We have found the bus website for transfers to and from the Airport for between 1 and 3 euros depending on time of year but unfortunately you will need to change buses at the new Harbour bus stop.
http://www.pafosbuses.com/
booking tel 00357 99370444 info 00357 26934410
please check with them for timetable as there will be less trips in
the winter season.
Please ask to be dropped off by the Mcdonald's stop, one
before the Tomb of the Kings burial site or else it is an
extra five minutes walk back along the Tomb of the Kings Road to
Fat Mamas. At Fat Mamas on the Tomb of the Kings road
take the side road opposite and Diana 54 is less than 2 minutes
walk on the right. Best to get off the bus when you see the new
McDonalds.
If you are coming on the bus from the airport, don't get off at the
McDonalds at the Mall, wait until you have changed buses at the
Harbour.
Laura and Esther found Kings Taxis just on the Tomb of the Kings road opposite charlies next to the Tea for two restaurant, telephone number is 00357 26946100 or 0035726941564 or email them kingstaxi@hotmail.co.uk around 30 euros
our thanks to Brian and Jill for latest transfer details from the airport:- who used Suntransfers.com on arrival and on the way back we used Paphos Union Taxis, email paphosuniontaxi@cytanet.cy which gave very good service. They are based not far from the apartment on Tomb of the Kings Rd close to the Irish pub O neils.
please remember cyprus is two hours in front of the UK.
if you know of any others
or if you hire a car, you have allocated off road parking at Diana 54
You can fly to Paphos from anywhere in the country,
you may find that a flight to Larnaca may be
cheaper but there is an extra hour's journey on a dual carriageway
on arrival in Cyprus
Easyjet fly from several airports in the UK to Paphos, like
Bristol, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh
Try
http://www.flightstopaphosuk.co.uk/
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/home/public/en_gb?countrycode=GB
http://flights.firstchoice.co.uk/
http://www.thomascook.com/flights/
http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/index.asp?WT.srch=1
http://www.airflights.co.uk
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flights/Paphos/
http://www.skyscanner.net/flights-to/pfo/cheap-flights-to-paphos-airport.html
http://cyprusair.com/default.aspx?tabid=843&langid=2
Cyprus may be a small country, but it is a large island the third largest in the Mediterranean. It is an island with a big heart - an island that gives it's guests a genuine welcome and treats them as friends. With it's spectacular scenery and enviable climate, it's no wonder that Aphrodite chose the island as her playground, and since then, mere mortals have been discovering this 'land fit for Gods' themselves. Cyprus is an island of beauty and a country of contrasts. Cool, pine clan mountains are a complete scene change after golden sun kissed beeches; tranquil, timeless villages are in striking contrast to modern cosmopolitan towns; luxurious beach side hotels can be exchanged for large areas of natural, un-spoilt countryside; yet in Cyprus all distances are easily manageable, mostly on modern roads and highways - with a secondary route or two for the more adventurous. Most of all, the island offers peace of mind. At a time when holidays are clouded by safety consciousness, a feeling of security prevails everywhere since the crime level is so low as to be practically non existent. Few countries can trace the course of their history over 10.000 year's, but in approximately 8.000 B.C. the island of Cyprus was already inhabited and going through its Neolithic Age. 0f all the momentous events that were to sweep the country through the next few thousand years, one of the most crucial was the discovery of copper - or Kuprum in Latin - the mineral which took its name from "Kypros", the Greek name of Cyprus, and generated untold wealth. The island's strategic position, its copper deposits and its timber attracted the first Greeks who came to the island over 3.000 years ago at the end of the Trojan wars. They settled down bringing in with them and establishing the Greek identity, language and civilization. Over the centuries Cyprus came under the sway of various rulers including the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, the successors to Alexander the Great and the Romans, before Cyprus became part of the Byzantine Empire. Later came the Crusaders, the Frankish Lusignans and Venetians, Ottomans and British. Cyprus won its independence in 1960, for the first time in 3.500 years, but the Greek identity of language and culture has been retained. In July 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus and since then 37% of the island in the north is being illegally occupied by Turkish troops who acted in violation of all principles governing international relations. From the topmost point of Mount Olympus to the coasts and sweeping plains, Cyprus is nature's island. Many exquisite wild flowers grow in splendid profusion in springtime. Trees, shrubs and plants luxuriate in the Mediterranean sunshine all year round. Bright bougainvillea blazes vividly against white walls, reflecting its splendor in the crystal clear waters. Cyprus is also prized for its bird life, and the migratory birds that use the country as a stopover are eagerly awaited between seasons. Due to the wonderful climate and variety of scenery, the island of Cyprus offers endless opportunities for nature lovers and outdoor sports fans. Activities such as angling, mountain-biking, hiking, gliding, golf, sea sports and yachting are but a few of the special activity holidays that the island of Cyprus offers. With so many possibilities, Cyprus is a bird watcher's paradise ... an archaeologist's heaven ... a photographer's dream ... It is probably no surprise with a history so long, that Cyprus is remarkably rich in culture. Its importance has been honored by UNESCO which has included nine of the island's Byzantine mountain churches and the entire town of Kato Pafos, Palaepafos and Choirokoitia in its World Cultural Heritage List. Wherever you tread in Cyprus you are reminded of a strong tradition that is kept alive from generation to generation through the many events which are celebrated. Hardly a week goes by in Cyprus without a celebration of some sort, whether it be a colorful festival or homage to a saint on one of the numerous 'name' days. The 'Panigiri', a traditional open-air fete, takes place mainly in the villages on the occasion of a saint's name day. Easter, the most important Greek Orthodox religious event, is celebrated with solemnity, joy and hope. Carnival is one of the best known Cypriot celebrations, along with 'Anthestiria' the Spring Flower festival, and 'Kataklysmos' - the festival of the Flood - which coincides with Pentecost. Throughout the year there are also exhibitions, concerts, drama and folk festivals. Cypriot culture is also reflected in the rich folk art of the island. Age-old crafts, handed down from one generation to another, are faithfully carried on to this day by skilful hands and nimble fingers, fashioning handicrafts, both decorative and useful, that would grace any home. The Greek Orthodox Church has been the mainstay of religion in Cyprus since the 1st century A.D., and in a society where the church continues to play an important role, old style values have been maintained and the family unit retains close-knit qualities that keep colorful customs alive, and underline the warmhearted character of Cyprus.
Floating in the Mediterranean, Cyprus is a kaleidoscopic blend: its cultural influences are dominated by Western Europe, but its geographic proximity to Asia and Africa gives it more than just a hint of the East. Long coveted by mainland Greece and Turkey, this small island has its own definite and beguiling character. The south of the country has entered the EU and joined the euro on Ist January 2008. Around the tourist areas, everyone seems to speak english if you don't know how to speak greek. In Cyprus you drive on the left as in the UK. The tourist brochures love to point out, ‘the island of Aphrodite’, Cyprus both confirms and confounds the stereotype. Whatever the truth, in the tourist centres of places likePafos, you might feel as if you’ve entered a sunny, scorching Essex suburb with lobster-red Brits letting it all hang loose with a lukewarm can of Foster’s in tow. But if curiosity draws you out of the cities, you’ll discover the small villages of the Akamas Peninsula and the heavenly golden beaches of Corall Bay and the Sea Caves Peninsula. Walk the gorgeous Troödos and inhale the scent of the citrus groves of Morfou , or climb to the monasteries with their shimmering island views. Wander through the sea of wildflowers covering the island in spring, and Cyprus will take your breath away. With good walking shoes, a swimsuit and some sunscreen in your bag, you can have a trip you’ll remember for years.
PEOPLE AND HISTORY Human settlement on Cyprus stretches back nearly eight millennia and by 3700 BC, the island was a crossroads between East and West. The island fell successively under Assyrian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Roman domination. For 800 years, beginning in 364 AD, Cyprus was ruled by Byzantium. After brief possession by King Richard I (the Lion-Hearted) of England during the Crusades, the island came under Frankish control in the late 12th century. It was ceded to the Venetian Republic in 1489 and conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1571. The Ottomans applied the millet system to Cyprus, which allowed religious authorities to govern their own non-Muslim minorities. This system reinforced the position of the Orthodox Church and the cohesion of the ethnic Greek population. Most of the Turks who settled on the island during the three centuries of Ottoman rule remained when control of Cyprus--although not sovereignty--was ceded to Great Britain in 1878. Many left for Turkey during the 1920s, however. The island was annexed formally by the United Kingdom in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I and became a crown colony in 1925. Cyprus gained its independence from the United Kingdom and established a constitutional republic in 1960, after an anti-British campaign by the Greek Cypriot EOKA (National Organization of Cypriot Fighters), a guerrilla group that desired political union, or enosis, with Greece. Archbishop Makarios, a charismatic religious and political leader, was elected president. Shortly after the founding of the republic, serious differences arose between the two communities about the implementation and interpretation of the constitution. The Greek Cypriots argued that the complex mechanisms introduced to protect Turkish Cypriot interests were obstacles to efficient government. In November 1963, President Makarios advanced a series of constitutional amendments designed to eliminate some of these special provisions. The Turkish Cypriots opposed such changes. The confrontation prompted widespread intercommunal fighting in December 1963, after which Turkish Cypriots ceased to participate in the government. Following the outbreak of intercommunal violence, many Turkish Cypriots (and some Greek Cypriots) living in mixed villages began to move into enclaved villages or elsewhere. UN peacekeepers were deployed on the island in 1964. Following another outbreak of intercommunal violence in 1967-68, a Turkish Cypriot provisional administration was formed. In July 1974, the military junta in Athens sponsored a coup led by extremist Greek Cypriots against the government of President Makarios, citing his alleged pro-communist leanings and his perceived abandonment of enosis. Turkey, citing the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, intervened militarily to protect Turkish Cypriots. In a two-stage offensive, Turkish troops took control of 38% of the island. Almost all Greek Cypriots fled south while almost all Turkish Cypriots fled north. Since the events of 1974, UN peacekeeping forces have maintained a buffer zone between the two sides. Except for occasional demonstrations or infrequent incidents between soldiers in the buffer zone, the island was free of violent conflict from 1974 until August 1996, when violent clashes led to the death of two demonstrators and escalated tension. The situation has been quiet since 1996.
please find link to http://www.sacred-destinations.com/cyprus/aphrodites-rock-petra-tou-romiou.htm
Troodos Mountains Nothing could be more dramatically different from Mediterranean beach life, than the impressive mountain range that stretches across the center of Cyprus and reaches up to 1,952 meters at Chionistra, the highest point of Mount Olympus. Admiring panoramic vistas and breathing the cool, pine-scented air makes a heady change from the coasts and plains which are only a relatively short drive away. There's plenty to see in these mountains. Nine of the many Byzantine churches are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the exquisite art depicted in their icons, frescoes and architecture. Moufflon have been protected for a number of years in a huge natural reserve in the magnificent Cedar Valley, and nowadays these timid creatures can often be seen by visitors. There are scenic walks to take, a great variety of interesting birds and flora to be seen, waterfalls and special picnic sites, and above all, there are villages of immeasurable charm to wander round, or simply to dally in and observe the unhurried pace of rustic country life. The mountain villages are absolutely charming and the people friendly and hospitable. Each village has a special crop, craft or product for which it is known - fruits such as cherries, apples or peaches, sweet specialties like soujouko and palouze, wines, zivania - a highly alcoholic vine by-product, rosewater, pottery ... the list is endless. A stay in the mountains is definitely recommended. There you will enjoy the morning mist on the mountain peaks, cool air and breathtaking views that makes staying at one of the 'hillside' hotels a welcome break. The higher slopes are thronged with sports enthusiasts throughout the year, so much for skiing as for hiking along the nature trails, which have clearly marked environmental features of interest. A number of interesting monasteries are scattered in the Troodos range. The largest and most famous is Kykko Monastery, with a golden icon of the Virgin Mary, allegedly painted by Saint Luke. Other monasteries worth visiting are Machairas and Trooditissa with its distinctive steeply sloped roof.
General Information General
Shopping Hours
Shops are closed all day Sunday and on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. This refers to the larger shops there are many small kiosks selling groceries and other essentials that are open 24 hours a day every day. Climate
Getting around The Island
Drugs According to Cypriot Law. the importation, possession and use of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, is strictly prohibited. |
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