NEWS FROM CYPRUS!
- Cyprus leaders agree to open new crossing
- Cyprus interested in Chinese tourism market
- CTO action plan on prices
- Ancient wells found in Cyprus
- New product in Lefkara
Dear partners and friends,
We are delighted to bring you the July issue of the Aeolos newsletter. This time not such a long read since news was not so abundant this month and the arrival statistics for June are not yet available - so we owe you these next month. We wish you find our newsletter both informative and enjoyable and look forward to receiving your comments and suggestions.
We wish you a happy summer!
Cyprus leaders agree to open new crossing…………..
Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed to open a new checkpoint linking the two sides on the divided island in a move expected to boost slow-moving peace talks. The Limnitis checkpoint and the access to and from Kokkina will be the seventh crossing linking the island's Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The decision was taken during the 34th meeting between the two leaders, in the framework of the direct negotiation process aiming at finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. Ever since the 1974 Turkish invasion, Greek Cypriot residents in the area of Limnitis, located at the northeastern coast of Cyprus, have to travel to Paphos, on the western coast, and Limassol, on the south, in order to reach the capital Nicosia. Opening a crossing point at Limnitis would make this journey far shorter. President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunite the island.
Developers have taken a keen interest in the region.
Perhaps as much as 50 per cent of the available land has been bought up over the last five to six years, but especially in the last few months there’s been a lot of activity. The companies buying plots of land include all the big players: Leptos Estates, Aristo Developers, Kermia, Universal and Louis Estates.
Louis Estates have recently acquired a sizeable tract of land near the coast. The company had previously secured a permit for the construction of a five-star hotel, but kept actual construction on ice in anticipation of political developments. That could all change now with the decision to open a crossing point at Limnitis.
(Source: www.fnancialmirror.com – June 26th 2009)
Cyprus interested in Chinese tourism market……..
Cyprus is seriously interested in the Chinese market and the Beijing tourist market is the initial step of a specific strategy to attract tourism from this gigantic market. This was the message that the Cyprus Tourism Organisation conveyed during the Beijing International Tourism Expo 2009, where the CTO participated with its own pavilion. The CTO organized workshops where it presented the island’s tourism attractions and landmarks and a Cypriot delegation held contacts with officials of the local government in the Guangzhou. The CTO will try to improve air links with China and the visa procedure for the country.
(Source: www.fnancialmirror.com – June 26th 2009)
CTO action plan on prices………..
The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) hosted a meeting at its offices recently to discuss the prices of goods and services in the island’s tourist areas. Members of the tourism industry and competition watchdogs took part. Three short-term measures were agreed during the meeting. Firstly, the CTO will set up a price-monitoring unit focusing on basic tourist products – bottled water, a cup of coffee, simple meals, etc. – with the aim of systematically discouraging overpricing. Data collected by the unit will be displayed on consumer groups’ websites. Secondly, a website will be set up which will feature special offers for tourists in both Greek and English. This website is intended to be interactive, allowing the general public to post their comments on the available offers and their own experiences. Finally, the Competition and Consumer Protection Service’s complaints hotline (1429) will be upgraded and have its operating hours extended. The Service has pledged that complaints will be investigated and responded to promptly.
Source: www.cyprus-mail.com/news/
Archaeologists in Cyprus have found what they believe are some of the world's oldest water wells, dating from the Stone Age 10,500 years ago and containing the skeleton of a young woman. The wells, unearthed by an excavator at a building site close to Paphos, adds to another five previously excavated in the region by a team from the University of Edinburgh.
"Radiocarbon dates indicate that these wells are 9,000 to 10,500 years old, which places them amongst the earliest water wells known in the world," the Antiquities Department said in a statement. The cylindrical shaft discovered by the excavator had a number of small niches cut out of its sides to enable those who dug the well to climb in and out. It was silted up, containing animal bones and the poorly preserved skeleton of a young woman, the department said. "Unfortunately we shall never know how she came to be there," it said.
(Source: www.cyprus-mail.com/news/)
New Product…….
Aunt Maria’s – Pano Lefkara – Cyprus
The young daughter left with her husband for London to practice their craft in the late 1920s. The mother sought to lure her back by building a house for her, unlike any other in the village, surrounded by a large garden, just as the rich did in town. Mother and father went to work. They cut stone from a nearby field, and carried it to the village. The father built the surrounding stone walls down to the ravine and the mother directed the work inside the big house. It was a labor of love that consumed the mother to her last days. Years later the daughter retired to Lefkara, lived in the lower-level section, enjoying the rare advantage of the open space and large garden in the heart of Lefkara, less than a hundred yards away from the village square, shops and restaurants.
The house was restored with loving care in 2008 and is situated in the picturesque village of Lefkara and is surrounded on all sides by a garden, and enjoys unobstructed views. It was completely restored in 2008 and split into four apartments. All the apartments have private entrances from the garden. They are tastefully furnished with traditional Cypriot furnishings and have A/C, central heating, satellite TV, free Wifi connection and access to laundry and ironing facilities. Linen and bath towels are provided.
Each apartment has a modern, fully equipped kitchen, including oven, stove, microwave and large refrigerator. There is a large dining table and a barbecue grill in the garden. The one bedroom apartments have shared access to washer/dryer facilities in a separate washing room.
http://www.auntmarias.com/
