A road trip in Cyprus: blessed by the gods
Aphrodite’s Hot Spot
Road trip adventures in Europe
Cyprus. Yes, it is a hee-uge (note: very large) vacation destination. Ask any slightly pale English teenager, and he’ll be lyrical about the bars, clubs and beaches.
And there are bars, clubs and beaches. Very similar to what you will find in Ibiza, Thailand and Cancun. And that’s fine, if all you’re looking for is bubbly happiness in a cocktail glass and a nice tan (and the beginnings of a sexy malignant melanoma).
But this tends to mean that you’ll overlook the fact that the island itself has one of the most fascinating histories around. Almost every empire on the face of this earth invaded here. The Ottomans, the Lusignans, the Byzantines, the Venetians. Even the Arabs made a few casual raids, possibly just to keep up appearances. They all left their mark on the culture and history of this extraordinary island. Add to this potent mix a healthy base of ancient Greek and Roman influences on an island lapped by inky blue waves and warmed by a Mediterranean sun, and you have a vacation worth a thousand brandy sours and ouzos.
Paphos, more than a nightclub
One of the cities in Cyprus, which provides an excellent base to immerse yourself in history and culture, is Paphos, located on the west coast. If you just want to take a walk in Paphos, you have a lot of history to discover. wander in.
But the entire near field is one precious find after another. If you’re not interested in donkey power, perhaps renting a cheap car is the way to go. Internet sites such as http://www.vroomvroomvroom.co.uk/locations/cyprus-car-rental.aspx (Cyprus car hire) can provide you with a Paphos car hire deal, where you can compare rates from different companies to make sure you get the cheapest.
Paphos has many ancient sites that are protected as UNESCO world heritage sites and according to Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was born here, rising from the foam of the sea. Places to visit include the castles of Paphos and Saranta Kolones in Kato Paphos, the lower part of the city. Also on this side of the city you should meander to the Panayia Chrysopolitissa church built on the ruins of a Byzantine basilica. Take a look at the Column of Saint Paul, where the unfortunate saint was apparently flogged by the authorities (the Romans) before convincing them to convert to Christianity. The medieval Paphos fortress in the harbor is also worth a visit.
Grapes, gods and that loving feeling
Once you leave Paphos you can go in either direction and strike the cultural gold. Head to the western Troodos Mountains for a glimpse of small towns quietly doing business as usual, circa the 15th century (okay, that’s a complete exaggeration, but it’s easy to get carried away with the romance here). To the north there is a small town called Kathikas: it is a great destination if you like to enjoy the vineyards. To the east of Kathikas is an even smaller wine town, Arodes, with a population of tens. The nearby gorges provide some spectacular scenery if you want inspiration or a Kodak moment.
Near Arodes is the Akamas Peninsula, where you will find the most romantic-sounding place in the entire universe: the Baths of Aphrodite. And worthy of the name it is, being damn beautiful. And if, after your holy bath, you walk with your little legs for a couple of kilometers, you will find yourself in the Fontana Amorosa or “the Fountains of Luuurve”. It’s a sexy place indeed.
Closer to home, or Paphos, you have the brilliant Ayios Neophytos Monastery, carved out of the mountain by a hermit. Bless those hermits, they really have a lot of free time. The monastery houses some of the best Byzantine frescoes around.
And just because Aphrodite was a popular girl around here, you have the ruins of the famous Temple of Aphrodite about 14 kilometers east of Paphos. It was once a popular pilgrimage for believers, when people were still convinced that the gods could appear at any moment in the form of a bull or a heavy old man.
This is really just the beginning, and whether you have a few days or a few weeks, Paphos and the surrounding areas will keep you knee-deep in Gods, mosaics, taverns, ruins, vineyards, beaches, mountains and donkeys. He watch out for Pan’s pipes.
