What is cyprus like?

Question

weather, cities, culture, beaches, cost, etc

Answer 1

the first half its like Greece

the next half is Turkey like

Answer 2

Cyprus in generally is a nice Holiday destination and a good option to live in the area.

The temperatures in Cyprus are generally warm. The coldest months of the year is January and February. The weather is generally very different inland and on the coasts. Inland in winter (January and February) the temperature might drop to -5c at night but normally stays above 10c during the day even on the coldest days of the year. In summer  the center of Cyprus becomes very hot with max. temperatures at arund 43c and virtually no rain. The coasts have a more stable temperature (+4c in winter nights/+15c during the day) and max. temperatures at around 36c in summer. However, the heat is worse as the humitidy level rises the closer you get to the sea above 90% at night at many places).

Cyprus' major cities are Lefkosia (Nicosia)=Capital, Lemesos (Limasol), Larnaka and Pahos with Keryneia and Amochostos currently under Turkish occupacian.

While you can enjoy a holiday feeling in Larnka and Paphos (partially Lemesos) with beaches, clubs and restaurants, Lefkosia and parially Lemesos have a more 'city-like' touch to them. Lefkosia offers a nice selection of stores (incl. Malls and maga-stores) as well as couple of theaters, museums and cinemas.

As Cyprus is 'small' also the attractions are mostly 'small' (nice but...). So you wont find the Empire State Building here. The town hall of Lefkosia has the size of a large house and the museums might remind many people of regional museums in their home country. However, due to its strategic position (officially in Asia (Middle East), it heart is in Europe) it has attracted a lot of investment and the center of the towns become real finance centers.

Due to that the costs in Cyprus exploded recently and now you must pay around $500,000 for a decent house with a tiny yard if you want to get close to the Capital. The average cost of living is low compared to Europe but anything 'fun' costs a fortune (coffee $4-10, Lunch/Dinner $ 20-... in a middle class place).

Cyprus' beaches are beautiful but crowded. There are empty beaches in the north which would be even more stunning IF you wouldnt have to be afraid of beeing suffecated by floating garbage and glass on the beach.

The mainstream music in Cyprus is regular English music, Greek-pop music (which is very influenced by Arabic and Turkish pop) as well as alternative Greek music (Bjork in Greek so to speak) and Greek Rock. Older people tend to listen to more traditionally Greek music or Cyprus-made 'mountain' music which 'Italian guy' already described.

Last but not least: Greek-Cypriots generally think of them as Greek (as the Turkish Cypriots do with Turks); however; if one is comparing things eg. The roads are like it Greece etc Cypriots get a national pride of their own and nearly always insist that Greece is backwards and the Cypriots are more civilized ;) But generally very friendly and helpful people.

Answer 3

Cyprus is the third-largest Mediterranean island and one of the most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 2.4 million tourists per year

The traditional folk music of Cyprus has many common elements with Greek mainland and island folk music, including dances like the sousta, syrtos, zeibekikos, tatsia, and the kartsilamas.

The instruments commonly associated with Cyprus folk music are the lute ("laouto"), violin ("fkiolin"), accordion and the Cyprus flute ("pithkiavlin").

There is also a form of musical poetry known as "chattista", which is often performed at traditional feasts and celebrations. Composers associated with traditional music in Cyprus include Evagoras Karageorgis, Marios Tokas, Solon Michaelides, Savvas Salides.

Seafood dishes of Cyprus include calamari (squid), octopus in red wine, (red mullet), and sea bass. Cucumber and tomato are used widely in Cypriot cuisine.

Other common vegetable preparations include potatoes in olive oil and parsley, pickled cauliflower and beets, kolokasi (taro) and asparagus.

Meat dishes marinated in dried coriander seeds and wine, and eventually dried and smoked, such as lounza, charcoal-grilled lamb (souvla), sheftalia (minced meat wrapped in mesentery), as well as cracked wheat (pourgouri) are some of the traditional delicacies of the island.