A fond memory of our trip to Cyprus

by Memory Ferreira
(Cape Town South Africa)

We had the privilege to travel to Cyprus in December 2009. At first we stayed at Nikis House in Limassol where we were met by the friendly owner and welcomed to Cyprus on the traditional way with a glass of water and gliko.

From here we explored all the nearby little villages and sites. We went to Lefkara where we bought some of the beautiful lace that this village is renowned for, had an authentic lunch at a roadside café on the way back with locals offering free sightseeing advice, and then spent some time at the Old Port in Limassol visiting the Limassol Castle and snooping around all the shops on the promenade and the city.

We then went on to the Troodos Mountains and stopped at all the small villages on the way to Kakopetria where we were booked into the Linos Inn. This was the highlight of my trip to Cyprus. The Troodos mountains is just magical with the small villages nestling on the mountain side with their colourful shops and village markets held on the town squares.

The Linos Inn was a delight, you can’t ask for a more authentic atmosphere than at this little hotel, and their food and service was terrific. We stayed there for two days, which to me was not nearly enough, and then went on to Paphos to visit all the ancient sites of the area. This was very enlightening and a wonderful experience to visit the basilica of Ayia Kyriaki to see St Paul’s Pillar and other sites like the Tombs of the Kings and the famous mosaic floors of the ancient village in Paphos.

We also spent a day travelling to Polis, stopping on the way at the small village of Arodes where I was greeted by my favourite Cyprus cat, I wished that I could take him home with me.

The sites that we visited are too many to mention but we visited monasteries, churches, forts and ancient ruins, and everywhere we went the locals welcomed us with friendly smiles and suggestions on where to go next or what else to see or experience.

This was definitely a trip to remember and I hope we will be able to go back for another holiday to this friendly Mediterranean island.

Memory Ferreira
Capetown Enchanting City