Being
the new millennium we thought we should do something different. As up
to then all our holidays together had been winter and skiing holidays,
we thought we would be daring and try something different and go on
a beach holiday. After recommendations from Nin and Nigel, who invited
us up to their garden one sunny spring afternoon showing us pictures
of their favourite holiday spot, we booked a last minute cheap package
holiday to Cyprus. Leaving Gatwick in the late afternoon we arrived
at Paphos airport in the middle of the night, and being a charter trip,
it was off course two hours late. However, Cyprus greeted us with warm
Mediterranean winds. At this stage we still had no idea where we would
be staying but we were put on a bus that was headed to Limossol, which
we later found out is in the middle of the island, to be
checked in at the Tasiana holiday apartments. The flat was very basic
but clean, with a kitchen including a breakfast bar. The kitchen area
was divided by a sliding door into something that was supposed to be
a lounge with two huge blue plastic sofas. The lounge had big sliding
glass doors that lead to a nice large balcony half a floor up. The bedroom
was rather big with an on-suite basic bathroom. As we went to bed the
sun was rising. After just a few hours sleep we woke up at 10 am and
dressed in shorts and t-shirts we wandered into the hotel opposite where
our holiday rep gave us an introduction talk about Cyprus. As we had
no idea of where we were or anything about the Island it was all very
informative and we decided to book a few of the organised activities.
Being absolutely famished, we tried to retrace the the way we where
driven to the apartments as we had seen the beach the night before,
and eventually found the main road. At a patisserie we ate a late brunch
of big fat croissants, applied some sun cream on our bleak skin and
with hats on our heads we followed the road in a direction we thought would be
toward the town centre. After an hour we realised that it was far to
hot to make any major exertions by foot at the heat of the day. We went
back to our flat via a local shop stocking up on essentials like beer
and cookies. Inhabited the balcony with a good book and a bottle of
cold Cyprus beer and just relaxed. Once the sun had gone down and a
cooler breeze was sweeping over the area, we dressed in long-sleeves
and wandered back to the main road which had now completely changed
atmosphere from a peaceful beach promenade to something resembling Las
Vegas with large neon signs. We found a quaint restaurant called Kelma
serving local food, which we thought, would be interesting. The food
was delicious and after a bottle of local wine we strolled home amazed
over our new experience. The following day we had booked to take a bus tour to
the capital and at 10 to nine we where picked up by an air-conditioned
bus with Nicosia as our destination. After spending about half an hour
stopping at every hotel along the way, picking up fellow tourists, we
arrived in Nicosia and the first stop was the culture centre where local
handicraft techniques are kept alive and demonstrated. After fifteen
minutes we were transported to the Archbishops palace and had a look
at a museum of local religious icons and an absolutely beautiful church.
Back to the bus, and into town where we were dropped off for a two-hour
lunch break. We strolled the main street, which was filled with English
high street shops. Had an ice cream, which will go down in history as
the best soft ice cream ever, on our way to the wall. After the Turkish
invasion some twenty years ago the capital was divided giving it a feeling
of Berlin. We had a peak over to the Turkish side whilst being over
seen by armed soldiers, then wandered off to Check Point Charlie II,
for a coke with resident soldiers. And then strolled through the lunch
empty streets back to the bus. Next stop was the mountain town off Lefkara,
which was
remarkably colder, almost bearable. We had been told that the village
was famous for its embroidered linen cloths but when we wanted to have
a peaceful look around we were bombarded by local sales women. We found
the situation difficult to handle so we hid in a local bar, drinking
a nice cup of tea waiting for the bus to rescue us. A few hours bus
drive later we were dropped off again at our hotel. A beer and a few
cookies rounded off our informative second day. On the morning of our
third day we thought we needed to do something about our non existing
tans, and headed off to the hotel opposite to relax by the pool. Two
boring hours later we left for an ice cream at the patisserie. On the
way back we bought an airbed to play with in the pool to make the tanning
a bit more fun. An hour and a half playing in the pool we went back
to our balcony for some beer and cookies. That evening we had an Italian
before plodding off to bed. On our fourth day we had hired a car, which
was delivered to us in the morning. We drove off into the Troodos mountains
wearing little more than sandals and shorts where we then realised that
even though it was baking hot by the sea, at this altitude trousers
and jumper would be more appropriate. We were not properly dressed and
we had to abandon our plan to trek up Mount Olympus and so we drove
up instead. Took some pictures of what in the wintertime was a ski slope.
With a map provided by the car hire company we headed off towards Kykkos
monastery. Halfway there we stopped to admire the view and Malin, being
a little tired after a restless night, fall asleep on the back seat
for a few hours. Well alive again we continued our journey. Remembered
that we were not appropriately dressed for entering a monastery we headed
off along a road that according to our map would lead us to Polis. First
the road was new and
wide, but as times went by the road became narrower and bumpier until
there was no tarmac left and we where driving on a dirt track. Thinking
that just around the corner the tarmac road will continue we drove for
three hours, until we finally reached the North coast. By this time
it was far to late to look around and we hurried home along the empty
Cypriot motorways. Had some takeaway pizza and a bottle of wine in our
kitchen laughing at our dirt track escapade.After breakfast the following morning we sunbathed
for a few hours before the sun became too hot. During
the midday gaze we headed up to Pafos in our hire car. Stopped on the
way for an ice cream admiring that we thing should be the Afrodites
cliff. Noting is really that far on Cyprus so we so arrived in Pafos
which is a much later built town and therefore much more tastier architecture
than Limassol. Strolled along the promenade towards the old temple and
on the way we noticed that they hired out small motorboats to a reasonable
price and we jumped at the idea. A few moments later we where speeding
off in the bay. It was great fun. But
as we where not allowed to drive outside the bay it soon became enough
and the half an hour was gone. To chill down the experience we had a
beer over looking the lively harbour. As the sun was going down we headed
back towards Limassol and had a simple baguette and cheese dinner with
local beer. The following day we headed off after breakfast to Fausori
water Fun Park on the other side of Limassol. Steve had been to a similar
thing in Florida as a child but thought that this one was quite good.
Not a loot of people but a fair few rides we headed off to try how darey
we where. It was quite windy so sun badeing was not quite an option
but we had a really fun day and headed home at half past 4. Even though
we had tried to be very careful and not burn ourselves once we got home
we realised that we where still lobster like on certain part of
our bodies. We had a shower and headed off for another meal at the Italian
restaurant. On our last day we packed up after breakfast and left our
home for the last week.As we where still a bit sun burned we had no
plans to relax by the pool for the day so we took a taxi into town.
Walked around for a while and stopped at a quite trendy bar for some
milkshakes. When the waitress was bringing the shakes to our table she
lost control of the tray and all the drinks ended up on top of Steve.
We washed the t-shirt in their toilets but it was completely soaking
and the bar owner, who was born in England by cypriotic parents and
lived his youth in Richmond, lent Steve a t-shirt to wear for the day.
We headed off for a briefcase
hunt. In Nicosia we had seen some really nice leather briefcases to
remarkable good prices and it was decided that Malin could have one
as an early birthday present. Just before all the shops closed for lunch
we found one. We continued our walk towards the medieval museum, which
was the only real tourist attraction in Limassol town. Entered a very
old fort that had been converted to museum some 30 odd years ago only
to realise that noting had been changed since then, with some of the
signs had disappeared, but it did not really matter as it was all in
Greek anyway. Had a good look at the artefacts without really know where
or how old they where. Then hunger came upon us and we stopped at a
small street café just outside the museum
for salad and toasted sandwich. Walked around the rather busy roads
for being siesta and realised we had ended up at the other side of town
and headed back to pick up Steve’s t-shirt. As the sun was now cooling
down we continued through town passed Woolworth massive shop and walked
the whole way back to our hotel. By that time it was dark and a bit
chillier and we changed in the toilets down stairs and headed off for
our last meal in Cyprus. Went to a restaurant called Greecian, which
we thought would serve Greek and local food only to realised it was
more international cousin touching English.But as we had found it difficult to find interesting restaurants
the last few nights we stayed. The main street is full of restaurants
and bars but they seem to tend to serve burgers or English fish and
ship with the exception of some few “fancier” restaurants which we had
tried all of the them. As we did not have much time before the bus was
due to come and pick us up for the airport we had no time to head back
to old Limassol for more cypriotic restaurants we just had to make do
with was offered. At quarter to 11 we where picked up by the bus and
driven back to Paphos airport. When we arrived there the airport was
completely packed and queues well 30 meters from the entrance to the
airport. It took us at least an hour and a half to queue ourselves to
the checking desk. We where then informed that the plane would be 3
hours late due to a fog at Gatwick 4 days ago and it had to be diverted
to Stansted and it was still trying to catch up.During our waiting we over heard some reps talking saying that
one of them had been in Cyprus last season and during that time only
3 plans had been on time. First the departure lounge was so full it
was seats for every one, but as the other planes left to Scotland and
Manchester we all had space to stretch out for a few hours slumber in
the cold air-conditioned airport before our plane turned up three and
a half hour late. After a very cramped journey we arrived in England
in time to be caught in the morning traffic on the M25.On the way home we summed up the trip as being good when it comes
to Cyprus. We where surprised over the friendliness and hospitality
given to us by the islanders and would love to go back, but the flight
was dreadful and we would be very careful of flying charter flights
again.
Being
the new millennium we thought we should do something different. As up
to then all our holidays together had been winter and skiing holidays,
we thought we would be daring and try something different and go on
a beach holiday. After recommendations from Nin and Nigel, who invited
us up to their garden one sunny spring afternoon showing us pictures
of their favourite holiday spot, we booked a last minute cheap package
holiday to Cyprus. Leaving Gatwick in the late afternoon we arrived
at Paphos airport in the middle of the night, and being a charter trip,
it was off course two hours late. However, Cyprus greeted us with warm
Mediterranean winds. At this stage we still had no idea where we would
be staying but we were put on a bus that was headed to Limossol, which
we later found out is in the middle of the island, to 
be
checked in at the Tasiana holiday apartments. The flat was very basic
but clean, with a kitchen including a breakfast bar. The kitchen area
was divided by a sliding door into something that was supposed to be
a lounge with two huge blue plastic sofas. The lounge had big sliding
glass doors that lead to a nice large balcony half a floor up. The bedroom
was rather big with an on-suite basic bathroom. As we went to bed the
sun was rising. After just a few hours sleep we woke up at 10 am and
dressed in shorts and t-shirts we wandered into the hotel opposite where
our holiday rep gave us an introduction talk about Cyprus. As we had
no idea of where we were or anything about the Island it was all very
informative and we decided to book a few of the organised activities.
Being absolutely famished, we tried to retrace the the way we where
driven to the apartments as we had seen the beach the night before,
and eventually found the main road. At a patisserie we ate a late brunch
of big fat croissants, applied some sun cream on our bleak skin and
with hats on our heads we followed the road in a 
remarkably colder, almost bearable. We had been told that the village
was famous for its embroidered linen cloths but when we wanted to have
a peaceful look around we were bombarded by local sales women. We found
the situation difficult to handle so we hid in a local bar, drinking
a nice cup of tea waiting for the bus to rescue us. A few hours bus
drive later we were dropped off again at our hotel. A beer and a few
cookies rounded off our informative second day. On the morning of our
third day we thought we needed to do something about our non existing
tans, and headed off to the hotel opposite to relax by the pool. Two
boring hours later we left for an ice cream at the patisserie. On the
way back we bought an airbed to play with in the pool to make the tanning
a bit more fun. An hour and a half playing in the pool we went back
to our balcony for some beer and cookies. That evening we had an Italian
before plodding off to bed. On our fourth day we had hired a car, 
which
was delivered to us in the morning. We drove off into the Troodos mountains
wearing little more than sandals and shorts where we then realised that
even though it was baking hot by the sea, at this altitude trousers
and jumper would be more appropriate. We were not properly dressed and
we had to abandon our plan to trek up Mount Olympus and so we drove
up instead. Took some pictures of what in the wintertime was a ski slope.
With a map provided by the car hire company we headed off towards Kykkos
monastery. Halfway there we stopped to admire the view and Malin, being
a little tired after a restless night, fall asleep on the back seat
for a few hours. Well alive again we continued our journey. Remembered
that we were not appropriately dressed for entering a monastery we headed
off along a road that according to our map would lead us to Polis. First
the road was new 
and
wide, but as times went by the road became narrower and bumpier until
there was no tarmac left and we where driving on a dirt track. Thinking
that just around the corner the tarmac road will continue we drove for
three hours, until we finally reached the North coast. By this time
it was far to late to look around and we hurried home along the empty
Cypriot motorways. Had some takeaway pizza and a bottle of wine in our
kitchen laughing at our dirt track escapade.
During
the midday gaze we headed up to Pafos in our hire car. Stopped on the
way for an ice cream admiring that we thing should be the Afrodites
cliff. Noting is really that far on Cyprus so we so arrived in Pafos
which is a much later built town and therefore much more tastier architecture
than Limassol. Strolled along the promenade towards the old temple and
on the way we noticed that they hired out small motorboats to a reasonable
price and we jumped at the idea. A few moments later we where speeding
off in the bay. It was great fun. 
But
as we where not allowed to drive outside the bay it soon became enough
and the half an hour was gone. To chill down the experience we had a
beer over looking the lively harbour. As the sun was going down we headed
back towards Limassol and had a simple baguette and cheese dinner with
local beer. The following day we headed off after breakfast to Fausori
water Fun Park on the other side of Limassol. Steve had been to a similar
thing in Florida as a child but thought that this one was quite good.
Not a loot of people but a fair few rides we headed off to try how darey
we where. It was quite windy so sun badeing was not quite an option
but we had a really fun day and headed home at half past 4. Even though
we had tried to be very careful and not burn ourselves once we got home
we realised that we where still lobster like on certain part 
of
our bodies. We had a shower and headed off for another meal at the Italian
restaurant. On our last day we packed up after breakfast and left our
home for the last week.
briefcase
hunt. In Nicosia we had seen some really nice leather briefcases to
remarkable good prices and it was decided that Malin could have one
as an early birthday present. Just before all the shops closed for lunch
we found one. We continued our walk towards the medieval museum, which
was the only real tourist attraction in Limassol town. Entered a very
old fort that had been converted to museum some 30 odd years ago only
to realise that noting had been changed since then, with some of the
signs had disappeared, but it did not really matter as it was all in
Greek anyway. Had a good look at the artefacts without really know where
or how old they where. Then hunger came upon us and we stopped at a
small street café just outside the 
museum
for salad and toasted sandwich. Walked around the rather busy roads
for being siesta and realised we had ended up at the other side of town
and headed back to pick up Steve’s t-shirt. As the sun was now cooling
down we continued through town passed Woolworth massive shop and walked
the whole way back to our hotel. By that time it was dark and a bit
chillier and we changed in the toilets down stairs and headed off for
our last meal in Cyprus. Went to a restaurant called Greecian, which
we thought would serve Greek and local food only to realised it was
more international cousin touching English.