” The rate of exchange is approx. 1.9 Dollars to 1 Cyprus Pound
” US Dollars are widely accepted in Limassol!
” Major Credit Cards are accepted in many larger stores and restaurants
” The Official Language in Limassol is Greek. Some English will be spoken within the Tourist areas. As in any major city please be aware of pickpockets!
” Banks will be open 8:30am until 12:30pm and 3:15pm until 4:45pm.
” Allowing for plenty of exceptions (due to it being the end of the Summer Season), most shops will be open from 8:30am until 2:00pm & 4:00pm until 7:00pm.
” Restaurants will be open from 1:00pm until 3:00pm
” The New City of Limassol is located above the Old City and stretches for 7 miles along the coast. Taxis are available and the cost is approx. 8 to 10USD, per taxi, to the Old City. There are Telephones and a few small Duty Free Shops near the terminal.
” If you enter a Greek Orthodox Church or a Mosque you will need to cover your shoulders and knees. If not visiting any of the Religious sights you can dress casually, beach attire is not socially acceptable anywhere other than on the beaches.

SIGHTSEEING

In 1191 Richard the Lionhearted arrived in Limassol to rescue his sister and fiancée who had been shipwrecked here. It is said he was married in the Limassol Castle and his fiancée was crowned the Queen of England, whilst they were on the island of Cyprus.

THE LIMASSOL MEDIEVAL CASTLE AND MUSEUM:
Admission is 1CY (Open 9:00am until 5:00pm)
Here you will find three of the nine Ancient Silver Plates dating from 620AD. The other remaining six Plates are located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City. Also located in the Museum is an Olive Oil Press dating from the 7th Century, Byzantine and Medieval artifacts, including Gold Religious Items, Ottoman Pottery, Tombstones and Medieval Suits of Armor.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM:
Admission is 1CY (Open 9:00am until 5:00pm)
Within this Museum you will find a collection of Classical Pottery, Jewelry, Oil Lamps, and the highlight is an Ancient bust of Aphrodite, taken from Ancient Kourion.

THE ANCIENT CITY OF KOURION: Admission approx. 2 CY (Open 8:00am until to 7:30pm)
This cliff-top settlement was most likely founded in the Neolithic Period. Kourion became a permanent settlement in the 13th Century BC. In Roman times a pre-Christian cult of Apollo was active amongst its inhabitants. The mosaics are one of the highlights of Kourion along with the Ancient 2nd Century Roman Amphitheater, which is still being utilized today for the occasional Concert.

KOLOSSI CASTLE: Located approx. 45 min from berth.
Admission is 1CY (Open 9:00am until 7:30pm)
The Castle is accessible by a short drawbridge and the Castle was constructed in the 1200’s. This Castle is a Fortified Tower that stands as a reminder of the Knights of St. John in the 13th Century. Most of the current structure was built in 1454. The Knights produced wine and sugar cane here. Commandaria is a local sweet fortified wine. This wine which has been produced on the island since the days of the Knights. This is one of the oldest single wine grapes, continually harvested, in the entire world.

PAPHOS: Located approx. two hours from berth.
Open 9:00am until 7:30pm
In Greek Mythology, this is the site where ravishing Aphrodite arose from a splash of seafoam. The Temple of Aphrodite was constructed here and drew crowds from all over the Ancient World. Only the privileged were allowed to live near this site and some of the former homes of the aristocrats still stand. One is the House of Dionysus, with its Mosaic floors, which once covered all 30 rooms. The colors of the Mosaics are well preserved and show the daily activity and legends of over 2500 years ago.

There are two Mosques in Limassol located near to the Castle.

BEACHES

The best beaches are located just a few minutes south by taxi, from the New Port Area in the British Controlled Akrotiri Peninsula. There is also a beach near Ancient Kourion. Which is situated just below the ruins. There are many beaches and a modern water-sport park in the New City.

DINING

Cyprus is known for its MEZE. Small portions (appetizers), you eat a combination of these small dishes to make a full meal. To really appreciate a meal of Meze, I recommend that you have at least a party of four and you are quite hungry, for you will be served up to 20 to 30 different dishes. You will start with many different dips and breads, olives and salad, cheeses, veggies, some different fish and shellfish, meatballs and sausages, then the main course of kebabs and/or grilled chicken and finally fresh fruit.

You can also find many of the traditional Greek dishes. If service is included a 5% tip for the waiter is sufficient, if no service is included 10 to 15% is the norm.
Local wines are excellent. I once again recommend the Commandaria a local sweet wine made since the days of the Knights of Saint John. The local Beers are KEO and the locally brewed Carlsberg.

SHOPPING Most prices are preset and you will not have much room to bargain. You will find many excellent buys in all types of suitcases, leather goods, woven goods, ceramics, baskets, and lace. Excellent quality shoes are available and are less expensive than in the United States. Most of the shops are located on Ayiou Andreou (ST. ANDREW)

The Governments of a Divided Island
The Government of the Republic of Cyprus is based on the Constitution of 1960 that was devised by conservative governments in London, Athens and Ankara. The constitution was never intended to be a permanent document and it was not truly designed for the Cypriot people. It was meant as a compromise among the British, Greek and Turkish governments over control of the island. Now in use for 38 years, the documents curious beginnings created a government that remains deeply divided between its two communities. For example, the president is always a Greek-Cypriot and the vice-president a Turkish-Cypriot. They govern their respective areas and are elected by separate elections, but both retain the right of veto. Civil service, police, & parliament posts were divided along a controversial 70:30 split meant to mirror the population. For a bill to pass in the 100 member parliament, it not only requires an overall majority, but also a majority within both communities. So, in theory, 16 Turkish-Cypriot representatives could oppose a measure that was favored by the remainder and the bill would fail. The government meets in Geneva.

The Green Line (Just for your interest, it is not suggested or recommended to cross the line). The infamous Green Line divides the north (Turkish) part of the island from the south (Greek) portion. (The Greek capital of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicosia (called by the Greeks, Lefkosia), is split by the Green Line running east to west at the north end of the city.) The Turks control approximately 37% of the island and since 1983 that area has been known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Though only Turkey has recognized the new state, the TRNC has established trading relations in Europe and with several Arab nations. It lags far behind the Republic of Cyprus economically but is generally supported by Turkish Cypriots who have been joined in recent years by thousands of settlers from mainland Turkey.

Crossing the Green Line from the south is relatively easy if you follow the very strict regulations. Greek citizens and those of Greek descent are not permitted to cross the line. There is a checkpoint at the border which is a former hotel, its interior is gutted and its exterior is marred by bullet holes, it stands on neutral territory and houses UN troops. Passports are checked on both sides of the Line and a form is filled out for a visa. If the officials stamp someones passport, they will not be allowed to re-enter the Greek side. If someone is coming from the north and has a Turkish stamp in the passport, they can never enter the south. There are also strict rules about crossing: Northern Cyprus can only be entered during certain hours of the day and the return has a deadline. People must cross on foot, cars are not allowed. Pictures are forbidden of anything that has to do with the military or the police. If coming from the Greek side, you are not allowed to buy anything on the Turkish side. Any items brought from the south to the north will be confiscated. Crossing from the North is impossible. The quickest way to get to south Nicosia, is to first fly to London, and then to the south. You can only do this if you do not have a Northern Cyprus stamp in your passport. A cheaper way is to go by ferry to a place called Tasucu in Turkey, take a bus to Marmaris, and then a ferry to Rhodes and then another ferry to Southern Cyprus. The journey should only take about 2 days. Talk about red tape!!!! P. S. If all that is not interesting enough, the people drive on the left side of the road in the Greek part of the island and on the right side in the Turkish part of the island.