Indian Summer
It’s October, my favourite month! Partly because that long hot summer is over, or is it? … As usual, I asked the fishermen and they said it might not rain ‘til November, with temperatures currently up in the mid 30°C’s, that’s about 100°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 Autumn, so it’s a bit chilly swimming in the pool in the morning, but it’s still hot enough to swim in the sea, sunny enough to get a tan, warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt all day but maybe you’ll have to put on long sleeves by night, and I don’t think we’ll need a quilt on the bed ’til November!
Bank Holidays
It’s one of my favourite seasons, with two bank holidays on Saturday 1st and Friday 28th, and as we’ve all been working our little bits off trying to make up for the last two years, we’ll be happy to get down to the beach on those days! Another reason I love October is that things slow down a bit and we’ll all get the chance to catch up with friends, who’ve been more like passing ships in the night for the past 6 months, probably light a few barbies, you know, any excuse to enjoy various foods cooked over hot charcoals! … That grilled halloumi indigenous to Cyprus! mmm!
I love that smell
You’ll notice the air is clearer and fresher and whatever you do, don’t let those cool Mediterranean breezes fool you. The sun in Cyprus is still very strong, so you can easily burn if you’re not careful. Remember we haven’t seen any rain on the coast since May, apart from a few crazy showers one day in mid-September. In fact, I can’t wait for the first rains, that smell, Mmm, another thing indigenous to Cyprus!
Short & Sweet
If we do get rain in October it’ll be short and sweet, and hard, and normally everyone runs out into the roads, waving their arms in the air, shouting ‘Hallelujah’! Come to think of it, the term ‘pissing down cats and dogs’ must have Cypriot roots somewhere? … and then please take care coz the roads become slippery rivers and whoever was it that said “we don’t need drainage in Cyprus”??? 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 breathtaking whilst the sunsets in Paphos are quite stunning! … I was talking to Kyri from Stephanos Water Sports the other day and he 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 with 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 again, disappointing thousands of fans, but I hear many fell in love with Cyprus and they’ll still be 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, O’Neill’s Irish Bar in Paphos and Knights Bar & Grill boast a few of the past bands on Thursday 6th aka Jam Day and Koursaros Music Bar in Pernera, Protaras, to mention but a few.
Entertainment
I also caught up with the fabulous Karen Kendall of Kendall Events who this month boasts The Little Eagles, one of the world’s greatest tributes to The Eagles, back by popular demand, with 6 dates on their mini tour around Cyprus from 1st to 8th October …
Medieval Festival
Ayia Napa’s Medieval Festival is getting bigger and more spectacular every year. Starting on Thursday 8th to Friday 16th October, reproducing an 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 an authentic backdrop … Might as well pop into the Square Bar or Ambassaden Bar while you’re there!
More Music & Dance
Many music concerts and dance shows will be performed by groups from Greece, Italy, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Germany, Holland, France, and Cyprus. With many schools and sports teams dressing up in Medieval costumes at the spectacular opening parade, aptly known as ‘The Streets of Crusaders’ …
Market Time
The Medieval market as always will be in the monastery gardens with many 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 week’s program.
Get Tangoed
The wonderful 5 Star Grecian Park Hotel in Protaras will host the 8th Cyprus Tango Meeting with the regular maestros and this year’s guest Maestros leading the way from Thursday 27th ’til 31st October … For more info click here
Safe & Warm
As our long summer season is coming to its end’ ish, we’ll of course see our regular third-generation, out-of-season-long stayers swarming to Cyprus, 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 very surely.
Third Age
Cyprus is in fact, 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 three safest countries in the world, the safest under 2 million residents I’m led to believe!
We’re staying
Many of our seasonal workers have gone back to school. However, there’s an ever-increasing number of them that won’t be leaving this year as Cyprus has finally geared 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 website, just search for our Boat Trips or Safari recommendations, and 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 staying open to choose a different cuisine every day for a fortnight, see our Eating Out category! … And if you’re over here 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 it’s Halloween on Monday 31st October with many venues holding special events for all ages, so keep your eyes on our Facebook page coz they are getting bigger every year as the Cypriots have finally 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, cafes and restaurants are making the effort to put on events this year. 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 8th ‘til the 31st October, a must for the kids, booking is online 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!
Finally
You really must check out our responsive and dynamic website, with well over 10,000 visitors a month, coz there you’ll find over 1,800 pages of info and Tony’s personal 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 seafood, and if you’re feeling ‘Random’ go see what we have there, its fun … 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
We are without a doubt, the leading Cyprus Guide for Cyprus News & Entertainment on Facebook, and we love to receive your comments, ideas, events, and stories, so please keep them coming … btw, If you’re in business, and you’ve got something to shout about, if you tell us, we’ll tell them … and if you get anything from our guide, please don’t forget to mention you saw it in What’s On, often as not you’ll be in for a nice surprise!
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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