Sports

one of the most popular customs and arguably the most fun is a joyful procession to the sea, where people sprinkle and often throw water over each other, symbolising the purification of the body as well as the soul ... Hmm, I’m taking a bucket with me this year!

Let's start by saying this excellent multi-award-winning Waterpark was voted the No: 1 Waterpark in Cyprus, No.3 in Europe and No.5 in the world by TripAdvisor and tbh, they deserve every accolade they get … so, expect to find nothing but the best here and you're guaranteed a great day out whatever your age …

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 ...

A place with a cool atmosphere, to enjoy good food, but with big portions, served fresh from the Charcoal Grill, hosting regular events and of course showing all the live sports on the 4 big screens.  The decor traditional taverna style, inside it's spacious, comfy, a lovely log burner for the chilly winter evenings and outside a covered courtyard for the balmy summer nights ... oh I'm loving the new extended bar with RGB lights, looks well cool ...

I've known Andri, and Jimmy since before they opened.  What I like so much about this couple is the obvious passion for their business, as you walk in, the immediate impression is that this company has a touch of class! 

Then step out back, the pièce de résistance, an absolutely enchanting courtyard, mature trees, plants, and foliage everywhere, a red trellis adorning a multitude of colours ... It's become a lively meeting spot for locals to unwind after a busy day.  The warm glow of twinkling fairy lights adds an enchanting touch to the already picturesque setting.

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"

If you are anywhere near Oroklini, this is an excellent choice, if you're not, it's definitely worth the drive, whether you fancy breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can sit inside in traditional surroundings, or out front in the beer garden, or out back by the gorgeous pool, or maybe enjoy a fun-filled night with live entertainment, or just pop in for a quick pint and sit next to the huge tropical fish tank while enjoying a little Sushi!

... with one of the longest dive seasons in the world and some of the most popular dive sites on the island due to clear, calm, warm water without dangerous currents and high tides.  It has a variety of natural features such as caves, canyons, and huge drop off's which are safely accessible even on the occasional rough day ... plus a couple of new wrecks environmentally sectioned off to encourage plants and marine life! Click on the article for more!

Getting a round in ... There's four fantastic 18 hole courses on the island, and visitors are often surprised by the standard of the greens here...