General: Cyprus

Cyprus is one of my favourite holiday destinations. Golden sandy beaches, clear blue sea, warm relaxing climate and snow. SNOW? Yes snow! I will explain about the white stuff (no, I don't mean the British tourists) later in the review, but meanwhile I would like to share with you the reasons why I find this beautiful island such a great place to visit.

*** Firstly, a little background information on Cyprus ***

The island ...
...the third largest island after Sicily and Sardinia. Without going into too much laborious information on the history of the island, very briefly, Cyprus has been governed under two separate rules since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974 - Northern Cyprus is currently under Turkish occupation and Southern Cyprus is currently under Greek occupation. There have been numerous attempts at a reconciliation between the Turks and the Greeks in order ... more

Cyprus is one of my favourite holiday destinations. Golden sandy beaches, clear blue sea, warm relaxing climate and snow. SNOW? Yes snow! I will explain about the white stuff (no, I don't mean the British tourists) later in the review, but meanwhile I would like to share with you the reasons why I find this beautiful island such a great place to visit.

*** Firstly, a little background information on Cyprus ***

The island of Cyprus is situated in the Eastern Mediterranean and is the third largest island after Sicily and Sardinia. Without going into too much laborious information on the history of the island, very briefly, Cyprus has been governed under two separate rules since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974 - Northern Cyprus is currently under Turkish occupation and Southern Cyprus is currently under Greek occupation. There have been numerous attempts at a reconciliation between the Turks and the Greeks in order to make the island 'whole' again, but to no avail.

You can take a holiday on either side of the island, but it is important to remember that, whether you visit the north or the south, you do not cross the border to the other side as there are strict penalties should you do so. The border is demarcated by the invisible 'Green Line' and is patrolled by a number of armed UN soldiers at lookout posts along the way.

On a more pleasant note, Cyprus is rich in history dating back centuries. It is known to many as 'Aphrodite's Island' named after the Goddess of Love who allegedly came ashore on a seashell. If you believe that, you believe anything, but legend has it that if you swim around the Rock of Aphrodite, you will be blessed with eternal youth. Again, this depends on how sceptical you are.

*** When to go ***

I visited Cyprus in the high season (end of August to be precise) and, as would be expected, it was HOT. And I mean HOT! The temperature averaged 31C so for anyone not too keen on the heat, it would be advisable to travel in the springtime or autumn.

*** Getting there ***

Most major airlines fly to Cyprus. I flew with Britannia and the flight took approximately 4 ½ from Manchester to Larnaca. However, with a little price checking, you may find a better deal with Cyprus Airways.

Larnaca Airport has improved greatly over the last few years. I first visited Cyprus in 1996 and the airport was very basic. However, it has since been modernised and is certainly now on a par with the larger airports. Incidentally, the building plans for the airport were originally those intended for Miami Airport. I know, another piece of useless information from me!

*** Where to stay ***

PROTORAS:

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I stayed in the resort of Protaras which is located on the South Western peninsula near to Cape Gkreko. Protaras is a fairly quite resort and is ideal for families and couples. The beach at Protaras is known as Fig Tree Bay and is renowned for its soft sand and crystal clear water. Fig Tree Bay plays host to numerous water sports such as jet-skiing, water-skiing and paragliding. However, if you enjoy participating in these, it can work out expensive.

The main street through Protaras has been pedestrianised and runs parallel with the beach, separated only by a few hotels. The street is abound with gift shops, tavernas and bars, but at the same, has a relaxed atmosphere about it. As the evening sets in, the street becomes quite busy with tourists and locals alike.

AYIA NAPA:

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A little further along the coast is the much publicised Ayia Napa. Sunbathing all day, clubbing all night. Ideal for the younger tourists looking for a good time. If you drive through Ayia Napa in the middle of the day though, be prepared - you have to fight your way through hoards of teenagers riding through the streets on mopeds.

PAPHOS:

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Even Cypriots go here on holiday. Paphos is a small harbour town located on the western side of the island. This is allegedly the birthplace of Aphrodite herself. Paphos is quite a pretty place and is famous for its monasteries within the surrounding area. Very rich in history, Paphos has a mix of the 'old town' lifestyle with modern day living.

A word of warning: In the summer season, Paphos often has a large influx of touts preying on tourists with 'lottery' tickets. Always advisable to ignore them.

LIMASSOL:

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Limassol has undergone extensive modernisation over recent years and is now the second largest town on the island. I personally would not choose to stay here because there is not enough to see or do for my liking.

LARNACA:

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A lot of people associate Larnaca with the airport, and nothing else. Located on the South East coast of Cyprus, Larnaca is a very pretty resort with a promenade lined with palm trees and cafes and tavernas. If you walk a little further into the town, you will find numerous department stores, and for those looking for a little nightlife, there are plenty of clubs and bars.

*** Attractions ***

Tourist attractions in Cyprus are plentiful. I visited the following places:

ARCHBISHOP'S PALACE - NICOSIA

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The late Archbishop Makarias was head of the Cypriot Orthodox Church and this is where he had his private apartments. However, you can only view the palace from the outside as the building itself is only open to organised tours.

GREEN LINE - NICOSIA
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Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, is well worth a visit. You can stand on the dividing line - the Green Line - that splits the capital in half between the Turkish side and the Greek side. This is patrolled by an armed UN guard but they will allow you to stand on a raised gallery from which you can see into the Turkish occupied territory. Here, you are able the see the hotels that are still in the state they were left in when the Cypriots fled during the Turkish invasion. Tables are still laid in the hotels, and the bullet holes are still very clearly visible. There are also modern day shops in Nicosia such as Marks & Spencer and Woolworths, although these are fairly small compared to the size we are familiar with.

CYPRUS MUSEUM - NICOSIA

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This is certainly worth visiting, especially if you are a first time visitor to Cyprus. Full of ancient artefacts from Cypriot history, there is plenty to see. It's not really the type of place that children would find interesting, and I found it a little hot and uncomfortable walking round.

KOLOSSI CASTLE

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This is basically a ruin, and I had seen everything there was to see within twenty minutes. There are a few steps to climb so it's not really for the tourist with limited mobility, but in addition to the Keep itself, there are also the remains of sugar cane plantations and vineyards.

KOURION AMPHITHEATRE

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This is a spectacular site. The theatre was built into the hilltop overlooking the sea. When I last visited, it was closed for renovation work, but I had been there the previous year and it is certainly worth a visit.

LEFKARA
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This is where the Cypriots make and sell their lace. Lefkara is a pretty mountain village which is fast becoming reliant on the tourist trade. However, beware of street traders here. They tend to accost gullible tourists by offering their lace goods, allegedly made in the village. I had a look at some of the goods on sale and many of them said 'made in China' so be very careful if you decide to buy anything. Saying that, however, the original Lefkara lace is of very good quality and worth buying.

KALEDONIA FALLS
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This is pretty once you get there, but it did take a good half hour to walk to it. The falls are well signposted, but once you park your car, you do have quite a long treck, and bearing in mind you are on holiday and in cool, possibly open toe shoes, the track is covered with big rocks which you need to climb over. As a precaution, take some trainers or "sensible shoes".

MOUNT OLYMPUS
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Mount Olympus rises 6,400 ft and the Cyprus's highest point. There are spectacular views from the top, but it is spoiled a little for tourists due to the British radar dome, security fences and guards.

TROUDOS MOUNTAINS
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The winding roads meandering through the Troodos Mountains go on for miles and miles. If you are driving, make sure you have a tank full of petrol and a good map because they can resemble a maze and the signposts are not too clever in some places.

The mountains are dotted with little Cypriot villages where life goes on as it always has and modern day culture has yet to arrive. In some of the villages, you can see the old ladies - usually dressed in black from head to toe - sitting outside their houses making lace. They are used to tourists and carry on regardless. Old men can be seen walking donkeys along the cobbled streets solely because this is their main means of transport. You essentially take a step back in time. I must admit that some of these villages are not worth the hassle getting to. You spend an hour in a car working your way up the mountain, and when you get there, there is nothing very exciting to look at.

SKIING
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As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, Cyprus does get snow. People travel to the Troodos Mountains between January and March where the snow is usually plentiful. The snow can measure up to 10ft deep at times. Mount Olympus is equipped with four ski-lifts and is perfect territory for those who enjoy this kind of holiday.

TOMB OF ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS
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This is also situated in the Troodos Mountains and is a bit of a trial to reach. Situated on top of Throni Hill, you do have a little walk to take after parking the car. The tomb is in the open air, but permanently guarded by a Cyprus National Guard.

*** General ***

As I mentioned earlier, there are many places of interest in Cyprus, but I have obviously only reviewed the places that I have seen myself (with the exception of skiing). This review therefore only concentrates on the southern side of the island.

The churches, monasteries and museums are never ending and it would be impossible to review each and every one. This is an ideal holiday location for anyone interested in the culture and history of a place.

The north of the island (under Turkish rule), i.e. Keryneia, Famagusta, Karpasia etc. also attracts many tourists but not on the same scale as the south.

For anyone wishing to take a holiday in Cyprus, there is no need to worry about getting vaccinations before you go.

The island gets extremely hot in the middle of summer, Nicosia averaging 35C. However, it obviously remains a little cooler towards the coast.

Unlike many Mediterranean holiday destinations, Cyprus is one of the few where you drive on the left, so if you decide to hire a car, which I found very helpful and convenient, this makes life simple for tourists from the UK.

Crime on the island is very low and any crime that does occur usually involves tourists as opposed to the locals. Cyprus did get a bad reputation a short while ago with some of the British soldiers who are based in Cyprus. However, everything seems to have calmed down now.

*** Points to note ***

For anyone wishing to visit the island with a view to looking round the churches and monasteries, ensure you take some long trousers/long skirt as you will not be permitted entrance to these buildings if you are in shorts. We got caught out on a few occasions. I was not particularly concerned about visiting these places - afterall, I had gone there for a bit of sunbathing and sightseeing - but I thought I may as well have a look at some of these place while I was there. However, as soon as it is noticed you are wearing shorts or short dresses, you are turned away immediately.

If you are hiring a car, take care when driving through the resorts as many of the younger tourists hire mopeds and these are usually ridden fairly erratically.

*** Finally, would I recommend a holiday in Cyprus? ***

Definitely. Saying that, though, it does depend on what you look for in a holiday. If you want a beach holiday, doing nothing more than sunbathing all day and clubbing all night, then this is the place for you, especially Ayia Napa. If you want a little culture and intend to travel round the island exploring its history, Cyprus is definitely for you too.

However, if you have young children or babies, I would not really recommend it because it is very hot in high season and there is not a great deal of activity to occupy them. I last visited Cyprus before I had my son and loved it. But now, with a one year old, I would not consider it again for at least another ten years.

Overall, Cyprus is a wonderful place. You just need to decide which areas of the island is best suited to your kind of holiday.

Thanks for reading.

Carol x
 

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