Weddings

... her idea was to gather together a selection of gifts from small Cypriot companies, preferably handmade and handcrafted gifts, unusual, unique and original ... she makes up your hampers and boxes herself and above all Irene loves to help make people happy ... I liked that bit!

The Grand Slam is a family run British style boozer, it's even on the corner, on the sunny side of the road, and once known as The Corner Pin, inside it looks busy, with quirky little designs mostly mums doing, I just love the Table Tops they're well cool ... There's music memorabilia all over the place with a professional light and sound system, a well stocked bar, with a lovely front terrace onto Kapparis Avenue ... it's a great stop off for an afternoon drink, good pub grub, and there's something happening here almost every night!

The development was built in 2008 by a reputable local developers ... They are ideally situated in the Pernera area, which tbh is one of my favourite mini resorts in Cyprus, it really has everything, from local supermarkets, plenty of eateries of every cuisine from traditional to Mexican and several excellent bars, including one which boasts one of Cyprus' best chefs ... oh, several beaches are walking distance and a couple of them rated in Europe's finest beaches not to far away ... and in between the two resorts the national park of Cape Greko waiting to be discovered above and below the waterline ...

this local band based in Nicosia, are one of the few Cypriot bands that sing in English and tbh, they're unique in every sense of the word ... normally doing about 10 gigs a month the lockdown has given them time to think, differently, yet again!!!

Naturally I had to ask why Mambo’s, I joked, nothing to do with Nando’s?, he smiled and said "maybe" … explaining “if anything, we wanted to bring a new concept to the area, with a hint of a Mediterranean fusion with South America” … But I love the name, the décor very cool, the little touches here and there tells you know they mean business.  There’s a lovely long terrace on the sunny mornings side of the road, and indoors spacious for your parties … or those chilli winter nights …

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 ...

As I arrived, my first impressions were it looked quite 'normal', a fairly plain frontage, edged in gorgeous natural stone walls, wonderful wooden shutters, but through the big antique wooden front doors and into the lounge and you're in another world ... making it obvious why its a favourite for wedding planners ...

I met up with the owner Nicos Pyrgos for a chat, and it soon became obvious that this guy has exceptional knowledge about fireworks ... after all, his father Marios launched the company back in 1986, laughing, Nicos said, "I've got gunpowder in my veins"! ... ha! my type of guy!

The décor of their elegant shop is delightful, from the moment you open those big, solid doors.  The centrepiece, a spectacular glass bubble chandelier, surrounded by very impressive and immaculate displays of the finest, exclusively designed jewellery in Cyprus, in fact internationally, as Melekkis is becoming an international brand name with plans to expand worldwide in the future..

When I called by to find out a little more about them, I was well impressed ... it's a unisex salon, fully air-conditioned, with a comfortable front studio for manicures and pedicures and 3 more rooms for their speciality medical treatments, facials, massage and body treatments and their services are extensive, to say the least, with a resident and fully qualified Plastic Surgeon and two resident hairdressers that love to style, to add to a long list of health, beauty and wellness treatments including ...