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INTRODUCTION CYPRUS is a very friendly, relaxing and HOT country. The island and government thrive on the tourist industry and the CTO, Cyprus Tourist Office, is there to help you. Find their local office and obtain the latest maps and details about where you wish to visit. You will read temperature statements in the Newspapers, but believe me, they are wrong. Whatever they say, you will certainly feel much hotter. In August the temperature will be in the 90’s every day. July will border 80/90 and May/June will be lower to mid 80’s. Take, and use, plenty of blockers. Certainly be careful when sightseeing and keep your head and shoulders covered. On that point, whenever visiting any Church or Monastery, men are asked to wear long trousers and ladies a skirt. They used to insist that Ladies should NOT wear trousers, skirts only, but not everywhere is so strict now. Usually both men and ladies are expected to cover their shoulders. FOOD AND DRINK So, if you’re hot, what do you drink? When sightseeing/driving etc. buy bottles of Water or Coke to take with you. When “at home” my favourites are:
For a beer try ordering a “SMALL KEO”. You’ll be given a small glass and a bottle of Lager type beer. If you really like it try a “LARGE KEO”. It’s the same size glass but a bigger bottle. It’s also available on draught now. You can also get most UK beers in cans (or now on draught) but they are more expensive. When at dinner try the local wine - It is really quite good and much better than Greek wine:
The food in Cyprus is usually first class. If you are in a hotel, try and eat out at least twice a week (but avoid Sundays and Mondays as many Restaurants close). So what to eat?
Eat around 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It gets dark fairly early - 8:00 p.m. even in August. SPECIAL SHOPPING SPECTACLES These are very cheap and are of excellent quality. Prices are about one-third UK. i.e. 2/3rd off!! You can often get them within 24 hour delivery, but ask early on in your holiday just in case. I use KYR SOF in UPPER Paphos. Demetrious (the Son) is an excellent optician, qualified in UK. Use your old frames for a reserve pair! JEWELLERY Visit TATI (which is owned by my friend Thalia) in her shop near the Upper Paphos Bus Stop. Mention PUMAX and you may get a discount! CAR HIRE I have another friend who will let you have very good discounts on first class hire vehicles. Mention PUMAX for a special deal. www.gspcarhire.com SILVER & LACE This is very good value - but it is good so still pricey. You will see LEFKARA lace in shops and be tempted to go to the village of LEFKARA. Be warned - it is excellent quality but VERY expensive there. You will pay over CY£50 for a beautiful handmade lace runner!!
PAPHOS What to see in and near Paphos. This is suitable if staying in Paphos. Paphos is growing fast, but it still has a certain charm. Ten years ago there was just the two main parts - UPPER PAPHOS (KATO PAPHOS) and THE HARBOUR (NEA PAPHOS). Now they are virtually joined together and spreading sideways (if you can on a peninsular). UPPER PAPHOS is the old town but it has quite a number of tourist shops. There is also a Fruit and Vegetable Market open all week - but you can get all sorts of things there. Travel by car or get the bus, but go there and look around. The main market day is Saturday. THE HARBOUR area is mainly Hotels, Apartments, Restaurants, Bars, Night-clubs, Shops and Banks. There are three main things to see without needing a car:
What to see driving from Paphos Tour 1 - The Western coast to the Baths of Aphrodite. Leave Paphos Harbour, travelling towards Upper Paphos, and turn off left towards THE TOMB OF THE KINGS. Well signposted. It is very hot there but extremely interesting. Spend 1-2 hours. Continue on road travelling North through the fields of Bananas.
After each of these you will retrace your steps to the main road. Continue north travelling via:
Follow the signs to the BATHS OF APHRODITE. Keep on the coastal road to the very end, at the Cyprus Tourist Office Car Park (Free). Park and walk up the trail to the Baths. When you return to Paphos, travel via POLIS and SKOULLI which will eventually bring you to Upper Paphos. On the way back, visit the AGIOUS NEOFYTUS Monastery. It is not much of a diversion.
Tour 2 - Historical tour along Southern coast. Leave the Harbour area and travel to Upper Paphos. Keep on the main road, keeping right at the upper part of the hill. At the “Tee Junction” traffic lights turn right. An alternative route out of Paphos is along the front near the “Winery” so do please use it as it cuts out the heavy traffic. There is now a new Motorway from Paphos to Limassol, but do not use it for this tour. This tour follows the road to Limassol with just a few stops on the way. The first place you will come to is just a few minutes from Paphos - YEROSKIPOS. This, to me, is the centre of what we call in England “Turkish Delight” - Called locally YERISKIPOS DELIGHT! Stop here and buy some, or sugared almonds. We always use the second shop called ARSINOE with the Turtle emblem. If you ask they may show you the Delight being made out the back. We’ve known the lady here since 1984. Travel past the Paphos Airport road and look out for KOUKLIA on the left. This is the ancient capital of Cyprus and where Aphrodite is said to have reigned. It is an ancient site with the Temple of Aphrodite. There have been limited excavations here so it is pretty much how it has stood for a fair few years. Back on the main road and the next stop is PETRA TOU ROMIOU. This just looks like a few rocks in the sea on your right. In fact it is the Birthplace of Aphrodite. There is a Car Park on the left just after the “Services” sign. Walk from the Car Park, under the road, to the small pebbled beach. Take your bathing gear for it is said that to bathe here will give you everlasting beauty. Just look at me and mine!! Now it is s bit of a journey. About 20/30 minutes. Enjoy the undulating scenery and surprising amount of green around. The old road took you through the British Army base at EPISKOPI which is an experience in itself. Make sure you have you vehicle documents in case you get stopped (unlikely). However, a new Motorway has been built so you may wish to take that to LIMASSOL. If you use the motorway you’ll probably do these next three in reverse order - my route is based on the old road. This is also suitable as a route from Limassol if you are based there. Soon you will reach the TEMPLE OF APOLLO. This is along an entrance road on your left. There have been quite a lot of excavations here so it is worth a visit. Next, just a few hundred yards further on, is the STADIUM. This is an old sporting stadium that has fallen into disrepair. Have a quick look and maybe run round it. I did - once. It is free. CURIUM is next. Not much further so DON’T MISS IT. The entrance is now at the bottom of a hill with its own road. (Do not take the road to Curium Beach). This is, in my opinion, the best site to visit. There is quite a lot to see if you look for it all:
If you’ve had enough you could turn back here, but you are so close to LIMASSOL that it must be worth travelling a little further. Get back to the main road again and travel towards Limassol. Head for KOLOSSI CASTLE which will require a right hand turn down on the flat. Follow the signs there. This was built and used by the Knights of St. John so it is comparatively modern. King Arthur was married here! It is still in good condition and you can go inside. Look at Limassol if you have time, but all you’ll probably see by now is a big traffic jam. Head back to Paphos, following the Motorway (unless you still have to visit CURIUM), and with a bit of luck, enjoy a very impressive sun set.
Tour 3 - The Troudos Mountains. There are essentially two routes which you can take to Troudos. The first is to follow the Limassol road to the very outskirts of the town. This will take about 45 minutes if you use the Motorway. From there take the Troudos Road. The more interesting route, suitable from Paphos, is to turn off the Limassol Road just past the Airport Road. Take the NIKLOKLIA, PHASOULA route and head for Troudos. If you are travelling from Limassol, just look out for all the following using the main road up to Troodos from Limassol. Whichever route you take you should aim for “TROUDOS” which is the tourist summit. Take in as many villages as possible, the most famous being PANO PLATRES. Food and drink prices are “average to plus” up here, for café type facilities, so take a packed lunch. But do have a little look around, even if just for a short break from travelling - You’ve probably been doing so for an hour and a half. A really beautiful spot is the KALIDONIA FALLS. If it is not too hot, give it a try. You’ll be there for about an hour, unless you have a Trout meal at the adjoining restaurant. From the top of Troudos I first suggest a little ride beyond and down again to KAKOPETRIA, the “petrified rock”. A pleasant village with a nice walk up past the old houses, across a bridge and back past the massive Mill House. We usually use the School Car Park (or the little “Pay & Display” car park) and the Open Air Café next to the children’s amusements. Prices are much more reasonable here and you get a free glass of water as well. Afterwards, head back to Troudos. You must visit Mount Olympus - the highest peak. Take the PROHDROMOS route and after about a mile, watch out for a road to your left to Mt. Olympus. Up you go (a little narrow and near the edge at times) but they’ve spoilt it by putting barriers in (1997). Go all the way to the top. Even when there, go all the way to the Radar station and keep going beyond. You’ll find a small car park although they seem to be building a larger one now (1997). Walk to the Observation Tower, which is a Fire Lookout. Spend a few minutes relaxing - but avoid the loos, if you can find them. Back down the way you came. You can either spend time in the area or make your way back via a fairly big diversion to KYKKO and the TOMB OF MAKARIOUS. If so, at the bottom of the Mt. Olympus road, turn left. It’s in that direction about an hour away. They say that from there you can head home direct to Paphos, but I can never find the route! You may have to retrace your steps. An alternative would be to visit OMODOS. This is a very pretty and friendly village which has only recently appeared on the “Tourist” maps. We loved it but try and get there around 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. CONCLUSION This only covers a small part of Cyprus. Beyond Limassol there are other things to see, but not necessarily better. For another time you should visit Limassol itself, AMATHUS, Nicosia, the dry lands of ARADHIPPOU and the most beautifully situated STAVROVOUNI Monastery with its Cross made from the original Crucifix. Men only and it closes at noon. ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY and let me know of anything to add. Recommended reading: Touring Guide Of Cyprus - Published by SELAS Ltd. - Revised edition 1997 - CY£5 Paphos - Land of Aphrodite - InterWorld Publications - Revised Edition 1996 -
Correspondence to e-mail: enquiries@paphos.org.uk
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