Cyprus – I had to look in the map to know exactly where this country was. Days before my departure I immersed myself into an internet search about Cyprus.
I learned that the official language is Greek, that the island is divided and that there is an overpopulation of cats. I read about the coffee culture, the food, the long and warm summers and the amazing beaches.
I arrived on the 30th of September 2017 in Larnaca airport and then took a bus to Nicosia, where I would have my new home.
I found an amazing group of EVS who were starting here like me, so together we began exploring the island.
In the first weeks we walked all throughout Nicosia.
Of course, Ledras Street was our first walk. We sat in one of the several cafes to drink our first Cypriot coffee while we observed around us the diversity of this famous street. Tourists taking photos, people shopping, old couples sitting in coffeeshops and musicians playing traditional Cypriots songs.
At night, we had our first contact with Cypriot food. Meze is a must! So, we headed to Xefoto restaurant, which we casually found whilst walking through the little streets full of souvenirs.
We had an amazing meze while being surrounded by cats. The hospitality of the people working at the restaurant was great. This restaurant was one of the first places where we got to know a little bit of the culture in Cyprus. The adventure couldn’t have started in a better way.
Month by month we had been discovering our favorite coffee places, bars and restaurants in the city, along with where is best to spend your time, chat, have a snack and drink beer. We especially liked the bars around Feneromeni-Church.
When we got used to our new city, it became apparent that we had to get to know the rest of the island. As we were all interested in nature, Troodos mountains was our next destination.
We decided to join the group called Cyprus Strollers who go every weekend on hiking trails all around the country. We joined them for some weekends and we got to spend time knowing the mountains of Troodos, heading to Mount Olympus and stopping by the villages. This was a nice way to disconnect from the city and enjoy the nature.
During these months we also had time to learn the ancient history of Cyprus. We went to Kurion Archeological site – which has amazing views, impressive excavations and mosaics and a spectacular Greco-Roman theatre.
In Paphos we visited the Thombs of the Kings and the Paphos Archeological park.
As the weather was getting warmer, it was time to head to the famous beaches. We preferred to spend our day at the beach in Ayia Napa but also in Limassol and Larnaca.
We still have the whole summer ahead and we cannot wait to discover all the beautiful beaches around the island.
In Nicosia I am still impressed by the venetian walls that surround the city.
There are still so many things to discover in Cyprus, so I think this is going to be a busy summer for all of us.