Home
>
Vacation Rental
>
A Road Trip in Cyprus -- Blessed by the Gods

A Road Trip in Cyprus -- Blessed by the Gods

Aphrodite's Hot Spot

European Road Trip Adventures

Cyprus. Yes, it is a hee-uge (note: very large) holiday destination. Ask any slightly pale English teen, and they'll wax lyrical about the bars, clubs and beaches.

And bars, clubs and beaches there are. Much the same as you'll find in Ibiza, Thailand, and Cancun. And that's fine, if all you're after is bubbly happiness in a cocktail glass and nice tan (and the beginnings of a sexy and malignant melanoma).

But this tends to mean you'll be overlooking 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 conducted a few casual raids, possibly just to keep up appearances. All left their mark on the culture and history of this remarkable island. Add to this potent mix a healthy foundation of Ancient Greek and Roman influences in an island washed by inky blue waves and warmed by a Mediterranean sun, and you've got a holiday worth a thousand brandy sours and ouzos.

Paphos, more than just a nightclub

One of the cities of Cyprus, which provides an excellent base to immerse you in the history and culture, is Paphos, situated on the West Coast.If you just want to have a roam around Paphos itself, you've got loads of history to wander about in.

But the whole countryside nearby is one precious find after another. If you're not keen on donkey-power, perhaps a cheap car rental might be the way to go. Internet sites like http://www.vroomvroomvroom.co.uk/locations/cyprus-car-rental.aspx (http://www.vroomvroomvroom.co.uk/locations/cyprus-car-rental.aspx) can sort you out a deal on car rental Paphos ? where you can compare rates from different companies to make sure you get the cheapest.

Paphos has loads of ancient sites which are protected as UNESCO world heritage sites, and according to Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, was born here, arising from the sea foam. Places to visit include the Paphos and Saranta Kolones castles in Kato Paphos ? the lower part of town. Also on this side of town you should meander over to the Panayia Chrysopolitissa church built on the ruins of a Byzantine Basilica. Have a look for St Paul's Pillar, where apparently the unfortunate saint was flogged by authorities (the Romans) before they were convinced to turn Christian. Paphos's medieval fort in the harbour is also worth a visit.

Grapes, Gods and that loving feeling

Once you get outside of Paphos, you can go in any direction and hit cultural gold. Head on up into the Western Troodos Mountains to peek at little villages quietly going about business as usual, circa the 15th century (alright, a complete exaggeration, but it's easy to be carried away by the romance around here). To the north is a little village by the name of Kathikas ? it's a great destination if you like to indulge amongst the vineyards. To the east of Kathikas is an even tinier wine-growing village ? Arodes ? with a population numbering in the tens. Nearby gorges provide dramatic scenery should you wish for inspiration or a Kodak moment.

Close by Arodes is the Akamas Peninsula, where you'll find the most romantic sounding spot in the entire universe ? the Baths of Aphrodite. And worthy of such a name it is, being bloody beautiful. And if, after your own holy soak, you make your little legs walk a couple of kilometres, you'll find yourself at the Fontana Amorosa or "the Fountains of Luuurve". Tis a sexy spot indeed.

Closer to home, or Paphos, you've got the brilliant Ayios Neophytos Monastery ? carved out of the mountain by a hermit. Bless those hermits, they really do have a lot of spare time. The monastery houses some of the best Byzantine frescoes around.

And just because Aphrodite was a popular girl around here, you've got the ruins of the famous Temple of Aphrodite about 14 kilometres east of Paphos. It once was a popular pilgrimage for believers, back when people were still convinced the Gods could very well turn up any second in the form of a bull, or a heavy old person.

This is really only the start, and whether you've got a few days, or a few weeks, Paphos and the surrounding areas will keep you knee-deep in Gods, mosaics, tavernas, ruins, vineyards, beaches, mountains and donkeys. Keep an ear out for Pan's pipes.

Alyssa Betts
http://www.vroomvroomvroom.co.uk/locations/cyprus-car-rental.aspx

post construction cleaning Bannockburn ..

In The News:

Gov. Hochul unveiled New York's nuclear power plant project to power a million homes, which faces permit challenges while promising jobs and a cleaner energy future.

SAFE introduces Aerie, an underground luxury bunker combining high-end living with advanced security, wellness amenities and interactive walls simulating panoramic views.

A Facebook scammer posing as Elon Musk tricked a victim with promises of a Tesla and $250,000, requesting gift cards that become untraceable once the codes are shared.

Experience hands-free golfing with the Robera Neo smart caddie that uses AI to follow you, navigate obstacles and carry your clubs with GPS course mapping.

Cybersecurity alert: 16 billion passwords exposed in massive credential database affecting major platforms. Protect your accounts with password managers

The innovative BeBot robot uses electric power to remove pollution from shorelines, covering 20-30 times more area than manual collection while preserving wildlife.

A new ClickFix campaign targets macOS users with fake Spectrum support sites, tricking victims with CAPTCHA failures to paste commands that install information-stealing malware.

AI-powered autonomous trucks from Plus Automation are being tested across the U.S., Europe and Asia to solve logistics challenges while facing regulatory hurdles and labor concerns.

Your health information might feel private and secure with your doctor, but the reality is far more complicated. Data brokers collect a wide range of sensitive health data, from diagnoses and prescription details to personal identifiers, and sell this data to marketers, insurers, and other third parties.

Kepler Robotics has officially introduced its Forerunner K2 "Bumblebee" humanoid robot at the SAIC-GM automotive plant in Shanghai, marking a significant moment in the real-world deployment of advanced robotics.

Scammers never seem to be running out of new ways to try and get their hands on your money – and lately, they've been getting sophisticated.

Thirty people were injured and killed, though the exact number remains currently unknown, when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a Damascus church.

Unexpected password reset alerts signal potential hacking attempts or phishing scams. Learn how to respond and establish stronger security measures for your accounts.

A historic electric airplane flight landed at JFK with passengers, marking a milestone as Beta Technologies demonstrates the practicality and efficiency of electric air travel.

The Chaos ransomware group breached Optima Tax Relief in a double-extortion attack, stealing sensitive customer case files and corporate documents with personal information.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

The first human brain-computer interface by Paradromics was completed in 20 minutes, featuring microelectrodes to help paralyzed individuals control computers with thoughts.

The power behind AI tools requires massive energy, and global data centers are expected to triple electricity usage by 2030 despite tech companies' renewable pledges.

New Android malware Crocodilus spreads through Facebook ads disguised as banking apps, adds fake contacts to phones and steals financial data with advanced screen monitoring.

ANYmal-D, the badminton-playing quadruped robot from ETH Zurich, combines artificial intelligence with whole-body coordination to rally with human players for up to 10 shots.

A personal data protection guide revealing 10 signs your information is circulating among data brokers and practical strategies to regain control of your digital footprint.

New Android security updates include smarter scam detection, Key Verifier for identity confirmation, Find Hub tracking and Advanced Protection to safeguard your phone and data.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reports that scammers made a fake Venmo that mimics a real cancer nonprofit’s handle.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Hugging Face has launched affordable open-source humanoid robots for home AI exploration.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson tells how one person almost fell for a phishing scam despite strong security. Learn to spot and stop scammers.

A Road Trip in Cyprus -- Blessed by the Gods

Vacation Rental