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Life
in Cyprus
PEOPLE OF CYPRUS :
The people of Cyprus owe their individuality and
warmth to the fact that they are the
product
of an amazingly colorful history. This sun drenched island has been at the
crossroads of world events for centuries. Roman, Byzantine, Greek and British
influences (to name just a few) have all had a bearing on life in Cyprus.
Perhaps that’s why Cypriots have a special knack of making visitors feel at home
as soon as they step off the plane or ship. That warm welcome, plus the
unhurried pace of daily life, makes Cyprus an instant favorite of anyone
who goes there.
The island
nation is a fascinating land of contrasts. It has some of the most
sophisticated cities in the region, and yet, a short distance away, you can feel
as if you have stepped back into a previous century, not just the 19th, but far
back to a time when people pursued simpler pleasures. Drop into almost any
country teverna, or join the locals at a town market, and you will feel the
atmosphere of
a way of life that has remained essentially the same for
centuries.
The island has proved irresistible to many famous historical personalities, such
as Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, Leonard da Vinci and Richard the Lion Heart.
When Richard freed his imprisoned bride-to-be, Berengaria of Navarre, in 1191,
Cypriots all across the island seized on the opportunity to have a party!
As you
can see, a delight in having a good time is at the heart of the Cypriot
personality. Observe the fun Cypriots have when they go out — perhaps
in large family groups — to eat and drink, and you will see how important a lust
for life is on this enchanted island. Get to know the people, and you will
probably be invited back to a Cypriot home to enjoy a meal of meze. Then, you’ll
truly learn the meaning of the word “hospitality.”
Cyprus is deservedly called the “Island of Love.” Come and find out for
yourself!
LANGUAGE :
Greek is the national language of Cyprus, but
English is spoken almost everywhere.
GLOSSARY:
AGIA - Saint (female)
AGIOS - Saint (male)
ARCHANGELOS - Archangel
ICONOSTASI - Screen with icons separating the bema
(holy part of the church) from the nave in the Orthodox church
KATO - Lower
LEOFOROS - Avenue
PANAGIA - The Blessed Virgin Mary
PANO - Upper
PETRA - Stone
PLATEIA - Square
STAVROS - Cross
PRONUNCIATION :
ai - as in egg
oi, ei, y - as in India
ou - as in t our
ch - as in home
d - as in there
Names of places have been converted into Latin characters according to the
official System of Transliteration of the Greek alphabet. i.e.
LEFKOSIA=NICOSIA, LEMESOS=LIMASSOL, AMMOCHOSTOS=FAMAGUSTA.
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE
ISLAND OF CYPRUS
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The population of Cyprus is approximately
706.000.
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Cyprus is a member of the Commonwealth.
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The average day temperature in summer is 32 C and
In winter 16 C.
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The average sea temperature in April is 18.6 C
and in October 25 C.
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Citizens from most of the European countries,
USA, Canada, Australia, Japan
etc can
enter Cyprus with a valid passport and do not require a visa.
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Foreign office:-
www.fco.gov.uk/travel/countryadvice.asp?cy
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The International Airports are at Larnaka and
Pafos.
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More than 30 airlines connect Cyprus directly
with most European and Middle
East Countries.
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Flying time: From London is 5 hours.
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Local time: GMT + 2hrs
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IN CYPRUS
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The Cypriots wear summer clothes (short sleeves
and sandals) from May till
October.
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Avoid shorts and wear suitable clothing when you
are visiting churches and
Monasteries.
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Do not forget your sunglasses while in Cyprus.
They are indispensable due to
the
intense brightness of our sunshine.
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Between 1300-1600 hrs is siesta-time in summer.
(May-Sept.)
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Cyprus' automatic telephone dialing system
reaches over 184 countries.
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It is forbidden to remove antiquities from the
bottom of the sea.
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A small tip in restaurants, taxis etc is always
welcome.
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Accommodation with local families does not exist
in Cyprus.
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Voltage: 240V A C throughout the island, Sockets
outlets and sockets of flat 3
pin
type are used.
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Dhekelia (east of Larnaca) and Akrotiri-Episkopi
(west of Limassol) are the two
British
bases in Cyprus.
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In Cyprus there are 127 endemic flower varieties,
that is growing nowhere else
in the
world but in Cyprus.
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Easter is the main religious feast in Cyprus.
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"Lefkaritika" is the local embroidery.
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The shops are closed on Wednesday and Saturday
afternoons.
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The most important Museums of the island are in
Nicosia.
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The town of Pafos is included in the official
Unesco list of Cultural Heritage.
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A Greek Drama in an ancient theatre is a
memorable experience.
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Due to the mild winters Northern European
athletes and football teams use
Cyprus as
their training ground.
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Driving is on the left side of the road.
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On Sundays petrol stations are open on a rotation
basis. Most petrol stations
provide
twenty-four hours service either by attendance service or by
pay-terminals.
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The transurban service-taxis are shared taxis
connecting all main towns
(only during
day time).
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Private taxis are also widely available.
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Various buses link all major towns, but do not
operate on Sundays and Public
Holidays.
A frequent local
bus service also operates in each town. Almost all
villages are connected with
the
nearest town by local
buses but are limited to
once or twice a day.
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CURRENCY :
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There is no limit on bringing in cheques,
travelers cheques and other negotiable
documents.
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Amount of foreign exchange in excess of the
equivalent of US 1000 dollars
should be declared at the customs.
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The Cyprus pound is divided into 100 cents.
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Centrally located banks offer special afternoon
facilities for tourists.
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The Tourist Information office at Larnaka Airport
provides 24hrs service 365
days.
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SPORTS & LEISURE :
Cyprus is a paradise for the sports enthusiast.
Sports include angling, sea sports, golf, cycling,
diving,
sailing/yachting, swimming, hiking/nature trails, and water sports. Deep water
diving or scuba diving are catered for handsomely, the water is warm and the
skies are blue, so come and give it a try. There is always that "undiscovered
wreck" and that elusive "treasure" not to mention the beauty of the
creatures
that inhabit the waters. Cyprus is the ideal place for coarse
fishing with its
warm sunny climate and 23 well stocked reservoirs with
a huge variety of healthy
unmarked fish including
CARP,
ROACH, BASS, TENCH, ZANDER, CATFISH, and many
more. Larnaca has a superb bay for
sailing, with a steady wind most afternoons.
Sailing in Cyprus has gained
popularity in recent years, and
marinas are being planned and built. The marina
in Larnaca is a
pleasant place with a diverse yachting community and a
good
nautical joke can usually be overheard
in the marina bar. If you want to do
something a little different
during your stay in Cyprus, try Riding. In Larnaca
at Pittacos
ranch or Polis at The Lucky Horse ranch, or if you are staying
in
Ayia Napa or Protaras then the Moonshine ranch is a must
and for Pafos it's
Paddocks.
Information and images
courtesy of the Cyprus Tourist Office
