Features

Useful Phrases in GreekBy Blanca Garcia Almost everyone in Cyprus speaks some to very good English. Still, it will be a pleasant surprise and will help you gain local friends very quickly if you can speak a few words of Greek! Here are the most useful phrases. Translation in Greek

All Aboard... the Wine Bus! The 27th of August, 2010 marks the beginning of the 49th annual Limassol Wine Festival! Like every year, the Limassol Municipal Gardens are hosting the Limassol Wine Festival, a tribute to the long history and tradition of wine-making in Cyprus. It is a celebration that brings together foreigners and locals to enjoy Cyprus traditions, food and, of course, unlimited amounts of wine.The festival will take place from Fr

How to Make the Perfect FrappeBy Andreas Kitsios Frappe coffee is arguably the most popular drink on the island of Cyprus. Not only is it a must if you are hanging out at th

Commandaria, the Oldest Named Wine in the World By Andreas Kitsios Cyprus is home to the oldest named wine still in production, a sweet dessert wine named Commandaria. It is a protected Cypriot product with a controlled appellation of origin. You can find Commandaria at any supermarket and some traditional restaurants also serve it after dinner as a digestive. It matches very well with nuts, dried fruit, dates, mature cheeses (including aged halloumi) and some types of dark chocolate.Commandaria is amber in col

20 great things to do in CyprusParty barefoot, take a hike, then pop a cork in a wine village! Read the full article on the TimeOut Cyprus website.

Operating HoursBy Blanca Garcia As with some other Mediterranean countries, the operating hours for retail and services are sometimes a challenge! Here is a useful guide to help you get a grasp of the peculiarities. The hours of opening for businesses, shops and government offices vary between winter and summer, with many being closed during the hottest part of t afternoon in summer time.Government offices, private businesses and shops do not keep the sa

Halloumi By Andreas Kitsios When in Cyprus, it is an absolute must that you taste the island’s traditional cheese, called Halloumi. Halloumi can be eaten as an accompaniment to a variety of dishes and can be grilled or fried without melting! Haloumi is enjoyed on a daily basis by Cypriots in a variety of ways, such as in salads, sandwiches, with eggs for breakfast, as a side to meat dishes, as an ingredient in gourmet recipes and, as strange as it may sound, as a companion to watermelon in the summer!Halloumi

The Cypriot WeddingBy Blanca Garcia The traditional Cypriot wedding is nowadays somewhat of an endangered species. If you happen to witness one, it can be a real treat and a memorable experience.Even though a lot of the wedding’s traditions have been lost or relaxed, you can still enjoy many of the original rituals when attending a village wedding. The Ceremony Most couples marry in the summer months and leap years are avoided because they are considered unlucky. The cel

Sports & Recreational ActivitiesBy Blanca Garcia If you are the active type, there are various sports that you can practice during your visit to Cyprus which are fun and will keep you in shape. Water Sports During the summer months, water sports’ enthusiasts have no difficulty finding the necessary sports equipment to practice their favourite activity, particularly in the resort towns – water-skiing, wind-surfing, paragliding, jet skiing, surfboarding, etc.