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

licensed cleaning services Lincolnshire ..

In The News:

AI is changing everything – now, we can even use it to generate video. I tried OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo – here's how they measure up against each other.

Five simple phone setting tweaks that make your device work harder for you, from automatic text message deletion to scheduled focus modes.

Android users can save time with 10 simple automations, including automatic battery saver mode, location-based Wi-Fi settings and scheduled "Do Not Disturb" mode.

Personal information from 364,000 people was compromised in a LexisNexis data breach that went undetected for months, highlighting privacy risks.

The Phantom 3500 jet features a windowless design that reduces drag and structural weak points, burning 50% less fuel than conventional business jets.

An Adidas data breach through a third-party vendor exposed customer details like emails and phone numbers, raising concerns about phishing and identity theft risks.

Nurabot, an AI nursing robot, helps Taiwan hospitals address nurse shortages by performing tasks like medication delivery, allowing nurses to focus on patient care.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Google has expanded its privacy tool to easily remove personal information from search results.

AirCar nears launch: 620-mile range, drives and flies. Could this redefine travel’s future? Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says scammers can create fake sites, tricking people into monthly subscriptions and sharing card information.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about a viral video that shows a $90,000 humanoid robot going wild. A tech nightmare or just a glitch?

Microsoft's takedown of Lumma Stealer marks a significant victory against infostealer malware, safeguarding millions of devices from data theft and breaches.

Discover the Volonaut Airbike, a jet-powered marvel by Tomasz Patan, designed to transform urban travel with its speed, agility and innovative technology.

Over 184 million account credentials were exposed in an unsecured database, revealing sensitive information from platforms like Google, Microsoft and Apple.

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

Brad G. Smith, an ALS patient, regains communication abilities with a Neuralink implant, illustrating the potential of brain-computer interfaces in aiding speech impairments.

Here are five AI prompts you can use for freelance work, writing product descriptions, creating social media posts and writing emails to negotiate discounts.

Learn essential smartphone maintenance tips to free up space, enhance speed and secure personal data through digital and physical cleaning techniques.

Discover the steps to download your Facebook data on desktop and mobile, ensuring you have a backup of your photos, messages and account activity.

Discover how Defendnot bypasses Microsoft Defender by registering a fake antivirus, exposing vulnerabilities in Windows' antivirus management system.

Experience the thrill of flying above water with the Hydroflyer Sport, featuring a snub-nosed design, modular setup and speeds up to 28 mph for adventurous riders.

AI tools can expose your personal data. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn the risks and how to protect your privacy.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reports World ID's iris scanning tech launches in six U.S. cities to verify identity, fight AI bots.

The 2025 AI Security Report details how criminals are harnessing artificial intelligence to impersonate people, automate scams, and attack security systems on a massive scale.

With the Acticycle, you get the comfort, weather protection, and storage you would expect from a car, but with the agility, efficiency, and low cost of a bike.

A Road Trip in Cyprus -- Blessed by the Gods

Vacation Rental