I love Christmas in Cyprus. I have to admit when I first came to live here I did wonder what Christmas would be like. I remember the first thing that struck me was how much George Michael’s song “Last Christmas” was played on the radio and in the nightclubs! “Why was that?”, I hear you ask. Well, for any of you who might not know, George Michael is Greek Cypriot and hails from southern Cyprus, and so he is definitely considered a son of this country! The Cypriots are very proud of him, and simply adore all his music, and so do I.
For many of you, I am sure you associate Cyprus only with hot sun, sandy beaches, and balmy evenings. I know I did. But you know what, it offers even more than that. Winter in Cyprus is a very special season. It’s what I call our own unique winter wonderland!
When I first came to live in Cyprus, I was unmarried, and in a relationship with my Greek Cypriot now-husband. After we had married and had our first child in Cyprus, I remember my father-in-law reminding me of these wise words of Socrates when we were thinking about where we should send my daughter to school in Cyprus. “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”
I remember thinking on one rainy, windy day in England back in 1994, what must life in Cyprus be like? I hadn’t even visited it on holiday. All I knew about it was that the island is divided and its inhabitants in the south, where I was destined to go, are Greek Cypriots. Oh yes, and I had a look at a map of Cyprus and I remember thinking it looked something like a violin!
Renting out your property in Cyprus can be a good way to get money out of your holiday home while you’re not there. However, there are strict rules around renting, so you need to know them to be on the right side of the law.