Hello from sunny Cyprus.

Message

HowardQ · #1 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:20 am

Hello folks, I'm back in my usual place at this time of year.
Back in Cyprus, at Coral Bay near Paphos, staying in a villa in the beautiful Sea Caves area again for a couple of weeks.
Got here pretty late and didn't get to bed until 4am Cyprus time after a delayed flight, but looks sunny and villa is very nice, about 150 yards from the sea.
Got to go now and stock up with food and other essential supplies such as lager etc.
Only problem with a villa is you don't get breakfast until you cook it yourself and before you can do that you need to visit the local supermarket,
It's a hard life.

Catch you later.

BikerGran · #2 Post by **BikerGran** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:12 pm

Lucky you! Went to Cyprus in, hm, about '85 I think - loved it!

DavShill · #3 Post by **DavShill** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:19 pm

Well earned break eh Howard? Enjoy.

Aladinsaneuk · #4 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:18 pm

Enjoy

Bastard!

blinkey501 · #5 Post by **blinkey501** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:21 pm

Nice one Howard. I am not e jealous type person.
But the thought of getting away from work to a lovely climate really does appeal.

Enjoy mate. After the work on your house you have had to endure you deserve a nice break.

fatboy · #6 Post by **fatboy** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:55 pm

Hello from wet and miserable Somerset. Do I feel sorry for you having to cook your own breakfast whilst holidaying in mediterrianian sunshine ????
Enjoy

HisNibbs · #7 Post by **HisNibbs** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 8:29 pm

I'm riding my Falco every day. What are you riding...

HowardQ · #8 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 8:58 pm

Sad I know, but no Falco!

But did get a bit of a surprise with the Avis hire car.
We booked a Nissan Note or similar, so expected a Corsa or I30 or something.
Turned out to be a Scooby Impreza 4WD, only the standard 5 door cooking version, but could be a bit of fun down the track that starts near us and goes right down the Akamas Peninsular, (an old dirt road just above the beach and the only way to see it).
Bit rough in places, but could be fun if I don't get too carried away!
Will still be nice to get home to the Falco when I get back.

randomsquid · #9 Post by **randomsquid** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 6:28 pm

Have fun! Careful of that car though. My gaffer had a crash in a car the other day while me and the 'prentice didn't fall off our bikes. That makes cars twice as dangerous as bikes by my reckoning.

D-Rider · #10 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 7:04 pm

What Squid says - I've been knocked off a bike by a car but never by a bike - so cars are infinitely more dangerous.

Enjoy your hols Howard

Falcopops · #11 Post by **Falcopops** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 2:56 am

Happy hols mate.

I know that area, Honeymooned in my best mans apartment near Paphos town centre. He sold that and now has a Villa somewhere near Coral Bay.

Get up to the Castle for a meal, if it's still operating, awesome spot to sink a few cold ones while soaking up the view

Dalemac · #12 Post by **Dalemac** » Mon May 05, 2014 2:47 pm

Have fun howard! Any temptation to hire some dirt bikes and have fun on the offroad routes on that part of the coast?

Oh and bring me back a Keo ;)

HowardQ · #13 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon May 05, 2014 7:03 pm

Not really Dale, Terri has never been into bikes, plus I'm getting on a bit for off road stuff these days.
We did take the Scooby just over halfway down the Akamus road, but grounded it quite bad in a trough over the road and scraped the plastic nose a bit!
It's the first time I've driven a 4WD with low range and found it brilliant up AND down bumpy climbs, especially taking it very steady uphill without slipping the clutch.
I've just taken a large bottle of cold Keo out of the fridge, it's waiting in the bar for you!

Dalemac · #14 Post by **Dalemac** » Tue May 06, 2014 2:43 pm

HowardQ wrote:Not really Dale, Terri has never been into bikes, plus I'm getting on a bit for off road stuff these days.
We did take the Scooby just over halfway down the Akamus road, but grounded it quite bad in a trough over the road and scraped the plastic nose a bit!
It's the first time I've driven a 4WD with low range and found it brilliant up AND down bumpy climbs, especially taking it very steady uphill without slipping the clutch.

Sounds pretty fun!

HowardQ wrote:I've just taken a large bottle of cold Keo out of the fridge, it's waiting in the bar for you!

Genuine question - has anything changed out there with the whole Cypriot bank issue? Lots of closed shops and fewer than normal tourists or is it just normal there now?

Dale

HowardQ · #15 Post by **HowardQ** » Tue May 06, 2014 8:56 pm

This year was our 9th consecutive year holidaying in the Paphos area.
Didn't like it much for the first few days the first visit, but it certainly grows on you.
People always very friendly and the attitude in our regular local eating places has always been positive. We were here a few weeks after the bank crash last year and it was a bit of a worry, but it all turned out OK.
Our friendly Restaurant manager took the view that he lost some money, but no use moaning he would just have to get on with things and make some more, (not much point in moaning!).
It was a bit quiet at the end of April last year, however, he told us this year that last year turned out much better than he expected and he will be very happy if this year is as good.
Went to eat in Paphos tonight and it was a bit quiet, but we had a big storm last night and it rained this morning. A few restaurants seem to be offering good deals on set 3 course menus from around 11 euros per head with free wine to bring in the custom.
A few places have closed down but nothing outstanding so all pretty normal and the locals are positive.
Only dodgy area is the number of unsold and often part built villas.
But that brings it's advantages, as we rent villas each year and you can get some brilliant villas for silly prices outside the busy season, (which is why I'm here now!).
Often cheaper than hotels and no fighting for sunbeds.
The one this year is in a great area, 150 mtrs from the sea at Sea Caves, just outside Coral Bay. It's very quiet and private, has a great heated pool and 8 sunbeds just for us, plus a new Pool table.

I'll shut up now, but I do love it here, and haven't had any issues at all.