Our Greek teacher Marios casually mentioned one day over coffee that his wife had heard of the village, and wanted to visit it. 

So we met them for a delightful lunch in Mandria, and then headed off to find Souskiou.

We could see the village across the valley, but how to get there? 

We ended up leaving Marios' car and all piling into my truck.  The big 4×4 Nissan found its way across the fields and dried up river, and we ended up parking just short of the village.

From there we walked up into the old village centre to check it all out. 

It's the fourth deserted village we've visited in Paphos District  - the others being Androlikou, Evretou and Vretsia. 

In some ways Souskiou was one of the better preserved of the deserted villages.

What was once a delightful villa on the edge of Souskiou overlooking the Diarizos valley. Will its Turkish owners ever return?

It's completely fascinating strolling through what would once have been a bustling village, set above the River Diarizos and surrounded by the high hillsides of Paphos District.  Half close your eyes, and you could easily imagine day-by-day life going on in what are now a crumbling series of houses and tumbledown walls.

Photographically it was a delight.  I could easily have spent all afternoon making pictures from the light, the shapes and the shadows. 

All the pictures were shot with an ultra wide angle lens - a treatment I think really suits this sort of subject. 

When we visited, the whole village was a riot of spring flowers that brought a vibrancy to the scene. 

Despite that, I made many of the pictures monochrome.  It seems to suit the subject well.

As you read the current news in Cyprus, it talks a lot about a settlement with the Turkish occupied north being achieved soon. 

When you stroll the streets of these deserted villages such as Souskiou, the practical difficulties of such a settlement seem a very long way away.

To see the pictures of Souskiou, go to the Souskiou Album.