INTRODUCTION
Hi everyone I am Andreas I come from this magical Island called Cyprus that is in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.
It is very close to Turkey and Lebanon and just an hour flight to Greece. If you haven't considered Cyprus us your next stop don't miss out you will love it.
BRIEF HISTORY OF CYPRUS
Situated at the maritime crossroads of the eastern Mediterranean basin, Cyprus has a rich and varied history. Many invaders, settlers and immigrants have come here over the centuries, and the island has seen Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Lusignans, Genoese, Venetians, Ottomans, British and Turks seek to take a part of Cyprus for themselves.
Cypriots, whether Greek or Turkish, are proud of their nation and feel a strong sense of national identity. The division of their island in 1974 is viewed by many as a temporary setback, and Cypriots look to the day when Cyprus will be a united island once again.
Sanctuary of Aphrodite, Roman period, Palaepaphos.
Παναγία Χρυσελεούσα Λυσός The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary Chryseleousa.
The Odeon Nea Paphos Ancient Odeon of Nea Paphos, Cyprus 🇨🇾 The ancient Odeum is semi circular in shape with 12 rows of seats.
CYPRUS TODAY
Cyprus continues to enjoy international recognition as the sole legitimate representative of Cyprus. The economy is booming: the Cyprus Stock Exchange opened in mid-1999 and initially absorbed vast amounts of private funds. Later, the stock exchange took a nose dive and many Cypriots lost huge amounts of money. Tourism is generally buoyant, though 2002 saw a downward trend sparking some concern in the industry.
Known by most foreigners simply as ‘Northern Cyprus’ and by Greeks as the ‘Occupied Territories’ (ta katehomena), the northern segment of Cyprus as a separate entity defies logic; despite international economic sanctions, it continues to survive and develop, supported largely by its client and sponsor nation, Turkey.
Talks to reunite Cyprus have taken place sporadically since 1974 but little ground has been gained, with both sides presenting an entrenched and uncompromising point of view. The UN has maintained peace along the Green Line since 1964; in 1974, it was called on to patrol and monitor the cease-fire line, now called the Attila Line, the border that runs the entire length of the island.
Cyprus’ relationship with Turkey is also looking to improve following the commencement of the formal talks on Turkey’s EU admission, which started in 2005 and are predicted to go on for ten years. Turkey’s controversial EU entry rests on several conditions, one of which is its eventual recognition of the Republic of Cyprus. It remains to be seen how the Cyprus problem will be solved after this.
Turkish Flag On Pendadaxtilo made out of stone
Red indicates the Occupied area of Northern Cyprus by Turkish Troops
TRAVEL & TOURISM
Cyprus tourism is experiencing nothing short of a revolution. Ambitious luxury marina and hotel developments are springing up in all coastal towns, plans to build the island’s first and only integrated casino resort.
Tourism has proved to be the most resilient of Cyprus’ commercial sectors, generating 12% of the country’s GDP in 2016 – a year which defied expectations and was record-breaking in visitor numbers, which reached 3.18 million. This marks a significant increase to the island’s previous record of 2,696,700 in 2001.
Cyprus has embarked on an ambitious new strategy with the aim to further boost both visitor arrivals and tourism revenue, and create 47,000 better-paying jobs by 2030. In the same time frame, the country has set its sights on attracting €20 billion in new investment, and doubling the share of tourism in Cyprus’ economy.
AWARD WINNING BEACHES IN EUROPE
Cyprus’ coastline has been recognized internationally, with its beaches ranked as some of the best in Europe. The EU’s annual bathing water report recently listed Cyprus as having the greatest number of ‘excellent’ beaches for swimming amongst all the 28 member states.
According to the report, around 99.1% of bathing water sites in Cyprus in 2015 had ‘excellent water quality’. The report was published as another famous Cyprus beach, Fig Tree Bay in Protaras, was awarded a coveted Blue Flag – an award which brings the number of Blue Flag beaches on the island up to 59.
Protaras Beach (Fig Tree Bay)
Pissouri Beach Bay
Konnos Beach Bay
Nisi Beach Bay (Ayia Napa)
NATURE & PARKS
Lemesos - Ancient Amathous - Governor's Beach Cycling Route
Stavros tis Psokas - Pyrgos Cycling Route
Aphrodite (Circular) - (Paphos) District, Akamas Forest Nature Trail
(Larnaca) Salt Lake
Troodos Botanic Garden
Cape Gkreko National Forest Park
FOOD & DRINK
Cypriot cuisine is an exotic blend of Greek and Middle Eastern cultures, sprinkled with remnants of ancient civilization's such as indigenous Roman root vegetables or old Phoenician delicacies.
And it is no secret that the ‘Mediterranean diet’ is considered to be of the healthiest, thanks to its abundance of heart-healthy olive oil, pulses, lean meat, local herbs and freshly grown fruits and vegetables.
Commandaria (Red Wine)
Cyprus can proudly lay claim to the world’s oldest wine still in production - that of the delicious sweet dessert wine Commandaria.
Afelia
A traditional and hearty dish of braised pork, flavored with crushed coriander seeds and dry red wine.
Greek Traditional Yogurt
Real, traditional Cypriot yoghurt is made of sheep and/or goat milk. Set in clay pots, it has a live culture and is fairly sour!
Souvlakia (Kebab)
Souvlakia are small cubes of barbequed meat that make up part of the healthy and hearty national take-away, kebab.
Mezedes
No visit to Cyprus is complete without enjoying the traditional meal of many small dishes known as ‘meze’.
This large feast, which has been a popular part of the Cypriot culture for many centuries, is more of a social event than a formal meal, with many dishes shared around the table with family and friends.
SWEETS & DESERT
Baklava
This famous, sweet pastry dessert has ancient Middle Eastern roots on the island and is made by layering sheets of filo pastry with chopped nuts, baking them until crisp and golden and then drenching them with honey or syrup.
Glyka tou Koutaliou (Spoon Sweets - Preserves)
As their name indicates, the traditional glyka ‘spoon sweets’ are candied preserves that are typically served on a small spoon and offered to guests as a symbol of hospitality, always with a glass of cold water.
Soutzoukos
Soutzoukos is a traditional, chewy sweet made from grape juice that has a unique appearance (it looks similar to a candle!), and is popular at traditional festivals.
Loukoumi (Cyprus Delight)
Cyprus is famous for its delicious sweets known as ‘delights’, which have been produced on the island for centuries.
WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS
Cyprus is one of Europe’s leading destinations for weddings, blessings and honeymoons, and is famed for its wonderful climate, beautiful scenery and myriad of options for venues, ceremonies and celebrations.
From sundrenched vows and sacred ceremonies to newlywed adventures, Aphrodite’s island is love personified.
There are so many reasons why Cyprus wins the heart of couples wishing to marry abroad.
CYPRUS NIGHT LIFE
Ayia Napa is a Party Paradise with some of the best night life in Europe.
Ayia Napa is famous for it's nightlife and has a wide choice of clubs and over 80 bars. Whatever sort of night out you're looking for, there truly is something for everyone in Ayia Napa.
Whether you're looking for a crazy party holiday, a fun family break or a grown up, chilled out getaway, Ayia Napa has bars, clubs and entertainment to suit every taste and budget.
From the latest EDM, Hip Hop, House Music and RnB, right through to cheesy tunes, rock music, acoustic performances and tribute acts, in Ayia Napa you're guaranteed Good Times!
The busiest time of year in Ayia Napa is late June until early August when there are around 8 weeks of madness. Big events with top name acts, worldwide DJ's and special guest appearances all happen during this time.
The summer season in Ayia Napa actually runs from April until October so if you come outside the peak times you will still find plenty going on. Most bars and clubs open up during April or May and most don't close until October.
Most of the bars around the main square and strip in Ayia Napa open at around 8pm. They don't get busy though until around 11pm.
This doesn't mean that you should stay in your hotel or power nap until that time, it just means that you can wind into your night and find the best offers on drinks.
Many bars will do happy hours before 11pm and many do buy one get one free plus free shots or give out free club entry passes.
Earlier in the evening the bars that have cheap drink offers and sit down table service tend to be busier than the party bars in the town centre.
Bars at the bottom end of the strip, along Nissi Avenue and towards the harbour are also popular with those starting the night off, families, couples and those wanting a bit more of a quiet night.
Once the party bars in the square and on the strip get going at around 11pm, it gets very busy with people spilling out onto the streets and all sorts of music blasting out as bars compete with each other to attract crowds.
The clubs open at around 1am but some bars go on serving drinks until 3am or later, although they can't play loud music after 1.30am.
Most clubs will offer free entry if you go in early and most bars will give out free entry tickets to clubs when you buy a drink. Ayia Napa clubs usually close around 5am with a couple of late clubs staying open until 7 or 8am.
There is a wide choice of different venues to enjoy your night out in Ayia Napa so whatever your music tastes or party style, you will find bars and club nights to suit pretty much everyone.
Whether you want a big night, a chilled night, a romantic night or a really crazy night, Ayia Napa has all the fun, frolics and shenanigans you could possibly want.
The busiest part of Ayia Napa at night is the area around the main square and the strip (Ayias Mavris)
The bars in these areas and on the side roads are usually packed by 11pm and this is where the music is loud, sitting down is a no-no and the atmosphere is electric.
Everything from Dubstep, Trance, Party, Rock, and everything in between can be heard as the streets throng with the pre-club crowd.
Expect dancing on the bars, lots of exposed flesh and plenty of flirting. Ayia Napa is a sexy place in the summer and the hours of midnight until 4 am is when things get hot.
People spill out of bars all over the center of Ayia Napa turning the streets into one big party.
Castle Club is the largest club in the whole of Cyprus. It has been shaping the nightlife of Ayia Napa for 23 years and continues to innovate each year. It has been voted in the top 100 clubs in the world by DJ Mag for the last 4 years.
Castle Club (Ayia Napa)
TO BE CONTINUED....