BlogBloghttp://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010-11-21T22:26:45ZSquarespaceChristmas and New Year: Cypriot Stylehttp://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010/11/21/christmas-and-new-year-cypriot-style.htmlMy Cyprus Holiday2010-11-21T22:06:39Z2010-11-21T22:06:39ZThe Christmas and New Year period in Cyprus is a special time for Cypriots and visitors alike. Entwined in tradition and religious celebration, it's a time for spending quality time with friends and family. With temperatures around the 20 degree mark, Christmas is celebrated with (literal) warmth and festive cheer. What a wonderful time of the year to escape to Aphrodite's Island with your loved ones to celebrate and soak up the amazing atmosphere.

The festive season starts on the 6th December and lasts until the 6th January. Many Christian Greek Cypriots endure a period of forty days of fasting prior to Christmas, so the subsequent Christmas feast is a hearty affair. On Christmas Eve, loaves of Christopsomo (Christ Bread) are eaten and children visit neighbouring houses to sing Kalanda (Greek carols) and offer good wishes to others.

On Christmas Day, dishes such as stuffed turkey, chicken and roast lamb are eaten and it's a time for family and friends to come together.

New Year's Day has particular significance for Greek Cypriots, as this is the day of Ayios Vasilis (St Basil), the Greek Santa Claus. Children receive their gifts on New Year's Day. In the evening, once the children have gone to bed, a cake called Vasilopitta (Santa's cake) with a coin inside it and a glass of wine are placed by the Christmas tree. Ayios Vasilis drinks the wine, blesses the cake and places presents around the tree. In the morning the cake is cut and the one who finds the coin will have good luck for the coming year.

Travelling to Cyprus with your friends and family for Christmas and New Year is a refreshing change from the chillier North European climate. How wonderful to dine on your Christmas feast on a terrace or balcony with your nearest and dearest, spending time sharing stories and catching up with one another and having the opportunity to explore Cyprus and revel in its culture at such a lovely time of the year!

Tempted? Why not consider one of our apartments and make this year's festive season something really unique. Monarch have added additional flights to their itinerary for the festive period, so there's even more reason to opt for Christmas 2010 Cyprus style!

]]>Useful information for wheelchair users travelling to Larnacahttp://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010/11/20/useful-information-for-wheelchair-users-travelling-to-larnac.htmlMy Cyprus Holiday2010-11-20T13:30:26Z2010-11-20T13:30:26ZIf you're a wheelchair user, or have a wheelchair user in your travelling party, it's important to ensure that the right facilities are available for your visit to Cyprus. Here's a little information to help....

Airports

Please check with your departure destination airport for individual information about accessibility,

The main airports in Cyprus (Larnaca International Airport and Paphos) are accessible for wheelchair users. Washrooms, charging stations for electric wheelchairs at departure gates, ramps for wheelchair users to enter or exit the buses and other assistance services are available. We would urge you to contact these airports directly for more information so that you can discuss any special requirements you may have and make arrangements in advance where appropriate.

Transport

Transportation around the island can be arranged if prior notice is given to the transport companies.  Special buses are also available with low gradient ramps, safety belts, etc. Special taxis that can carry wheelchair users are also available. Information about this can be provided by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation offices.

In 2007 the use of the European Blue Badge for parking at designated places for the disabled was approved by the Cyprus Parliament. These are available across the island both on public roads and public parking spaces. The Service for the Care and Rehabilitation of the Disabled, a section of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, are responsible for administering this scheme; they can be contacted by telephone on +357 22 400 824 or you can email them at scrd@dl.mlsi.gov.cy.

Out and About

Most towns in Cyprus are fairly accessible with a wheelchair but much work is carried out to improve the infrastructure. However, it's advisable that wheelchair users are accompanied by an able person as some areas are inaccessible.

Official Information

Cyprus Tourist Organisation provides a Guide for Disabled Visitors; the February 2010 version is available here.

]]>Cypriot Wine: Arsnoe62http://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010/7/31/cypriot-wine-arsnoe62.htmlMy Cyprus Holiday2010-07-31T17:50:49Z2010-07-31T17:50:49Z

Arsinoe 62, is a dry white wine produced from specially selected grapes of the indigenous “Xynisteri” variety.The grapes are grown in the Laona region in Paphos, the western part of the Island. The wine is aged in bottle in SODAP’s cellars until it fully develops its unique aroma and characteristic taste.

Arsinoe 62 should be served chilled and it is an excellent accompaniment to fish and light meat, or it can be enjoyed on its own on every occasion.

 

 

 

CATEGORY: Table Wine
REGION: Paphos (Laona region)
VARIETY: Xynisteri
TYPE: White dry
CHARACTERISTICS: A delicate, aromatic, balanced wine, showing excellent fruit aromas and character.
FOOD PAIRING: Perfect with fish dishes and light meat courses, or on its own.
ALCOHOL CONTENT: About 12.5% alcohol by vol.

 

]]>5 of the Best: This Week's Web Favouriteshttp://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010/7/25/5-of-the-best-this-weeks-web-favourites.htmlMy Cyprus Holiday2010-07-25T16:39:53Z2010-07-25T16:39:53ZFive of our favourites about Cyprus and travel we stumbled upon this week:

  • We liked Vagabondish's article '4 Ways to be a Traveler, Not a Tourist'. Swot up before you travel, slow up and savour your experiences whilst there, meet the locals and relish the local culture - sage advice to making the most out of whichever destination you travel to.
  • Monarch demonstrate the pulling power of Larnaca, with holiday bookings to the area up 11% on summer 2009.
  • Ian and Mandy from Aradippou Tales show how gorgeous Cypriot gardens are looking with a lovely shot of Bougainvillea tumbling over the wall of a local residence.
  • Skyscanner's recent survey, as reported in a recent Guardian article, illustrates the cost-effectiveness of holidaying in Cyprus, showing Cyprus to be the cheapest destination overall. Their article takes price comparison a step further by including the prices of other typical purchases such as meals, beer and car hire. Just goes to show that it all adds up!
  • 30 years ago, the Zenobia sank in Larnaca Bay on her maiden voyage. The wreck is now a well-known attraction for divers. See this short but sweet footage from a recent diver:

]]>Vital Statistics!http://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010/7/20/vital-statistics.htmlMy Cyprus Holiday2010-07-20T17:57:17Z2010-07-20T17:57:17ZInteresting survey from Skyscanner with some useful advice about respecting local customs. Common sense really but sadly, so often blazonly ignored.

I am surprised by the Swedish result which just goes to show we should not believe cultural stereotypes!

]]>Links Round-Uphttp://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010/7/19/links-round-up.htmlMy Cyprus Holiday2010-07-19T08:19:23Z2010-07-19T08:19:23ZThis week's web round up of Cyprus-related tidbits:

 

]]>How to.... prepare for your Cyprus holiday with our pick of useful travel resourceshttp://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010/7/18/how-to-prepare-for-your-cyprus-holiday-with-our-pick-of-usef.htmlMy Cyprus Holiday2010-07-18T17:26:24Z2010-07-18T17:26:24ZBefore you venture out to Cyprus, it's worth gathering information you can take with you to help you make the most of the island, whether it's finding the best shopping spots or planning a scenic hike. Here are our choice picks of both paper and digital resources to help you prepare.  
Travel Guides
  • Sue Frommer's Cyprus Day by Day guide has some great tips about making the most out of visiting the island, from travelling around to experiencing different facets of the local culture
  • Lonely Planet's guides are always jam packed with information, ideas and tips and are highly recommended - and their guide to Cyprus is no exception
  • Cyprus: Car Tours and Walks (Landscapes) is a great little book for planning excursions - car hire is recommended if you'd like to explore as public transport isn't really geared up for touristic journeys. Maps, picnic location ideas and information about various walking routes you could take are included.
iPhone Apps
  • Cyprus Guide - Totally Offline is a nifty little app which allows you to access local information without the need for an internet connection. Information about bars, restaurants, museums, beaches, street maps, petrol stations, doctors and more is available for key cities and towns including Larnaca - really useful to travelers who are unfamiliar with Cyprus. Please note that at the moment, this app doesn't appear to contain information for smaller villages.
  • The Talking Greek Phrasebook is an inexpensive app for travelers in southern Cyprus which has over 500 phrases which you can listen to to perfect your pronunciation - and you can use it offline. However, English is widely spoken in the country, so you don't need to worry about being fluent! 
  • Cyprus Mail have launched a free iPhone app so you can keep up with news on the island - although you will need an internet connection if you want to see updated stories.

Podcasts

  • One Minute Greek is a podcast which can help you master the basics of the Greek language - you can download from iTunes if you'd like your lessons to be portable or from their website.

A good guide book or local information at the touch of your fingertips are such simple ways to help you find your bearings and open your eyes to what Cyprus is waiting for you to discover - and are a good investment for savvy travellers. 

]]>Top Ten Reasons to Visit Larnaca in Septemberhttp://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010/7/15/top-ten-reasons-to-visit-larnaca-in-september.htmlMy Cyprus Holiday2010-07-15T18:08:43Z2010-07-15T18:08:43ZWhy choose Larnaca for an autumn break? Why choose a holiday rental apartment over a package holiday? Here are our top ten reasons to plan such an escape to Larnaca this September:

  • image by saint basil on FlickrAverage temperatures in Larnaca in September are a warm but comfortable 25°c. Warm days and cooler evenings are ideal for those who aren't keen on the super-hot summer temperatures that Cyprus has.
  • The local cuisine is delicious and Cypriots are passionate about the quality of the ingredients they use. Fresh, locally-grown produce and locally caught seafood makes dishes taste wonderful and flavoursome. Dining is very much woven into the social culture of Cyprus – eating out or eating with others is a national pastime and visitors to the island are encouraged to join in.
  • Swimming and water-sports are still at their best during early autumn, with average sea temperatures at a tempting 27°c.
  • Our apartments give you that 'home from home' feeling, where you're free to come and go as you please, entertain friends or family and not have to worry about remembering to put the 'do not disturb' sign on the door if you fancy a lie in!
  • Beach, pool, sports, dining, shopping, wine-tasting, exploring, relaxing – Larnaca has so much on offer. You're really spoilt for choice and renting an apartment allows you to make your holiday what you want it to be without a travel rep and a gaggle of other tourists tagging along which you get with package deals, helping you to feel more like a traveller rather than a typical tourist.
  • As Cyprus is only a relatively small island, Larnaca's a brilliant base for exploring in easy travelling distance by car. Agia Napa, Limassol and the capital, Nicosia, are easily reached by road and are great trips you can complete in a day.
  • English is widely spoken across the island, so there's not need to worry about struggling to get by without any knowledge of Greek or a travel rep to bail you out! However, it's always polite to know a few choice words and 'parakalo' (please) and 'efharisto' (thank you) are very easy ways to be polite.
  • Larnaca is a much more chilled out resort than neighbouring Agia Napa and is great for families, couples and groups of all ages. It's also home to Larnaca International Airport, so it's only a short trip to our apartments after your flight has landed.
  • Both Pyla and Tersefanou, where our apartments are located, are lovely villages with much more of a local than touristic atmosphere.
  • September is an ideal time to get away if you're a couple or holidaying with a group of friends and are looking to avoid the busy school summer holiday travel period.

Do:

... hire a car (we can recommend reputable local hire firms if you're renting one of our apartments)

... experience and savour the ritual of a delicious Cypriot Meze meal – a gentle (bite-sized) journey through traditional local gastronomic favourites in one meal!

... dance with the locals to traditional bouzouki music

Don't:

... assume that you can smash plates in local restaurants because you've seen it on TV!

... miss out on the local culture – Cypriots are very friendly and welcoming

... forget to enjoy yourself and make your holiday what you want it to be!

With 20% off our 2 bedroom apartment in Pyla and penthouse apartment in Tersefanou this September, there's every reason to choose Larnaca for a fantastic break. 

]]>Links Round-Up & Autumn Holiday Getawayshttp://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010/6/29/links-round-up-autumn-holiday-getaways.htmlMy Cyprus Holiday2010-06-29T18:17:51Z2010-06-29T18:17:51ZCyprus by click

We've scoured the Mediterranean interwebs to bring you a few morsels of Cypriot goodness this week:

via utnapistim

 

Plan That Autumn Escape!

'Hang on,' you say,''but we're only just getting to grips with summer!'. This is, of course, absolutely true, but had you ever thought that now is actually a great time to book an autumn getaway to Cyprus? Before you know it, the nights will be creeping in again and making us crave the sun for just a little longer.

The earlier you book, the cheaper the flights will be! Why not try using Flightchecker to search for flight deals to Larnaca and start staving off the prospect of those dark nights with a little special something to look forward to?

Of course, you'll need somewhere really lovely to stay, though.....

 

via meironke 

....so we're now taking bookings for autumn, when you can still enjoy great temperatures and beautiful sunshine relaxing on this gorgeous island! It really is an ideal time to get away if you're a couple or holidaying with a group of friends and are looking to avoid the busy school summer holiday travel period. Please don't hesitate to have a word in our shell-like if you have any questions or would like any help with booking or availability.

Go on.... you know you want to ;)

]]>Secret Cyprus: Small But Perfectly Formed - Discovering Stenihttp://www.mycyprusholiday.co.uk/blog/2010/5/15/secret-cyprus-small-but-perfectly-formed-discovering-steni.htmlMy Cyprus Holiday2010-05-15T16:47:00Z2010-05-15T16:47:00ZThe beautiful village of Steni is located in North-West Cyprus, a short distance away from Polis and five kilometres from the Gulf of Chrysohous coastline. Some distance from Larnaca admittedly but well worth a day out. Sitting at an altitude of 200 metres above sea level, its climate is ideal throughout the year and enables locals to grow a wide range of produce. The fields in the surrounding countryside are cultivated with crops including cherries, olives, watermelons, oranges and avocados. When I was there in April, the village itself was an array of colour from blooming flowers and blossom. A delight to behold!

Steni is a small village with a tiny population of around 150, so it’s easy for tourists to assume that the residents might be shy and evasive of foreign visitors, yet in truth they are quite the opposite. The village community seem to be immensely proud of their little part of the planet, and are happy to show it off to visitors. They even have their own website which is a fantastic resource for finding out more about Steni and the surrounding area.

In 2008, the Steni Museum of Village Life opened its doors to the public. The museum provides visitors with an insight into the lives of villagers who lived in Steni in more difficult times, and brings them face to face with how people once lived and worked in the village between 1800 and 1945. The museum received a five star rating from the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and is situated on the ground floor of the village’s Community Centre. I loved it for its simplicity and charm. There is a raft of really interesting artifacts in the museum, superbly laid out and labelled.

There are some fascinating black and white photos on the walls going back to the 19th Century. The autochthonous people then (now there's a phrase for Miss Pelt!) were shockingly poor and most led a very simple way of life. The Museum Curator went to some lengths to explain to me how his father, even just 50 years ago, was earning only a few pence a day working in the copper mines and had to walk a 14 mile round trip to work. Donkeys were the common form of transport and the first car owned by a villager was not until the 1960's. The copper pots found within the museum serve as a reminder that Cyprus was one of the oldest copper producing countries in the Near East and to me, stand as an epitaph to times gone by (Some theories as to how the country became known as Cyprus suggest that the name originates from the Eteocypriot word for copper - kypros).

The church of Agios Tryfonas in Steni was built in 1913 on the site of the first church of village. The original church was destroyed by a fire. Located around 3 kilometres north of Steni is the Monastery of the Virgin Mary Chrysolakournas which has sweeping views of the Gulf of Polis Chrysohous and Cape Akama. From the monastery, take a hike onto the paths and rocks surrounding this Byzantine relic and you’ll find amazing species of wild flowers growing nearby.

Steni holds a yearly festival celebrating the end of summer which takes place during September. Locals and visitors gather and enjoy traditional food, drinks and both Greek and Cypriot music and dancing.

There has been much excitement about the establishment of a coffee shop in Steni! The Neromylos Café provides a focal point for social exchanges and hints at being ‘the coolest coffee shop in Cyprus’. Grab a cup of strong Cypriot coffee and soak up the locals’ banter. As their website says: “The activity of drinking the coffee, without exaggeration, can be described as a holy moment for all Greeks!”  

 
Neromylos Coffee Shop, Steni Village, Cyprus

Archie, a South African blogger who lived in Cyprus said of the area: “I live 10 minutes from the bay, in the village of Steni. Every morning I drive down towards Latchi. Every Morning I'm dumbstruck by the beauty of the sea as I get close to it. One day it is galantly grey, the next it is as smooth as oil, another It is turquoise, another it is purple and heavy, other days it is rough. Every day it is simply ... beautiful.” 

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