Low Cost Flights to Cyprus

Jet2 will start flights to Pafos Cyprus from May 2008 (flying from Leeds Bradford to Pafos)


Cyprus has a long heritage stretching back over 9000 years. Reminders of the Island's history can be found with Greek temples, Roman mosaics and 15th-century frescoes available for all to see.

Some Highlights to Visit

Salamis – Salamis is the best archaeological site in Cyprus. Visitors can bask in the atmosphere of the fully restored Roman amphitheatre, marble baths or the gymnasium. Most of the ruins are Byzantine or Roman, scattered over 5 miles with a beautiful beach near by for any keen archaeologist to cool down in and soak up some rays!

Lefkosia (Nicosia) – Lefkosia's was once enclosed by a star-shaped wall but is now more famous due to the UN's Green Line which divided the capital. Lefkosia is a friendly place with beautiful restaurants, a buzzing art scene and breathtaking museums. Lefkosia offers a more traditional view of Cyprus and gives the traveller insight into what the way of life in Cyprus is really like compared to the coastal towns. The old town, inside the 16th-century Venetian walls, is a must see for anybody visiting. There are many museums to see in the area including the Leventis Municipal, the Dragoman Hadzigeorgakis and the Byzantine Museum.

Troödos Massif – The Troödos mountains, in the country's south, are well worth a visit for their tranquil atmosphere and a place to get away from the bustling tourist hot spots. The area is a favourite for hikers and is littered with 15th-century frescoed monasteries, wine-making villages and walking trails.

St Hilarion Castle – St Hilarion Castle seems as if it has come from a magical fairytale and is uniquely blended into the surrounding cliffside. The castle has a labyrinth of tunnels, hidden rooms and overgrown gardens and paths to keep both parents and children entertained for hours on end. The view from the top of the castle is a sight to behold allowing the visitor to see the Taurus Mountains in Turkey, more than 100km away on a clear day.

Kolossi Castle – Kolossi Castle is nestled near the village houses and vineyards in the area. The castle acts as a reminder of the rule of the Knights of St John in the 13th century. The famous Cypriot wine, Commandaria, was first produced here and no visit would be complete without sampling this rich dessert wine. The castle is accessible by a short drawbridge. In earlier days the castle was originally defended by a high parapet fiercely defended by the castle occupants with molten lead or boiling oil – but don’t worry there’s a friendly reception for all visitors now!

Details of low cost flights to Cyprus with Jet2.com can be found on their website www.jet2.com

Cyprus News

• A recent announcement revealed that the Euro will be introduced in January 2008.

• Two new International Airports are in the pipeline! In 2009 the new Pafos airport will be complete.

• Ten new golf courses are planned island-wide.

• Four new marinas are planned across Cyprus. Pafilia Property Developers have announced that they have formally placed a bid for the new Pafos Marina, near Coral Bay, which will boast a staggering 1,000 berths!

• Works will soon begin on the transformation of Pafos Harbour, with a pedestrianised promenade.

• A new highway linking Pafos and Polis will dramatically reduce travel times.

• A beach improvement scheme will further raise the standards of Cyprus' plentiful blue flag beaches.

• Cyprus already has one of the highest employment rates in the EU, but new enterprises will create thousands of new jobs on the island!

• There are a growing number of familiar UK High Street names in Cyprus. The latest additions to Pafos are Starbucks and Debenhams, and the existing Marks & Spencers has recently been extended and now includes a food department.

• The German supermarket, Lidl, will be opening a chain of branches across the island soon, and market whispers speculate that Ikea and Tesco could soon follow suit.

• Rumour has it that increasing competitiveness will lead to a price war between supermarkets, meaning that prices will be brought down.

The view from my terrace in Peyia looking down on Coral Bay. If you fancy a view like this every evening, contact my son:

Bob Cossons bobcossons@aol.com
+357 966 12123

Climate

Climate can be important when looking at overseas property and will influence your choice of location. Cyprus is the hottest of the Mediterranean islands and boasts near all year round sunshine, where you can expect 340 days of sunshine with temperatures rarely dropping below 16 degrees.

This picture was taken in November.

Monthly Average temperature
January 16°C
February 16°C
March 18°C
April 23°C
May 28°C
June 32°C
July 32°C
August 33°C
September 32°C
October 28°C
November 23°C
December 19°C

The rainy season is from November to March with temperatures ranging between 23 to 16 degrees, with most of the rain falling between December and February.

The spring season is mild and you can expect temperatures of 23 degrees. During April the spring flowers are at their best and the whole country is beautifully green By May the flowers are starting to go over. Early May can be windy, but by the middle of the month the temperature is starting to rise and all the lovely green countryside turns brown. During July and August the temperature can be well above 30 degrees centigrade.

The Troodos Mountains are a great place to escape the heat of the summer sun, you can expect a difference in temperature of up to 12 degrees. During the winter months of December and January the mountains provide ideal Skiing conditions, while by the coast you can still enjoy the beach.

Betty Boothroyd's Bolthole

Baroness Boothroyd, former Speaker of the House of Commons, was asked by the Sunday Telegraph what place she considered to be heaven on earth. Her reply was Cyprus.

She said "I discovered Cyprus in the 1970s on a parliamentary group trip, and fell in love with it. It's now my little bolthole, to which I try to escape several times a year.

I've been all over the island - driving through the Troodos Mountains, and visiting the monasteries or other antiquities like the ruins of ancient Salamis. I've even been paragliding.

I usually stay outside Paphos, on the coast, and my routine is to have breakfast outside in my swimsuit and shorts, and then go beachcombing. I also love to swim and the water is so clear you can see the colour of your toenails. Occasionally I'll have lunch with some of my many friends on the island. After a day outdoors, I'm happy to spend the evening with friends in a little taverna somewhere.

Turtle Watching in Cyprus

Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) nest only in a handful of select locations around the world. Cyprus just happens to be one of those locations. The pollution-free sands of the Akamas Peninsula (particularly Lara Bay) and the beaches near Polis provide an annual refuge for turtles to lay their eggs. These are special places that should be treated with care and respect.


The action always begins in June. Turtles from all across the Mediterranean descend on the beaches of Western Cyprus and Turkey. They arrive in their hundreds under cover of darkness, choosing sand high up on the beaches in which to lay their clutch of eggs. Typically a hundred eggs will be laid in one clutch, the turtles returning three, four or even five times through the summer to lay new clutches on the beach. Despite these apparently large numbers, only 20% of eggs laid are hatched. The remainder fall foul of foxes and other wildlife on the island.

Eggs hatch in around seven weeks. A mad dash to the sea by the hatchlings then ensues. Again, not all of them will make it, the wildlife picking them off before they can reach the relative safety of the water.
Lara Bay in Akamas is now a protected area during the turtle breeding season. Conservationists work to protect the eggs and to escort hatchlings to the sea. Even so estimates put the yearly survival rate of turtles at only 6,000 - 7,000. It is a very low number for two species that find themselves on the verge of extinction.

Turtle watching is best performed from afar so as not to disturb these beautiful aquatic reptiles. Evening twilight or dawn break are the best times to see the turtles waddle across the sands. Some people have even spotted turtles swimming in the crystal clear waters close to the beaches in daylight hours.

A beachfront villa with outstanding views of the sea and the tranquil countryside close to this beautiful Akamas conservation area would be an ideal holiday home, or as an investment.



Iberian International have a 2 bedroom beachfront villa

for GBP171,000 at Argarka Bay

Spring Delights

The first orchids bloom in January in Cyprus, and by mid-February the countryside is already alive with fresh green meadows and almond trees in bloom. March days can still be cool (daytime temperatures around 19C or 65F, (9C or 40F at night) but steadily moderate. Early spring is a wonderful time to visit to Cyprus, with pleasant daytime temperatures and many of the ancient ruins framed by a carpet of red anemones and other wildflowers. In April and into the middle of May spring is in full force. This is an ideal time for nature hikes and off-road adventures in the pristine Akamas Peninsula.

Cyprus has 1,950 species of flowering plants, 140 of which do not grow anywhere else except on the island, and in the Akamas alone, there are 700 plant species, of which 40 are endemic. From February to April, pink cyclamen sprouts up from rocky foothills and thickets and forms a riveting adornment to the Baths of Aphrodite. From March to April, the pink wavy-leaved monkey orchid (Orchis italica) grows in dense patches around Paphos. In summer Cyprus is the place to bask in the sun, but spring is the time to savour the natural beauty of the island in bloom.

Food and Wine

Fruit and Vegetables - Nurtured by the warm Mediterranean sun, Cyprus fruit and vegetables grow to a size and quantity guaranteed to delight the most demanding palates. The trees laden with citrus, and the acres of grapes particularly on the southern Troodos slopes, are the beginning of the story.

The markets and many roadside stalls are a feast of colour, with fruit of every variety, size and hue; ripe, juicy, tasty, ready for eating and very inexpensive. These include apples, pears, melons, watermelons, plums, figs, strawberries and cherries to mention but a few. The same goes for the Island’s vegetables. Everyone knows the superlative Cyprus potato - so tasty and ideal for chips - but there are giant, shiny aubergines, massive red tomatoes, fat lettuces, elongated carrots, plump artichokes, delectable avocadoes and many more.

Island Cuisine - The gastronomic pleasures of Cyprus should be savoured at an unhurried pace. To discover new flavours and sample the many traditional dishes, there is no better way to learn than to follow local custom with a typical meze, meaning mixture, which is usually a little of everything that is available that day in that taverna or restaurant.

As many as thirty dishes may form the meze starting with dips, salads and vegetables, advancing to hot dishes - including such favourites as Mousaka and kebabs as well as tasty local casseroles, fresh fish and chicken - and finishing with sweets like Baklava and Loukoumades.

Cyprus wines, inexpensive and plentiful, make a good accompaniment to this exotic and lingering repast, and a Cyprus coffee in a tiny cup, ordered according to sweetness desired is a fitting finale with a local brandy.

Loukoumades - Greek style doughnuts.

Ingredients:

1 Pinch Cinnamon To taste
2 Cups Flour
1 A Little Oil
1 Teaspoon Salt "Light" teaspoon
1 Handful Sesame Seeds
1 A Little Thyme Honey
4 Teaspoons Yeast

Directions:
Thin the yeast in 1/2 cup of warm water.
Mix the flour with the salt in a deep bowl.
Add the yeast and an extra cup of warm water and mix well until you make a uniform thin paste.
Cover and leave in a cool place for 1½ hours until it rises and forms bubbles under the surface.
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan and pour your mix in, one large spoonful at a time.
The mix will form round dumplings.
Remove them with a strainer/ladle when they darken a little.
Pour honey over, sprinkle with cinnamon and the sesame seeds.

Hiking in Cyprus

Cyprus for All Seasons
One of the benefits of being a Mediterranean island is plentiful sunshine throughout the year, and Cyprus is no exception. In fact, Cyprus epitomizes the ideal weather of the region with sunny days and fine temperatures almost every day. Extremes of temperatures are rare, meaning Cyprus has something to offer every month of the year, whether it's swimming (as late as November) or enjoying cultural sites and festivals (all year long).

An ideal way to get a feel for the countryside of Cyprus is to walk through it - literally. There are hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty throughout the country, with the most extensive network found in the delightful Troodos Mountains. Some of these are within walking distance of the major monasteries. All told more than 48 well signposted paths or trails cover a total distance of 200 kilometres in various parts of the island.

Three Days In Central Cyprus
The Troodos Mountains area boasts four distinctive signposted nature trails. The circular, seven-kilometre long Artemis Trail is at the 1850 metre level and encompasses endemic flora such as Cyprus crocus and orchids under the black pines, as well as rich avian life that includes blue rock thrush and imperial eagles.
The Atalanti Trail, named after a forest nymph, is nine kilometers long.
At four kilometres, the Kalidonia Trail (also known as the Trail of Nightingales) criss-crosses the Kryo Potamo stream as it flows from the Troodos to Platres. The final portion of the trail begins under a wooden archway and leads to the Caledonean Falls.
The three-kilometre Persephone Trail affords up-close looks at beautiful lichens and ferns.

A Day in Akamas
Still basing yourself in Paphos, explore the Akamas Peninsula, a rugged thumb-shaped strip of land criss-crossed by rocky hiking trails. From the Aphrodite Trail hikers have spectacular views of rock formations, limestone outcroppings, cliffs and boulders sculpted into odd shapes suspended in the sea. Both the Aphrodite Trail and Adonis Trail branch out from the Baths of Aphrodite, a natural grotto.

On the other, western side of the peninsula is Avakas Gorge, popular as a day trip excursion from Paphos by jeep. Several outfits organize 4X4 jeep trips all year long, the majority leaving from the Paphos District. Most of the excursions include a stop at Lara Beach, a protected nesting ground for endangered sea turtles. All of the settings are pristine, so be sure to bring Your camera!

Live the Med Lifestyle

'Live The Med Lifestyle In Cyprus' is an ebook written by Roy Carter & Lynda Burke in 2006. It tells you all you need to know about moving to Cyprus to live.

Roy and Lyn moved to Cyprus some years ago and are currently living and working there very happily and enjoying all that the island has to offer.

'Live The Med Lifestyle In Cyprus' costs less than your first dinner for two will cost you on the island! Just $47 (around £25) for.....................

Over 100 pages of up to date, 'straight from the horse's mouth' information, painstakingly compiled for you in order to ensure that your move to the 'Island of Love' is a happy and successful one!

• How To Import A Car - The Pro's AND the Cons
• Do We Need A Residency Permit - How & where do I get one?
• Do I Need A Work Permit - How do I make sure I am working legally?
• What About Retiring In Cyprus? - What do I need to do?
• What Is Health Care Like? - Will I be looked after if I get sick?
• What About Bringing A Pet? - Can I bring my cats and dogs?
• What Are The Schools Like? - Will my children be well educated?
• What Does It Cost To Rent An Apartment or Villa?
• How Difficult Is It To Buy A Property? - Just what is involved?
• How Does The Cost Of Living Compare - Will it be cheaper to live in Cyprus?

The ebook comes in pdf format which is the 'industry standard' and you can begin reading this ebook in the next few minutes as it is available as a digital download. It takes just seconds to download and save the ebook to your computer.

To download your copy now Click Here!

Why live in Cyprus?

Whether a holidaymaker or a foreign resident, Cyprus offers you all you will ever need. Sandy beaches, luxurious hotels, bars and night clubs, traditional taverns, ancient monuments, small villages untouched by time and mountain tops covered with pine woods.



Climate
Cyprus enjoys a mild Mediterranean type climate, short mild winters and long warm summers.



Quality of life
A short visit will convince you that Cyprus enjoys a high European standard of living. According to Interpol statistics, the crime rate is only 1/6 of the average crime rate in Europe, which makes Cyprus an ideal place to live and raise a family.


Cost of living
The cost of living in Cyprus is relatively low compared to that of other European countries and to the high quality of life. A couple living in Cyprus, can easily have a comfortable lifestyle from Cy£6.000 to Cy£8.000 per year.


Language
The official language of Cyprus is Greek, but due to the facts that Cyprus was once a British colony, more than 90% of the population speak English. As a result all street signs, direction signs, shop signs, restaurant menus, etc are written in English.