A Residential Trip That Made Us Closer: Visiting Cyprus Cities.

Are you looking for a holiday suitable for you, for your family and your friends? Why not travel to Cyprus, a place where you can escape from the cold weather. The European island country has beautiful beaches, beautiful people and it is rich in history. With the tension between the north and south Cyprus is going soft, the northern area which is occupied by the Turkish is now more open to tourist to explore the area which is rich in culture. 

Cities to visit and the attractions you must see:

Famagusta

Famagusta, or also known as Gazimağusa, is a city located on the east coast of Cyprus. When travelling to this walled city, make sure your passport and visa are ready as there will be a checkpoint before entering. The town is controlled by the Turkish and are strictly compliant with the requirements. Here are some of the attractions you must visit in Famagusta:

St. Nicolas's Cathedral (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque)

St. Nicola's Cathedral is in the centre of the Venetian walls that used to protect the city from invasion. The St. It was transformed into a Mosque when the Ottoman empire successfully conquers some of the northern parts of Cyprus. On the outside, you will see this beautiful pure Gothic Architecture, but the altars inside had been demolished. You can visit the Mosque for free, but you need to remove your shoes before entering the place. Also, ladies need to cover their legs and shoulders. If you are travelling to Famagusta, I suggest visiting the site simply because of its uniqueness.

There are also many shops and cafes around the Mosque for visitors and tourists to eat and have a drink.

Here are some photos of my friends and I around the Mosque to give you an idea about the place:

 

Varosha (Ghost Town)

(BBC News, 2014)

Varosha in Famagusta was once a beautiful place that attracts many tourists because of the beautiful beaches and resorts on it. However, the site was abandoned after the Turkish military fenced off the resorts. Since then, the place becomes a ghost town. This place is a must-visit if you are already in Famagusta. However, be careful when taking photos in the area, as some parts are not passable. Unfortunately, our group was not allowed to leave our bus because of a journalist that was reporting in the area. Otherwise, roaming around Varosha has no charge.

Nicosia

Nicosia is the capital city of Cyprus and the only capital city in the world that is still divided. In the city, you can also see the Venetian walls that surround the city. It was built as a defensive wall, and it had already witnessed plenty of wars and invasions. The city 

The city is a combination of old and new because you can roam and eat on the old street and shop around the modern mall. There are loads of place to visit and sites to see; sadly, we did not have enough time. Luckily, we were able to pass by the Liberty Monument.

Liberty Monument

The Liberty monument stands on the Podocatro Bastion of the city walls in Nicosia. The monument represents Greek Cypriot prisoners being freed from the British colonial powers.

Limassol

Limassol is a city in the southern coast of Cyprus. In the old town of Limassol, you can see the medieval castle where King Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre. You can also explore St. Andrews Street, where there are many shops and restaurants. You can also visit the modern part of the town, which is the Limassol Marina. There are also good night clubs in the area if you and your friends planning to enjoy the night.

Here are some photos of me and my friends in the town of Limassol to give you an idea about the place:

Another majestic site you need to visit when you are in Limassol is Kourion Archeological Site. The archeological site is located on the west coast of Limassol in a small town of Episkopi. The place is rich in ancient history and attractions. One of the main attractions on the site is the Kourion Theatre. 

Kourion Theatre

(Cyprusisland, 2019)

The Kourion Theatre is located in the most southern part of the town. If you are a fan of Greek mythology this place is a must visit for you when you are in the country. The site is really beautiful just look at the picture. 

Here are some photos of me and my friends at the Kourion Theatre to give you an idea about the place:

The Harmony Bay hotel was the name of the hotel that we are staying during our whole trip to Cyprus. It is a three-star hotel with a private swimming pool and beach. The facilities of the hotel were excellent, especially the rooms facing the beach as you can chill in the balcony of the room while watching the sunrise or sunset. The hotel serves buffet breakfast, but if I am not mistaking, they also serve lunch and dinner for an additional cost. However, there are plenty of restaurants nearby that you can visit if you fancy eating somewhere else. The staff also perform excellent customer services to other customers and us. Especially the guy receptionist as he helps us find a good nightclub around Limassol. He also drops some of us in the place because there was some misunderstanding when we booked a taxi.

We enjoyed more in the hotel during the whole trip because most of the fun things happened in the hotel. We kind of break some rules too during our stay in the hotel but it was all right and clean fun. That's what makes the residential trip memorable.

Expectation vs Reality of the country, the final verdict:

If you are looking for a new destination to visit where you can enjoy the beaches, the nightlife, the culture, and the weather, Cyprus is the country for you not only that the country has a sunny climate all year long. I try not to expect so much of Cyprus before visiting the country so that I would not be disappointed at the end if it did not live up to my expectation. But I should have expected more since Cyprus is a beautiful country with plenty of sites to visit.

My thoughts of Limassol before visiting that it is a lively city with multi-diverse food choice, family-oriented city and crazy nightlight which is kind of the opposite of what I experienced but it might be because we visited the place during its low season. The food lives up to my expectation as there are plenty of varieties to choose from Chinese cuisine, American cuisine, Greek cuisine and many more. It also lives up to be a family-oriented city because they have places where a family can bond although I haven't seen any water parks that was mentioned on the vlog I analysed for my previous assignment. Even though I did not experience the crazy nightlife the city has to offer, I can feel the vibes of that nightlife because there are plenty of nightclubs and bars around and the drinks are cheap in the convenient stores or supermarkets.

The locals in both Limassol and Nicosia is very friendly and hospitable people. Like wherever we go they always welcome us with a big smile, and they spoke good English. I remember when we are walking down the street of Nicosia, we passed by this restaurant, and the owner of the place ordered his employee to give us a shot and it is for free. I do not know what type of alcohol that is, but it is really strong. Even though I did not drink it by just smelling it, I know it is strong.

The second destination that I visited was Nicosia and before I visit the city, Nicosia was already portrayed as a city that has a rich history and culture in the blog that I analysed in my previous assignment.

Although when in Nicosia I did not have a chance to explore the city's history because we just do not have enough time to do it. I felt bad as there are a lot of things the city has to offer. Like walking around the green line, having a look at the House of Samanbache. I will totally love to come back to this city to explore it even more.

I would recommend visiting the country as there are plenty of activities to do and a lot of things to learn. I would also suggest renting a car if you are planning to visit all of the attractions about as they are far from each other.

Reference list:

 BBC News (2014) Varosha: The abandoned tourist resort. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25496729 (Accessed: 14 May 2019).

Cyprusisland (2019) Kourion Archeological Site. Available at: https://www.cyprusisland.net/attractions/kourion-archaeological-site (Accessed: 14 May 2019)