The best holidays to Cyprus include a visit to this charming place. Old Paphos was the centre of the cult of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, and the ancients believed she first came ashore there. If you go, then remember that the antiquities are in Upper Paphos: that is where you will find House of Dionysos, the Tomb of the Kings, the remains of the Roman governor’s residence, with its mosaics, the amphitheatre and much more. Nowadays I’m fascinated by all this. The younger version of me would have preferred Lower, New Paphos with clubs and bars. That is, if you had been able to drag me away from Limassol or Avia Napa. The last named is a real ravers’ paradise, I sort of remember! In my new, sober and responsible guise I’d prefer a walk in the unspoiled Mediterranean beauty of the Akamas National Park.
Another thing I love about Cyprus is the food and the drink. You should definitely try the mezze, which is sort of a Cypriot version of tapas, with all sorts of delicious dishes on offer – I’m particularly partial to the stuffed vine leaves and the kebabs served on their skewers. You should always drink the local wine with the local food, and the Cypriots are good at viniculture. They even have an annual wine festival every September.
There’s been barely time for me to scratch the surface of why I love Cyprus. I could go on about the subject indefinitely. It is not just that for me it has everything – it is more that as I have grown up I have discovered more and more aspects of this wonderful island. There is always something new to discover each visit.
Really, you cannot give a better recommendation than that.
(Photo via www.simila-cyprus.com, edited)