Andrew Wilson

Fantastic weekend in Chania 🇬🇷 Beautiful harbour with the mountains as a backdrop – reminded me so much of Cyprus 🇨🇾

Absolute highlight was hiking the Samaria Gorge, Europe’s largest 🏞️⛰️ 5hrs on foot from mountain top to the beach! 🌿🥾

Today’s culinary adventure:

Banana and date cookies with no added sugar.

Success ✅

www.allrecipes.com/recipe/27526...

Diplomats For Equality joined arms yesterday in support of United By Pride - the bicommunal LGBT+ pride parade in Cyprus. We marched from north & south Nicosia to meet in the UN Buffer Zone (probably the world’s only Pride March under UN supervision). 🏳️‍🌈🇬🇧🇨🇾🇺🇳🏳️‍⚧️

Exploring the Yorkshire Dales this week for the first time. Diving into the Wensleydale Creamery was a treat (lots to taste!). As were these stunning landscapes at Ribblehead Viaduct.

I absolutely loved this super cheesy dish when I was in Bhutan 🇧🇹 a few months ago. I recreated it this afternoon for the first time. Very rich & delicious (and v fatty!). 😋

Foreign tourists to Bhutan remain fairly limited so the festivals are primarily for local residents in Punakha. 🇧🇹

We were fortunate to visit Punakha during the annual three-day Punakha Tshechu (festival) that celebrates Bhutanese and Buddhist cultural heritage. The festival is held inside the large courtyards of Punakha Dzong. 🇧🇹

We visited Punakha in central Bhutan 🇧🇹 earlier this week - about three hours drive from Thimphu. Punakha Dzong, built in the 17th century CE, was the administrative capital of the county until the 1950s. The complex holds multiple Buddhist temples and courtyards.

Bhutan 🇧🇹 is somewhere I’ve wanted to explore since I was v young - but it has always felt out of reach. Monday that dream came true when we flew into Paro from Delhi. Spent our first day exploring the capital Thimphu, including the Buddha Dordenma & National Memorial Chorten.

Completed the Malta Marathon today in 3h39! Beautiful route (albeit a lot of loop by in the middle) and absolutely gorgeous weather for it. Valletta is such a delightful city. 🇲🇹

Slowly building up for the Malta marathon in February. Very proud to have completed my longest run in over a decade. 🏃🏻🇲🇹

Udaipur provided a spectacular welcome to 2025 - highly recommend! Happy New Year to everyone. Wishing you all health and happiness for the year ahead. 🪷

Last light of 2024 on the lakeside in Udaipur. Happy new year everyone! 🪷

Boxing Day at the Taj Mahal with my dearest people was very special. 🇮🇳

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! I hope you’re having a wonderful day, wherever you are!

(We’re on a road trip down to Agra)

🇮🇳🪷🇮🇳🪷🇮🇳

Happy winter solstice and wishing those who celebrate a wonderful Shab-e Yalda 🩷

Welcome to Cyprus, Prime Minister! The first bilateral visit to the island for over 50 years.

The meeting with the President of Cyprus demonstrates the breadth and strength of our modern partnership. 🇬🇧🇨🇾

The 10 best new London theatre openings in November From Ncuti Gatwa’s stage return to the start of panto season, it’s a gloriously eclectic November on the London stage

Lovely preview of Jack and the Beanstalk: What A Whopper! here in Time Out's picks of the month. "...The shows are smutty, camp, and inappropriate for children, but also sturdy works of Proper Theatre made by a team who have long honed their craft." STURDY!!

www.timeout.com/london/news/...

Beautiful weekend in Athens with friends. My first ever (and long overdue) time! 🇬🇷

It’s such a wonderfully sized city with an excellent restaurant scene. Reminded me a lot of Beirut. Fortunately only a short hop from Cyprus.

Welcome! It’s nicer here.

lol yes - makes it more natural.

Kalimera from Athens! 🇬🇷

this is so useful!!!!!!!

A beautiful Remembrance Sunday service this morning at Wayne’s Keep, the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery.

For all the service men and women lost in battle. For the peacemakers and peacekeepers. For all the innocent civilians killed in conflict.

Celebrating twenty years of the Büyük Han Coffee Club, where Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot friends have met every Saturday since the Green Line opened. They are a wonderful example of what reunification could look like on the island. 🇨🇾

The Maronite community of Cyprus came to Cyprus over a thousand years ago, emigrating from the Levant. Whist spread across the island now, Kormakitis (north west) is their historic home. A small percentage still speak Cypriot Arabic and work is underway to protect the language.

Yesterday I joined the Maronite community to celebrate the feast of St George of the Seeds. Holy Mass was conducted in Cypriot Arabic, Syriac & Greek, reflecting the rich history of this island & deep connections to the Levant. A beautiful occasion & uniquely Cypriot experience.

Happy Diwali to all those celebrating in the UK, Cyprus and around the world. 🪔

Last night’s treat:

Peanut butter and broccoli Pad Thai (with Ethiopian wine)

**Chef’s kiss**

Cypria by Alex Christofi is a fantastic read, taking you through over 3,000 years of Cypriot history. The historical and cultural significance of this little island is often overlooked and undersold - but really important to understand. Highly recommend a read! 🇨🇾