Cyprus Unparalleled As A Vacation Destination?

9000 years of enchanting history and over 330 days of sunshine annually, Cyprus is a vacation resort that has something for all. Vacationing in Cyprus will undoubtedly suit all preferments with its enlightened prosperity of churches, monuments and natural environment and with a beautiful, contrasting countryside, . Villa vacations are perfect for those who want to spend long idle days in the sun as well as seeing many World heritage sites. As a marvellous location for a family holiday it is viable to holiday in Cyprus all year round and there's something for all ages and tastes.

Walking holidays can be taken in the Troodos Mountains or the Akamas Peninsula which is near the more tranquil west coast resorts of Latchi and Polis. With the clubs of Ayia Napa, the harbours of Larnaca and Limassol, the family beaches at Protaras, and the distinction of Nicosia, Cyprus caters for all that you would wish for in a vacation.

Paphos, on the west coast, is a captivating resort with a delightful harbour, an abundance of nearby ancient sites and a good variety of fairly priced bars and tavernas. Pomos is a village close to the foothills of the Paphos mountains with sandy coves, isolated beaches and sensational scenery with Polis still more tranquil with smaller unspoilt beaches and coves to uncover. Bounded by high cliffs is Pissouri which is also nearby to Paphos. Paphos is perfect for family holidays, with an abundance of things to see and do and older children will delight in the sightseeing and array of pursuits like the broad range of water sports available on the Coral Bay Beach.

Ayia Napa is known as the clubbing capital of Cyprus and is on the eastern side of the island. In summer many of the large European clubs set up home here and it becomes an alternative to Ibiza. The beaches are excellent although crowded in summer. Protaras, on the other hand, is similar in style to Ayia Napa, but has more space and beach family holidays are best spent here. The beaches are long and sandy with safe clear water. Nearby Pernera has one of the quietest and least crowded beaches in the Protaras area.

Those seeking a Cyprus holiday integrating beaches with more veritable Cypriot life should think about one of the larger coastal towns like Limassol. The islands second largest city, Limassol offers a good foundation for exploring while enjoying your holidays in Cyprus and is ideal for those planning a trip to the Troodos Mountains and the nearby villages. There are numerous attractions as well as authentic Greek tavernas and music clubs.

One of the oldest continuously populated cities in the world is Larnaca, which is acknowledged for its' large harbour and international yacht marina and is home to one of the two principal airports on the island. It is a modern oceanfront town with first-class shops and restaurants and the endearing Palm Tree Promenade and is located on the south-easterly side of the island.

Nicosia, modern day, compelling with diversity between a flourishing New city and an old walled city with a outstanding range of shops and street markets is the capital of Cyprus. The largest city on the island it is reputed to be the shopping heart of Cyprus and you can consume hours just wandering the old cobbled streets revelling in the entrancing mixture of old and new.

If you have the chance to visit Cyprus it is to be recommended. Pleasing temperatures and sunny days are all but guaranteed and intense temperatures are exceptional. A chance to taste the delectable traditional menus and superb wines, is it no wonder that holidays in Cyprus are considered to be holidays in paradise where you will be accepted by amiable Cypriots in all districts.

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Travels Through Cyprus

The old goat herder stands before his flock. Stick in hand, he bears the look of experience. His beaten old hat keeps the sun off his unshaven face.

His weathered trousers have seen better days and wear a belt, crudely tied around his waist. His braces are actually two of the elastic straps you use to tie your luggage to the car's roof rack.

As the sun beats down on the plains of Agia Marina he herds his goats to pastures new and another day of contentment.

When your country has suffered 9000 years of constant invasion, any break in hostilities is greeted with appreciation.

Cyprus is a blend of many influences. Turkish, Greek, Muslim and Christian invaders have all set foot upon this hallowed land and made their mark.

Mosques and Christian churches stand side by side as a reminder of the often turbulent and violent past of Cyprus.

But when free of the shackles of conflict, Cyprus is a place of beauty and discovery. The Byzantine churches amongst the Troodos Mountains are an essential experience.

The sense of history and culture is overwhelming as you journey through mountain passes and wonder at the ancient architecture.

For a genuine sense of solitude try cycling through the barren land of the Karpas Peninsula or hiking the well-trodden trails of Mount Olympus.

The blue crystal waters of Cape Greco provide a wealth of opportunity for swimming and diving.

When the sun goes down, the Cypriot nightlife will have you dancing into the early hours. Youngsters tend to make their way towards the large contingent of British pubs in Agia Napa.

The more cultured make their way to the traditional Cypriot cafes and bars. Here you can drink raki, the local firewater made from distilled grapes.

If you're peckish, try the baked lamb dish of kleftiko, or another local favourite mezedes.

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Sea Turtles In North Cyprus

These fascinating creatures come ashore on the deserted beaches of North Cyprus between May and August to nest and Alagadi Beach is classified as a special protected area.

While on your trip in Northern Cyprus, you may be intrigued to know that this is home to some of the most significant turtle housing beaches in the Mediterranean. The two species that live and nest in Northern Cyprus are endangered species. Just about 10% of the loggerhead and 30% of the green turtles in the Mediterranean nest in Northern Cyprus. Bearing in mind that as little as 300-400 green and 2000 loggerhead turtles are likely to live each year in the complete Mediterranean, it is critical that people do all they can to help and protect these near endangered species.

These North Cyprus Marine turtles start their lives on land, where they come out to emerge from eggs, just after 45-60 days of incubation on land and in the sand. When these turtles hatch and emerge they then begin to make the attempt to reach the sea, they swim anxiously out to sea waters where they stay put for the remaining years of their lives, the only break in this would be when a adult female will come to shore and lay her eggs.

It is projected that only one single hatchling out from two thousand will make it and survive to full adult life and maturity. As soon as they are 25-30 years old, and reach 1-2 meters in length, the adult females and males with set out and migrate to waters off nesting beaches to eat and reproduce. For the duration of a nesting season a female lays 3-4 nests, each carrying just about 100 eggs. she will nest every 1-3 years and will always return to the exact same beaches. There is no exact number on how long these marine turtles live but they have been suggested to live up to 160 years old.

They are two species of marine turtles that find themselves nesting in the North Cyprus Mediterranean and they would be the loggerhead, caretta caretta and the green turtle (chelonia mydas) the grand total number of both of these turtles has said to be a estimated 300-400 for the green and 2000 for the logghead females that nest each and every single year. Both of these species of sea turtles are endangered , more so with the green turtles. It has said to be that North Cyprus and Turkey seem to be the only nesting grounds these turtles come to love. There is over 80 beaches along North Cyprus that between may and October and monitored closely for the precious turtle activity.

While on your stay in North Cyprus and wish to see these lovely creatures you may indulge in a boating experience of the shore and see these turtles swimming, and with many places to see at night you might catch a glimpse of these night nesting turtles.

Group of Ecologists and students have been observing and helping to protect these rare animals from extinction for a number of years.

Some general information for you to keep on hand:
Mating time for these turtles is May/June
Hatching time is Aug/Sep
Nesting time is June/July

I hope that by through this article you can take away some general information on sea turtles in North Cyprus. If ever in the area on vacation or stay pay a visit to these wonderful beautiful creatures.

Visitors are welcome to observe this exciting experience!!!

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Cyprus Property, Apartments Cyprus - International Property Investment

Cyprus's real estate and property market is booming dramatically due to the continuous work of construction companies who invest large amounts of funds towards infrastructure development. With the aid of the European Union as well as foreign investments property prices have gone up dramatically.

Cyprus property market has being said to be one of the fastest growing property markets in Europe. As reported by many agencies sales investment property is indeed one the of the most popular options exercised by local and foreign investors. Due to it's radical growth, the tourism industry has made very feasible the process of 'buy to rent'. The way it usually works is very similar to the US time share market, people spend their holidays in their apartment in Cyprus, once that period has passed they go back to their home country and rent it out once again.

As you can imagine, real estate companies are the ones organizing all of these special arrangements. One of the safest and friendliest destinations to buy a home is Cyprus, this country's legal system is organized in such a way that resembles UK's system which makes it easy for foreign buyers to obtain investment properties. Due to these advantages Cyprus has become an exclusive location for working, retiring, raising a family or investing. According to this country's regulations a value added tax (VAT) on property related transactions is to become enforceable in 2008 which will unavoidably increase real estate market across the island.

At the moment there are numerous options ranging from apartments to villas and luxury houses to choose from. Banks and Financial institutions have made available easy loans to finance property purchase in Cyprus to foreigners in both foreign currency and Cyprus pounds. Loans available cover up to 70% of the property value and can be negotiated to 80%-85%, if the construction is new.

The repayment period ranges from 15 to 20 years, meaning you wont be caught in endless mortgage payments. A typical housing property in Cyprus gives a yield of 8%, which in net after deduction of all charges comes out to be 5% and is sufficient to cover mortgage. As expected, European Union membership has made property ownership in Cyprus easy and rental returns are going strong with better prospects in future.

Cyprus property can be acquired after completing and submitting a "permission to purchase" application with the Council of Ministers. Every foreign investor needs to go through this process, in order to purchase property in Cyprus which is not not a very restrictive method. An investor can purchase up to 4000 square meters of land plus an apartment or house which covers the needs of most property investors.

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North Cyprus Palace at Vouni

On this mountain in North Cyprus, overlooking the village of Vouni below, stands a palace. As you look at the fragmentary walls, let your guide be a figure from 483 B.C., when Persia and Greece fought to dominate the island. Cyprus is divided into several small kingdoms. Your guide is Himilcar, elder statesman and advisor to Doxandros, King of Marion. Marion is a city not far away, and the Persians built this palace for Doxandros, who has sworn loyalty to them.

Come to the old entryway on the southwest side of the building. Can you hear Himilcar mumbling to himself as he approaches the palace?

“It’s been fifteen years since the Greeks of Ionia began the Great Revolt. Did they learn nothing from defeat?

“Oh, greetings, stranger. I did not see you there. Come here, under the porch. Our hot Cypriot sun will bake your brains otherwise. What is the Great Revolt, you ask? In what cave have you been living? The Greek cities of Ionia in Asia Minor rebelled against our Persian King of Kings. The Cypriot kings who favored Greece, in cities like Soli, also rose in revolt.

“But the revolt was doomed from the start. The domains of the King of Kings stretch from Egypt to India and his army is beyond counting. He crushed the revolt on Cyprus in a matter of days.

“But come in, come in. I am Himilcar, chief adviser to King Doxandros of Marion. Have you ever been in a Persian palace? Yes, it really is Persian, Persian designed and Persian built.

“How did that happen, you ask? During the Great Revolt King Doxandros remained loyal to the Persians. As a reward, the King of Kings built this palace for him.

A pair of guards, their round shields slung across their back and their long swords sheathed, stands in front of the doorway.

In a corner of the room a scribe sits cross-legged on a cushion, his writing board across his knees. At his side are sheets of papyrus paper, sharpened reeds he will use as pens, and a clay jug of ink.

“Come down the stairs here on the right. These are living quarters for the senior officials, and for me.

“Across the hallway from our living quarters are the palace storerooms. Here the king keeps stores of food, of cloth, of precious herbs and dyestuffs. See how the large vases, the amphorae, are sunk into the ground. Back toward the front of the palace are the guard rooms. You can hear the guards laughing over a dice game. No, they don’t live there. They are on duty, passing time until they are needed.

“Come through into the reception rooms. The ordinary people wait here. On the right is the king’s official recorder. On the left is the queen’s. People come here to have land transfers recorded, to pay taxes, to bring a case before the court.

“Come, come, don’t be shy. The people you see in this third room are the wealthy and the noble. You can tell by the lavish embroidery on their robes. The rich have threads of gold and silver; the noble can wear Tyrian purple, most precious of dyes.

“My own office is on the right side of this last waiting room. Just take a peek and see the jumble of scrolls on my desk. Every day I fall farther behind. Now we go straight ahead into the throne room.

“Come up these seven steps. The steps are broad to announce that the king will receive all his people. Of course he sees mainly the important ones. See the brightly painted columns and the thrones. There the king and queen receive petitioners and well-wishers. The rich and the noble stroll about here, seeking favor, always plotting for favor.

“The queen’s apartments are on the left. The king and his son have rooms on the right. Magnificent as these rooms are, with their painted walls and the pots of lilies and roses, I will show you the real wonder of the palace.

“See here behind the King’s chamber? Two bathrooms with toilets and beyond them, a hot bath. The water comes from our own cisterns and is heated and piped in. You’ll find nothing like it between Crete and Persia.

“We can go through here to the large courtyard. The rooms all around are storerooms and garrison rooms for the troops. Armor and weapons are stored here, along with food supplies. See the well? It goes into a cavern we have cut into the very mountain. It serves as one of many cisterns that hold winter rain for us to use all year long.

“Excuse me, please. I must speak to that fellow over there. You may look through the storerooms and staff quarters that surround this central court.”

The courtyard is filled with activity. Muscular men in kilts are polishing armor in the shade. In one corner a smith is putting a new cutting edge on a pile of swords. The cook and her assistants are plucking chickens across the way, singing softly as they work. But here is Hamilcar returning.

“Who is he? The man I spoke with? No harm in telling you, I suppose. He is one of my spies.

“King Xerxes is preparing to march on Greece. He needs to know which cities will support him, and which might try to stab him in the back. Soli rose against Persia once, and might do so again. So, I have spies in Soli.

“I must return to my work. But you feel free to wander about. May Anat bless you in your comings and goings.”

So farewell to the old ghost, from a time long ago when Asia and Europe held Cyprus in a tug-of-war and bitterness divided city from city.

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Cyprus Car Hire

Cyprus is famous for its friendliness, taverns and numerous sandy beaches. It is a beautiful island set in the Eastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea and is a wonderful place for a holiday. It is an island with countless attractions and places of cultural and historical interest. Cyprus is a popular year round holiday destination. Besides that Cyprus is generally a safe country with a low crime rate. Hence you have to consider to visit Cyprus now or then.

Cyprus is around 4 hours from UK airports. Southern Cyprus is served by two international airports: Larnaca Airport and Paphos Airport thereby you can reach Cyprus from any corner of the world. But if you want to make the most of your Cyprus holiday and explore the island, the ideal solution is to hire a car. A rental car in Cyprus is the best way to tour the 400 miles of coastline or the mountainous Troodos.

Cyprus car hire or rent a car in Paphos is available at 25-60% discounted rates, full insurances, unlimited mileage and at no excess charge. Their aim is to find you the lowest possible prices for car hire Cyprus. As there is plenty to see and do in Cyprus, car hire is a commended need that will make your holiday much comfortable. A rental car can really help you discover the hidden delights of Northern Cyprus. Cyprus Car Hire is the site for you if you're looking online for hiring a car in Cyprus. Hiring a car from Cyprus Car Hire give you a great opportunity to explore Cyprus and have some family fun days out. Cyprus car hire offers new Cyprus rental cars with all-inclusive rates, online instant quote system and a variety of Cyprus cars. Alternatively,if you are looking for a Cyprus Car Hire Company with low prices and excellent service then Z & X Drivers Rentals is what you were looking for. Northern Cyprus is simply 'paradise' but do keep in mind that in Northern Cyprus car hire firms do not have office in the airports.

So, when are you going to trip of Cyprus?

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The Mosaics in the Basilica of Soli, North Cyprus

Soli, in North Cyprus, is not far from Guzelyurt. Soli is an ancient town where you can see the ruins of the marketplace from Greek days, a Roman-era theater, and a Byzantine basilica. Step back in time to learn about Soli in the days not long after Constantine the Great. Meet Georgio. He will explain to you how he makes his mosaics during the last half of the 4th century. And you will also see the impact of Constantine’s changes on his life and times.

"I am Georgio, who made many of the mosaics at your feet. You are in Soli in the north of Cyprus, the town where the Christian St. Mark was baptized by the Apostle Paul. You see, I know my Christian history, though I myself continue to worship our own Cypriot goddess, Aphrodite. Aphrodite was born here and she has seen us through many troubles. It would be horribly rude to forget her now.

"Yes, Constantine made it legal to be Christian, back in 313. I am sure you know the tale. He saw a vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in the year before. Milvian Bridge was the most important battle of his career, and he was greatly outnumbered. His men wore the Christian Cross into battle and triumphed. So Constantine owed Christ a favor and stopped the persecution of his followers.

"But let me show you this church. It is patterned after the Roman basilica. Once they were legal, Christians came out of hiding and bought property for a place of worship. They did not want to copy our temples, so they just use the normal plan for any place of public business, the basilica. The large courtyard with its columns is where the not-yet-baptized stand during the ceremonies.

"The baptized Christians stand between the columns in the long part, the nave. The rounded section at the end is the apse. You must imagine the building filled with worshippers in their best and brightest clothing. First come incense bearers, who perfume the church with clouds of sweet smoke. Then the Bishop enters in gorgeous robes, embroidered with gold. He is followed by candle-bearers and chanters.

"I do not begrudge them their pomp. The old-time Romans had us worship the Emperor himself, but of course nobody really believed he was a god. So now the Emperor is not divine, but rules on behalf of God, and that is more believable.

"In the New Rome, Constantine and his successors elevate men to high status because of their talents. Education and ability have become the best keys to advancement, that and being Christian. Constantine also stabilized the currency.

"But Constantine bound us all to our guilds. My sons must become mosaic artists just as I followed my father. Auxebius has a genuine feel for the art, and I think he can become great. But Markos, Markos hasn’t an artistic bone in his body. I am sending him to school. If he can read and write, he can enter the Imperial service and forge his own place in the world.

"Why do my sons have such emphatically Christian names? I had their mother become Christian. Aphrodite has been good to me, but perhaps the Bishop is right and she is too old to help mankind any longer.

"Enough sad talk! Let me show you how I make pictures with stones. See these squares? They are cut no bigger than my smallest fingernail, all as close as can be to the same size. I use marble and porphyry and many other stones of various colors. I also use tiles made from ceramic, but I do not like them as well as stone. The latest craze is to use pieces of glass. My son, Auxebius, uses them a great deal. I like the glass tiles just for emphasis. But the various powders the glassmakers use give brilliant color, don't they?

"I work in one small section at a time, following the drawing. The squares--we call them tesserae whether they are made of stone, ceramic, or glass--are set directly into this lime cement. Once the picture is complete, I will use more cement to fill all the spaces between the tiles. Once finished, my picture will last for many, many years under the tread of thousands of feet.

"Is the picture a goose or a swan? No, I am not offended. Of course I can draw a more graceful swan or a more domestic-looking goose. But I did not intend to do that. You see, it is rumored that Theodosius wants to close the last remaining pagan temples. We Cypriots will have no where to honor Aphrodite, who was born here. Some of us older folk have clubbed together to donate this mosaic.

"I told the Bishop it was a goose, a symbol of fidelity in marriage. He approved my sketch. But he is not a well-educated man, nor is he a native of Cyprus. Otherwise he might have seen the goose is very like a swan. The swan, you see, is a symbol of Aphrodite. The dolphins call to mind her birth from the sea. And the fruits remind us how she has kept our island fertile and our people fed all these years.

"When the time comes that we can no longer worship our goddess, we old pagans will stand near this mosaic and bow with the utmost reverence. Even Emperors and Bishops cannot read hearts.

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Cyprus A Place Of Contrasts

Where else does 24-hour partying sit alongside ancient archaeological sites? Where else can you find inaccessible mountains and wide sandy beaches, full-on resorts and tiny traditional villages?

For some, Cyprus is a haven of sun, sand and social life, where a week of partying is the objective and it’s one that’s easily fulfilled. For the more adventurous tourist, Cyprus is a real island of contrasts and the fascination is in comparing its many faces.

Forty percent of the island of Cyprus is occupied by Turkey, and has been for over 30 years. This part of the island is largely barren and suffers from very poor economic growth. The remaining sixty percent is unoccupied and welcomes tourists with open arms, resulting in a very healthy economy, that’s sustained year-round by visitors from abroad. Most of these visitors remain largely unaware of the occupation, despite the fact that one of the island’s best-known party resorts – Aiya Napa is less than 10 miles from the UN Buffer Zone.

Cyprus benefits from warm coastal weather all year round, but its central region is rugged and mountainous; with the Troodor mountain range providing excellent skiing during the winter, whilst off-peak tourists are sunning themselves on the beaches. A well-planned winter holiday can see you snowboarding one day and windsurfing the next – the perfect way to make the most of the contrasts in landscape.

If you’re willing to take a drive, you can also experience traditional Cypriot life by visiting some of the more remote, rural villages. Here, people rarely move far outside the immediate vicinity and concentrate on traditional crafts and cuisine. Take a car, a map and a basic language guide and experience the “real” Cyprus that the main resorts just can’t give you. On your way back, visit some of the most impressive archaeological sites in Europe – from Greco-Roman through Byzantine and Medieval, Cyprus is steeped in history – and you can relax on the beach later, safe in the knowledge that you have explored some of the contracts that Cyprus can offer.

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Cyprus Twitter

Cyprus (Greek: Κύπρος, transliterated: Kýpros, IPA: [ˈkipɾo̞s]; Turkish: Kıbrıs), officially the Republic of Cyprus (Greek: Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία, Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía, [kipɾiaˈki ðimo̞kɾaˈtia]; Turkish: Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti), is a Eurasian island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon.

Cyprus is the Mediterranean's third largest island, and one of its most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 2.4 million tourists per year. A former British colony, it became an independent republic in 1960[6] and a member of the Commonwealth in 1961. The Republic of Cyprus is one of the advanced economies in the region, and has been a member of the European Union since 1 May 2004.

In 1964, Turkey attempted to invade Cyprus[8] but was stopped by a strongly worded letter from the American President Lyndon B. Johnson on June 5, 1964

In 1974, Turkey, using a coup d'état instigated by the Greek Junta as a pretext, invaded and occupied the northern portion of the island. The Turkish invasion led to the displacement of thousands of Cypriots and the establishment of a separate Turkish Cypriot political entity in the north recognized only by Turkey. This event and its resulting political situation are matters of ongoing dispute.

The Republic of Cyprus has de jure sovereignty over the entire island of Cyprus and its surrounding waters except small portions that are allocated by treaty to the United Kingdom as sovereign military bases. The Republic of Cyprus is de facto partitioned into two main parts, the area under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus, comprising about 59% of the island's area and the Turkish-occupied area in the north,[10] calling itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, covering about 37% of the island's area and recognised only by Turkey.


Article Source: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus