Cyprus a Country for All Seasons

Hello friends! I hope that you have clear skies and mild temperatures where you are.

If you are looking for a place to revisit many times that always offers something special, regardless of your place in life, then you can do no better than to visit the beautiful Republic of Cyprus. Located in the far eastern portion of the Mediterranean Sea, it is an exotic island with all of the convenience of Europe.

Cyprus has been a crossroads for the world since time immemorial. This means that it has been a frequent target of conquest.

Cyprus is a place you can enjoy regardless of your age and stage of life. When you are a child, the beaches of Larnaca are a wonderland of sand castles, swimming, ice cream and playing in the sun. As an adolescent and young adult, you can enjoy Ayia Napa, party capital of Europe. When you are looking for romance, you can do no better than visit chic and trendy Limassol. When you have a young family, Paphos is a good destination for family fun. When you and your partner want a more sophisticated break, you can enjoy adults only properties in Protoras with its beautiful clear water. When you’ve become successful, you can visit high-end resorts like the Four Seasons in Limassol, the Anassa Hotel in Polis Chrysochous or the Colombia Beach Resort in Pissouri. Finally, when you are retired and want a quiet and restful place, the Troodos Mountains with their fruit orchards are the perfect getaway. Cyprus has something to offer everyone!

There is so much to do in Cyprus! Of course, being an island, water-sports and sunbathing are always fun, but that’s just the beginning. There is so much history in Cyprus that the culture-vulture will love it! There are fantastic Roman ruins at Kourion – with its spectacular amphitheatre which often hosts concerts, plays and opera. The Tomb of the Kings in Paphos is a fascinating site of the Bronze Age. The Church of Saint Lazarus in Larnaca is a beautiful early Christian church. Nicosia, the Capital, has a medieval walled old town which is perfect for exploring with its cool shops, restaurants and bars. Speaking of bars, Ayia Napa has a music venue to fit any taste from chillout to rave!

Troodos offers outdoor adventure with climbing, hiking and mountain biking. Troodos is even a stop on the European Road Rally Tour. Finally, relaxing in Cyprus is easy with its coffee-café culture.

The host place of the International festival of Ancient Greek Drama

Here’s a pro-tip: You can ski or snowboard in Troodos in the morning during March and then swim in the sea just thirty minutes later on the coast. In fact, you can probably see your hotel on the coast from the ski slopes!

I Spy the Caves of Greko

Reaching Cyprus is fairly easy from any major city in Europe and there are daily services from Dubai and Doha if you are further east. If you are flying in from the USA, perhaps consider Tel Aviv, Athens or Beirut as a transit point. The airports in Larnaca and Paphos are fairly new and very convenient. They are well laid out and lines are short – even for security. Taxis are everywhere but the distances to places like Ayia Napa, Limassol and Nicosia are significant so the price isn’t low. Uber isn’t in Cyprus but Bolt is, if you want a ride-sharing service. Rental cars are inexpensive and the roads are well maintained and sign-posted.

Hotels vary in price from the budget to the ultra-plush. The budget properties are often family owned and operated and are always clean and friendly. Large chains are present in Nicosia, Limassol and a few in Paphos.

Grilled or BBQ’d meats and veggies …. I say Yummy!

Cyprus has its own fantastic food specialities that satisfy any dietary requirements. The recipes are a tasty mix of middle eastern and Mediterranean flavours. Agriculture is a major industry in Cyprus, so expect the food to be fresh. Of course, the fish and seafood are excellent. My favourite is the local fast food variant. It’s a pita stuffed to over-flowing with a mix of grilled pork souvlaki, meatballs call sheftalia, grated cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes and finally chopped parsley. A ‘Kebab Mix’ is the first meal I have when I visit Cyprus. Kleftiko is a fabulous lamb and potato dish that literally means ‘stolen meat’, which I guess sheds some light to good-natured pilfering amongst farmers in previous times. The local ‘wonder cheese’ halloumi can be served cold, grilled or fried – it doesn’t melt! There are a great many vegetarian dishes. No one will go hungry for a want of options in Cyprus.

You can buy anything in Cyprus but the local specialities are the best prices. Lefkara lace is incredibly delicate and artful. You can buy it right from the picturesque village of Lefkara with its local cottage industry.

I hope you take time to visit Cyprus throughout your life and enjoy this magical place!

 

Love,

 

Isabella