Last week, one of my close friends got married in Cyprus and I was invited out, not only attend, but to sing her down the aisle.
For real. Eeeeek!
I've never actually sung at a wedding, let alone as someone walks the aisle so, needless to say I was honoured, but slightly nervous.
The day went gorgeously, my set went down swimmingly (i think anyway) & she looked absolutely stunning. The sun shone endlessly and we all embraced the outdoor dining and dance floor until the early hours, without even the thought of a jacket.
The wedding was at Capo Bay Hotel, in Protaras, a popular destination in the south east of Cyprus & of course we extended our stay beyond the wedding to explore and relax another gorgeous corner of the world.
Protaras boasts many gorgeous qualities that we all lust over in a holiday. With spine tingling temperatures all year round, and just a 4 hour flight from the UK, it's a great place to escape to as the winter sets in.
Protaras too, has a gorgeous coast, lined with sandy beaches and wonderfully warm waters. Whilst we were here 15-20th Sept, it was 31deg every day (apparently slightly hotter than other years) and the sea was recorded most days at 27degrees.
Honestly - dreamy!
The beaches are lines with sun beds and wooden huts, offering watersport options for all the family. Let's just say, if secluded and quiet beaches are your thing, Protaras may not be yours.
The main hotels in Protaras line up along the beach and back onto the main Protaras strip which is filled with Greek-Cypriot Cuisines, amongst all your favourite international dishes.
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My favourite place we dined in on the strip was 'Promises' which is just opposite the fountains in the centre of the strip and has a large balcony overlooking Fig Tree Bay (perfect for people watching).
Recommendation: The Swordfish & Tzatziki
Accommodation:
I'm more of a spender on activities and experiences than a spender on accommodation, as personally when i go away, I don't spend that much time in the accommodation and feel it can be a bit of a waste of money.
That's one reason I love Air Bnb - you can pick up really decent rooms / apartments / houses at a fraction of the hotel price!
Facts about Protaras:
- Drive on the left had side of the road (Same as UK)
- Language: Greek
- The food is very greek based, a popular dine out includes a selection of meze dishes
- Currency: Euros
- The sun rises in Protaras but sets on the other side of the Island
Adventures to go on:
The reason I don't usually spend much time in the accommodation is because my favourite thing to do in a new country is EXPLORE.
Don't get me wrong, sometimes it's great to relax and simply sunbathe, but for me, if i'm in a new place, i get seriously itchy feet.
Luckily for me, grandma fancied an adventure too!
1. Walking up to Profitis Elias
Walk the whole way along the Protaras Strip (with the coastline on your right) and when you get to the end (after the McDonalds) turn right onto the main road and on the left you will see the church peeking above the buildings.
Follow it and you'll reach a path which you can ascend to this gorgeous church.
(Takes about 20minutes to walk from centre of Protaras)
2. Take a trip to Ayia Napa
Only a 15 minute bus ride / journey from Protaras is the famous town of Ayia Napa (personally didn't do much for me).
I found it a ghost town by day filled with restaurants offering £3 fry ups next door to shops selling neon 'Ayia F******' Napa merchandise. Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick but on first impressions it was clear to see why it's simply a popular tourist destination for hen do's, stag parties & young people.
A party town for sure.
If a night out if your thing, and you're up for a crazy one - Napa has you covered.
3. Cape Greco
Located just 10 minutes by buggy / bus from Protaras, Cape Greco was number one on my to see list & it was every bit as beautiful as i wanted it to be.
A group of gorgeous caves with the clearest of waters falling at their feet.
For those of you (like me) seeking an adrenaline rush, theres a popular spot where you'll see people cliff jumping into the warm blues & exploring inside the caves.
P.s. I'm not encouraging it - just saying. ;)
There is also a rocky way to climb down (and back up) should you be willing for a more cautious option.
4. Hire a quad bike / buggyGrandma and I hired one of these buggies (below) for our adventure. There are 3 or 4 car/quad/buggy hire companies on the Protaras strip and they all offer a very similar price.
We paid 35 Euros for a day including insurance and then only had to pay an extra 10 euros to fill the tank up.
The buggy gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace, embrace the weather and venture to the caves.
The buggy was great for the distance we covered to Ayia Napa and the caves, but if your looking to travel further around the Island I would definitely recommend a quad or infact a car for safety - particularly at higher speeds!Even though the trip was short and sweet, Cyprus really was gorgeous to both drive around & stay in.
I got to spend some quality time with my Grandma - something I'll forever cherish & I also escaped 5 days of the Winter currently descending on the UK!
A successful trip
Hopefully, I'll be back one day to explore the other side of you Cyprus... Until then!
Have you been to Cyprus?
Where did you go? Can you recommend somewhere I missed or that I should head to next time?
Share your experiences below!
♡
Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx
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