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One can talk endlessly about this picturesque island. According to legend, the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, was born on this island; and it’s almost certain that human culture originated from here. The first evidence of civilization was discovered by archeologists here in Cyprus. It is also the meeting point of East and West: not only because Cyprus is geographically situated at the intersection of European and Asian sea and airways. The fact is, that before 1960 this sunny island was a colony of Great Britain, and the English impact can be traced everywhere here. Every resident here speaks English and, what’s more important, the very attitude to the quality of life meets European standards. Furthermore, Cyprus recently officially signed the Schengen Agreement and is holding negotiations on full inclusion in the Schengen zone. One more consequence of the English influence is a variety of convenient golf courses on Cyprus, which attract enthusiasts of this aristocratic sport.
At the same time, besides the West, the East also reigns here. The northern part of the island is populated by Turks, and the southern part by Greeks. And everywhere, in every corner of the island you can feel the breath of the mysterious history of Cyprus, full of legends. Here, on these picturesque cliffs, ancient Greek gods and goddesses walked among orange and almond groves. Here on Cyprus lived Saint Lazarus, the first apostles preached and the evangelist Luke painted his first icon. It’s here that King Richard the Lionheart celebrated his glorious wedding with Berengaria of Navarre and here crusaders lived (they were the first to make the famous Cypriot wine Commandaria).
Architectural treasures of different epochs, from Ancient Greece to Byzantium, are scattered everywhere on Cyprus as if thrown by a careless hand. High in the mountains in an unremarkable village you can find a magnificent fresco. Or you can stop by the dilapidated white columns of an ancient temple while just walking along a sandy shore…
And lovely nature has remained there, carefully preserved, since ancient times. Near the coasts golden beaches are spread out bathed in sunshine almost all year round. A little higher up, there are vineyards, fruit groves and meadows. And again a bit higher, pine and cedar forests are waiting for you. Birds from frozen Europe come to overwinter here, in Cyprus. And – a most singular phenomenon – local beaches are the habitat of the green turtle. You can explore the coastal aquatic world with the help of an aqualung. It is also said that such an ideal place for fishing like the coast of Cyprus, is found nowhere else.
The local population – the Cypriots – has long been known as friendly and hospitable people. They are accustomed to show you into their house and treat you generously, to help whenever it is necessary. They are good neighbors and reliable friends. If there is a guest at a Cypriot’s house, he or she becomes almost a member of the family. Golden Cypriot wine filled with a sunny aroma also makes for a more amicable atmosphere. By the way, annual wine festivals on Cyprus are unforgettable.
Every day, regular airlines fly to Cyprus from Moscow. The island itself is equipped with an extensive network of roads and freeways connecting the business capital Nicosia with Larnaca, beloved of yachtsmen, sunny vinaceous Ayia Napa, the city of crusaders, Lemesos with the best wine, Aphrodite’s kingdom Paphos and many other towns and places. But you can always leave the main road to find an unnoticeable path and walk along the rocky seashore or in the orchards, along the vineyards or picturesque ruins, and find something to your own taste, the most sacred and dear to the heart.
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