Driving in Cyprus

Some advice - when driving in Cyprus expect the unexpected or the plain stupid.

Not that you'd notice it but all the sensible rules designed to ensure safety on the roads apply here, like seatbelts and not using your mobile phone whilst driving, all made simpler by driving on the left. However, Cyprus has been ranked in the top three European countries, per capita, in terms of road fatalities, with even more worrying statistics involving young people.

According to the Cyprus police service the main causes of road traffic accidents on the island are:

1. Speeding
2. Careless driving
3. Tailgaiting
4. Failing to obey traffic signs
5. Driving on the wrong side of the road
6. Driving under the influence of alcohol
7. Pedestrian carelessness

There are some interesting, if rather grim, statistics here.

The traffic department also claims to be clamping down on driving transgressions (they'd certainly make a financial killing if they did) but I haven't seen much evidence of this. If they started with the twits who ride motorbikes without helmets and the parents and grandparents who let children go without seatbelts it would be a much safer place.

The speed limit and particularly red traffic lights are optional extras. Mind you the speed limit on the main dual carriageways is 100 kph (a modest 65 mph). The number of times I've seen people blatantly go through red traffic lights or edge across junctions is nobody's business. And it would actually be dangerous to stop at a red pedestrian light if there weren't any pedestrians in sight.

So to survive as a driver in Cyprus, keep your wits about you, and to a large extent go with the flow as the locals will expect you to be as aggressive as they are.

Look, a beach!

Eleanor was, and still is, amazed and excited at seeing the sea so every time we drive anywhere she invariably calls out "Look, a beach! Izzabiff, a beach!"

We've tried out a few since we've been here. We had access to a small, private beach while we were staying at the Ermitage which if nothing else was convenient. The sand around Limassol is volcanic, so quite dark, but not unpleasant. The tourists of course largely use the beach along the main drag but if you go a bit further east you can find some quieter spots between the grander hotels and close to the Amathus site along the coastal pedestrian path (if you don't mind the sound of traffic 30 yards behind you). By far the nicest, and incidentally closest public beach to where we live, is one between the St Raphael and Meridien hotels. The water is clear and shallow and the beach is deeper than most. I can't remember its name at the moment - I shall just have to go back!

The other two major beaches close to Limassol, to the west, are Ladies Mile beach and Kourion (Curium) beach. The latter is apparently very attractive because of its backdrop of cliffs and the Greco-Roman amphitheatre. Ladies Mile runs along the eastern edge of the Akrotiri peninsular next to the salt lake so you can see whole of the Limassol coastline. This is also a good beach for children as the water is clear and shallow. Further along the coast the attractive village of Pissouri also boasts a pleasant beach.

Going the other way along the coast towards Larnaca there is Governor's Beach with extremely white rocks which contrast with the dark sand. When the tide is right you can walk along into various small coves.

If you want golden sands then there's Ayia Napa. We visited Nissi beach with its turquoise water. I wouldn't want to be there in peak tourist season as I reckon it's a bit of a Club 18-30 spot but just before Easter it was very pleasant although sadly cloudy for most of our visit. The harbour at Ayia Napa is also worth a visit.

Sports day

This morning was Elizabeth's school sports day. It was for the pre-reception and reception age children only. They were put into teams (red, white and blue) and all participated in five different races. Some were individual and some were team races: egg and spoon; shopping; bean bag; dressing up, and buggy.

It was great fun with lots of gentle encouragement (and help) from staff and the year 6 prefects and all over by 9am. The PTA provided refreshment with contributions from parents, including a rather solid fruit cake baked by yours truly.

Elizabeth sadly dropped her "egg" early on in her race and came a lonely third but redeemed herself by winning the shopping race by a nose. She was chuffed! She carried the bean bag expertly (probably aided by her hat) but was clearly let down by her slower team mates. The dressing up race was great fun. They had to don a scarf, hat and a shirt. Somehow Elizabeth managed to put a hat on over the one she was already wearing. If the buggy race had not already been lost it certainly was when Elizabeth decided that she had to spend valuable time getting "baby" comfortable before proceeding!