Larnaca Local Customs

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I saw this wonderful Vintage-Bedford-bus in Larnaca, where it was obviously hired by a private wedding-party. Even the driver was dressed in a great tradional costume and I was able to take some nice photos there.
I saw some other rusty such old Bedford-buses as well in other parts of Cyprus but this one was certainly the most beautiful of them.

99 623 796that number was written on the backside of the car and it might be their telephone-number, just in case that you want to rent such a car !

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Stray cats are all over Cyprus, in the restaurants, in the hotels, in the parks and on the beach. In case that you are allergic against them (like I am) maybe you should rather choose one of the quite expensive hotels and hopefully they will try to keep the cats outside.
I had them in both hotels, in the Sveltos as well as in the Larco, and even in the expensive Akteon-hotel-village in Paphos they were everywhere in the park and on the lower room-terraces, BUT in Paphos at least never in the hotel-halls and restaurants !
In the Larco and Sveltos cats had been fed by the staff, at one time even inside the breakfastroom.
I saw a signpost, that guests are not allowed to bring their petsto the area around the pool, BUT nobody in the Larco cared about the stray-cats taking a nap there in the easy-chairs !
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From personal experiences in the various hotels where I was working I know that you can teach any cat to avoid going to any area, where you dont want to have them. You just have to be nice to them in other places and push them away from certain other areas, where they should not go.
And they will remember very well, that they are not accepted there, when Michael is on duty,and will stay away. And when the boss came, kitty knew, she is accepted also at the reception even when Michael is on duty. And in such an occasion she did take a seat on top of the reception-bar and take a look at me like smiling and saying "Ha, Michael, NOW that the boss is around, you certainly wont mind that I have a seat here ! " ;-)))

During the Byzantine Days event you can experience the Byzantine ecclesiastical music and choirs’ performance. The event is organized by the Larnaca Municipality and takes place at Agios Lazaros church and Larnaca Municipal Theater.

For more information please call on 24 657 745

9th of May is recognized as the Europe Day throughout Europe. This day European countries commemorate the founding of the European Union with special events organized to celebrate their European identity.

Larnaca also joins the party and organizes a series of events to mark the Europe Day. Festivities take place around the city in various venues but the main focus of the event is on the seafront.

In May senior tennis players gather in Larnaca to participate in the Cyprus Seniors Cup. The sporting event lasts for eight days and is a part of the Tennis Europe circuit.

The tournament includes men’s, women’s, mixed, singles and double competitions on clay courts. The age of participants is 35 and above. Cyprus Seniors Cup is hosted by the Larnaca Tennis Club and is organized by the Cyprus Tennis Federation.

In July residents and guests of Larnaca can enjoy a feast of entertainment at Larnaca Summer Festival organized by the Municipality of Larnaca. It is a festival of music and performing arts.

Dance, theater and music are performed by national and international artists. The program includes film screenings as well as poetry. The main venues are the courtyard of the Larnaca medieval fort and the Pattichion Municipal Amphitheater where outdoor concerts take place.

Summers in Cyprus can be really hot and humid.

Cypriots have the custom of taking their families and driving them to a beach. Most of the times they go with friends or relatives.
They run in the sea and enjoy the crystal clear warm water, and when they come out they get busy making kebabs or “souvla” as they call it.
You will hear mothers calling their kids every 5 or 10 minutes to come and have a fruit or a sandwich before the kebabs are ready. They admit that if the kids are by the beach they have a better appetite, and you can see this satisfaction drawn on their faces.
This goes on till late in the evening. In the beginning they start by jokes, then you will hear them singing and they finish with some dancing.

This is a way of how Cypriots have fun during the hot summer months in Cyprus.

When you visit the island be sure to go to a Cypriot Tavern with live music.
You will have the chance to see how Cypriots dance their Folk Traditional Dances.

Men's Dances
Dancers perform opposite one another, usually within their own limited space, but sometimes changing place with their partner. The position and movement of the arms, normally held out at the sides, are quite distinctive.

Women's Dances
Women are restrained and grave when dancing. Many dance almost without moving from one spot, on a single piece of marble, each marking out a square explicitly her own. The arms assume various positions. First one and then both hands are held against the "koxan", the hip, the free one hanging down or being gently flourished at shoulder height.