We left Limassol around 8 AM and started driving out and up the B8 road. Although the distance wasn't far, it was slow going as the road started getting twisty and turny as we climbed further and further up. We passed the towns of Troodos and Platres and Prodomos. The elevation here was over 5000 ft, and the views out over the valleys from Mt. Olympus were stunning.

We soon came to the town of Moutoullas, where the church Panagia tou Moutoula is located. The keys were kept in the cafe on the main road, it took us some time to track them down. The church was located up a steep, narrow road and there were some other tourists waiting at the church for the keys when we arrived. The church itself was tiny, only a single inner room and an outer hall, but the interior was totally covered with elaborate paintings. We took a few photos before the keeper said not to although we weren't using the flash. The keeper didn't speak any English, and seemed rather surly. It is customary to tip the keeper a few Cyprus pounds for opening the church.

Next, we headed towards the next church nearby at Agios Ioannis Lampadistis near Pedhoulas. This is one of the larger and more impressively painted churches, and is usually open all day, but apparently today (Monday) they were closed. We also took the long way there in the car; we found out (too late) it is best to park in the town across the river and walk across the short bridge as the road to get to the church is some distance from town and involves backtracking quite a bit, driving to the church and back into town wasted a good half hour at least!

The Kykkos monastery was next on the list, it was still a good hour or so drive from Ioannis and we were quite hungry by the time we arrived. We grabbed lunch at the local cafeteria along with the busload of tourists before heading into the monastery itself. This is quite impressive place, still a functioning monastery that sees busloads of tourists arrive daily. The walls are covered with incredibly detailed mosaics of bible stories. The monks also brew their own beer and liquor here, which they sell in the gift shop.

We had missed one of the churches, Archangel Michael in Pedhoulas, and so headed back from Kykkos and were able to find the key owner without much trouble. We had a quick look in the church, the key owner here spoke English and was able to give us some more detailed info.