streets but not far from it. It is quiet, very quiet.

11.30 We have walked a bit further. Christer currently consults the scripture. The scripture is Lonely Planet’s guidebook Cyprus. To our left is the museum of national struggle. Behind us are the Archbishop's Palace and the Byzantine Museum. They are magnificent buildings.

We are on the streets of Nicosia to learn more about the city.

Omeriye mosque used to be a church.

Christer on the street Patriarchou Grigoriou.

Archbishop´s palace, Nicosia.

12.00 After we have (wait, we can hear the prayer call from the Turkish side) seen the Venetian walls and the Cypriot orange trees at the Famagusta Gate, we are with our juice tetras and pieces of chocolate in a park. These were purchased in a small shop with a distressed cat just above on a roof. At first we thought that it had climbed there and wasn't able to come down but after it got our attention it just skipped smooth back onto a balcony. Just now another cat passed here, a cat that did not sound like a cat. The prayer continues. The name of this park here is to me unknown. The street outside is called Leonidis Athinas though.

12.32 We have left the park bench for new discoveries. We have seen a cat may that might be blind . It seemed as if it had eyes clown out or the eyes in any way swollen. In addition, we have a name for the park, Plateia George Ou II. We have just seen the oldest Byzantine Church in the city, Panagia Chrysaliniotissa. It was well hidden among some houses. Not far from here, we see the United Nations flag. We are close to the border now.

12.49 The walking continues. We don’t want to walk too far or wrong so we better make a check on our map.

13.26 We are heading in a new direction, we passed a memorial of those who died in the unrest in 1974 and then we went home. We will not remain in the hotel. Today's big question is where we´ll eat. We have not seen many open options.

13.37 We have found the name of the park where we were before, it's called Toufexi Park. Forget the previous information.

A break in the Stavros Toufexi Park.

Panagia Chrysaliniotissa, an old church from the 15th century.

The United Nations still has positions on the border between Greek and Turkish Nicosia.

14.11 We wandered into the central parts. Here it is more life, movement and open places. Now we are sitting close to Faneromeni Church. We've seen graffiti, graffiti which greets refugees and immigrants welcome to Cyprus. It feels like a relieving contrast to Sweden where the social media is filled with angry words towards immigrants/refugees. Some Syrian refugees who came to a camp outside Östersund was dissatisfied and objected to their new home. This has created an animosity among many Swedes during the Christmas holidays and they fill Facebook with various suggestions about the refugees. Should they be drowned or shot were some of the constructive suggestions. Some people have also watched photos of the clothes the refugees wear and compared it to prices in the stores claiming they are no real refugees. Obviously some Swedish people still believe people leave Syria because of poverty, not because of war.

14.35 Now, it is enough with walking for a while. To make it easy, we have returned to Il forno di Jenny for lunch. The food was fantastic and the restaurant is one of the few open in the area.

16.05 We were once again served very good food. The restaurant is highly recommended. Now we are back in the room again for a while. The weather is great but we changed from shorts to the long-legged ones. The temperature drops as the evening is closing in.

17.27 Now we have left the old town and seen some of the city's newer parts which, among other things, offered a Christmas market. We went here to see something new and also hoping to find more dining options. We looked a bit on the Christmas market but did not find many restaurants. We are instead back on Starbucks Coffee. The man before me ordered iced coffee with extra milk. Why not just take the milk instead.

18.04 Now we are home again. It's time for a little holiday feeling before we go back out for the final small missions.

Konstantinou Palaiologou, Nicosia

Welcoming messages on the walls of Nicosia.

Christmas market and some fun in New Nicosia.

20.12 During our time in our hotel room we have wondered about what lies behind our countrymen’s hate and discontent with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Why does the media present what is relating to these new arrivals so speculative? Present facts instead. If you do not have all the facts, look it up before putting it out on the internet. Enough of this, now we want to get out into a city that seems to be open to others than their own.

20.46 We now sit in the heart of the old town. We are about to have dinner at the Greek restaurant Derlicious. We are at a table on the outside.

22.05 We are at home after yet another delicious dinner. We drank Cyprus wine and Coca Cola. It was again a mixed grill dish. On the way home we bought beer for the evening.

23.44 Chisinãu is the capital of Moldova. It is also the name of the evening beer. From outside we hear singing and music.

Peter is having a late dinner at Derlicious.