Easter in Cyprus

Tripoto
7th Apr 2014
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 1/36 by Kayli Olson
Limossol
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 2/36 by Kayli Olson
Kourion
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 3/36 by Kayli Olson
Kourion
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 4/36 by Kayli Olson
Blue Beach
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 5/36 by Kayli Olson
Paphos
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 6/36 by Kayli Olson
Paphos Mosaics
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 7/36 by Kayli Olson
Paphos Mosaics
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 8/36 by Kayli Olson
Paphos Mosaics
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 9/36 by Kayli Olson
Paphos
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 10/36 by Kayli Olson
The Church in Paphos
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 11/36 by Kayli Olson
Paphos Castle
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 12/36 by Kayli Olson
Omodos
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 13/36 by Kayli Olson
Omodos
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 14/36 by Kayli Olson
Omodos
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 15/36 by Kayli Olson
Omodos
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 16/36 by Kayli Olson
Monestary in the mountains
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 17/36 by Kayli Olson
Monestary in the mountains
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 18/36 by Kayli Olson
Camel Park
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 19/36 by Kayli Olson
Camel Park
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 20/36 by Kayli Olson
Pissouri
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 21/36 by Kayli Olson
St Hilarion Castle, Turkish side
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 22/36 by Kayli Olson
St Hilarion Castle, Turkish side
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 23/36 by Kayli Olson
St Hilarion Castle, Turkish side
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 24/36 by Kayli Olson
St Hilarion Castle, Turkish side
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 25/36 by Kayli Olson
St Hilarion Castle, Turkish side
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 26/36 by Kayli Olson
St Hilarion Castle, Turkish side
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 27/36 by Kayli Olson
St Hilarion castle at the peak
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 28/36 by Kayli Olson
Kyrenia from St Hilarion castle
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 29/36 by Kayli Olson
Kyrenia bay
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 30/36 by Kayli Olson
Kyrenia bay
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 31/36 by Kayli Olson
Kyrenia bay
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 32/36 by Kayli Olson
Tombs of the Kings, Paphos
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 33/36 by Kayli Olson
Tombs of the Kings
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 34/36 by Kayli Olson
Tombs of the Kings
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 35/36 by Kayli Olson
Tombs of the Kings
Photo of Easter in Cyprus 36/36 by Kayli Olson
Tombs of the Kings

I spent two weeks mainly traveling around the Greek side of Cyprus with a friend and her mother. Went to the big tourist areas and we also got ourselves lost in the wine/silk villages in the mountains! Tried some amazing Greek Mezes and wines and had a blast climbing in the mountains and hanging out on the beaches. My main points of travel were to Limassol, Kourion Ancient Runes, Paphos, Omodos, Leftkara,Nicosia, Pissouri beach, St. Hilarion Castle, Kyrenia and Tombs of the Kings.

My expenditure includes a two way £150 plane ticket (I live in London but convert everything to USD). I got it cheap by stopping for 16 hours in Ukraine, which was amazing even though I didn't leave the airport. I definitely plan to go back there to experience Ukraine culture. Accommodation was free and most of my meals were paid for or shared payment because my flatmate lived there so I just stayed at her house.

There are both nice resorts and some youth hostels available to suit different price ranges. I used the bus twice to get around and it is fairly simple and the people are very friendly and willing to help.

Nice Mall next to the beach and not far from everything in Limassol (AKA Lemesos). We walked around Limassol as far as the Grand Resort to My mall, lots of sights to see.
Photo of My Mall, Franklin Roosevelt, Limassol, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Got to walk around the amazing Ancient Runes of Kourion (AKA Curium). Great view of the coast from the top. Students get in free.
Photo of Kourion, Limassol, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Kourion, Limassol, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Beautiful beach, probably one of the most sandy in Cyprus that you'll get. A lot of the beaches are just rocks, so be prepared. There are three nice restaurants on the beach and sunbeds for hire. You can see Kourion up on the cliff side behind you. I loved swimming in the Mediterranean sea!
Photo of Chris Blue Beach, Episkopi Cantonment, Limassol, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Beautiful coast with lots to see and do. We went to the Mosaics (again students are free) and wandered around Paphos (AKA Pafos). We didn't do a boat tour but there are regular tours everyday from a lot of boats. Got a free Segway ride for a couple minutes.
Photo of Paphos Mosaics, Paphos, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Paphos Mosaics, Paphos, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Paphos Mosaics, Paphos, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Nice wine village in the mountains. Lots of handmade souvenirs like bracelets and glass. Good food, lots of churches and small roads to explore.
Photo of Omodos, Limassol, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Omodos, Limassol, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Omodos, Limassol, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Omodos, Limassol, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Got to ride camels and bumper cars, nice refreshing pool on our hot day. Also had some good food and a Baileys Frape. Must try a Frape in Cyprus. Plus there are so many restaurant cats to pet! We then got lost trying to get to Leftkara (a silver/wine village in the mountains).
Photo of Camel Park, Mazotos, Larnaca, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Camel Park, Mazotos, Larnaca, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Same day as the camel park, we drove into the mountains. We took the scenic route and got lost in some villages but ultimately made it to the silver village of Pano Leftkara. They handmake silver necklaces and lace gifts. Prices can be bargained. They are all very persuasive to get you into their stores. Learn to say no here, cus you'll use it a lot. There is no simple wandering in these villages, they want tourists and love to talk.
Photo of Pano Lefkara, Larnaca, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
For Easter Sunday we went back to Paphos for a Greek Mass at the Church by St. Paul’s Pillar. It ended up that we went to the English mass instead but things go interesting when an old lady fainted (she's okay) during the holy water ceremony (I'm not Catholic so I don't know the correct term, sorry). Overall it was a great experience.
Photo of Ayia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa, Paphos, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Took a hike around Apollo's Colosseum runes, which are an extension of the Kourion Ancient runes just down the mountain. Nice trails and good views.
Hung out at the beach for a nice relaxing day.
Photo of Pissouri, Limassol, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Climbed up St Hilarion Castle, which is said to have modeled the castle seen in Disney's Snow White! There are a lot of steps and a lot of exploring to do. This is on the Turkish side of Cyprus. I never knew that one country could be so different on two sides. Equally beautiful.
Photo of St Hilarion, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
Photo of St Hilarion, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
Photo of St Hilarion, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
Photo of St Hilarion, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
Photo of St Hilarion, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
Photo of St Hilarion, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
Photo of St Hilarion, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
After climbing the castle, we went down to the harbour/bay of Kyrenia itself. Lots of restaurant owners wanting you to try their, so like the wine and silver villages in the Greek side, you have to learn to say no. There is lots to see and do here as well.
Photo of Kyrenia Harbour, Küpdemir Sokak, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
Photo of Kyrenia Harbour, Küpdemir Sokak, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
Photo of Kyrenia Harbour, Küpdemir Sokak, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
Photo of Kyrenia Harbour, Küpdemir Sokak, Kyrenia by Kayli Olson
Great relaxing spa and pool on Pissouri beach. Free tea.
Photo of Hotel Columbia Beach Resort Pissouri, Pissouri, Limassol, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Great food, went there for my Birthday dinner. It was amazing. Great little restaurant. Good people, good food.
Amazing food! Greek Mezes are the thing to experience. No menu, just order veggie or meat and the food keeps coming. My friend and I downed an entire litre of wine, her mother was laughing at us the entire time.
Lost my glasses down a well, lots of climbing, lots of exploring. Loved it! Students get in free.
Photo of Tombs Of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Tombs Of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Tombs Of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Tombs Of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Kayli Olson
Photo of Tombs Of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Kayli Olson