At the foot of Troodos and at an altitude of 540 meters from the sea, is the village of Kedares, a beautiful village with only 28 inhabitants (11 men - 17 women). They are all retired, the oldest is 87 years old while the youngest is 67.
A few years ago…
The women of the village had the idea to build a cafe only for women so that they can all spend their afternoons and weekends together happily. "Kafenes Genaikon Kedaron" became known almost all over Cyprus and several brides in the area, choose their wedding day, to take several photos in the cafe with the women of the village. This is a very mixed coffee shop. Freshly painted, with pleasant colors and large pots with beautiful greenery and plants.
The rules of the cafe…
At the end of each month, they all put in 5 euros so that they can pay for expenses such as electricity and water. They each make their own coffee, exchange sweets and treats. They watch TV, embroider, tell the news of the village and in the end everyone washes their cup. They clean it all together and they all have a key. Also, from August to October, they go on weekdays to make palouze and soutziouko.
The mayor of the village, Mr. Antonis Perikleous reports to Ant1iwo:
"The last wedding in the village took place 40 years ago and the last baptism was in 1969 and it was my son's.
The village used to be full of life. There was plenty of water and 4 large fountains were running non-stop, winter and summer, with the result that the inhabitants were engaged in agriculture. Two of these fountains were in the center of the village and survive to this day. The winter of the village is quite severe and the snow is a common phenomenon. The temperatures of the night often fall below zero, resulting in the formation of frost. However, its summers are cool with a dry climate, which is why they attract many vacationers.
We were forgotten until the big fire threatened our village and forced us to leave our homes for a few hours. That was when the journalists started writing about the "General Cedar Cafe". The truth is that whoever comes to our village, first wants to go there and then anywhere else…
There was also great interest in "Pierced"…
To the south of the village, in the fields, there is a large stone called "Pierced". This monolith has a symmetrical hole, through which a thin man could pass.
In the old days, the Kedarites believed that "Pierced" had healing properties, so when someone was sick, his relatives made sure to pass his clothes through that hole and were sure that this way the sick would be healed.
For the same reason, they tied some of the patient's clothes in the bushes, around Trypimeni, believing that the power of the stone would have a positive effect on him and he would find his cure ".
Source: ant1iwo.com