How we got it free
We were lucky enough to win a competition via Good Housekeeping and provided by Sunvil Holidays for a week in Cyprus. This included two Hotels on a bed and breakfast basis, car hire and flights including suitcases. I will do another blog going into more detail on my experience of dealing with Sunvil holidays as a recipient of a free holiday as part of a prize.
The village of our first stay was an interesting place.
Old Kakopetria was built upon the foothills of the Troodos Mountain.
The houses within this medieval settlement were built in such a way that you feel you could touch the houses on the other side of the narrow road.
Old Kakopetria is extremely popular with tourists who want to get an insight into the traditional way of life in the village. It was not uncommon to see locals selling jars of preserved fruits, vegetables and nuts during the day, sat on their chairs, outside their homes, on their porches.
There were lots of lovely walks around Old and New Kakopetria and along the two rivers.
Our first Hotel was like going back in time.
Linos Inn – the lower floor mainly contained a bar and restaurant/taverna. We enjoyed a Meze here one night and the food just kept on coming. The included breakfast in the mornings was a buffet and you never left hungry.
The Hotel has developed with the owner buying and restoring a number of the connecting houses in the village.
We were allowed to drop off our luggage on arrival, then had to move our car to the local pay and display car park.
The room had air conditioning/heating, radio, telephone, tea and coffee making facilities and was quite rustically furnished (modern would have been wrong!).
Our room in Linos Inn had a large balcony overlooking the narrow road through the village.
http://Linos Inn, Kakopetria, Cyprus | Sunvil.co.uk
The village of our second stay had a lift!
Kalopanayiotis was the first village I’d visited with an outside lift. This was to get you to the different levels of the village and hotel as it was all on the side of a mountain!
There is a monastery and 6 Byzantine churches within walking distance of the village. Also, local nature trails, medieval stone bridges and the old watermill. So, lots to visit within walking distance.
The second hotel was totally my cup of tea.
The Hotel Casale Panaylotis has magnificent views across the valley.
All the rooms are in independent buildings around the village.
The main hub of the hotel includes a restaurant, coffee shop, snack bar, wine bar, library, cultural centre, conference facility and an amazing spa that I managed to get my husband in and apart from about 30 minutes, we had the place to ourselves.
All the rooms have heating/air conditioning, TV and DVD player, internet access, hairdryer, mini-bar, tea and coffee making facilities, bathrobe and slippers (some rooms have a jacuzzi and fireplace too). We had also been left some local honey and some luxury toiletries.
We had a ground floor room, with full length windows that opened to the outside, but they opened directly to a corner on a moderately busy road, so sadly we didn’t keep the doors open. That being said, overall, the hotel was a luxury experience.
The included breakfast was buffet style and was full of choice and colour and we certainly left with full tummies.
http://Casale Panayiotis, Kalopanayiotis, Cyprus | Sunvil.co.uk.
A day out to a very British Paphos
This is a popular place for British tourist.
We parked close to the harbour at the municipal cark park, then had a cuppa at a waterfront café to use their toilet.
The waterfront restaurants are obviously used to being asked if they have toilets as even before asking, I was assured this one had the best in Paphos, he wasn’t wrong.
Paphos is a very relaxing town, with lots of cafes and restaurants with fabulous views, but equally lots of places to walk and explore.
Wow, I think there’s a lot of money in Limassol.
We parked at the Marina multi storey car park and were faced with the beautiful sight of lots of high-end fabulous boats as we walked out.
There were lots of cafés and restaurants to chill at, watching the world go by around the Marina.
We ate lunch at TGI Fridays watching the boats and looking over at the Marina Villas, wondering what life would be like to live there or have one of the spectacular boats.
We relaxed with a coffee at Café Nero, there was no reason to rush so we didn’t!
Well worth the visit even if you don’t venture further into Limassol, although it is walking distance to the Old Port and Old town.
Our satnav went crazy driving through Paphos and Limassol, it couldn’t manage the names, so was spelling them out! Greek letters like Upsilon and Epsilon! By the time it got to the end of each street, we’d moved on half a mile!!
Then there were the scary mountain roads
The drives around the Troodos Mountains, while spectacular, were also super scary, I don’t think I could have tensed all my body muscles more than I did on those journeys! It was exhausting!
We made our way up the narrow winding mountain roads up to Troodos Square. Here you’ll find breath taking views, a visitor centre, shops, restaurants, parking and toilets.
Generally, we spent this lovely holiday, drinking, eating and watching the world go by …… it was fabulous!!
Quick facts
The European country of Cyprus is found in the eastern Mediterranean, South of Turkey.
Its Capital is Nicosia and its Languages are Greek and Turkish.
The Island is split into 2 parts, the north being Turkish and the south Cypriot. With a United nations Green Line between the two.
The currency is the Euro.
Ears and Ideas 