Cyprus

Travelogue To be honest, I thought I was ‘chancing my arm’ with this holiday as I chose to go at the back end of April with unknown weather prospects. My fears were unfounded as my wife and I enjoyed ‘wall-to-wall’ sunshine, with temperatures averaging 24c. Add to this the profusion of wild flowers coming into bloom and the many varieties of birds that were resting up between flights on their migratory travel, it proved to be an ideal time to visit Cyprus. In fact the guide books confirm that springtime is when Cyprus is at its best.

The area of Paphos is rich in archaeological sites dating back to the Greeks and earlier. You could well become a budding historian with no trouble in this area of Cyprus. If you love history then Paphos will provide some of the highlights to your holiday. As many will know, this is the land of Aphrodite, the goddess of love….need I say more young lovers?

At the perimeter of the town you can spend hours, days or more just wandering around the ruins to your hearts content. Take a look at the house of Dionysos with its mosaic floor, the houses of Aion, Theseus and Orpheus. There are byzantine and medieval buildings too. There's the basilica in the eastern part of Paphos, St Paul's pillar, the cathedral of the Latins and the remains of a castle known as Saranda Kolones. The graves of the northwestern necropolis are known as the Tomb of the Kings.

Paphos town is an area full of colourful shops where those searching for gifts will not be disappointed. There are also, quite unusually, a fair number of opticians scattered among the shops who supply spectacles to your personal requirements at amazingly low prices - so remember your pack your prescription.

For the wise tourist opting for bed and breakfast accommodation there are plenty of cafes’ and restaurants providing all manner of superbly presented dishes. You'll find restaurants are modestly priced.

Paphos has a Woolworths would you believe, only this one bears little resemblance to the ones back in the UK. This emporium is fully air-conditioned with automatic sliding glass doors displaying a large array of wares. It boasts two floors with an escalator system to glide you between levels. There is also a small restaurant where you can sustain yourself between bargain hunting! As many may realise, this part of Cyprus is Greek and therefore you will not find any ‘Turkish delight’ in these shops due to a certain ‘falling-out‘ some years ago. It is quaintly termed as ‘Cypriot Delight’!

The harbour area is the centre point of life in Paphos. It's attractively encompassed by tavernas and small shops, with plenty of luxury yachts on show. Across the harbour is a fort. Local beach areas are safe with gentle sloping sands. I found the water a little on the cool side in April probably due to the variance of air to water temperatures. But there again, we were spoilt by the hotel’s 85f swimming pool, not to mention their indoor pool that was registering in the 90’s!

The ‘sixty-four million’ dollar question, "Would we go again?" Yes, and at the same hotel and probably at a similar time of year, so please leave room for us!




Destination Paphos, Cyprus
Categories Singles, Over 50's, Families
When Travelled April 2002. If you prefer cooler temperatures and less crowds try visiting outside of the months of July and August. Having said that, I am well aware that many are tied to the school holidays, so a villa with a pool might be the best answer.
Flight Time 6 hours from UK
Travel Agent Eclipse Holidays of Crawley
Length of Stay 14 Days
Accommodation Alexander The Great Beach Hotel. There are any amount of hotels, apartments and villas in and around Paphos. Many of the hotels are five star - in fact I don’t think I have seen so many in such a short space. They are all very accessible and the owners are only too pleased to let you roam around these magnificent buildings. We stayed at the ‘Alexander The Great’ Beach Hotel with its four star rating. This is situated in an ideal spot without being in the middle of town and yet with direct access to the beach. The complex even has its own bit of archaeology. Any good brochure will give you details of prices etc.

Travelogue To be honest, I thought I was ‘chancing my arm’ with this holiday as I chose to go at the back end of April with unknown weather prospects. My fears were unfounded as my wife and I enjoyed ‘wall-to-wall’ sunshine, with temperatures averaging 24c. Add to this the profusion of wild flowers coming into bloom and the many varieties of birds that were resting up between flights on their migratory travel, it proved to be an ideal time to visit Cyprus. In fact the guide books confirm that springtime is when Cyprus is at its best. The area of Paphos is rich in archaeological sites dating back to the Greeks and earlier. You could well become a budding historian with no trouble in this area of Cyprus. If you love history then Paphos will provide some of the highlights to your holiday. As many will know, this is the land of Aphrodite, the goddess of love….need I say more young lovers? At the perimeter of the town you can spend hours, days or more just wandering around the ruins to your hearts content. Take a look at the house of Dionysos with its mosaic floor, the houses of Aion, Theseus and Orpheus. There are byzantine and medieval buildings too. There's the basilica in the eastern part of Paphos, St Paul's pillar, the cathedral of the Latins and the remains of a castle known as Saranda Kolones. The graves of the northwestern necropolis are known as the Tomb of the Kings. Paphos town is an area full of colourful shops where those searching for gifts will not be disappointed. There are also, quite unusually, a fair number of opticians scattered among the shops who supply spectacles to your personal requirements at amazingly low prices - so remember your pack your prescription. For the wise tourist opting for bed and breakfast accommodation there are plenty of cafes’ and restaurants providing all manner of superbly presented dishes. You'll find restaurants are modestly priced. Paphos has a Woolworths would you believe, only this one bears little resemblance to the ones back in the UK. This emporium is fully air-conditioned with automatic sliding glass doors displaying a large array of wares. It boasts two floors with an escalator system to glide you between levels. There is also a small restaurant where you can sustain yourself between bargain hunting! As many may realise, this part of Cyprus is Greek and therefore you will not find any ‘Turkish delight’ in these shops due to a certain ‘falling-out‘ some years ago. It is quaintly termed as ‘Cypriot Delight’! The harbour area is the centre point of life in Paphos. It's attractively encompassed by tavernas and small shops, with plenty of luxury yachts on show. Across the harbour is a fort. Local beach areas are safe with gentle sloping sands. I found the water a little on the cool side in April probably due to the variance of air to water temperatures. But there again, we were spoilt by the hotel’s 85f swimming pool, not to mention their indoor pool that was registering in the 90’s! The ‘sixty-four million’ dollar question, "Would we go again?" Yes, and at the same hotel and probably at a similar time of year, so please leave room for us!
Must-See Sites As well as the archaeological sites the following are will worth a visit: Troodos Mountains are within easy reach by local coach services, where the scenery dramatically changes. Around almost every bend a small monastery shows up and the climate is decidedly cooler. This region proves to be an ideal place to escape to in the heat of summer. Rising up like a gentle giant over the western part of Cyprus, the mountains provide some of the island's most stunning scenery. The Polis area is another beautiful part of the island just north of Paphos. You can get a local bus quite easily and spend a day just wandering around this area that is a UNESCO site. The sea along this northerly coast takes on a beautiful turquoise colour and try as I may my photo’s just do not do it justice. If you happen to visit this area make sure to call in at the ‘Anassa’ hotel. If there was a six star rating this would be it! The place just oozes luxury and is regarded among the top ten hotels in the world. For the price of a cup of coffee you can dream a while on their terrace, so give it a go and make a note for when you win the lottery! Coral Bay is probably the nearest spot of note near Paphos with its softer sandy beaches that prove very popular. Back in the 1980’s the Coral Bay Hotel was host the Commonwealth Meeting, chaired by Betty Boothroid I believe.
Fab Tips If you are planning to stay in a hotel, make sure you only opt for B&B. Apart from having the flexibility and enjoyment of chopping and choosing the type of restaurant you want, the prices in Paphos are really very good and you will be amazed at the price of wine. (Cypriot of course)
Trips and Tours We found the local operated tours gave the best value for money by far and it’s worth asking some of your fellow holiday makers who have been there longer than you, what their opinion is.
Car Hire is a simple affair and UK visitors will be pleased to hear that they drive on the left. Be aware when driving in the Troodos mountain area that some of the smaller roads can peter out to become just tracks, where backing up can become a bit of an ‘adventure’ !
Activities You can enjoy the following activities on Cyprus: walking, birdwatching, swimming, cycling, fishing, golf, skiing (in winter in the Troodos Mountains), surf boarding, water skiing, wind surfing, diving and quad biking to name just a few.
Useful Web Site Cyprus Tourist Board – for southern Cyprus www.visitcyprus.org.cy
Recommended Guide Books
	Insight Guides From Larnaka to Limassol, Agia Napa to the Troodos Mountains its all here. Detailed maps will enable you find your bearings while a parade of colourful photographs and information will help you to get your holiday preparations unpacked.
	Lonely Planet Guides Standing at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, Cyprus has long been the most desirable island of the Mediterranean. Whether you're seeking an orthodox experience or dancing till dawn in Agia Napa, make sure you’re packing this intelligent guide. beautiful beaches & unspoilt reaches: exploring off the beaten track colour section on the spectacular springtime wild flower displays the pick of places to eat & sleep authoritative notes on political & cultural sensitivities 34 detailed maps including plans of Ancient Salamis & Ancient Kourion comprehensive language section taking in both Greek & Turkish

©2003 Fabulous Holidays