Echoes

There’s plenty to do in Ammochostos, Cyprus

We’re planning to visit Ammochostos in Cyprus for a week during the summer. We’re going on a proper beach holiday, but would like to take in the cultural sights of the area. What do you suggest?
 

Read here the advice given by "The National" of Abu Dhabi.

Dance and feast in the streets in Limassol
By Killian Fox ("The National", Abu Dhabi, 30 January 2010)

Every spring, before the fasting period of Lent, Cyprus enters a feasting period known as Carnival. For 10 days and nights, the island throngs with vibrant parades, fancy-dress parties and lively musical performances.

The weather is already warm, spring flowers are in bloom, and, as Lent draws near, great spreads of delicious local food await the hungry reveller.

Nowhere does Carnival better than Limassol, Cyprus’ second city on the picturesque southern coast, where the celebrations are high-spirited and brightly colourful.

The festivities kick off on February 4 – the beginning of Kreatini, or “Meat Week” – with the arrival of the Carnival King.

Make the most of the island’s wonderful cuisine (the second week of Carnival revolves around cheese) before the Grand Carnival Parade heralds the beginning of Lent on February 14.

Tie the knot on the island of Aphrodite
By Reena Amos Dyes
Emirates Business, Dubai, 23 August 2009

Vassilis Theocharides, Director, Middle East and Arabian Gulf, Cyprus Tourism Organisation, told Emirates Business: "More and more people from the Middle East are flying out to Cyprus to get married. For example, in Lebanon there is a campaign running about flying down to Cyprus and performing a civil marriage. That has boosted sales for us...

It takes about three days to get it all done, including applying for the licence for the civil marriage, getting the couple married and getting the documents stamped from the respective embassies.

Theocharides said: "Couples can choose to get married either at the municipality or in front of the mayor and then the papers get stamped by their embassy. They can stay at a hotel and have their honeymoon while all this is being handled by the agents". Complete article
 

Quick skip to Cyprus
By Rosemary Behan
The National, Abu Dhabi, 24 April 2009

Thanks to an increasing number of airlines making the three-hour flight from the UAE to Cyprus, it’s more accessible than ever. Summers are reliably sunny but sea breezes mean the temperature rarely rises above 30 degrees, making it the perfect escape from the Gulf.

Although it is one of the republic’s biggest tourist resorts, Larnaca is also the island’s oldest town, with a history dating back 6,000 years. The first Phoenician colony on Cyprus, Larnaca used to be known as Kition, or Kittium, and was the birthplace of the Greek philosopher Zeno. It is believed that Zeno founded Stoicism after losing everything he had in a shipwreck. The ancient site of Kition is at the northern end of modern Larnaca. Complete article

The Basilica of St Lazarus in Larnaka

Cyprus, at the crossroads of continents
By Andrea Anastasiou
Gulf News, Dubai, 06 May 2008

The aromas of home cooking permeate the air, due to food being a big part of Cypriot culture. The kafenia (coffee shops) are always at the heart of the village, which you can normally locate from afar by the loud and animated voices of gentlemen arguing over a game of tavli (Greek backgammon).

These villages are also relatively untouched by modern life, meaning that the children are more likely to be found outside playing traditional street games and sports than at home playing on a games console. Complete article

Notes from Paphos
By Maey El Shoush
Gulf News, Dubai, 21 November 2008

Getting off the beaten track and experiencing local culture was exactly what I was looking for. As we approached the old port, we parked the car and headed towards the pier.

We watched as local fishermen gathered their rods and expertly slung them over their shoulders. It was a breathtaking view as the sky changed colours and the Sun set over the ships docked at the port.

We then stumbled across an open-air Water exhibition along the promenade, where we saw gripping photographic images of underwater life, shipwrecks, fishing and farming from around the globe. There was also a free documentary, with a two-sided flat-screen TV and chairs for those interested. Complete article

The dazzling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea in Pafos