Occupied Famagusta > Occupied Ammochostos April 20, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Cyprus Occupied.add a comment
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Related Links > http://www.ammochostos.org.cy/default.asp
Cyprus > A mosaic of travel options April 20, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Cyprus.add a comment
The Republic of Cyprus has a lot in common with the mosaics found in the second century House of Dionysus, an archaeological site near Pafos. Both are colorful with many intricate parts and a pleasure to view. The mosaics have all the colors of Cyprus: the blue of the Mediterranean Sea, the greens of the Troodos Mountains, the browns of the sandy beaches and the warm colors of the setting sun, plus they represent Cypriot history that dates back to mythical times.
With its strategic location in the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus has been the crossroads between three continents from the time of Aphrodite. Cyprus was the first country visited by Apostle Paul on his mission to spread Christianity, and crusaders stopped on their way to Jerusalem. Today, tourists enjoy the travel mosaic that is Cyprus, marveling at the sites of antiquity, exploring traditional country villages and basking by the Mediterranean Sea.
A HISTORICAL MOSAIC > People have been living the good life in Cyprus for centuries. The large, palatial House of Dionysus shows the level of wealth during the Roman era. It is so named because one of the many mosaics depicts Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.
At the neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia, dating back to 6,800 B.C., there are reconstructed round, stone huts that give evidence to a relatively sophisticated lifestyle at an even earlier time. Just as intriguing are the sites associated with Aphrodite, Venus in Roman mythology. At a breathtakingly beautiful spot on the Mediterranean coast between Lemesos and Pafos is where legend has it that Aphrodite, the goddess of love, emerged from the sea. West of Polis is the grotto Aphrodite used for secret trysts with her many lovers.
Cyprus is an open-air museum that will intrigue both the history buff and the causal tourist. The magnificent amphitheater at Kourion, the Tomb of Kings, St. Paul’s Pillar, medieval castles and frescoed Byzantine churches are just part of the mosaic of the past. Currently, Cyprus has three UNESCO World Heritage sites, with other sites on the waiting list, plus new archaeological discoveries being unearthed on a regular basis.
A COASTAL MOSAIC > Exploring the antiquities is a perfect diversion for sun worshippers, but the beaches are the main draw. With 400 miles of coastline, there is a beach for everyone. Forty-nine of the country’s beaches have been awarded the exclusive Blue Flag, an eco-label given to beaches that maintain high environmental standards. Visitors can chose from campsites on the beach to tourist resorts to temples of luxury that would please Aphrodite.
Resorts are truly full-service, offering a plethora of watersports, golf, hiking, biking, diving, horse riding, tennis courts, spas and even skiing. At certain times of the year it is possible to ski in the morning, golf in the afternoon and spend the night at the disco. All resorts are close to one of the coastal cities, which offer shopping, museums, dining and theme parks.
Keeping in mind that Aphrodite is the goddess of love and Cyprus is where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria in the 12th century, Cyprus ranks high on the list of the world’s most popular destinations for weddings and honeymoons. Luxury resorts like Aphrodite Hills, Le Meridien and Anassa have on-site chapels, plus there is an abundance of churches with exquisite Byzantine artwork that make a perfect setting for a wedding.
A PASTORAL MOSAIC > Visitors looking for respite from the beach or city can relish the gentle pace of life in the countryside. Only an hour away from any part of the island, the Troodos Mountains, home to Mount Olympus and at 6,400 feet the highest point on the island, are home to painted Byzantine churches listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Plus there are traditional villages with cobbled streets to wander, wine tasting at vineyards and serenity that is seldom found in today’s manic world. Cyprus has an agrotourism program that encourages restoration of traditional houses, making them fully equipped to receive guests. It is a great way to get in harmony with Cypriot lifestyle, stop to smell the jasmine, enjoy the nature trails, visit historical monasteries and chat with the locals at the local taverna.
A CAPITAL MOSAIC > Dating back 1,000 years, the capital Lefkosia is both old and new. It is the commercial and business heart of the country. Located in the middle of the island, the city was once enclosed by a star-shaped Venetian fortress and moat. The moat is often the site of concerts and the old city is a restored pedestrian area with shops and restaurants.
The mosaic of Lefkosia is comprised of palm tree-lined streets, modern shops, mosques, beautiful frescos in St. John’s Cathedral, a museum with Byzantine icons and the must-see Cyprus Museum. The museum has the best collection of archaeological artifacts, including terra cotta figures that predate those in China and the sublimely beautiful, 2,000-year-old statue of Aphrodite. At the Handicraft Center, the artistic heritage is preserved and promoted by bringing craftsmen together in one location. Visitors can watch artisans weaving, producing leather articles, fashioning pottery and creating other traditional items, plus purchase authentic items from the shop.
A GASTRONOMIC MOSAIC > With its crossroads position in the Mediterranean, Cypriots have added an exotic flavor to their cuisine, creating a unique dining experience. The best way to sample the mosaic of Cypriot food is with a meze, which means “little delicacies.” Meze is a meal of as many as 30 small plates of food, from savory dips and vegetables to a wide range of fish and meat dishes. It is enjoyed “siga, siga” (slowly, slowly), taking time to savor such delectable dishes as octopus in red wine, traditional grilled cheese, smoked sausages and other dishes served with salad, fresh baked bread and wine.
Pharaohs consumed them and King Solomon waxed lyrical about Cypriot wines. Commandaria is considered the oldest named wine, dating to the 12th century. Wine enthusiasts will love Cyprus, where wine making goes back to 2000 B.C. There are winery tours and annual festivals plus a wine museum near Lemesos (Limassol).
EXPLORE THE MOSAICS > Out of all the islands of the Mediterranean, it is no surprise that Aphrodite chose to live on Cyprus. Today, European vacationers often return to Cyprus to retire. For such a small island country, there is something in the mosaic of Cyprus to tickle the fancy of every visitor.
IF YOU GO > Cyprus is a tourist-friendly, four-season destination, where English is widely spoken and excellent roads make it easy to get around, keeping in mind that driving is on the left.
For more information, visit www.visitcyprus.org.cy
Paphos > Anthestiria Festival in bloom April 20, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Cyprus Paphos.add a comment
Heralding the arrival of spring in all its glory, the Anthestiria Flower Festival held in Paphos is set to be another colourful celebration of nature this year.
Taking its name from the Greek word for flower, the festival, which is held on May 6th, has its roots in ancient Athenian traditions of honouring the gods.
Boasting floral parades and food and drink stalls lining the streets, the festival attracts a large number of visitors. Fresh flowers also line the streets and lead the way into the town’s picturesque Old Harbour. According to Visit Cyprus, the country’s summer begins in May, offering visitors “high temperatures, cloudless skies and cooling breezes from the sea”.
Paphos is also home to the island’s St Paul’s Feast on June 28th and 29th, which marks the apostle’s journey after leaving Jerusalem.
Paphos: Cypriot town of beauty > Paphos is regarded as one of the most beautiful destinations in Cyprus, with the Western Troodos Mountains adding a stunning backdrop to the coastal town. The area’s outstanding natural environment is perhaps fitting as it is believed to be the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
And with a population of just 28,000, Paphos remains mostly unspoilt by development, with its old harbour and historic ruins proving a popular draw for holidaymakers. Plus, dozens of quaint villages nestle in the mountains surrounding the town, with life relaxed and seemingly unchanged for decades.
This gives tourists the opportunity to experience a slice of the real Cyprus, untarnished by commercialism and the growing holiday market, while also ensuring that the area delivers for more than just sun, sea and sand.
However, Paphos offers all three of those in abundance with the island of Cyprus offering long, hot summers and mild winters. And with local beaches such as Coral Bay offering luxurious white sand and clear waters, it is the perfect place to relax, top up the tan and enjoy swimming in the ocean without a care in the world.
For info > Paphos Municipality, Telephone 26 932116
Related Links > http://www.cyprustourism.org
Munich connection to Europe via Larnaca April 20, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in News Flights.add a comment
Lufthansa German Airlines have introduced a new flight from Larnaca to Munich, which will operate during August, four days a week to the Bavarian capital.
Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the Lufthansa Airbus A320 will leave Larnaca Airport at 4.20pm, arriving in Munich at 6.55pm.
“This flight will offer our travellers from Cyprus additional connections, mainly to European destinations”, Kathrin Pfeiler, General Manager for Cyprus stated. “Furthermore the flight offers excellent connections from the United States”, she added.
“We are very happy that we can offer this additional flight to our customers, as it is a perfect supplement to our existing flight schedule with three weekly, early morning flights and two afternoon weekend flights to Frankfurt”, Pfeiler explained.
Lufthansa operates from and to Munich Airport Terminal 2, a terminal used exclusively by Lufthansa and their Star Alliance partners. This allows short distances between transfer flights and a minimum connecting time from only 35 minutes.
Redesigning Nicosia’s Eleftheria Square April 20, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Architecture Cyprus.add a comment
A Nicosia lobby group who have launched a campaign to stop the planned transformation of Eleftheria Square have set up a website, urging people to log on and register their protests.
Calling themselves, ‘Nicosia Citizens Against the Transformation of Eleftheria Square’, the group is led by archaeologist and art historian Anna Marangou and journalist Alex Efthyvoulou. Marangou, who narrowly failed in her bid to be elected to the position of Nicosia Mayor in December, yesterday said that the aim of the website is to “inform people of our objections”.
“People living within the walls of Nicosia need to know how their daily lives are going to be greatly inconvenienced.” She added that she has nothing against the plans per se, as design is subjective, “but it is simply not suitable to be placed within the historical topography of Nicosia.”
In May 2005, Iraqi-born British architect Zaha Hadid and her associates Christos Passas and Saffet Bekiroglu won the competition to redesign the capital’s square. Marangou says she feels “awkward that Hadid herself has never visited Cyprus to get a feel of the place”.
In the plans, the moat becomes a green belt, which will surround and unify the whole of the Venetian walls and become Nicosia’s main park. One of the aims is to enhance the quality of life for residents and offer a range of recreational facilities. Bicycle routes and walkways are clearly marked on the plans.
A smooth downhill continuation of the square will lead to the moat, where pedestrians can descend to the garden level and actively use the area. Coffee shops, snack bars and newsagents will be at hand too. There will also be a gallery, which will house information on the history of the Venetian walls and the city within the walls. Underground parking facilities and traffic redirection will apparently alleviate today’s congestion problems and a significant aspect is that the designs took into account the future reunification of Nicosia.
Marangou has for a long time been against the plans, previously labelling the project as “illegal” because the Aarhus Convention, which has been ratified by the Cyprus government, states that any major work such as this must first be presented to the people for their approval, which has not been done.
She added that the average European has the notion of a square as a place without motor vehicles, but that the road will remain in this case, with traffic actually increasing. There will also be no shade, as trees will be cut down, turning the area into what she described as an imposing concrete monstrosity. There are also worries over the cost, with the lobby group claiming the project will far exceed its initial budget of around £4 million.
The group has proposed the plan be presented to residents to inform them and then for it to be put to a municipal referendum, something they claim was in Mayor Eleni Mavrou’s electoral manifesto.
Despite their protests, Mavrou has remained defiant, saying that construction works for the restructuring of the area would begin early next year. She added that she was not surprised there was opposition to the scheme, as it could not please everyone.
The Architectural Council of Cyprus yesterday called on the Municipality to move forward with the plans, in spite of the opposition. This evening, several members of Hadid’s team will be in the capital to unveil further details.
The website can be seen at www.platiaeleftherias.com
CYTA’s on-line yellow pages goes live April 20, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Telecoms.add a comment
Integrated Internet Yellow Pages goes live in Cyprus using net-linx technologies
net-linx announced that the on-line yellow pages and search site of the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA), went live with net-linx’ nxAdCommerce Search & Presentation system.
After successfully passing a thorough internal acceptance phase, the net-linx solution was declared “rock solid” and has now replaced CYTA’s previous online system. This fast solution serves up nearly 1 Million ads to the world. Visitors can view the website in multiple languages.
The nxAdCommerce Search & Presentation system is seamlessly integrated with net-linx’ backend directory management system, which was successfully brought live at CYTA Yellow Pages a year ago. The tight integration provides significant benefits such as: real-time publishing of internet ads, full access to ad performance metrics and the ability to launch new online products quickly.
CYTA Directories Unit’s strategic goal is to become the number one choice of print and electronic advertisement for professionals by offering them the greatest possible communication effectiveness with their clientele.
To achieve this goal, the decision was made to modernize activities such as Media and Product Management, Directory Entry Maintenance, Graphics Production, Sales Management, Contract Entry Management, Billing and Receivables and Pagination, thus increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the entire operation. net-linx was chosen as a technology partner.
The Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA) is the largest Telecommunication Service Provider in the Republic of Cyprus (approx. 720,000 population), employing around 2,500 personnel. The services that CYTA provides cover the whole spectrum of telecommunications and include Fixed Telephony, Subscriber and Prepaid Mobile Telephony, ISDN, Internet Service Provision, Frame Relay and Asynchronous Transfer Mode Network facilities, cardphone and payphone services, and last but not least the Telephone Directories. CYTA also serves as an important telecommunications hub in the area of the Middle East, with satellite connections and participation in strategic submarine fibre-optic cables.
CYTA may be visited on the web at: www.cytayellowpages.com.cy
To learn more about nxAdCommerce, see http://nxadcommerce.net-linx.com
Socrates’ triple filter test April 20, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Culture History & Mythology.add a comment
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem.
One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”
“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”
“Triple Filter?”
“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the Triple Filter Test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”
“No,” the man said. “Actually I just heard about it and…….”
“All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”
“No, on the contrary ……..”
“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?”
“No, not really.”
“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”
grhomeboy
