A Greek Tradition
Cyprus is an island with a long tradition of Greek history, but its great all year round sun is what attracts most of us, which has made it a very popular destination with tourists, with over 2.4 million visiting the republic. The island receives over 330 days of sunshine a year, which has given it the name The Island of the Sun. With plenty of travel agents providing Cyprus holidays and low cost airlines such as Easyjet offering routes to Paphos and Larnaca, getting there is cheaper than ever.
Cyprus attracts tourists from all over the world, but the majority come from Europe. Affluent eastern Europeans and Russians have also joined the crowd in recent years. The British Armed Forces have long has a presence in Cyprus. The UK retains a military base in order to have a gateway for forces to the Middle East. The impact of this on the surrounding area is that Cypriots have grown used to, and this has in turned resulted in areas that are less traditional and more contemporary in culture. From English being spoken everywhere you go, to driving on the left side of the road. No doubt the similarity to the UK makes us Brits feel more at home, but in a more favourable climate.
Much of olden Cyprus is giving away to culture that is more eclectic and less traditional. However, this side of Cyprus, that continues to attract millions of tourists year after year, is only one aspect of the island and is concentrated around the tourist hotspots of Paphos, Larnaca and Ayia Napa. As soon as you leave the packaged paradise and clubbers haven of these areas and hit the road the real country reveals itself.
Its worth tearing yourself away from the beach and visiting the Troodod Mountains if you can. In the heart of the mountains you will find the Kykkos monastery, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1998. Housing art and exhibits on ancient Greece, the monastery has the twin function of being a museum for visitors and a practising monastery lived in by worshiping monks. If you are a wine lover, there are treats in store for you. A daytrip to the Troodos Mountains can be a welcome change from the beach and with overnight accommodation available in many of the authentic villages dotted about; you might want to spend a few days here sampling another side of Cyprus.
