Excavations have revealed an impressive circular building near the Xeros river in the Paphos region, on the outskirts of the Troodos mountains, the department of antiquities announced on Thursday.

The discovery in such a secluded area of Troodos raises new questions, as it now seems the mountain area was more culturally important than previously believed.

The building was unearthed during an archaeological mission of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

The team, under the direction of Professor Nikos Efstratiou, consisted of undergraduate and postgraduate students of the archaeology department of the university and Cypriot researcher Demetris Kyriakou.

According to the announcement which marks the conclusion of the excavation before the summer, the building, located at an altitude of 460 metres, dates from 6,400BC to 5,600 BC, around the same period as the Choirokoitia ancient site.

The stone building with a diameter of at least five metres was first discovered in 2018 and further investigated this year.

“It was extremely carefully constructed, with a double row of stones, is in very good condition and smaller structures were also found. The interesting find includes a large number of extinct tools from flint and stone vessels, as well a number of animal bones,” the department said.

Apart from contributing to the historical knowledge of the country, the finding is a welcome addition to other buildings from the ‘Choirokoitia period’, of which few exist.

The post Significant ancient find near Xeros river in Paphos appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

A large blaze that broke out on Friday dawn between Salamiou and Ayios Ioannis in the Paphos district was put partially under control some nine hours later after burning around 15 hectares of wild vegetation, olive trees and vines.

The fire started at 5.20am and it took a large number of firemen from the Paphos and Limassol district fire services with the help of eight aircraft to put it somewhat under control some nine hours later.

Fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis said that their task was very difficult due to the fact that the blaze was in a hard-to-reach area and due to the strong winds earlier in the day. Around noon, the fire had been raging out of control in some points.

The Ikaros contingency plan was activated in order to put out the fire. In total 12 units from the fire service, the forestry department and the Game and Fauna Fund battled the flames, as well as two fire service helicopters, two small planes from the forestry department, one from police and three from the British bases.

Kettis said that foul play was suspected and called on the public to immediately report fires when they notice them to limit arson cases.

The fire did not threaten houses or the nearby monastery of Panayia tou Sinti. But local authorities report that had the area been cleared of wild vegetation and an access road had been created in the area as per their standing demand, the fire would have been put out much quicker and more easily.

The community leader of Kelokedara, Marios Zachariades, told the Cyprus News Agency that if there was access to the area through the Xeros river, the fire would not have spread so far.

“The concern of community leaders in the area has always been the creation of easy access points to tackle fires so that there is unhindered access from the Nata area to Kelokedara,” he said.

He warned that unless this was carried out, the natural beauty of the river valley would be destroyed one day.

Salamiou community leader, Costakis Avgousti, said that between 15 and 20 hectares had been burned by afternoon

Unfortunately, he said, “to protect the environment, you must have access to it.”

He said that, coincidentally, a meeting is to take place at the district administration offices on Monday to discuss the issue of accessibility to the Xeros river.  The meeting had been scheduled prior to the fire, he said.

The post Paphos fire continues to rage out of control in some areas (Update 2) appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

There are no “ready solutions” to resolve the issue of noise pollution from nightclubs and bars during the tourism season but amendments are to be made that could alleviate some of the problems, Interior Minister Constantinos Petrides said on Monday.

However, changes are not likely in time for this summer since the relevant bill has been with the Legal Service for three months but they will not be able to see it through in time to get to the plenum for a vote before recess in July, MPs heard.

Authorities say they are unable to apply the existing law, since there is a gap that does not allow for prosecution, and there is no sure-fire way to record noise limits.

Addressing the committee, Petrides said the relevant law of 2016 was inapplicable in that there is no central control body and no way right now to place decibel meters at nightspots. There was also an issue of enforcement, he said.

“The ministry has drafted a bill with amendments that largely resolve some issues,” Petrides said, but not all. He mentioned the possibility of three different licensing levels depending on area and other conditions for playing loud music.

Noise pollution in summer has been an issue for years mainly in Paphos and Ayia Napa where hotel guests are often disturbed by loud music from clubs and pubs. On the flip side places like Ayia Napa have been opposed to regulation in general as the resort depends heavily on nightlife for its tourism, attracting the younger crowds.

The other major issue has always been the non-use of decibel meters with music venues pushing for changes to the law to ensure that the meters will be legally used by police and other officials since often, venues are booked by police who are literally gauging noise levels by ear.

“There is currently a fragmentation of responsibilities for the issue of noise,” Petrides said, so one of the first steps will be to assign a control body which will be responsible for policy. The bill provides that this will be the new deputy ministry for tourism, formerly the CTO.

Newly appointed Justice Minister George Savvides said there was no legal framework for the law to be properly implemented this summer.

“All that can be done is the application of the existing penal code and a few changes within the police force, which however has some staffing problems,” he said.

On behalf of the police, assistant chief of staff Christakis Mavris said police needed to be freed up from certain tasks such as monitoring noise pollution, and smoking violations, which, he added should be handed over to local authorities so that police can fight serious crime.

Diko MP Panicos Leonidou said the 2016 legislation was not adequate and that law enforcement did not have the means to record noise to see whether a complaint was justified. He suggested roping in the labour inspection department or outsourcing to the private sector.

Elam MP Linos Papayiannis said his party had tabled a proposal in September 2016 to set up a tourist police force to address the gaps that exist, not just for noise pollution but in general when it comes to tourism.

“Since September 2016 the issue has not been discussed and there seems to be no intention of discussing it,” he said.

The post Another noise polluted summer for Napa and Paphos appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

The total number of high-end residential properties sold during 2018 reached 324, recording a 2 per cent annual growth, according to the 2018 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) annual real estate report.

“The 2018 transaction value stood at €810 million, which appears marginally higher compared to 2017. The high-end residential property segment represents 19 per cent of the total Cyprus transaction value in 2018,” the report said.

Regarding sales, there was a 6 per cent increase in sale contracts across Cyprus during the last year, with the majority of transactions recorded in Limassol (37 per cent of total), followed by Paphos with 24 per cent. Growth of activity levels in Nicosia continued to be strong in 2018, with the capital recording a 10 per cent annual increase, the highest across Cyprus.

According to the report, the value of new building permits issued during 2018 increased by 20 per cent. Reflecting the rising construction activity levels, average cost of construction materials increased in 2018 by 1,7 per cent.

Some 4,367 properties in terms of sale contracts were acquired by foreigners, excluding transfers.

“The highest concentration of properties for which sale contracts were filed by foreign buyers was recorded in Paphos (40 per cent), followed by Limassol (30 per cent). Approximately 67 per cent of properties acquired by foreigners relate to non-EU buyers.”

The transaction value of the residential property sector reached €3.1billion (73 per cent of market total) comprising 10,600 housing transactions (6,900 apartments and 3,700 houses). 62 per cent of land transactions related to land parcels situated within residential planning zones, whereas 12 per cent comprises land parcels within tourist planning zones.

Prices in Limassol outperformed all other districts in terms of annual growth.

Apart from detailing the real estate market, the report also mentions the economic situation in Cyprus in general, which it views positively.

“As of 2018, the Cyprus GDP per capita is equivalent to 93 percent of the EU average, shrinking the gap which stood at 88 per cent in 2015. By 2023, Cyprus GDP per capita is expected to represent 97 percent of the EU average. Unemployment levels in the country continue to shrink, dropping to 8.4 per cent by the end of 2018, marking a 7-year low for the country. The enlargement of key sectors of the economy, in particular the construction and tourism related sectors, provided employment opportunities for the most vulnerable groups, the young and the long term unemployed.”

Even the shortages of qualified workers in the tourism sector has advantages, PWC noted, saying it signals a positive outlook for employment in the short term.

The surging employment market across all sectors is seen as a sign for a further rise of household disposable income during 2018.

The post Growth in sale of high-end properties in 2018 appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

By George Coucounis

“THE ISSUE of an order for specific performance prevents the vendor from raising an objection for the transfer of the property”

THE specific performance of a sale contract is achieved through the issue of a Court order after an action filed by the purchaser against the vendor and creates res judicata, which prevents the vendor from raising an objection for the registration of the property in the name of the purchaser, alleging that the sale price wasn’t paid, after he consented to the issue of the order. In the action of the purchaser, the vendor is entitled and ought to claim through a counterclaim the payment of any balance of the purchase price of the property.

By virtue of article 15 of the Specific Performance Law, L.81(I)/2011, when the purchaser met the relevant provisions of the law, but he refuses to pay the purchase price and accepts the property, the remedy available to the vendor under the contract is only damages.

It is evident that the vendor, after the issue of the order for specific performance of the contract and during its execution, cannot raise an objection regarding the transfer of the property to the purchaser because the purchase price wasn’t paid, since the aforesaid order creates an estoppel in any judicial proceedings to be instituted thereafter by the vendor, which will be considered as an abuse of the process of the Court.

Based on the rule of res judicata, a litigant ought to include in the action or the counterclaim all the causes supporting it and if he omits to raise before the Court a cause which could have been included in the original proceedings, he will not be allowed to raise it in any subsequent action.

The omission of the purchaser who obtained an order for specific performance to enforce it on time, by applying to the Director of the Lands and Surveys Department within a year from its issue for the registration of the property in his name, does not preclude him from using the procedure which is available to enclaved purchasers in order to achieve the transfer.

The Director, when examining the application of the purchaser, notifies the vendor of his intention to proceed with the registration of the property in the name of the purchaser under the sale contract and informs him for his right to object within 45 days from the notice, submitting all the relevant evidence supporting his objection.

In the event the Director is not satisfied that the sale price was not paid, he informs the vendor of his intention to transfer the property to the purchaser unless the vendor submits within 30 days an order of the Court stating otherwise.

In an appeal of a vendor against the decision of the Director, the District Court of Paphos in its judgment dated 3.4.2019 examined the allegations of the parties, especially those of the purchaser and the Director that the existence of a previous specific performance order issued by consent constituted res judicata and precluded the vendor from filing the appeal.

The Court analysed the rule of res judicata with reference to case-law, stating that it is based on the principles that the finality of a decided dispute serves the public interest and no one can be disturbed twice for the same issue.

This rule provides that the judgment must be final, the litigants and the matters in issue must be the same. For the avoidance of filing multiple actions, the rule of res judicata has been extended in order to cover all the causes of action that a litigant can include in his pleadings after reasonable search other than those upon which his action is based.

In the particular case, the Court found that the payment of the purchase price of the property did not constitute a prerequisite for the issue of the specific performance order, however the vendor’s position today that the purchase price hadn’t been paid existed at the time of the filing of the action and a lot later at the time of the issue of the order by consent.

With this in mind, the vendor could have raised the issue that the purchase price hadn’t been paid as the cause of a separate action or in a counterclaim against the purchaser, something which he didn’t do. The vendor was very late in alleging this cause today as a reason for setting aside the decision through which the Director decided to transfer the property to the purchaser, although paradoxically the vendor had agreed to this many years ago at the time of the issue of the specific performance order.

The Court dismissed the appeal of the vendor, concluding that the order issued by consent constituted an obstacle with regard to the cause of the action and that the filing of the appeal constituted abuse of the process of the Court.

George Coucounis is a lawyer practicing in Larnaca and he is the founder of GEORGE COUCOUNIS LLC, Advocates & Legal Consultants, email address: coucounis.law@cytanet.com.cy

The post Res judicata created by specific performance appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

THE mayor of Paphos signed two contracts aimed at the further improvement of Paphos at the town hall on Thursday, according to the municipality.

Phedonas Phedonos signed an agreement for the construction of a new road in Kato Paphos and work will get underway soon.

A new section of Sotiraki Markidis street, in the Universal area of Kato Paphos, will be constructed by S.M. & S. Build Options Ltd, and the contract comes with a €464,100 price tag.

“This is another important road for the comfortable and safe transportation of the citizens of Paphos,” a municipality spokesman noted.

The construction work will begin within the next few days and will be completed within three months.

The second contract relates to the supply of an agricultural tractor equipped with the appropriate loader in order to make the clean and green services of the municipality more efficient and faster at their duties.

The contract has a total cost of €76,755 and was signed with the concession company Conagro Ltd.

“The new machine will be delivered to the municipality of Paphos within the next few days.”

The post Paphos mayor signs two deals as part of town’s improvements appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Paphos is home to a number of restaurants that offer good quality food, professional service, but sadly only a few that offer consistency. One of the latter is Palia Ilektriki in Paphos old town, which I have always found to continually offer excellent food and service.

Years of experience to draw from and a reputation built on excellence mean that husband and wife team of chef Vassos Savva and hostess Vassilia deliver time and time again.

Found tucked away down a side street, this is a small (ish) quirky restaurant that sits on a courtyard, complete with a large water feature, opposite a cultural centre and a recently renovated outdoor amphitheatre.

It was once home to Paphos’ electricity plant (hence the name) and seating is available both inside and outside on the shaded terrace.

The menu is mostly Mediterranean and dishes include fresh, local produce cooked to perfection and served simply on plain white china. Vassos was previously the chef at the Annabelle and Anassa, both five star hotels, and he creates sumptuous dishes with aptitude and mastery, conceiving food that is deceptively simple, but fresh and flavourful.

My party of three arrived on a Friday evening, glad we had booked ahead as the tables fill up fast.
If the venue is busy be prepared for a short wait for food as it’s cooked fresh and this takes time. Order drinks, hot bread and a selection of the usual dips to keep you busy.

The village salad is fresh and crispy incorporating mixed green leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, capers, onions, feta cheese and olives.

The wine list is concise and offers some of the best and most popular wines from local wineries and includes: Ayios Fotios, Ayios Onoufrios, Andesitis, Kolios and Tsangarides, and the wine by the glass is also very drinkable,
My starter, three reasonable sized prawns, arrive in front of me with a flourish – they are sauteed with garlic and presented on a bed of crispy salad.
One of my companions chooses the grilled halloumi with grilled vegetables and the stuffed vine leaves served to my other guest would get the stamp of approval from any Yiayia.
If soup is more your thing, the cold avocado soup with yogurt or the tomato soup with garlic bread, both at €7, are good choices.

The spaghetti with seafood (prawns, mussels and calamari) and ouzo is popular, at least three of the tables order this, and the seafood risotto and vegetable risotto are also satisfying but I go for fillet of sea bream grilled and served with rice, vegetables and boiled potatoes, which arrives cooked to perfection.

The prawn saganaki is also served with potato, rice and vegetables the aroma of garlic and tomato emanating from the plate is tantalising. Our third main is the rack of lamb with a herb crust and balsamic reduction and cooked just right.

Items we may consider next time include fillet of beef with mushrooms, mustard and fresh cream; fillet of pork, fresh fruit and commandaria sauce; pork or chicken souvlaki and the Cyprus Moussaka.

If you have time to spare, try the Mediterranean meze, which brings together tastes from around the Mediterranean and just keeps coming. It’s well worth the price of €20 per person.

Deserts are good and priced at €3. Try the homemade apple cake with vanilla ice cream or the orange cake with caramel sauce and ice cream and there’s tiramisu as well.

Palia Ilektriki is a real hidden gem in the true sense, and I always leave with a warm glow and a happy stomach.

VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALTY Mediterranean
WHERE Palia Ilektriki, 8 Vladimerou Herakleous Street, Paphos
WHEN 10am-3.30pm and 6pm-10pm except Sundays
HOW MUCH Pastas €8, Fillet of sea bream €14, Rack of lamb €17. Wine €3 a glass and from €12 a bottle
CONTACT 26 222157 or 99 452548

The post Restaurant review: Palia Ilektriki, Paphos appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

The creation of a new museum to honour legendary Cypriot marathon runner, Stelios Kyriakides, will get underway in Paphos.

The decision to create the ‘Stelios Kyriakides Museum,’ was taken at a meeting between the mayor of Paphos, Phedonas Phedonos, at the town hall on Thursday. Also present, among others were, Demitris Kyriakides, the son of the late runner, the president of the Stelios Kyriakides Association, and the community leader of Statos- Agios-Fotios, where the athlete came from.

Kyriakides was born in Paphos in 1910, took part in two Olympic Games (Berlin 1936 and London 1948), and won the Boston Marathon in 1946. The Logicom Cyprus marathon is dedicated to him.

On a previous occasion, his son told the Cyprus Mail that he hoped such an entity would be established and that he wants to make the public aware that his father was much more than a marathon runner. He said that although many believe that his story ended after he won the Boston Marathon, this was in fact where his story began.

“Until he died in 1987, he actively continued to contribute towards sport, apart from being a great runner. He helped to revive sport in Greece and Cyprus after the war, and he built a stadium in the suburbs of Athens, where he trained the youth.”

Kyriakides said that his father was also far ahead of his time when it came to training, he was the first person to use a stopwatch for pacing in London in 1934. He also used stretching for training and a special diet which he tailored for marathon running.

He was also a philanthropist, and the first runner to run for charity and a special cause in the 1940s. In the 1960s and 1970s Kyriakides also helped numerous street kids, taking them home, cleaning them up, feeding them and helping them to get into school.

On Thursday, the runner’s son assured the mayor that he would provide all of the necessary information and items from his collection and files, for the new museum.

The post Paphos to host new museum honouring legendary marathon runner appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

A targeted campaign to promote Paphos as the top destination to spend summer on the island has been launched.

Aimed at domestic tourists, the Paphos regional board of tourism announced the drive which will run until August 5.

The island-wide promotion will include a specific and organised social media campaign focusing mostly on Facebook and Instagram, along with a number of national radio stations.

“Paphos anticipates, with the parallel efforts of tourism professionals, to consolidate the message to Cypriot travellers and residents to give them the opportunity to visit Paphos in the summer and to experience unique moments here,” they said.

Paphos is a stunning destination and has it all, the board added.

“Visitors will live enchanting moments in Paphos, watch a host of rich and varied organised events, swim in the crystal clear seas and enjoy every hospitable corner of the district of Paphos.”

The tourism board added that Paphos also boasts a reinvigorated and renovated old town, traditional artisans, historic sites, sporting activities, great beaches and spas, walking, golf, culture, nature, bird watching, a host of restaurants, tavernas and cafes serving excellent food, fine wine, spas and is a great place to relax and unwind. There is also a wide range of accommodation to fit every need and budget.

The tourist board unveiled the tag-line for the campaign: ‘Paphos we are coming, this summer we all go Paphos!”

The post Campaign to promote Paphos as domestic tourism destination appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Cruise ships are a major cause of air pollution and habitat destruction in the Med.

Venice has banned them, Barcelona and Marseille are trying to ban them. Palma di Majorca is a favourite destination and has spent millions to accommodate them with no consideration for the damage they cause to the island’s environment.

They burn millions of tons of filthy mazut even when docked to keep a/c and onboard entertainment running at full whack.

Cyprus is too hot during summer months and most passengers prefer to remain on board. Cyprus is not on a major cruiser tourist route and Paphos is wasting public money investing in deep water facilities. Passenger traffic has quadrupled in the past 20 years and is now at a staggering 17 million in the Med alone, the number one destination worldwide.

New, larger liners are added to fleets annually. By 2030 passenger numbers are estimated at 30 million. The Med is fast becoming fishless and a sewer for tourist waste; its coastline increasingly concreted and commercial and tourist shipping lanes and beaches increasingly overcrowded. The insatiable greed of tour operators, fossil fuel suppliers, the general public and economic beneficiaries of tourism is unsustainable.

Uncontrolled investment and growth will make the Med coastlines uninhabitable to humans by 2050. Beirut has a coastline population of 6 million, which tips its waste, including sewage, directly into the sea. The phosphate factory industrialisation at Gades, in Tunisia, empties its waste into the sea and destroyed the once buoyant fishing industry.

We must choose between slowing down or asphyxiating ‘growth’…Cyprus can only accommodate so much concrete and tourism before it becomes a no go island.

GJA

Docking facilities for cruise ships in Paphos tabled

The post We must choose between slowing down or asphyxiating ‘growth’ appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

The smart cities project, which will see the lives of Paphos residents transformed by the use of data and technology, was the topic of an information session held at Palia Ilektriki cultural centre in the town on Wednesday,

The aim was to show how Paphos municipality is implementing its objectives to transform the town into a smart, digital city, according to an announcement.

The information workshop was organised by the municipality in the framework of the project “Development of smart city applications in the municipalities of Cyprus, Crete and the North Aegean”.

Speaking at the workshop, Paphos Mayor, Phedonas Phedonos, gave an extensive briefing on the actions of the municipality, which are being implemented through tenders and strategic partnerships which are developing the vision for its implementation.

The relevant officials also presented the basic parameters of the project and the benefits that it will bring to the municipality of Paphos.

Under the programme, the integrated operational plan for the conversion of Paphos into a “smart city” has already been developed, and the development of a pioneering application with augmented reality for the promotion of culture, tourism and entrepreneurship, as well as a study on city branding is underway.

The tender will be launched shortly for the supply and installation of Wi-Fi hotspots and touchscreens, it was announced.

The Smart Cities project is being implemented under the Interreg V-A Greece-Cyprus 2014-2020 co-operation programme and is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and using funds from both Greece and Cyprus.

The municipality of Paphos is the lead partner, while the partners are the twinned with Paphos and are the municipalities of Chania and Lesbos.

The Smart Cities, which started operating on 01/11/2017, has a duration of 24 months and a total budget of €643,000.

The post Paphos moving towards becoming ‘smart city’ appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

BEACHES in Paphos have become an important source of income for the four municipalities in the Paphos district, which are raking in revenues from sunbed rentals and other seaside operations.

In Paphos, Peyia and Geroskiopou business is booming, while Polis municipality though at the bottom of the list in terms of income, is still doing well and say the revenues they do get are still important.

In Peyia, local councillor Linda Leblanc told the Sunday Mail that last couple of years saw record income from the beaches of around €1m.

“There was a record number of tourists visiting Cyprus so obviously this is reflected in the amounts,” she said, adding that expenses had to be deducted from the total.

The cash comes from the rental of beach beds and umbrellas and also from kiosks and beach bars. There are three main organised public beaches in Peyia, the most popular of which is the blue flagged Coral Bay, which attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Leblanc said that income from the beaches was vital to the municipality. “This will support the budget as the government is cutting back on what they are giving to the towns,” she said.

All beaches can be used for free in Cyprus, and municipalities can only charge for equipment.

Around 800 to 900 sunbeds are operated by Peyia municipality where 50 per cent of the beach must be left ‘open’ to the public where they may wish to bring their own beach paraphernalia.

“This income is far more than weddings bring in, although they are important too,” Leblanc said.

The local municipalities are also responsible for beach cleanliness and must also provide toilets, showers and changing areas.

Leblanc added that the recent income figures had served to underline how much ‘lost’ income the local authority has sustained for decades when services were operated by private individuals

Geroskipou has decided to keep the rental price of beds and umbrellas to a minimum at the beach areas outside the new beach ‘kiosks’, which were created by Psomas Studio of Architecture.

Mayor, Michalis Pavlides, told the Sunday Mail this was to encourage the public to use the new areas and to ensure that everyone was able to use the facilities.

“This is the first year that we have these new facilities and we are trying to bring people to enjoy their time at the beach, so we are only charging €2 for the beds (the normal price is €2.50. On Friday we had 40 holiday reps from Russia at the beach for an excursion to show them the facilities,” he said.

Next week, a similar excursion will be organised for holiday reps from a variety of other countries.

Each kiosk is around 220 square metres, and 80 square metres of each space consists of toilets, changing rooms and showers.

The first is at ‘Riccos’, with the second some 250, and the third, 300 metres further along the beach.

In the future, the municipality will add another two kiosks along the stretch, they have already rented the space from the government.

Pavlides explained that the beachfront in Gerokipou may be referred to by the public by the different areas such as, ‘Atlantida’,(which is rented out) Riccos’ and so on, but that it is actually one beach that is more than one kilometre long and is officially called ‘Aphrodite Beach.’ A new sign has just gone up to point it out.

“We have 100 beds at each position (the three kiosks), we didn’t want to put more as we wanted to leave space for the public.”

He said that as this was a popular beach, and he is aware of financial difficulties facing many of the local families, the municipality wanted to ensure everyone could enjoy the summer, relax and spend some quality time together. “This is not a beach to make the municipality rich, but for the public to be happy,” he said.

The rent from the three kiosks which recently went to tender will garner €180,000 for the municipality.

The municipality of Polis Chrysochous is the smallest and has six organised ‘points’ on their coastline in Polis and Latchi, according to mayor Giotis Papachristofi.

“All of them are rented out, it is better for the municipality like this, and is an important source of income for us,” he said.

The cheapest is rented for €7,000 and the most expensive for €27,000.

The total brings in €80,000 a year for the municipality. He said that not many people use the public beaches as they do in Paphos and that any real numbers are only seen during August and at weekends.

“La Plage is our busiest beach and thousands of people visit here each year.”

The head of the Paphos municipality beaches committee, Nicos Similides, said that the beach income for Paphos is hugely important. “It comes to around €1.7m a year,” he said.

This is made up of income from sunbeds and umbrellas and licences for water sports companies, The two beaches of Ta Bania and Sodap are operated by the municipality and bring in around €700,000 a year.

In addition, Venus beach, which has had work undertaken to make it safe from rip currents and high waves that have claimed the lives of many people over the years, is also an organised beach this year for the first time, although it is not yet eligible for a blue flag as water analyses and other criteria must be met first, he said.

The tender process was completed last week, and an operator is now in place running the beach, Similides said. “It will be €20,000 for this season,” he said.

He added that by the end of 2019, the municipality will have decided, as is required. If they will operate the public beaches or offer them for tender.

The post Beach businesses big boon to Paphos coffers   appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Just over four years ago Boo-tea-Licious tearooms opened in the heart of Paphos town and has been awarded a trip advisor certificate of excellence each year since.

Despite massive upgrades to the area which forced many small business to close, this delightful family-run English tea room has not only stayed open, but also grown its customer base and gained a reputation for good quality food and cakes and friendly service.

Boo-tea-Licious has also established itself as the go to place for people with specific dietary requirements and those in search of vegan option.

The tearoom is found on a pedestrianised side street in Paphos old town and a couple of tables outside the front are a great place to sit and relax in cooler months. Inside, the main seating area is downstairs.

Owner Kathryn bakes all of the items herself and always gives a warm and friendly welcome.

The cakes really are delicious. Try the chocolate and caramel cheesecake, scones with clotted cream and jam, or a gluten, dairy and lactose free Victoria cupcake. This is a twist on a traditional Victoria sponge, which also makes a regular appearance on the menu and is moreish.

If you prefer something savoury, the food here is created with love, care and attention to detail and it all melts in the mouth. An array of sandwiches are available and made fresh to eat in or take away.

This venue is also a top choice to enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea, but make sure you book ahead; pre-booked vegan high teas are also catered for.

During the summer, opt for something cooling, a selection of special drinks are on offer such as a pink grapefruit ice cream float.

The wooden tables and chairs are comfortable with colourful cushions and the atmosphere is relaxing and inviting. It is also spotlessly clean. It can get hot during the summer though, so make sure that you sit close to one of the fans.

Boo-Tea-Licious Tearoom

Where: Shop 1, Kanari 63, Paphos

When: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am-4pm and Wednesday and Saturday 10-2pm

Contact: 96 920124

The post Review: Boo-tea-Licious Tea rooms, Paphos appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

A free sports event aimed at children in Paphos will be held at a popular local beach on Tuesday, according to Paphos municipality.

‘Games on the Beach’ will be held at Faros beach (the lighthouse beach) on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 from 9am to 11am.

“This is particularly good for the children of Paphos and one of the events that the municipality is organising during the summer holidays for the younger members of our community,” a spokesman for the municipality told the Cyprus Mail.

The free event, the first of its kind, is being organised by the municipality and the ‘Sports For All Programme’ and is supported by numerous local sports clubs and associations, gyms and institutions.

The event will include traditional beach games as well as, basketball, handball, volleyball, taekwondo, aerobics and many other activities. It will utilise the area and also the existing beach infrastructure.

The aim of the event, he said, is to offer a creative and enjoyable breakfast time to all of the children that attend

“The municipality of Paphos invites all children to attend the event and spend their time pleasantly and creatively.”

The post Free sports and beach games event for children in Paphos appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

A documentary crew has just finished in Paphos, filming an upcoming programme about the disappearance of British chef Claudia Lawrence, who was last seen in 2009 and had visited Cyprus on a number of occasions.

The episode is part of a three-part documentary series on British TV’s Channel 5 examining unsolved disappearances titled Missing or Murdered?

Claudia Lawrence’s story will feature in episode three, due to be broadcast later this year or early 2020.

March 18, 2019 marked 10 years since the 35-year-old disappeared without a trace in York, England. She was reported missing to North Yorkshire Police (NYP) after she failed to arrive at work, police later treating her disappearance as suspected murder.

Following her disappearance, police investigations focused on the route between her home on Heworth Road and the University of York, where she worked as a chef. The missing woman’s passport was found at her flat.

In September 2009 police extended the search to Cyprus and NYP officers said that Lawrence knew several people who lived here. British police officers visited Cyprus in September 2009 to carry out interviews, focusing particularly on the area of Coral Bay and Peyia.

No Cypriots were sought in connection with the case and nothing was reported as coming from the visit.

Of the three episodes, which each feature different people, the missing chef’s episode has proven to be the most challenging so far, ‘shooting series producer and director’ Robin Anderson told the Cyprus Mail.

“I think it’s been tough, particularly to find interviewees. People want to move on with their lives, and in the UK, on a crime watch programme, the policeman in charge of the enquiry at the time created a tabloid frenzy by a comment that he made about Claudia.”

This has led to a reluctance to speak to the media and the comment of her ‘mysterious and complex’ relationships spoken about by the police did not correlate with the impression held by friends of Claudia either in Cyprus or the UK, and understandably upset the Lawrence family.

The NYP has refused to speak to the documentary makers

“The NYP police won’t talk to us and aren’t really media-friendly as they received a trouncing over comments that were previously made,” Anderson said.

He added that the police won’t comment on the case as it is in the “reactive phase” but will only be “re-energised” if new evidence is apparent.

The filmmakers haven’t had much luck with the Cyprus police either. An interview arranged with the head of Peyia police was subsequently cancelled.

“Initially the Cyprus police didn’t get back to us and when they did, they shut us down and wouldn’t talk to us at all. The reason given by police in Nicosia is that the investigation is still live, although it’s not really live in that way, it’s dormant until any further information comes to light.”

He added that the missing woman’s parents have taken part in the documentary as they feel that they owe it to their daughter and that obviously there is a hope that something will come from it.

The filmmakers have been speaking to locals in Coral Bay who may remember the story or may have been friends with Claudia.

Researcher James Pepper said: “People remember the story but as Coral Bay is popular with tourists there are so many people passing through, and Claudia is just another face.”

It was reported that the last text message received by Lawrence before her disappearance was from a male friend that lived in Cyprus.

At the time, a friend of hers told the BBC that Claudia was very fond of the island. “Claudia absolutely loved it there, really loved it. She said she felt really comfortable,” she said.

In 2009, the Cyprus Mail visited Coral Bay to speak to locals, bar owners and bar staff and taxi drivers to see if they recognised the missing woman from a photograph. Many said that they recognised her as a holidaymaker and one said he had seen her going into a bar with a man, but that it was at least six months previously.

According to the NYP website North Yorkshire Police’s commitment and determination to solve the case and bring closure for Claudia’s loved-ones is undiminished by the passage of time.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, head of the Cleveland and North Yorkshire Major Investigation Team, led a comprehensive review of the original investigation between the autumn of 2013 to the beginning of 2017.

Despite four men being arrested for murder in connection with the 35-year-old’s disappearance, the Crown Prosecution Service abandoned proceedings against them in 2016, due to a lack of evidence.

Police believe the only way of cracking the case now is for someone to come forward with some new evidence. On the 10^th anniversary of the disappearance in March Malyn said: “It remains the case that we strongly suspect key and vital information is being withheld that could provide the breakthrough that we all want to see.

“As with some recent cold case successes, the breakthrough has come from the public and we still have confidence that this will be the case.”

If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the Cyprus Mail

The post Missing or murdered: documentary about missing chef films in Paphos appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

By Stefanos Marangos

Turtles are increasingly being caught in the nets of fishermen, leaving them to struggle, one man who operates tourist cruises along the Paphos coast line said, leading him last week to post images on Facebook of the latest incident in order to bring more attention to the issue.

The area around the Moullia Reef in Yeroskipou is rich in green turtles (Chelonia mydas), which reproduce and live almost exclusively in Cyprus and Turkey within the Mediterranean Sea, breeding from March until November.

Last week, tourists leader George Constantinou shared a picture on Facebook of a green sea turtle trapped in a fishing net in the Moullia Reef, which he says now happens “quite often”.

He said turtles are found trapped in nets at the reef or even washed up dead on the beach.

Constantinou said the turtles are under threat for two reasons. First, due to the fishing nets laid by the fishermen, and second because of large boats which are allowed to approach the area of the reef, disturbing the natural habitat of the turtles.

Constantinou said he has repeatedly called on the Department of Fisheries to protect the area.

He said the department has protected part of the area in Yeroskipou but the designated ‘no fishing area’ does not include the Moullia reef, which is where the turtles reproduce and live.

An official from the department confirmed that only part of the reef is protected, while fishing in the rest of the area is heavily regulated, and is only allowed at certain times with specific sizes of net.

Constantinou stressed that he has been taking boats to the area for years but has never seen a greater number of turtles concentrated in such a small area.

He charged that the reason the Moullia reef area is not completely protected by the authorities is because it is rich in fish, and would therefore not be in the interest of fishermen to prohibit fishing.

The post Photos of turtles trapped in fishing nets go viral appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

By Bejay Browne

Members of Tala council are refusing to sign paperwork for phase two of planned upgrades to the centre of the village until the newly-renovated and recently pedestrianised square is opened to through traffic.

In 2017, phase one of the works to overhaul the popular village centre and create a hub for village life were completed ahead of schedule.

The square was pedestrianised and modernised, and a central, a colourful and lit water fountain, which turns shades of blue, purple, pink and yellow added to the new look and is a huge hit with village children.

According to the local community leader and the Paphos District Office, (PDO), six members of the nine-member community council are now reneging on a previously unanimous decision to go ahead with both phase one and two of the project, and instead are insisting that a road is created through the centre of the square.

Community leader, Areti Pieridou, told the Sunday Mail that she was hoping the impasse could be resolved imminently and that the work, which has already been delayed, will be able to go ahead.

“I am hoping that some of the community council will change their minds. I don’t want to have to take other measures as we should be able to talk together and need to be able to operate as a council. We also need to cooperate as this was unanimously voted for before,” she said.

Since the decision was made and the board voted unanimously for the design and to obtain funding from the PDO, only two new council members have been voted in.

A spokesman for the PDO, said that the Paphos District officer Mary Lambrou, and the office’s engineer visited the community board, and along with the architect of the project tried to explain the philosophy of the square.

“We stressed that it’s pedestrianised and safe and for the common use. People can visit the tavernas and know their children are playing there. But they are insisting that they want a road,” he said.

Lambrou then advised that the architect could go and apply for a different planning permit, for a different use, but the district office does not believe that it will be approved.

“We are hoping though, that they will sign and the second phase can go ahead. The tender has already been extended by one month.”

Phase 2 will cost around €600,000 and phase one, including VAT, was almost €700,000, he said.

The project was funded by the community council through the district office and the funds are to be returned gradually, he added.

The community leader, her deputy and community board member, Cathi Delaney, are currently the only three local council members still in favour of going ahead with phase 2.

“In the last six weeks, deadlines have been and gone several times and it would be a huge waste of money if we have to put in a road. The square is beautiful and it seems that the council is now working against the interests of the village and it is not a good situation to be in,” said Delaney.

Pieridou said that the main gripe seems to be that vehicles have to circumnavigate the square, using the narrow village roads, which only adds a couple of extra minutes to each journey, and that people are not able to park at the square when they eat.

The traffic situation has been compounded by the recent closure of the main access road from Tala Village to Kamares village, due to a structurally dangerous, abandoned development that is sliding down a hillside.

However, the PDO said that the road would re-open in two to three months which will ease the situation, and the mukhtar added that the second phase of upgrades would solve many of the problems being mentioned, as the roads would be wider and pavements created.

“It’s not just a case of me saying yes either, there is a fountain there, children love it and play there, what if a car was passing and hit a child?”

As part of phase one, water pipes under the square were replaced, drainage improved and electricity cables placed underground. The square has also been paved, new lighting installed, flower beds planted and uniform pergolas added for businesses around the square.

The effect is stunning and many residents and business owners have expressed their delight at the new-look square.

“I like it much more as it is now and it is such a beautiful place. How can people think it’s more important to park outside a restaurant instead of walking a few paces,” a local business owner on the square told the Sunday Mail.

“However, it would be good if they could create some more parking spaces nearby and also allow tables, chairs and umbrellas outside the eateries,” he added.

Parking – around 100 spaces – is currently available underneath a large church and at the opposite end of the square, at an open-air car park nearby, according to Pieridou.

“The square is so beautiful and too small for a road, and the second phase is ready to be signed and should be. Some people just generally don’t like change,” said a local resident.

According to the PDO, in some instances, there are provisions in the law that state that if a community council is acting illogically or not complying, a request may be put before the relevant minister to request the withdrawal of some of their authority.

However, he stressed that this was not the way forward in this case.

“We don’t want it to come to any extreme measures and are continuing to negotiate in order for phase 2 to be signed.”

The post Tala Square: one step forward, two steps back appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

FOURTEEN new breakwaters will be built in the sea along a stretch of the Paphos and Geroskipou coastline once the green light is given by the department of the environment, according to local authorities.

The mayor of Geroskipou, Michalis Pavlides, told the Cyprus Mail that all of the necessary studies required for the construction of the new breakwaters had now been completed and were being examined by the environment department.

“The aim of making these structures is so that we can make sandy beaches in front of the hotels along this stretch, creating lovely beaches for tourists and locals to enjoy,” he said.

Similar constructions off Gerospkiou were finished two years ago, and along with upgrades to the municipal beach, such as new kiosks [beach bars] and other facilities, have helped a lot and encouraged people to the area this summer, he said.

“More people are coming to our beach and they are very happy.”

The upcoming project is a co-operation between the municipalities of Paphos and Geroskipou and the hotel owners of the area. The enterprise is earmarked to cost around €13m-€14m, according to the mayor, and the parties involved will all contribute, along with money from the government.

“I believe the government will give around seventy per cent and we [the interested parties] will contribute the rest,” he said.

Once the project is given the green light by the authorities, it will be offered for public tender, either later on this year or at the beginning of 2020. The work will be carried out in one phase and is estimated to take around two years to complete, he said.

“We aim to upgrade the coastal front in a bid to attract good quality tourism,” he said.

Further along the coast, Venus beach in Paphos has had work undertaken in the sea to make it safe from rip currents and high waves that have claimed the lives of many people over the years and is an organised beach this year for the first time.

After a recent tender process, an operator is now in place running the beach, according to Paphos municipality.

Beaches in Paphos and Cyprus, in general, have become an important source of income for local authorities, which can rake in revenues from sunbed rentals and other seaside operations.

The post 14 new breakwaters for Paphos and Geroskipou appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

By Sarah Coyne

The area around the Town Hall is becoming something of a gastronomic centre for eating out in Paphos. Together with the renovated old town, the area offers some great new eateries and a chance to rediscover some old favourites. A few weeks ago one of the bars in this area relaunched as a new bistro. They have kept the old name from the wine bar and a new commercial kitchen has been installed – Labyrinth Bistro is now open for business.

At the helm of this new restaurant is the respected chef Nicos Charalambous who has been cooking for most of his professional life. He originally trained in Germany. He then worked in Italy and France before he Restaurant review: Labyrinth bistro, Paphosreturned to Cyprus in 1994 and opened his first Italian restaurant in Paphos. He brings to Labyrinth all his culinary and wine knowledge, creating something he feels is missing in Paphos. He wants to create “a place where you can feel relaxed but also educate yourself about wine while enjoying good food. I want people to come and try my selection of wine which is all available by the glass. We actually stock over 200 labels so the choice is vast. Our customers can enjoy a variety of wines and go away having enjoyed this experience”.

The restaurant is situated just off the municipal gardens. It is almost hidden from public view but the entrance is through a small pedestrian gate set in an old garden wall. Labyrinth Bistro is positioned in a colonial gem of a building dating from 1907. It looks tiny from the outside but the inside offers different secluded areas to eat in.

On the night we went the temperature was perfect for sitting on the spacious terrace. The bistro menu is varied and will certainly accommodate all dietary requirements. We were a party of three and decided to share our starters, selecting three of the seven on offer. It was difficult to choose as they were all very appealing. My favourite was the fried calamari with a sweet chilli dip. They were cooked to perfection and not at all greasy like others I have experienced. Another starter was a savoury version of the “Mille-feuille” dessert. This was cold and consisted of layers of grilled marinated aubergine with a creamy cheese sauce and balsamic vinaigrette – surprisingly tasty and enjoyed by all. The last dish was fried halloumi sticks served with a hint of paprika and a honey mustard dipping sauce, a gorgeous combination of flavours.

For mains our super healthy friend selected a quinoa salad served with grilled halloumi. This was served with a pomegranate and fresh mint dressing and was a very generous portion. She liked it very much and is a connoisseur when it comes to salads. Another main selected from the menu was the salmon burger which was served with avocado, sweet potato chips, coleslaw and wasabi horse radish. Anyone who enjoys salmon will enjoy this healthy burger priced at just €10. The final main was a “Sous Vide” lamb rump. This is a special French method of vacuum cooking. By cooking in a pouch or glass jar in water for a long period of time you are able to retain moisture and the meat should be evenly cooked throughout. The lamb with thyme was served with cous cous and a maratheftiko jus. Certainly the expert meat eater loved it, declaring it to be moist and succulent.

Sitting on the terrace with great food which is very reasonably priced and the choice of 200 wines by the glass, we were all sure the bistro has a very bright future in Paphos. With the healthy friend still at the table we didn’t dare try the desserts but there is a fine choice of five. If you don’t feel like a meal you can also select one of the platters on offer. During the following months the bistro will be hosting “pop up chef evenings”, wine classes and selected musical events.

VITAL STATISTICS

SPECIALTY European

WHERE Labyrinth Bistro, Agiou Theodorou 5, Paphos

WHEN Restaurant: 7-11pm Bar: 5pm-Midnight. Closed on Sunday

CONTACT 26 271224

HOW MUCH Mains €10 to €18

The post Restaurant review: Labyrinth bistro, Paphos appeared first on Cyprus Mail.

Paphos town hall and the surrounding historical buildings and monuments were illuminated for the first time on Thursday evening at a ceremony to celebrate the initiative.

The buildings will be lit up every night from now on and provide a backdrop for Paphos life, said the local authorities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Paphos Mayor Phedonas Paedonos said the area, complete with its unique neoclassical buildings and other historical monuments, was a homage to the creation of Paphos and ancient Greek civilisation and the ideals it has conquered as a global cultural heritage.

“Calm and harmony are steeped in the buildings and artefacts that make up a unique complex of architecture,” he said.

Referring to the actions and initiatives of the municipality concerning the ongoing upgrading of the historic centre, the mayor the public garden would be redesigned and a metropolitan church created so that once again, the area will be the gem that it once was.

“The listed building of the old police station will be used to highlight and promote the history of the city, while the surrounding area will be transformed and may include a special park,” he said.

The Paphos regional board of tourism congratulated both the municipality and the mayor on the initiative and noted: “This particular area has been impressively upgraded and has become even more attractive for locals, but especially for foreign visitors,” they said.

There are now calls for the department of antiquities to undertake similar measures with the town’s historic monuments and sites for which they are responsible, a top priority being Paphos Castle, a spokesman for the municipality said.

Members of the public visited October 28 Square on Thursday for the illumination ceremony which was followed by a concert-tribute to Grigoris Bithikotsis by the son of the singer Grigoris and Chryssa Belousse, titled “A golden-green leaf in the sea”.

The post Paphos’ historic buildings illuminated appeared first on Cyprus Mail.