Cyprus - An Island Of Dramatic Contrasts
Cyprus is on of the most preferred retreats in the med due to it’s long history and rich cultural heritage. Despite being a fully signed up member of the European Union, Cyprus has been able to retain strong control over the rates of tax it charges to those who retire to Cyprus. Cyprus the third largest in the Mediterranean Sea is a holiday island which has embraced tourism with enthusiasm and undoubtedly has a great deal to offer its twenty first century invaders. Cyprus has a rich cultural history having been occupied by different civilizations over the years.
The magic of Cyprus is steeped in a rich and colorful history and its numerous archaeological treasures are breathtakingly beautiful, The islands history is marked by a series of conquerors that throughout the centuries determined the character of the land and the fate of its people. Cyprus, with a culture rich and varied with strong influences from Turkey and the surrounding Mediterranean countries, has changed hands on many occasions throughout history . For the visitor looking for a permanent base in Cyprus or thinking of buying a retirement home, there are enough properties available and within the budget of most people.
Cyprus offers excellent value for money with a wide range of properties now available. Property in Cyprus is a fantastic investment opportunity because the Island is in the middle of a huge property boom and the prices are reasonably low when compared to the UK in particular. In addition when investing in property in Cyprus English is widely spoken and they even drive on the same side of the road as us. The perfect way to see this beautiful Island is car rental and if you do the job right you can even save some money on your airport transfers too.
Car rental is widely available throughout the island, at very reasonable fares, and can usually be arranged upon arrival at the airport, or even beforehand through a travel agent. Car hire in Cyprus is in abundance in the larger towns with most established companies having a presence. However, travelling by car is not essential as there are plenty of buses in Cyprus which are frequent, reliable and very cheap. There is plenty of entertainment on the island; you can find lots of wonderful restaurants, clubs and pubs.
There are many restaurants of varying cuisines and prices are very low in comparison to elsewhere in the Med. Some restaurants and tavernas offer their customers the choice of seafood meze or meat meze which is the local diet although European food is broadly available. A large variety of international and local restaurants serve excellent food including Italian, French, Chinese, Thai, in fact any food to suffice any budget. Tasting the local food is one of the highlights of visiting Cyprus.
With over 320 days of sunshine a year, Cyprus is definitely a major European travel destination, but sunshine isn?t the only thing in Cyprus beckoning Europeans. Cyprus is simply steeped in culture, myth and history and arguably the most ‘Crime free’ society in Europe. The countryside is stunning and mountainous, while the coastal areas have beautiful Mediterranean beaches. Cyprus is a Paradise in the Mediterranean, an island of grandeur, culture and hospitable people.