What's On Cyprus

It's been awhile since I strolled around this boulevard of shoe shops, bag shops, souvenirs  galore, Jewellers, leather shops and more shoe shops, whilst down cobbled alleys you'll find quaint cafes and traditional restaurants and kebab taverns and a few Indie boutiques and loads of international labels ...

... These days he's got a crew of 30, most working as part of the family for years, and 'well oiled' is an understatement ... serving the best Cod and Haddock, and a nice bit of Plaice, imported from UK, Norway, Germany and France, deep fried in Lambros' crispy batter or breadcrumbs and served, of course, with chips made with Cyprus potatoes, pure heaven! ... opps, don't forget the mushy peas or maybe gravy, or curry sauce to dip your chips into and a few pickled onions and maybe a wally ... omg, old habits die hard oh, and almost forgot a good cuppa and a slice ... perfect!

It's amazing how many people still didn't know this place exists ... it's situated in the village of Avgorou, and includes beautifully landscaped herb gardens, the woodland area created in the shape of Cyprus, scattered with the endemic trees and shrubs of Cyprus, a Lavender Labyrinth, and it boasts the first and only hedge maze on the island, all 2000 sq.m. of it ...

Over a delicious Illy coffee, I asked Charbel how it all started; he said, "In the past, I was an HR Operations Manager in the F&B Sector ... Then we found this place, and between 2016 to 2021, we took Rise of the past, and Re-Branded it ... it was during the pandemic where I got the idea to take it to a new level and we had the time make some improvements, the idea was to 'Elevate your Hotel Experience' ... it's not just about the decoration it's about culture and spirit"

It was the name that first caught my attention, brilliant I thought! ... Then, this wonderful idea, equally brilliant!, a Boardgaming Cafe, nestled in the vibrant city of Larnaca, and I just had to get together with David, owner of 'Shakes and Lattes' to find out more ...

This impeccable Wine Bar & Cafe, serves the finer things in life, just about the best coffee you'll taste anywhere in Cyprus.  Complementing your selection of over 300 different quality wines with signature Fruit, Meat or Cheese Platters, introducing you to imported cheeses from all over the world, maybe with a little marmalade, hmm, trust me, you won't find this selection anywhere else, oh, and freshly baked bread and breadsticks and btw, you really must try the new Charguterie, French-based Mixed Meat Platters plus of course everyone's favourite, the freshly made Sushi and some spontaneous finger foods encompassing the trend towards the healthy living options.

... Whether you want to grab a takeaway and sit by the beach or sit in and relax in their comfy seating area they offer a great selection of coffees, teas, herbal drinks, smoothies, sandwiches, muffins, cakes ... the list is endless.

An eatery of the highest esteem, I love the crazy paved terrace, shaded by tall mature trees, that twinkle delightfully as the sun sets, the crazy colourful tables and chairs, almost kindergarden'ish, little alcoves of comfy seating, hammocks set up high in the trees, whilst down a tier, skirting the rocks, a pathway leading to the almost private beach on the left, that'll have mellow music and waiter service and there's plenty of sunbeds, all with a view to die for, a sea of serenity at Sirena Bay ...

I popped into meet Stelios and Eleni, inside its clean cut, minimalistic, Italian designer style, with wooden flooring, comfortable seating for around 25 people inside and a few tables outside for Al' Fresco dining … Stelios told me "we wanted to make it feel like Home from Home" … I loved the really cool photos chosen by Eleni, especially the one saying "Eat the Spaghetti to Forget your Regretti", brilliant"!

I popped in to catch up with the lovely Maria and David at Shakes & Lattes Board gamming Café in Larnaca ... They've just had three new games in ... One called 'Warriors of Krynn' the latest in War Game editions by Dragonlance released 2023 ... it's a cooperative game of adventure and strategy where you play heroes battling against the terrifying Dragon Army ...