Indian Summer
It’s October, my favourite month! Partly because that long hot summer is over … or is it? … I asked the fishermen and they said it might not rain ‘til at least the end of October, with temperatures up in the high 20°C’s, that’s about 90°F in English, and so, just as we predicted, it looks like we’re going to have another Indian summer and we’ll still be going to the beach in December, Mmm … I love Cyprus!
The Med
It’s supposed to be Autumn, it’s getting chilli swimming in the pool in the morning, but we can still swim in the sea, get a tan, wear shorts and t-shirt all day and maybe long sleeves by night, but I don’t think we’ll need a quilt on the bed ’til November … Don’t you just love Cyprus?
Bank Holidays
It’s one of my favourite seasons, with two bank holidays on Friday 1st and Thursday 28th, and as we’ve all been working our little bits off trying to squeeze an 8 month season into 4 months, impossible! But as things slow down, we’ll all get the chance to catch up with friends, who’ve been more like passing ships in the night for the last 4 months, probably light a few barbies, you know, any excuse to smell hot charcoals.
I love that smell
You’ll notice the air is clearer and fresher and btw, don’t let those cool Mediterranean breezes fool you, the sun in Cyprus is still very strong, so you can still burn if you’re not careful. Remember we haven’t seen any rain on the coast since April, apart from a few showers one day in mid-September. In fact, I can’t wait for the first rains, that small, Mmm, another thing indigenous to Cyprus! …
Short & Sweet
If we do get rain in October it’ll be short and sweet and hard and everyone runs out into the roads, waving their arms in the air, shouting Wooohooo! You know, the term ‘pissing down cats and dogs’ must have Greek roots somewhere? … and then the roads become rivers and who said we don’t need drainage??? ffs? … oh, and don’t worry, rain here one day, gone the next!
It’s touring season
Why not jump in the car or give one of our Safari tours a call and get Out and About a bit. The Troodos mountains are coming into their element and the sunrise in Kapparis breath-taking or sunsets in Paphos are quite stunning! … I was talking to Kyri from Stephanos Water Sports the other day and said “we can’t wait to get to the mountains”, I asked him why?? He said “so we can’t see the sea”. I said, how can you get fed up of this sea? he laughed and replied, “just for one day!” … on that note, even up in the mountains, you can still see the sea, at some points on three sides of the island …
Closing & Opening
As always in October we’re expecting end of season closing parties and naturally, in turn, loads of winter season opening parties, all over Cyprus. It also seems we’ll see a few more pubs, bars, cafes and clubs staying open, as we’re expecting an Indian Summer … naturally some will swing towards the local market, which sort of makes sense. So, if you get invited to any end of season or opening parties make sure you go … it’ll be rude not to!
On Stage
The annual, Cyprus Rocks festival sadly isn’t happening, disappointing thousands of fans, but I hear many fell in love with Cyprus and are coming anyway and they’ll be happy coz there’s quite a bit of live music happening … So, you guys better check out Savino Live in Larnaca, Darcy’s and O’Neill’s Irish Bar in Paphos and Koursaros Music Bar in Protaras, to mention but a few.
Entertainment
I recently caught up with Andreas Morreli of Morreli Events and he said The excellent Peter Kay tribute by Simon Mark is on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 10th warming up for The Phil Collins tribute next month … and then Andreas’ very own Rat Pack might do a surprise national tour soon.
A Must
I also caught up with the fabulous Karen Kendall of Kendall Events who this month boasts The Little Eagles, one of the worlds greatest tributes to The Eagles, back by popular demand, with 6 dates on their mini tour around Cyprus from 5th to 12th October … oh, and on Saturday 2nd October at The Grand Slam Inn in Kapparis, Matty will be doing the Glitz & Glamour of Vegas with his Tribute to Swing pulling off Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Frankie Valli, and the unique Welsh Elvis …
Medieval Festival
Ayia Napa’s Medieval Festival is getting bigger and more spectacular every year. Starting on Thursday 9th to the 16th October, reproducing a era that left its marks on our cultural heritage. The events and activities during Ayia Napa Medieval Festival are inspired from the Medieval period, representing the everyday life and events of these times, including: Street theatre and theatrical plays within the grounds of the Medieval Monastery as authentic backdrop.
More Music & Dance
Many music concerts and dance shows will be performed by groups from Greece, Russia, Italy, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Germany, Holland, France and Cyprus. With many schools and sports teams dressing up in Medieval costumes at the opening parade, ‘The Streets of Crusaders’ … The Medieval market as always will be in the monastery gardens with lots of stalls selling local wines from Oak barrels, and there’s street food from medieval times, with traditional gifts and souvenirs, plus pottery making, basketry weaving, workshops and exhibitions for the whole family … Here’s a link to the weeks programme …
Get Tangoed
The wonderful 5 Star Grecian Park Hotel in Protaras will host the 7th Cyprus Tango Meeting with guest Maestros from 28th ’til 1st November … Presented by Andrea Serban & Endre Szeghalmi, owners of “Tango Libre” dance school in Budapest and hosts of Milonga Jueves, also organizers of the Hungary Tango Festival and winners of the UK’S Tango Championship and the European Tango contest, finalists of the European Tango Cup … For more info click here
Coffee Break
The wonderful Limassol Marina will be the setting for this years Coffee Festival from 15th to 17th … The slipway will be the backdrop, al ‘fresco style, for coffee enthusiasts, with many industry leaders and champions visiting to hold workshops and training courses with a Professional Barista Competition … Find lots more info here …
Safe & Warm
As our long summer season, short as it may have been this year is coming to its end’ ish, making room for our out of season ‘long stayers’ predominantly from UK and Scandinavia, with Paphos leading the way with their all year-round facilities and Ayia Napa and Kapparis catching up, slowly but surely.
Third Age
Cyprus is one of the favourite places for our senior visitors who live in Northern Europe to escape the long cold winter and I think it’s a wise move, as Cyprus has the best climate in Europe and boasts being one of the top 3 safest country’s in the world, that’s partly down to our successes in handling Covid-19 crises.
We’re staying
We didn’t have many seasonal workers this season as many places opened with a skeleton crew and most of those that were here have gone back to school? hmm. However, there’s an ever-increasing number of them that won’t leave this year as Cyprus inevitably gears up for year-round tourism.
Boats & Safari
There’s still a few Boat Trips and Mini Cruises sailing too, so get down to your local harbour or check our web site, just search for our Boat Trips or Safari recommendations … As it’s half term at the end of the month check out our Things to Do and our Kids & Grown Ups recommendations.
Eating Out
Anyway, as I was saying, Indian summer, beach ’til Christmas, topping up the tan, sounds good to me … and, we hear there’s frost in Europe, sounds even better, haha, suffer 😉, and, as in Cyprus, we live for the table!, dining outside in October is heaven, hey, why else do we live here? And, on that note, there’s enough restaurants open in our Eating Out category to choose a different cuisine every day for a fortnight! … And if you’re organising your wedding click here …
Cultural
After our accession to Europe, back in 2004, we predicted there will be an increase in cultural events in Cyprus and wow, following Paphos’ honour of boasting The Cultural Capital of Europe a few years back, the whole cultural thing has spread all over Cyprus … tbh, I just love our ever changing Cyprus especially when it comes to cultural events! … For a link to many cultural events in Cyprus check out www.visitcyprus.com provided by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation.
Halloween
Don’t forget its Halloween Night on Sunday 31st October with many venues holding special events for all ages, so keep your eyes on our Facebook page and they are getting bigger every year as the Cypriots have realised it’s a great excuse to dress up, or dress down it seems haha! … so, start sewing or get down to the fancy dress hire shops and make it an event to remember!
Scary Parties
Many pubs and restaurants have got their acts together making the effort to put on events. Leading the way are places like CyHerbia who boast the biggest children’s Halloween event in Cyprus with stuff like Pumpkin Carving every weekend from 16th & 17th ‘til the 31st October, a must for the kids booking is on-line only … whilst Castle Club in Napa won’t be mixing Halloween with their closing party this year, coz I just found out they’re opening on Saturdays all through the winter …. oh, btw there’ll be loads happening all over Cyprus that night! … oh, don’t forget you’re not allowed to dance in pubs hahahahaha! … what a crazy, stupid, rule???
Finally
You really must check out our responsive and dynamic web site, with well over 10,000 visitors a month, coz there you’ll find over 1,600 pages of info and our recommendations, with over 25,000 photos and videos, all one word searchable! So, if you fancy fish just go search Fish for the best places to eat it and if you’re feeling ‘Random’ go see what we have there … and so on that note; I’d just like to give a big shout out to all our sponsors that help make this network possible!
Number One
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And really finally
If I can give you just one more tip … Make sure you do at least one thing you’ve never done before!
Na da bou’men!
Tony Dynamou
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