2020 Cyprus Country Report

Travel & Living
SHOPPING
In Cyprus you can shop till you drop. The island is supplied with
stores catering for all tastes and requirements. Most major British
and European chains are represented on the island and there
is a plethora of fashionable boutiques and big malls in Nicosia,
Limassol and Paphos, selling designer brands including Louis
Vuitton, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Calvin
Klein, Kenzo, Gianfranco Ferre and many more. For those looking
for something more unique, you can find traditional and handmade
items that are quintessentially Cypriot in the old towns of
the bigger cities, as well as in the many villages in the countryside.
SPORTS & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Cyprus offers a host of energetic pursuits to engage the visitor.
Becoming increasingly popular as a destination for golfers, Cyprus
offers first-class facilities with four professional courses in magnificent
locations, and the development of several new courses in
the pipeline. Spectacular pine-clad mountains in the centre of the
island offer walkers and cyclists welcome respite from the heat.
Breathe in the bracing pine scented air, whilst admiring the series
of Venetian stone bridges and waterfalls that pepper various hiking
trails in scenery that looks as if it has been lifted from a book of
fairy tales. In winter months, skiers can test the slopes on Troodos
whilst the rest of the island wear short sleeves and bask in winter
sun. The island provides excellent opportunities for water sports,
such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. There are also excellent dive
sites and facilities, with one of the best wreck dives in the world, the
Zenobia, situated off Larnaca. Other popular dive sites include Ayia
Napa, Paphos and the Akamas Peninsula, where divers are often
able to see artefacts such as Roman pottery on the seabed.
CUISINE
It is of course impossible to talk about Cyprus without mentioning the
food. As with most Mediterranean countries, food plays an important
role and is to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace with friends and family.
One of the first Greek phrases to learn in Cyprus is siga siga, which
means ‘slowly’, and is a mantra one will hear almost daily. The fabulous
Cypriot food is to be savoured unhurriedly, usually al fresco with
friends and family. Even a cup of coffee can be a two hour past time.
Cypriot food bears a distinct resemblance to Greek cooking, but
also has Turkish and Lebanese influences. As in other Mediterranean
countries, eating is an activity to be savoured and enjoyed and is certainly
not to be rushed in any way. Which is a good job as a traditional
Cypriot meze – a meal of small plates similar to tapas – can consist
of up to 30 dishes. Cypriot cuisine features lots of fresh fish, meat,
beans, pulses and vegetables flavoured with lemon, fresh herbs and
spices. Cyprus is also one of the world’s oldest grape-growing and
winemaking regions, with its fruits of the grape ranging from delicate
whites and full-bodied reds to the rich sweet amber-coloured
dessert nectar known as Commandaria. This is one of the oldest
wines in the world, representing an ancient wine style documented
in Cyprus back to 800 BC and has the distinction of being the world’s
oldest named wine still in production, with the name Commandaria
dating back to the crusades in the 12th century.
160 Country Report CYPRUS 2020