by admin | Jan 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
Baby turtles hatch from their tiny little eggs then run straight to the sea to start their new life. Watching the magic of baby turtles begin life is a magical experience that can be found in special spots in Cyprus. One of the beaches is Alagadie Turtle Beach in Kyrenia where you can see this tiny little miracle.
During the spring, around the month of May, is the best time to go turtle watching to see the mothers actually laying the eggs. The baby turtles generally hatch in July in the hot season. It is fairly easy to find the turtles on your own, but we do recommend getting a guide for the best experience.
When the mother turtle is 20 years old she begins to breed, before that they have not reached the level of biological maturity needed for mating. In the middle of the night the mother turtle creep onto the shore to lay the eggs. They bury the eggs down in a tiny little hole in the sand where they are hidden and protected until July.
When the turtles hatch in July, the first thing they do is scuttle towards the sea. This process is frequently interrupted by coast-line development, but Northern Cyprus has taken great care to make sure the turtles have a clear path to the sea. You will notice that groups of turtles usually hatch together. This is because when one egg hatches, the others are very sensitive to any heat and motion. All the eggs that are together will hatch together!
Not all hatching spots are protected and monitored. If you are on the beach, seeing the baby turtles hatch, it is imperative you do not touch them. It is an important part of their life cycle to find their own way to the waves.
by admin | Dec 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
We love the location of this Cyprus, zoo and gardens located by the seaside aren’t something most of us have in our neighborhoods. While the size of the zoo and gardens are pretty small compared to some of its counterparts internationally, it is still a lovely place to spend the afternoon.
We love Cyprus’ beaches, historic landmarks and cuisine, but it is nice to mix up activities on vacation. If you are staying in the Limassol area the Limassol Zoo is definitely worth dropping by. The zoo is located right in the Limassol downtown location, so you do not have to go out of your way if you are staying in the area.
If you have kids, it may be worth going a little out of your way, because we all know how children love the zoo. Many of us have fond memories of the zoo that we love to pass onto our children. The zoo even has scheduled feeding times that are accompanied with an educational talk.
Adults and children alike can enjoy the live and taxidermy animals, along with beautiful plant life scattered all along the park. Instead of cages, most exhibits have glass which makes for excellent views and photographs of the animals.
It is a very cheap to get into the park, and the entrance fee is only five Euros. If you are rushing the visit, you can see all the exhibits in one hour, but if you want to take your time you can take three to four hours.
In the summer you may want to consider going in the afternoon or early in the morning due to the discomfort the heat can have. If you get hot the park is small enough that you can walk through pretty quickly without too much incident.
If you want a drink and a snack afterwards, there is a café located on the zoo’s premises. The prices are pretty low and the food is okay. If you have it planned ahead, you may want to choose elsewhere to dine. Limassol has many dining options to choose from that it is a shame to spend money on a mediocre dining experience.
by admin | Dec 4, 2012 | Cyprus
No matter where you are in Cyprus you will be able to find somewhere to indulge your enjoyment in the nightlife. Whether it is in a small taverna you stumbled up on in a village or having a bottle of wine on the beach with your sweetheart, nighttimes are magical in Cyprus.
When you really want a going out scene, you will need to hit up either Ayia Napa, Larnaca, Limassol and/or Phaphos. All have a little something different to offer, let us give you an overview.
Ayia Napa- If you really love partying in a crowd, this is a top European city of the nightlife. In short, you must stop by for at least one night. More than 20 nightclubs are along the main strip, in between those are bars, cafes, pubs and restaurants. Some places stay up as late as 6 am for those who want to dance the night away.
Larnaca- Bars, cafes and tavernas line the beachfront, and before you know it you’ll be swaying with the palm trees. If you want something a little more quiet and romantic, there are theatres and lots of restaurants scattered through-out the city.
Limassol- The nightlife scene here is pretty much a less crowded version of Ayia Napa with a refined twist that matches more mature tastes. If you are not into crowds, this is the going out city for you.
Paphos- This city features more family-friendly entertainment, but there are some bars and clubs for those seeking night life. This could be good for parents who can leave the kids behind for a night to explore, but don’t have to worry about the kids being in danger.
Nicosia- A city that is pretty full of itself, but it definitely has earned the more heady attitude. The bars, cafes and clubs have a more cosmopolitan feel that are, of course, a little more expensive. Great for those who want to deal a more tame crowd with refined taste.
by admin | Nov 28, 2012 | Cyprus
If you are visiting us here in Cyprus, you are going to eat a lot of delicious Meze. So what is in this mysterious Meze you may ask? Well, there is no one set thing that is Meze, so we have a bit of explaining to do.
Meze is a small dish that is shared with friends. The dish will come out, then everyone will get a plate, and you divvy up your portions. You may think- so it is an appetizer, right? Not really. An appetizer is meant to whet the appetite for a meal. Meze is supposed to be paired with a drink, scenery or conversation, it is meant to enhance the moment. You can nibble between sips of wine or ouzo.
Frequently, when you get Meze, you will get other Meze to accompany it. It then becomes Mezethes. You can adventure from small dish to small dish to explore different textures, flavors and aromas that the particular place may offer. You can also order light meze before a meal, similar in the manner of ordering appetizer before entrees.
One of my favorite ways to experience Mezethes is to order a bottle of wine then order a bunch of different plates. It is so fun to have a little of everything instead of one heavy entrée that does not let you explore the variety offered by the restaurant or taverna.
What is in the actual Meze will just depend where you are. If you are along the coast of Cyprus you can expect lots of seafood meze. Through out Cyprus lamb meze is very popular, and very delicious when done right. You can even find places that have vegetarian meze, but do not assume vegetarians will be accommodated everywhere.
One of my favorite meze is Gavros Marinatos. It is a simple dish of sardines marinated in oil. Now these are not your canned sardines, they are fresh, juicy and delicious sardines. If you think you don’t like sardines, and haven’t had a fresh one, you just haven’t eaten it the correct way yet. Fresh is the only way to eat sardines.
We encourage you to be adventurous while you are in Cyprus. Try something new, and you will be surprise by what you enjoy. Cyprus tavernas offer some of the finest dining in the Mediterranean.
by admin | Nov 2, 2012 | Uncategorized
The Lefkara village blooms from the foothills of the Troodoos Mountains where picturesque stucco residential and commercial building line the streets that rise gently up and down with the hills. The village has been around for centuries, but the first historical record we can find is in the testament of Saint Neophytos in the 12th century. As you walk the lonely streets of the quiet village at night you can feel the ghost from the Byzantine Empire on forward wonder the streets.
Besides walking with the ghosts, there is plenty of fun to be had with the living in this small village with a tiny population of 1,000 people. Usually during the summer season there are some tourists to be found mingling along streets with the residents who probably were attracted to the quaint village for similar motivations that you’ve decided to make your journey to this village outside of Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca.
When you are in here we encourage you to check out the lacework and silver crafts that the town specialises in. Frequently you will see elderly ladies, street side handcrafting intricate lace designs that will take your breath away. There are certain things that machines in our industrialized cannot repeat when it comes to intricate lacework. This will become obvious to you when you explore the various lace shops in the town.
You will also want to stop by the Lefkara Wax museum. This museum features hundreds of wax figures that represent different parts of Cyprus history, back to the Bronze Age. It is a quirky way to experience Cyprus history that will show you another aspect of the handcraft items that Lefkara enjoy sporting. Each wax figure on display takes two months for a team to design.
There are chapels, churches and monasteries scattered all over the town to explore if that is your thing. Many of them date back to the 11th century, so even if churches aren’t your cup of tea it can be quite a site to see. If are visiting keep in mind to wear less revealing clothes, and that most places of worship in Cyprus do not allow photographs.
There are plenty of dining and lodging experiences to be had, and you may want to take a couple of days to explore this cute village. You can even camp 20 km out of town at the seaside camping site Governor’s beach.