CategoriesLifestyle By George Kaniklides

Medical Treatment in Cyprus

Medical treatment in Cyprus is cheaper for common and sometimes more complex surgeries than in other countries in Europe. Cyprus has a very stable and safe health system with highly skills professionals trained mostly in European and UK hospitals. Medical specialists in all major cities are of very high standards and patients can be seen within days rather than months or even years, therefore operations can be done within shorter time frame thus ensuring better results.

In Cyprus there are 2 sectors of hospitals. The governmental hospitals where you need to be eligible to go to and the private sector where all can go but either you need to hold a private insurance or pay privately. It is no secret among people that private health care is better than the public one.

Few years back in 2019 after a lot of efforts the government in Cyprus has introduced the GESY system, National Health System, where all people can go to any doctor of their liking and with a small nominal fee, after all they do take the money from taxes, you can see any doctor anywhere.  This had a great impact on the improvement of the health care on the island for the locals.

If now you are on holidays and you are from an EU country you can visit any public hospital with your ECHIC card in order to be treated, but usually you have to wait for hours to be seen. If now you want to be seen fairly quickly and looked after properly then you are better off taking a private travelling insurance from home which will cover you in case of need. Be careful though as there are insurances that they only cover emergency treatments and then you will need to be transferred to public hospitals (do read the small prints…).

In the unfortunate event that you may need to be taken to a private hospital then make sure that you have with you your passport or ID, copy of your insurance and plane tickets as these are the most common things you will be asked upon in order to inform your insurance and ask for coverage.

In all areas of Cyprus where tourist mainly go there is a very good infrastructure concerning the health care. In case of need you can always ask your tour operator’s rep or hotel receptionist or even check the net where to go to. You will be seen in no time and I assure you, you will be looked after promptly and professionally.   

CategoriesFood & Wine By George Kaniklides

zambartas Winery

Akis Zambartas is the founder of the Zambartas winery. Back in 1970 he went to France to study Chemistry in Lyon and Enology in Montpellier. He was the first university educated enologist of the island. In 1980’s he conducted a research that changed the course of the Cypriot wine by identifying and recording 13 lost Cypriot indigenous grape varieties.

In 2006, he decided to follow his dream of establishing his own boutique winery with the focus on making quality wine from indigenous varieties. His son Marcos had then decided to join his father’s efforts and he flew to Australia in order to gain hands on experience in the winemaking process.

Since then, Zambartas Wineries has grown to a production of 120.000 bottles a year and established itself as a pioneering, quality producer. They  manage over 13 hectares of vineyards, both young and old, which are tended organically by their dedicated team. They have introduced the innovative ‘Single Vineyard’ Range and constantly look for ways to improve.

Zambartas winery is situated in Ayios Amvrosios Village, among the most beautiful sights of Cyprus in the heart of Krasochoria Wine Region of Cyprus

CategoriesFood & Wine By George Kaniklides

Ktima Gerolemo

Ktima Gerolemo winery is located near the village of Omodos in Limassol region, at an altitude of 900 meters and it sits on a 127-acre estate in gently rolling countryside some 2 miles north-west of Omodhos Village. This area is part of the designated six wine routes, organised by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation.

It is a fairly new winery although it has opened its doors in 1989 as during the last years a lot of changes and new wine productions were brought in place. The owners, two siblings, loved the good quality wine at a young age and acquired the know-how while helping their father, Mr Gerolemos, at the traditional winepress. Paying attention to the promotion of the Cypriot vineyards and the local varieties of the island, they produce different kinds of wines, zivania and commandaria.

Visitors will be guided through a modern family winery and get introduced to the principles of organic cultivation of the vine and the “secrets” of wine. Visitors are also offered wine tasting sessions and snacks while enjoying spectacular views of the valley and the vineyards.

 

Telephone: +357 25422122
Mobile: +357 99696031

CategoriesCulture By George Kaniklides

An Attempt to speak Greek

It is very difficult to even think that you can learn Greek using the below table as Greek it is widely known and accepted as one of the most difficult languages but on the other hand is also one of the richest languages in the world. The below is an attempt to give people travelling to Cyprus an opportunity to speak a bit of Greek and communicate with the locals.

GOODMORNING KALIMERA
GOODEVENING KALISPERA
HELLO OR GOODBYE GIASOU
GOODNIGHT KALINIXTA
YES NE
NO OCHI
THANK YOU EFXARISTO
YOUR WELCOME PARAKALO
PLEASE PARAKALO
GOOD KALO
I WANT THELO
I LOVE YOU SAGAPO
TOMORROW AVRIO
TODAY SIMERA
WATER NERO
BREAD PSOMI
BEER MBIRA
WINE KRASI
SEA THALASSA
PHARMACY FARMAKIO
BEACH PARALIA
FOOD FAGITO
HOSPITAL NOSOKOMIO
CategoriesSports By George Kaniklides

Popular Sports in Cyprus

Someone can call Cyprus an island of sports. Despite its small population size (just over a million) if not all the majority of its inhabitants have something to do with the sports (either as spectators or actual athletes).

The most popular sports around the island is football, Basketball, athletics/Olympic games, futsal, and Cyprus Rally which is held yearly since 1970. Some people are getting also involved in skiing, handball and volleyball and water polo in recent years.

Football was introduced to Cyprus early in the 20th century by the British and became popular. Very soon various football clubs were formed engaging in friendly matches between them. in September 1934 the Cyprus Football Association(CFA) was formed in order to regulate the sport. In 1948, the Cyprus Football Association became a FIFA member and a UEFA member in 1962. Cyprus football the recent years has achieved great achievements, mostly in the European cups, Champions League and Europa League, with F.C. APOEL entering the Champions League group stage 3 times and 3 times entering the Europa League group stage. F.C. APOEL in 2011 achieved the greatest history of Cyprus football by reaching the Champions League quarter-finals stage facing the Real Madrid. The year 2011 was one of the best in the Cyprus football as two clubs were in the European Cups Group Stages, FC APOEL and AEK Larnakas. (for more details refer to Cypriot football clubs in European competitions-Wikipedia.) There are currently 8 major football stadiums in Cyprus – Ammostochos, Antonios Papadopoulos and Neo GZS in Larnaca, Paralimni (Tasos Markou) and Dasaki (Achna), Tsirion Athletic Centre in Limassol (currently a new one is being built),  Pangkiprio Stadium (GSP) in the island’s capital and final Stelios Kyriakides stadium in Paphos

Basketball. Also a very popular sport in Cyprus but it was hit severely by the economic crisis in the last years. Sponsors due to the economic crisis pulled out thus basketball were hit severely and that took the league years back. Now slowly things are getting better and teams like AEL Limassol and AEK Larnaka have to show good European campaigns. The Cyprus National Team is now slowly taking part in the European competitions.

Athletics and Olympic Games Cypriot athletes have achieved some remarkable successes in Athletics and Olympic Games. Cyprus has sent athletes in every summer and winter Olympic Games held since 1980. Our Best representatives were Pavlos Kontides, competing in the men’s Laser class sailing event, became the first Cypriot athlete ever to win an Olympic medal for his country by winning the Silver medal at the summer Olympic Games 2012 held in London. Kyriakos Ioannou, high jumper, and Eleni Artymata, sprinter, have won several medals.  Also, Cyprus is always sending athletes to the Paralympic Games with great results. Karolina Pelendritou and Antonis Aresti have won several gold medals for Cyprus.

 

Position Olympic winner   Year City Sport  / event
           
2η Pavlos kontidis   2012 London Laser (Sailing)
4η Antonis Nikolaidis   2008 Beijing Skeet (Shooting)
5η Giorgos Achilleos   2008 Beijing Skeet (Shooting)
6η   Stavros Tziortzis   1972 Munich 400m hurdles
7η Antonis Andreou   1996 Atlanta Skeet (Shooting)
7η  Andri Eleftheriou    2008 Beijing Skeet (Shooting)
7η Pavlos Kontidis   2016 Rio Laser (Sailing)
7η Kyriakos Ioannou   2016 Rio Άλμα εισ Υψος
7η Milan Traikovic    2016 Rio 110m hurdles
8η Antonis Andreou   2000 Sydney Skeet (Shooting)
8η Apostolos Parelis   2016 Rio Δισκοβολία

Tennis, This sport has been popular in Cyprus for more than 15 years. Locals and tourists love to play tennis, both professionally and just for fun. There are clubs all over the island teaching the game to players of all ages and levels. Most of the hotels in Cyprus have tennis courts on their premises so visitors can enjoy this sport. The main reason for the popularity of this sport is Marcos Baghdatis, the Cypriot professional tennis player. Baghdatis, was the runner up at the 2006 Australian Open and a semi-finalist at the 2006 Wimbledon Championships, achieving a great season and reaching a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No.8 in August 2006.

Rallying Car rallies are very popular in Cyprus, and the first-ever held on the island dates back to 1970. Rallies have been held annually since then. The Cyprus Automobile Association deals with all rally matters.  Most rallies in Cyprus are held in the Troodos area near Limassol. Rallying in Cyprus tends to take place in summer and is, therefore, a very popular sport with the many tourists that visit the island in this season. It is important to note that the European Rally Championship often takes place in Cyprus.

Volleyball.

The C.V.F. (Cyprus Volleyball Federation) was founded in 1978. Ever since volleyball has grown significantly and there are both men’s and women’s teams, 1st and 2nd division. In recent years, Omonia is dominating the sport with Pafiakos trying to break that domination. In the past the team that dominated the sport was Anorthosis.

Club Winners Winning seasons
Anorthosis 20 1973, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014
Nea Salamis 9 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2013
APOEL 6 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985
Omonia 6 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022
Pafiakos 4 1992, 2004, 2006, 2018
AEK Karava 1 2012

 

CategoriesCulture By George Kaniklides

Greek Orthodox Easter

As Easter approaches, an air of festivity envelops the towns and villages. Expectations are high and the buzz is clearly felt. During Holy Week, also known as Megali Evdomatha (the week before Easter Sunday), churches hold services both early in the morning and in the evening.  Easter is a movable celebration and it’s the Greatest Holiday of the Orthodox Church. It is always celebrated on the first Sunday following the first Full Moon occurring on or after the Spring equinox.

Cypriots in general are very religious and during the last week of Easter, they are fasting. Fasting actually is for 50 days as the greek orthodox church depicts but our generation nowadays seems to be able to handle it during Holy Week. It is called  “Sarakosti” (lent)  and people are not supposed to eat meat, dairy products, or oil.

Traditions

On Holy Thursday “Flaounes” are baked. Flaounes are made of shortcrust with cheese, egg, raisings, and mint filling. All the family will gather together from early in the morning and will help bake them. In some areas like Paphos they bake variations of Flaounas where they mix meat also, that variation is called Paskia. Also on the same day, we dye eggs to symbolize Christ’s Blood from the Cross.

During the evening people go to church as it is the crucifixion of Christ and people “mourn”. The Church’s icons are covered with black veils to show their grief.

“Epitafios” is on Holy Friday. Everyone takes flowers to the church and they decorate the Epitafios. During the evening servicemen carry the “Epitafios” outside the Church around the neighborhood and back to the church, where people follow the “Epitafios” the whole time.

On Holy Saturday morning, people go to church from early in the morning as it is the service that symbolizes the resurrection of Christ.  The church doors and seats are banged by the people and all the black veils that cover the icons drop.

At midnight everybody goes to church and celebrates the resurrection of Christ.  Candles are lit by the Holy Light (brought straight from Jerusalem) and many people take home their candle with the Holy Light in order for their house to be blessed. Another great tradition takes place on Good Saturday, called “Lambratzia”. Kids collect wood for weeks to set up an enormous burning spot in order for an effigy of Judas, the traitor, to be burned in the churchyard.

After the midnight service, the whole family gathers together for a feast. People eat a special kind of soup called “Avgolemono”. They also crack the hard-boiled, dyed, eggs and say “Christos Anesti” which means “Christ has risen from the dead,” and the response is “Alithos Anesti” which means indeed He has risen.

Holy Sunday or “Pascha”! On this day prepare to eat like never before.  This day is all about family and friends. They all gathered together for a big feast with lots of dyed eggs, flaounes, souvla, koupepia (stuffed vine leaves) pastitsio (makaronia tou fournou) and wine.

CategoriesFood & Wine By xenio

Mystes Winery

Mystes is the next generation of Cypriot wines. A newly established boutique family winery committed to producing wines of the highest caliber and distinction, each expressing the unique terroir of the property, located in Archimandrita village about 33 kilometers east of Paphos at an altitude of 550 meters, in the heart of the wine-producing area.

Visitors will be guided through a modern family winery and get introduced to the principles of organic cultivation of the vine and the “secrets” of wine. Visitors have the opportunity to do some wine tasting while enjoying spectacular views of the valley.

CategoriesFood & Wine By xenio

Cyprus Wine Routes

The island’s longstanding tradition of winemaking needs no further proof than its claim to the world’s oldest named wine still in production – that of Commandaria, proclaimed by Richard the Lionheart as the “wine of the kings and the king of the wines.” And whilst the same ancient grape varieties are still cultivated; and the same villages produce wine in the old, traditional ways, the island’s wine industry has also vastly modernized, progressed, and expanded. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a simple lover of the drink that locals once worshipped as the ‘nectar of the Gods, you will delight in discovering a host of charming wineries and wine growing regions along seven glorious wine routes.

From the high, southern slopes of the Troodos mountain range, to a stunning stretch between Limassol and Paphos, and the rural areas of Larnaca and Nicosia routes are all sign-posted and will take you through valleys of indigenous grape varieties, picture-perfect landscapes, and a journey of knowledge about the island’s intrinsic viticultural roots.

Along the way, you will be welcomed warmly at quaint villages and wineries, where you can sample choice vintages, learn from the locals, and even find a wine museum or two. After all, the art of wine in Cyprus is more than simply a way of life; it is an inherent passion with roots that go even deeper than those of its vines.