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The old man and his grapes.

As we were walking along the cobblestoned road with beautiful bushes and plants along the side in the village of Omodus, we spotted a little old man coming towards us. He was definitely a local and was carrying a blue bucket on one hand. As he spotted us, he reached into his bucket and took out a cluster of small, green grapes. When our paths crossed, he handed us the grapes. I thought he might be selling them, but he insisted it was simply a gift from him to us. Gratefully we received his generosity, and I think he was even more excited we had received his gift then the joy we had in getting it. After thanking him as best we could we all continued on our way. Us to our awaiting tour bus, him probably to his home in the village.

As I savoured the lovey sweetness of the grapes later that evening, I was thinking what a privilege it was to interact with one of the locals here. And to get to receive what this man wanted me to taste as part of the goodness of the country. As a tourist you get a glimpse into what the people want to show you. That afternoon grapes was the little glimpse I got into the life of a little old man in a village in Cyprus.

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