Under the Skin of Cyprus
We received a warm, early hours welcome with croissants and pastries, which all of us were too tired to eat. After a few hours of sleep we awoke to a glorious warm morning, with something bright in the unbroken blue sky, the likes of which we haven’t seen in the U.K since… I can’t actually remember!
The resort is a collection of pools and rivers surrounded by a variety of rooms and apartments. Some with private pools, some with small gardens. It’s perfect for families with a vast array of things to keep the little nippers entertained and being a parent myself I would consider returning with them in tow.
Not too far from the resort while on a run I found the beach. The idyllic little cove boasted soft sand and crystal clear, calm waters. I went for a dip and had to walk for a couple of hundred meters before it was deep enough to swim, making it a relatively safe environment for your kids to play. It was the best beach I was to experience on the island during our time in Cyprus.
Ayia Napa town has long been associated with young intoxicated Brits partying into the early hours of the morning. However, our Cypriot guide assured us that this is now a bit of a myth as only ten percent of holiday makers to Ayia Napa are 18-30 years old. And I’m inclined to take his word for it because my experience of Ayia Napa is that it seemed an orderly and well-kept little town and well worth a visit. If nothing else visit the Monastery which has been standing on the hill since the 15th century.
Back at the hotel in the early evening when the bright thing in the sky was going down, the resort switched on it’s vast array of coloured lights bringing to life the numerous lagoons, rivers and pools around the place. It really was a postcard picture.
We dined outside with the hotel management after a tour of the resort which showed us all the facilities and entertainment available for the guests. We were impressed, especially the catering for families with it’s baby room and computer gaming room. The evening entertainment in the poolside bar which included singers and acrobats also looked enticing and well-polished.
We drank coffee at the recently built Limassol marina while admiring the luxury yachts moored up along the edge. Stelios, our Cyprus tourist board friend, informed us that there are plans to build similar marinas in both Ayia Napa and Pathos. My impressions so far was that Cyprus is enjoying an affluent period in it’s history and that tourism is at the forefront of that.
Next thing to mention is the wine tasting session at the family run Zambartas Winery up in the hills near Limassol. Like any Travel Counsellors event that involves a sniff of alcohol, we all seemed to enjoy it very much. After a few rounds of tasting the whites, pinks, and reds, out came the Euro notes purchasing as much as could be squeezed into suitcases. So proud of our contribution to the local economy.
So on to Pathos we ventured. The ancient UNESCO Archaeological Park which houses roman mosaics is well worth a visit and the fact that more areas of archaeological interest are still being uncovered adds to the mystery of the place. Interestingly, there is an old lady who still lives in the middle of the site because she refused to be moved from her home when the first discoveries were made back in the eighties. Fair play to her!
The Tombs of the Kings, also a UNESCO site, is where you will find tombs carved into the rock dating back to the 4th century BC! I believe there are still more of these tombs to be excavated. Who knows what they will find?
We visited many hotels along the water’s edge of Pathos but the one that really stood out for all of us was the Elysium. This was one of the most classy and exquisitely designed hotels I have stepped foot in. It was fantastic. It wasn’t like a tacky 5 star you might find in Las Vegas. Nor was it an ultra-modern statement of wealth you’ll find in Dubai. It’s one I wouldn’t think twice about sending my clients to. Rumour has it that the Beckhams have stayed there, although Nicky (a fellow TC) was a bit miffed that David never mentioned it to her!
Cyprus also has much to offer passed the beach and out to sea. We had a meeting with a local Scuba Diving operator called Cydive. The facilities they had were excellent – their own training pool, a drinks bar (non-alcoholic thank goodness!) and a shop. I managed to squeeze in a quick dive with one of the instructors there just off the edge off the sea wall. But the real magnet which attracts many divers from all over the world is the Zenobia Wreck. This ship sank in 1980 along with her £200 million worth of cargo. It’s in the top 10 wreck dives in the world and I seriously need to get back out there and dive it!
On the final day we were given a tour of the Aphrodite Hills Resort - a large collection of apartments and villas surrounding a golf course and other sporting facilities including a football academy where Rio Ferdinand has taught. We were given the privilege of a tour round some of these villas, including a five bedroom, five bathroom with a view to die for. Most of them had private pools, and surprisingly they were listed at affordable prices, especially if you were to split the cost with friends.
We were then treated to a golf lesson at the driving range followed by an amazing three course lunch at the clubhouse courtesy of the management. After being wined and dined pretty much constantly for the whole five days, it was time to say goodbye to that bright thing in the sky and back to good old Blighty we returned – to our friends and families who for some reason just couldn’t except that it wasn’t a holiday and it was actually all part of the job!
If you would like to know more about Cyprus, or are thinking about visiting, please don’t hesitate to contact me.