What To See In Cyprus, Land of Eternal Love

Flag of Cyprus



Cyprus, Land of Eternal Love! that has a good future, a good omen. For happy holidays and happy honeymoons. Where Aphrodite fell in love with Adonis. It has history. For history buffs. A past. Tell me more.

First, the flag of Cyprus is easy to identify. In the centre of the flag is the shape of the island which looks like a swordfish.

Where is it? In the Eastern Mediterranean sea. East of Greece, near Turkey. Like many Greek islands. Like many islands, it is or was owned by one country, whilst near to another.

Now it is divided between Greece and Turkey.

Location
When you see how near Cyprus it is to Israel, which used to be surrounded by hostile countries, which the Israelis would not or could not visit, you can see why Israelis went to Cyprus on holidays and honeymoons.

Horrid History and Happy History
Cyprus also has a long British history. British visitors have got over the blips. Many Brits are keen to visit, and keen on Greek culture. We already know Greek and Turkish food.

Delightful Food and Delightful Drinks
I am keen on Turkish coffee and Turkish Delight. Oops. On my last visit I discovered that on the Greek side the coffee is Greek coffee, and the sweets are also known by a Greek name.My family say, not even Greek coffee, Cypriot coffee.

Turkish Delight
Fry's Turkish Delight is a brand name very well known in Britain and around the world. Rose flavoured, covered with chocolate, is the familiar one.

In addition to the big brand, most local versions, in Greece, Cyprus and other countries, come covered with white icing sugar. Otherwise they would be too sticky and stick to the wrapping and plate and box and your fingers.

After the exotic versions a plain version seems dull. But the rose flavour is delightful. Other countries also have their specialities. I like lemon flavour, and pistachio nuts to take off the sweetness and provide protein.


Turkish Delight. From Wikipedia article fo the same name.


Other Favourite Foods
As in Greece: rice wrapped in vine leaves. Adds a touch of vegetable to the starch.

Greek Language
Hm. The language on the Greek side of Cyprus is, as the saying goes, 'all Greek to me'. At least it was. Good news about learning Greek later.

Wine and Walking
I have been to Cyprus before. But for my next trip I am planning walking and wine, with a group and with family.

Next question is, how long do we need? How much is there to see? How far apart? When to go?

Season
You either choose to go when you are free, national holidays (yours and theirs) or off season, or when the weather is warmer and less rainy, or cooler. February to May is cooler than June, July and August. Check the weather and your schedule and prices.

Distance
The distance tip to tip is over a hundred miles and whilst that would be fast on a motorway, in the USA or Europe, in a little hire car, on tiny humpy bendy roads, with stops for photos and drinks and toilets, and sightseeing, not so fast.

Visas
Also the country is divided into Turkish half and Cypriot half, so you might needed visas. We looked at visas for Brits going from the Greek side to the Turkish side. You can order visas online.

One half of my family says, wait, we can buy on line later if we need it. My view is get them now, you might decide to go in a hurry and not want to waste half an hour, nor give out your passport and password details online at a foreign destination, nor risk being in a mountain or hotel with no internet connection. Do paperwork at home in advance and not waste time at the last minute.

Learning To Read Greek & Turkish Signposts and Road Signs
Time to start learning or brushing up your Greek and Turkish. If Greek is all Greek to you, have a go.
I remember thinking I could not read a word of Greek. In Greece I saw a repeated sign to Athens. It started with letter Theta. I was amazed how quickly and instantly I could recognize the word Athena and the letter Theta.


Duolingo



Wines
Numerous wineries. Red, white and sweet dessert wines. Award winning wines.
Places to visit in or near the centre of the major cities. Wineries are on the Greek side for Geographical reasons and because the Greek culture is in favour of drinking wine and the Muslim culture does not favour growing grapes to produce wine and alcohol, only dessert grapes.

Retsina, based on the resin used to seal the pots in the old days, used to be nasty stuff in the nineteen sixties.  However, retsina now refers to wines ranging from the admittedly awful to the delightfully delicious.

Useful websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_delight

About the Author
Angela Lansbury