After a very quick decision I went to Cyprus mid april 2005, to have a look arround and to do some research for work. So may I can help you in your planning if you like do spend your summer holiday or when ever you like to go there.
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As first I may tell you some about my own tour, give you some ideas what to do and see down there and finally some suggestions how I would travel arround when I go there again.
The first thing, wich does not make me very proud: the first time in my life I travelled on a package tour. Two days before departure I found a reasonable offer on a german last minute travel portal.
Agia Napa: 4 star hotel, half board, a car I booked seperatly at holidayautos.de - The city is about 50 km east of Larnaca (airport), isolated from the UN buffer zone to the turkish area reached by highway only. It looks really touristic, especially for the summer months/ high season: large hotel complex, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops.
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| Favourite spots: |
During one week vacation I have been driving a lot: Really a lot! Almost 2000 km exploring the island, and write a report for Globosapiens!
Nikosia: the last devided capital, where we spend a day. Cross to the turkish part is nowadays not very difficult anymore. The buffer zone controlled by UN troops looks just like a 30 years ago, war lands, as the turkish occupied the land.
A new large poster welcomes the foreign vistitor at a control post: “TRNC Forever” (turkish) (republic of) (northern) (cyprus) – well, they better close these border again...
If your car rental station agree, you can take the vehicle with you to the north, but usually it is prohibited on insurance regulation.
Else on the border station you have to get another insurance paper for about 10 USD a day...
The other days we spend in the beautiful villiges in the mountains wich rising up to almost 2000 m (6000ft).
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| What's really great: |
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watch out: a red plated car!!!
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The flowers and villages, the roads winding arround the peaks into the remote areas as Kato Pyrgos!
Fields of orange and lemon trees, wild flowers and orchids.
Cyprus’ currency is very strong!
1 EUR is about 0,50 CYP (Pounds) - gasoline is about 0,50 CYP per liter, slightly cheaper than germany...
Tourist cars are outed in Cyprus with a red plate number, so may drive on a secondary road for some experience if you are used to the right side of the road only, before you enter the city center of Larnaca...
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| Sights: |
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relaxing at the northern coast at Kato Pygros
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May, will be completed!
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| Accommodations: |
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Omodos village sight seeing
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Some recommendations:
The best places to stay if you are visiting the island on a package tour is Larnaca or Lemesos area, because you easily access all places of interest.
Dont forget to book your car through the internet, you save a lot of money!
Probably the best way to explore that country: book a car and your air ticket, bring a small tent from home and drive arround.
The tent is just for the case you want to spend a night at the beach, or in case you can not find a B&B or pension in the villages.
The people are very friendly so it is not really a challenge to find a place for the night! Self catering or eating in small restaurants is a big difference to the places in resort towns where prices reach almost the double.
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| Nightlife: |
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over the fence... untouched since 30 years (UN Buffer Zone)
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My favourite places in the mountains are:
The area east of Troodos wich is called Pitsylia: Platanistasa, Askas...
Lefkara (exit 13 from Highway) to Gourri.
The villages Kakopetria, Kaliana etc. north of the “Troodos Circle”
The road from Astromeritis to Kato Pygros in the north along the buffer zone.
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| Hangouts: |
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...better invest your money into: a road map, wich are easily available in all book stores and souvenir shops for about EUR 5,00 – its is not really necessary to buy a guide book, there is lots of free information material from the cyprus tourism board or the internet... or from myself
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| Restaurants: |
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Playground in the forbidden zone... UN supervised
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I really enjoy my daily cyprus coffee, sitting in the afternoon sun with the "other" old men from the villages listening to the silence.
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| Other recommendations: |
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Published on Wednesday April 27th, 2005
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Publish on Facebook
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Sun, May 06 2007 - 06:43 AM
 by marianne
| Ralph, I must have missed this the first time. Good thing you revised it. A good read |
Fri, Feb 16 2007 - 08:38 PM
 by travler
I have sailed past here but couldn't stop because the Med was too rough.
After reading your report I know what I missed. Thank you. |
Fri, Feb 02 2007 - 06:05 PM
by mrscanada
| I like reports that include flowers |
Fri, Aug 26 2005 - 08:27 AM
by dipaks
Fri, May 27 2005 - 05:21 PM
by susylu
| Ralph : Your description is very good, I enjoy it a lot. I would like to know someting about the trips in ship near to the island. Congratulations!. Susylu |
Sat, Apr 30 2005 - 05:38 AM
by polytrad
| Interesting suggestion for all those who like the Medditerranean islands |
Fri, Apr 29 2005 - 09:39 AM
by gloriajames
| makes me want to visit cyprus some day |
Thu, Apr 28 2005 - 07:30 AM
by mistybleu
Ralph,
Lovely report, it makes me want to go there (if only I had some annual leave to take).
Misty |
Thu, Apr 28 2005 - 12:07 AM
by ravinderkumarsi
| great to read such a nice report |
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