by admin | May 7, 2013 | Uncategorized
We love this group of guides, and not just cause of their good looks and Cypriot charm. Olympian Divers are a company that takes customer service all the way to make a great diving experience for anyone, from the amateur to the experience divers. You will always walk away from their expeditions a little more skilled at diving.
One experience that highlights their care of amateurs is with a four year old a man brought into the shop. The boy didn’t even know how to swim when he came in, and was intimidated to swim without his arm floating. The guide working at the desk helped the little guy learn how to swim after selling the little boy his first snorkel and goggles.
These guys will take you on a range of dives for beginners to more advance. For beginners, they will take you to close off their main quarters, not too far from shore. When they take you, they make sure that everyone learns what they need to know. You aren’t just shown a video; the guide will specifically make sure any concerns or questions are answered. The calm, clear and warm water of the Mediterranean is the perfect place for beginner divers, and you will happen to be diving in a very bio-diverse landscape off of the shores of Ayia Napa.
If you feel a little more comfortable diving, there are some other great expeditions available. One of the more infamous is the Zenobia dive. The MS Zenobia was a ship that sank off the shores of Larnaca after having engineering issues. No one was killed, so don’t worry about any underwater ghosts. On the dive you will get to see the ship up close and personal. They will even let you sit on one of the life boats of the Zenobia.
Another picturesque dive will take you to Cape Greco. A protected natural park, this area has breath taking seascapes. Be wary though. The legendary Ayia Napa sea monster is rumored to live in these waters. We think it worth the risk to check out some of the Cape Greco caves. Also, here you’ll even get a chance to feed the fish.
Diving is a great way to experience Cyprus in a complete new light. Olympian Divers are the way to go if you choose to take an adventure while you are on holiday.
We invite divers and non-divers alike to enjoy with us the underwater delights that this unique island has to offer. Dive unspoilt landscapes that have remained preserved for thousands of years, swim amongst friendly marine life in warm, calm, crystal clear waters. Whatever your diving experience we have something for everyone. Welcome to Scuba diving in the Mediterranean, & the beautiful island of Cyprus
by admin | May 1, 2013 | Uncategorized
Nicosia is the last divided capital in the world. You can thankfully travel from one end to the other end of the divided city with 24 hour checkpoints, but it truly is an interesting site to see the divide. Tourists will frequently walk along the green line to see the division of the capital, and isn’t a bad stroll to take for anyone.
Besides the obvious division of the city, Nicosia is a great place to get away from the beach tourists during the summer. The hot heat on the streets make the city not as popular with tourists, and it truly is fun to experience the country’s locals. Keep in mind to always carry water and sun screen, because the summer sun is very cruel in Nicosia.
In the city you will find great restaurants, clubs, tavernas and all sorts of night life that will match anyone’s speed. You could spend weeks in Nicosia without experiencing all of the nightlife.
Beyond that there are a large amount of museums, archaeological sites and other points of interest for the academics or those who just want to learn a thing or two about the country they are visiting.
You can easily get around the city on foot, bus and taxi. You can rent a car if you wish, but remember that Cyprus has a 0 tolerance policy for drinking and driving. Plus, there is so much you miss visually when you are driving a car rather than strolling along.
There is no shortage of accommodations if you want to stay in the city. From cheap youth hostels to fancy chain hotels, you can find something that matches your budgetary needs. We highly recommend the Hilton Park Nicosia hotel if you will not be getting to a beach. They have one of the most beautiful pools in the city.
by admin | Apr 30, 2013 | Uncategorized
A little treasure for children and adults alike in Larnaca is the 6D Cinema, or MoviXD. For now, most titles are aimed at children, but we’re told to stay tuned for adult options being added soon. Right now some of the titles include Bumper Car, Pirate Story and Snow Ride that are all fun and not too long.
The idea of the theatre is to add sound, smell and touch to the movie going experience. It does this with their specially constructed seats and 3D screening. The multi-sensory experience is really great for kids. Do not worry if your child is a little timid, because most actually take the experience quite openly.
If you are sick of the beach, sun-burned, experiencing rainy weather or just want to try something new, this can be a great way to take a break with the family. It is suited to children, so you do not have to worry too much about being a disturbance in the crowd.
Tickets vary in price, depending on the showing. We recommend trying to ask for special at the box office, because you can frequently get a deal if you know to ask.
As an additional note if you are pregnant or have a heart condition, the ride is probably not suitable for your viewing. Just to be on the safe side, you may want to sit this one out. There are very few other restrictions on viewers, and all ages are more than welcome!
There is no café or restaurant attached to the theater. We recommend grabbing a bite to eat before or after the show. Sneaking in snack is a bit inadvisable, because it can end up being a bit of a mess when the seats are moving. Most won’t be thinking about food while watching.
by admin | Mar 18, 2013 | Uncategorized
Since 2008, the European banking system has been under great stress due to bad mortgages leading to bank failures and bail outs for Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and now Cyprus. In March 2013, the Cyprus government is negotiating a Cyprus bailout levy in exchange for €10billion ($13billion) from the European Union and International Monetary Fund. The levy is very unpopular with the people.
Bailing Out Cyprus Banks
The Eurozone agreement with Cyprus amounts to a levy of 6.75% (or 3%) on deposits below €100,000 and 9.9% (or 12.5%) above. The original plan has faced strong opposition. The bankers and politicians attempted to put their plan into effect over a three-day weekend. There was not enough support in the Cyprus legislature for the original levy, so there was a shift to increase the tax percentage on higher incomes.
Meanwhile, the original three-day “Bank Holiday” has been extended to a week. The title, “Bank Holiday” is a misnomer because it means that customer accounts are frozen. This has increased the uncertainty in capital markets. The UK has rightly identified the economic downturn as a “Credit Crunch.”
Theft, Tax or Levy
Banks prepared for the levy by freezing the allocated amount from accounts. They also placed capital controls in place to restrict electronic money transfers. Other nations have seen money flow out of their countries after experiencing financial troubles. Banks offered shares in the failed institutions in exchange for the levy.
Needless to say, savers were outraged. Consumers claimed this was theft, robbery and stealing. Why were savers being punished for the failures of banks? One disgusted customer drove his bulldozer in front of a bank. Depositors were lined up in front of ATMs to withdraw as much money as they could. Some customers are living paycheck-to-paycheck and any reduction in their savings would be tough on them.
Spreading Disease
The international banking system is all tightly connected. Lyndon Larouche compared the 2008 Banking Crisis with the Bubonic Plague of the 1300s. The use of a quarantine prevented the Bubonic Plague from spreading. Unfortunately, the 2008 Banking Plague has not been contained.
Cyprus had significant exposure to Greek loans. Cyprus leaders claimed that this bailout levy was required due to a “state of emergency.”
Fear of Bank Panic
The greatest fear of a financial institution is a bank run or panic. Unfortunately, this may be occurring in Cyprus. Depositors will wonder if their money is safe. As customer accounts are frozen, there is less capital for consumer spending. This could damage the entire European banking system.
by admin | Jan 13, 2013 | Uncategorized
The Ledra Observatory Museum stands out in the skyline of Lefkosia as it towers over the not-so-tall city. Standing at 11 stories high, the actual height is nothing to write home about, but it does host a beautiful view of the entire city. The two towers give it the appearance of a mysterious Mediterranean castle that you will want to explore.
Unfortunately the bottom part of it is actually dedicated to a department store, but we aren’t really here to see the bottom half of it anyways. Once you go up you will enter the Ledra Observatory Museum.
In honestly, the Ledra Observatory “Museum” is not much of a museum. It has some photographs along with some history of the city, but you can look over all the information offered in 15 minutes.
One of the highlights of the video narrative is that you cannot see the green-line from the view 11 stories up, and that the city looks actually united. Wouldn’t it be nice? However, by now you’ve probably figured out it doesn’t appear that the two parts will be united anytime soon. To dampen the mood even more you can actually see some of no-man’s land that has ruins, barb-wire, etc. It may depress you, or fascinate you; it is interesting to see the green-line from an above perspective though.
Anyways, you will get a lovely panoramic view of the city from up here. You will want to bring your camera to take photographs. This place can get really busy during tourist season, so you may expect to wait to get a clear shot. I recommend going early in the morning to avoid some of the crowds, and avoiding it if it is a rainy day.
by admin | Jan 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
CNN recently featured Coral Beach in Paphos, Cyprus in an article highlighting the top ten all-inclusive resorts on a budget. The article was searching destinations that have no catches, like the beach being a long ways away while still being affordable. Budget Travel included Coral Bay as one of the £60 per person per night.
Why do people stay in all inclusive resorts? If it includes all alcohol, food and lodging it really can be cheaper. Also, sometimes it is nice not to have to leave your destination once you finally get there. While we believe in exploring the area you go visit, we can understand just wanting to lounge away vacation with martini in-hand and food an order away.
Coral Beach offers a stunning 164-foot swimming pool that British Olympic swimmers actually use for training. If you keep your eyes peeled you might actually see one of the swimming Olympians! The resort overlooks the inspiringly blue Coral Bay that offers safe and sandy beaches for the family.
When you have dinner you can watch the boats in the harbor float by while feeling the breeze of the Mediterranean. The dinner service and service in the resorts is very helpful and friendly. Rarely are there any reports of a surly staff member, because Coral Beach takes care of their staff.
The rooms have a nice modern theme all with splashes of bright blues and aquatic themes that match the balconies that overlook coral bay. You can spend many an evening sipping wine on your balcony while looking out at the sea.
The one downside we would say is that the resort is beginning to show age. Some of the furniture, fixtures, etc could use a bit of refurbishing. Nothing scary though! Just if you want your hotel to have the feeling it was just built, this probably isn’t the resort for you.