November 23rd has finally arrived ! I am writing this letter @ 35,000 feet above Zagreb heading south for a well earned break in Cyprus . We left Gatwick at 8:00am this morning all wrapped up in our winter woollies but still feeling the chilled cold air & feeling quite good that we were leaving the first snow to grace this airport this winter behind us. The captain has just announced over the PA that the temperature in Cyprus is 24C and it is clear and sunny – bring it on !!
The villa and apartments have been popular throughout the year and we are really thrilled at all the kind praise and positive feedback we have received from all our guests. 2008 was an extremely dry year for Cyprus, to such an extent that water was being shipped in from Greece and as I pen this letter is still being shipped although the dams are getting some rainfall in the mountains. The government has responded to the situation by building more desalination plants & increasing the capacity of the existing ones. This year will also be remembered for a new government with a much greater willingness to address the situation with Turkey and the occupied North, at this juncture in time the two sides are talking with much more momentum. One of the positive outcomes of this is the opening of the Ledra Street crossing in Nicosia, but don't forget your passport as you still have to go through the border control. This is a pedestrian crossing and on the Turkish side you will find bazaars, shops, tavernas and a fantastic mosque. (You can drive across at a different point along the border but you need to check your car insurance, I have heard you can pay approx 30.00 euros to cover you on the northern side).
Since January Cyprus has adopted the Euro currency and it appears to have been a fairly painless transition unlike some other European nations the government has ensured the changeover didn't fuel price hiking and rounding up of prices by the retailers with government hit squads being deployed going into shops & supermarkets and checking prices with a name & shame policy for any culprits.
Most of our guests have travelled with either Easyjet or Monarch Airlines with those who booked early seeming to get the better deals. We booked our flights for August 08 back in January and watched as they more than doubled much nearer the time.
The areas of Kiti & Tersefanou are retaining their Cypriot culture & values unlike some of the more expat tourist areas of Paphos and I very much hope this remains the case. The most common feedback we receive is how friendly & welcoming the local people are. A close second in the feedback league table is how lovely the weather was. Neither of these things are in our control but this is precisely why we bought where we did !
We land on time at Paphos and experience the new terminal for the first time, it is clean, modern & efficient with that obligatory smell of fresh paint.
If you would like to holiday with us again or are considering us for the first time please feel free to contact us for up to date prices and information. For testimonials we are very happy to put you in touch with a long list of guests that have holidayed with us.
On a final note congratulations to the winner of the draw which all our guests names were entered into. Wayne Thomas wins 2 tickets to a premiership football match in 2009.
Wherever you go in 2009 we wish you well
Belinda & Dave
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