There has been an optimistic start to 2012, much more than most Cypriots expected. The woes of Greece touches us here deeply here but it also gave Cyprus the courage to initiate a raft of much needed austerity measures which to this point of time sat firmly in the ‘to do’ basket.

Even the Fitch rating agency, after they have severed two notches off the Cyprus Sovereign ratings, had to admit that the nations’ fiscal stance is ‘encouraging’ as the measures were passed by the clear majority in the Cypriot parliament without a hitch. The cross party consensus was unprecedented and well received by all. By and large Cypriots shrugged off the downgrades rather well remembering the time when the rating agencies gave the 5 star ratings to all and sundry with equal vigour.

The Cyprus economy remains very optimistic, much aided by the find of massive deposits of natural gas off Cyprus, evidently a much sought after commodity, which already has brought new businesses into the area and a cadre of corporations looking at partnership exploration options.

The good news does not end there. Ryanair is setting up shop in Paphos creating some 600 new jobs and establishing a busy flight schedule across Europe ferrying some 600,000 people to Paphos! We will even have direct flights to Rome!

The unseasonal wet weather dampen some holidays but the overflowing of the major local dams brought the local populous out in droves to see the spectacle of water falls from spillways. The roads were blocked with spectators and close behind followed the kebab vendors, ice cream vans, musicians, and all, creating a very festive atmosphere.

The property market is doing well. People from many different countries realize that the current low property prices in Cyprus are fabulously good value. There is better demand now than at any time in the last 4 years. Fitzgerald’s property marketing service has seen a very positive increase in quality property for sale and many more sales being made - in fact it is the busiest start to any of their 9 years!

The leaders of this buying push are still the British and they have a little bit more to cheer about with the British Pound increasing in value and giving them more Euros for their money.

Well what a winter this has been! Gale force winds, rain and even the dams are overflowing. The Asprokremmos dam, (in the Paphos area), which is the second largest on the island, overflowed at the end of January, the first time in seven years. Other dams that have not yet overflowed are expected to do so within the next 2 weeks.

Yes, it’s not good for tourists, but it does mean that water cuts can be ruled out for the foreseeable future, especially as the desalination plants are now on-line – that’s the silver lining!

Although the weather is inclement, it does make a change to see the Atlantic-type “rollers” instead of the blue and turquoise calm Mediterranean.

Even the skiers are having problems as some of the roads to Troodos are closed, due to heavy snow.

However, those of us who are “moaning” should realize that a lot of people would be happy with our daytime temperatures of 14deg and above!!! We still see some visitors in shorts and T-shirts when we are wrapped up in jumpers and furry boots!!!!!

Depending who you talk to this is the wettest winter in the paphos region for 50 years or 100 years or maybe even more. There is one thing for sure, it has rained and rained to the point where memories of the drought which had lasted 5 years and drained the reservoirs to 3% of their capacity are becoming a distant memory. Then in the winter of 2008/2009 the drought broke with what was considered to be very wet weather, though apparently not up to current standards.

The dams have since risen from their 3% capacity to quite a healthy level, this year in the Paphos region they have hit the jackpot. For the first time in 7 years the Asprokremmos Dam near Paphos the second largest on the island with a capacity of 52.4 million cubic meters has reached its capacity and is now overflowing, the once dried up river bed below it is now a tumult with flooding on both banks. Three other reservoirs in the Paphos District; Pomos, Argaka and Arminou have also overflowed.

January is a very quiet time in Cyprus all the tourist have gone and a very large proportion of businesses in Paphos are closed awaiting their return. So this event has caused a lot of interest, so much so there is quite a party atmosphere at the dam with crowds going to see the spectacle. Also the Cypriot keen sense of business ensures that you can get everything from Souvlaki to doughnuts and much more besides while you take in the view. On the Thursday evening a very large expectant crowd had gathered to watch the start of the overflow causing so much traffic chaos the police had to attend to sort things out. In fact it almost being considered a festival.

Ryanair, announced on the 10th January that it would open its 50th base (and the first in Cyprus) at Paphos (Cyprus’s third largest city) in April 2012 with two based aircraft and 14 routes which will initially deliver over 600,000 passengers each year and sustain over 600 jobs with over 80 weekly flights as Ryanair invests over $140 million at Paphos Airport.

For the UK, this means that those people who lost out when Cyprus Airways cancelled their Paphos-Stansted-Paphos flights will be able to fly with Ryanair instead.

Having just checked onto their website, we’ve found a return flight from the UK, 4th July – 18th July at £162.99 including on-line check-in and EU levies. There will, of course, be extra charges for baggage, but hopefully not the use of toilets!!!!!

It was just too late for our last newsletter, but the news that natural gas has been found off the shores of Cyprus has been welcomed by everyone. At the end of December 2011, President Demetris Christofias announced that Cyprus’ Aphrodite Block 12 field contains between 5 trillion and 8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Noble Energy said that the find was significant.

Since then, Noble Energy has announced they will be back later this year to drill a second well as they have only drilled the equivalent of a “pinhole” so far.

Of course, this will all take time, but the effect on jobs and the economy can only be positive.

An action plan to develop young talent in football in Cyprus needs about ten years to bear fruit, UEFA envoys said on Thursday, speaking to the press, in Nicosia.

Howard Wilkinson and Robin Russell, who arrived in Cyprus last Monday, completed yesterday a series of contacts with stakeholders, with a view to develop a “National Football Development Plan” for the Cyprus Football Association.

As Wilkinson said, there are no shortcuts in making the results of such an investment visible, aiming to tackle the lack of young talent available to play quality football.

Wilkinson, a former English football player and manager, further noted that the presence of UEFA envoys in Cyprus is not to direct solutions, but to suggest possible ways of addressing the problem, after having talked with all people who are at the heart of the problem.

Change cannot occur overnight, he added, but noted the examples of numerous European countries who addressed the problem, amid less favourable conditions than Cyprus.

As he explained, young football talent need to be trained together with their likes by the best trainers-educators possible and in the best facilities available in order to stand a chance to play quality football in first division teams.

CFA second deputy president Andreas Santis noted from his part that after the UEFA visit, the implementation of a definite action plan is expected by June 2012.

Guaranteed Privacy and Views ForeverLove of Cyprus’s traditional architecture and its affinity with the local countryside were the decisive factors in the owners choosing the Lithos Company, (the specialists in stone construction), to build their Cypriot dream home.

This infinitely appealing home stands aloft an elevated plot offering fabulous views to the countryside and the distant coastline in this exclusive enclave of luxury homes.

On the street level you have a private garage and gated stairs taking you to the lovely pool courtyard. Here you can well appreciate the grandeur of the villa and the meticulous attention to detail that only hints of the luxury within.The elegant entry hall effectively separates the living areas and the bedroom wing. The wide open space is suffused by natural light showcasing the beautifully crafted sweeping stairway with its circular first floor landing.

To the left, an expansive stone archway opens to a delightfully bright lounge with a corner fireplace, huge patio doors open to the pool and yet another archway at the far end leads to the dining room….., projecting a graceful meandering and superbly relaxing feel to your living area.

The dining room also features a fantastically versatile, stylish and contemporary all granite kitchen and opens to a secluded al-fresco dining area. The annex is an outdoor entertainment haven which features stone pillars and a traditional built-in BBQ.

The first floor features two exquisite double bedrooms both with expansive private balconies with breathtaking country scenery. Both bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms. On the ground floor there are two additional rooms, one opening to the front terrace and is utilised as an informal sitting room, whilst the second is presently used as an office.

You MUST view this property to appreciate everything it offers, but don’t take too long as it will soon be snapped up!!

Find out more about this property by quoting ref: 1326

Who knows what 2012 will bring? Over the past year, many events that some of us hoped never to see again and others thought we would never see have sometimes rocked our foundations and it could be that there is more to come. However, we humans are resilient and changes happen. We all have to adapt and somehow we will!!!! As Buzz Lightyear said “To infinity…. and beyond”.

Cyprus is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea and not immune to global changes. We like to think we can do what we want (and we do most of the time), but occasionally we have to conform.

However, it certainly helps when we have the sun shining for 326 days of the year and that’s a conservative figure. In December, we’ve had daytime temperatures in the mid 20s and just before Christmas, we had night-time figures of 19deg. The saying that in winter you can ski in the Troodos mountains in the morning and swim in the sea in the afternoon is actually true – been there, done that!

For Fitzgerald Marketing, the past year has been very successful. We are the leading property resale company in the Paphos area and are spreading our expertise further afield from areas such as Pissouri and Prastio in the Limassol district to Arodes and Droushia near Polis.

Our world-wide reputation means that we now have enquiries, (resulting in sales), from countries such as the UK, Ireland, Russia, Brazil, Germany, Scandinavia, Cyprus, (of course) and many others. Sometimes we don’t get the chance to even promote a property, as it is sold by Fitzgerald Marketing before it even gets onto the website.

OK, prices are not what they were, but the buyers market is still buoyant and we ALWAYS need properties to promote. As long as the seller is realistic about the value of the property, then there is a very good chance that Fitzgerald Marketing will be successful in finding the right buyer. We value property at or near the price it should achieve as we want to ensure that both parties are happy – then we are happy too.

So, if you have a property, (with Title Deeds), to sell or you wish to buy a property, come and talk to us – or e-mail/phone. We pride ourselves on giving a true and honest opinion and we don’t inflate prices. You may not like what we say, but it will be the truth.

Finally, can we wish everyone a Happy 2012 and if you’re not in the buying mode, at least come for a holiday to Paphos. The sky is blue, the sea is warm, the food is healthy and the people are friendly – well, most of us!!! Don’t forget to bring your driving licence as we drive on the left hand side of the road and while you are here, have a trip around the island, there’s so many places to see.

At the age of 62, Anna has gone back to “school”!

She enrolled earlier this year at the new Neapolis University in Paphos to gain her Masters Degree in Real Estate. This enables Fitzgerald not just to be a property marketing company, but to become fully Licensed Estate Agents in Cyprus. Over the past few years, the Cyprus Government has changed the criteria for obtaining a Real Estate licence and so to avoid any ambiguity, Anna decided that she would study for the masters degree.

In 18 months time, we are all looking forward to her graduation ceremony and as her assignments so far have gained excellent grades, it seems that she is more than well on course to achieving her aim.

The curiculum covers everything from historical data, statistics and valuations for example, to future predictions, demographical behavior and much, much more. She will soon be one of the most qualified persons, (regarding Real Estate), in Cyprus.

There is a saying – “you are never too old to learn” – and in Anna’s case it is very true. Many ex-pats in Cyprus have taken early retirement, but Anna works in the office Monday to Friday and then from Friday evening, spends 15 hrs over the weekend at the University. Then, of course she has to complete her degree assignments in her spare time – what spare time?????

We don’t know how she manages it all, but somehow she does and we are all “rooting” for her. However, her determination to succeed will win through and she deserves our admiration.

Well, the elections took place on Sunday 18th Decemeber 2011, which resulted in the Mayors of Paphos, Peyia and Polis being re-elected. Yeroskipou has a new mayor and British ex-pats have been elected onto the councils of Tala and Kouklia.

Voting is supposedly compulsory for those who have registered to vote, but apparently not enforced. Nice to know however that the Paphos area had the biggest turnout- over 80%!

It is not our place to comment on any of these elections, we just report the facts and so we’ll leave it at that.

Last month, Moscow became the site of the official presentation of the unique architectural and sculptural complex, ‘The Kind Angel of Peace Monument,’ which will stand at 135m above the ground in Cyprus. When completed, this international peace monument of Russian origin will be the highest in the world, leaving behind all the world’s existing legendary sculptures, including the Statue of Liberty in New USA, Jesus Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio in Brazil, the majestic three-face Buddha Statue in China, etc.

The most advanced technologies and hi-tech gadgets as well as the application of the so-called “green building principles” had been used for the monument. Such an approach will make the monument unique in terms of its full compliance with the most stringent environmental and safety requirements on the protection of the Earth’s ecosystem. Special illumination will make the monument visible even from space.

The goal of the unique monument, according to the authors of the project, is to symbolize the unity of different peoples of different nationalities and religious faiths. “The project that will be built in Cyprus, which envisages the development of the world’s biggest monument with a huge entertainment mall on its basement, will usher in a new generation of tourist facilities that will seamlessly combine the best features of business, cultural and social centres. Besides, it will also be an extremely powerful industrial asset with an enormous investment potential, which will make the project particularly attractive to business executives, from the point of investment outlay,” said Nikolai Drozdov, the Chairman of the International Public Environmental Protection Organization “Terra Viva” (“Living Planet”).

According to Nikolai Drozdov the “Kind Angel of Peace” monument can rightly lay a justified claim to be the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, as it will be higher and larger than any of the world’s existing large-scaled sculptures.”

Petr Stronsky — one of the authors of the idea, and the monument’s chief architect said: “This is a universal project that can be built in practically any country with an in-built capability to enable it equally function effectively under various climatic conditions or areas with geographical peculiarities.”

All the commercial details of the project voiced by Stronsky almost fully correlated with the results of an independent feasibility study and the investment attractiveness analysis of the project conducted by International Theme Park Services, Inc., the U.S.-based company considered as one of the world’s most authoritative experts in designing, planning and development of vertical recreational and leisure facilities. Thus, according to International Theme Park Services, Inc. President Dennis Spiegel, the comparative analysis of the designs of the world’s most famous towers and sculptures conducted by his company’s experts team unanimously concluded that none of these monuments can match the beauty, uniqueness, innovativeness and ecological friendliness of the ‘Kind Angel of Peace’ monument.

Spiegel further noted that when choosing a place to locate the monument, such vital factors as easy accessibility, availability of social infrastructure, good visibility, proximity to densely populated cities, etc., are to be taken into consideration. ‘Kind Angel of Peace’ monumental complex is believed to have a huge positive impact on the development of the tourism industry not only in Cyprus, but throughout the entire Mediterranean region.

Experts predict that the “Kind Angel of Peace” will attract more than 1 million visitors from around the world in the first year after its creation. After several years the number of tourists will increase to 3 million.

According to the organisers this will positively affect the local economy.

On Saturday 10th December, Pissouri held their annual Christmas event in the square.

Everyone was invited to attend and enjoy free mulled wine and home-made Christmas pies. The gathering took place at 5pm and there were a few Christmas stalls as well as a pancake wagon that seemed to be doing a roaring trade!

The young children of the village lined the steps and eagerly sang their hearts out with Christmas carols. That (and probably the effects of the mulled wine) got us all in the right mood for a bit of nostalgic singing. Then the big man himself arrived and handed out presents to all of the children, who of course were all very excited at seeing Santa by then.

The local Mukhtar, Christos Foutas, made a short speech and thanked the carol singers and everyone for coming and also for making Pissouri a successful village for everyone living there.

The evening finished with a prize draw for the raffle, with the Chairman of the Pissouri Residents Association, Phil Hockin, announcing the winners. Several people were thrilled when their number came up, as this year there were exceptionally good prizes to be won.

All in all, we all agreed, it was a very pleasant way of passing a couple of hours enjoying the festive spirit!

Early December storms resulted in a freighter being run aground only 15 metres from shore in the Sea Caves area. On the morning of Dec 8th, gale-force winds, around 8 on the Beaufort Scale, forced the ship onto the rocks. The ship’s captain and first engineer remained on board the vessel, but the rest of the crew were transferred to an hotel in Limassol. No-one was hurt during the incident, but the crew of seven was airlifted to safety by a police helicopter.

The ship was travelling from Limassol to Rhodes when the event occurred.

An investigation will take place, but at the moment it is unclear what will happen to the ship itself. However, it has become a bit of a tourist attraction for both locals and visitors alike.

Sit back and soak up the relaxing atmosphere of resort-style Paradise Gardens in the intimacy of your own private garden. A profusion of ornamental shrubs, lavender & thyme fill your garden with fragrance in a perpetual harmony of colour. Walk 20 paces across the vast communal garden and you’ll come to the feature swimming pool that wraps around a palm-studded island. The Mediterranean charm will win you over every time! Your private ‘slice’ of heaven is almost totally hidden behind your colourful garden abutting the communal areas. The multitude of pots and shrubs screen the garden terrace and the stylish 3 burner BBQ makes it easy for al-fresco entertaining. From here a wall of sliding doors open to a delightful conservatory which spans nearly 20sqm of open space to use at your leisure. Custom designed bar, lit shelving and wine cooler fridge are all in-situ – so let the entertaining begin….

The formal living–dining area is no less exciting. The interior has many interesting features that make this end townhouse so special. On entry the living room fans out into a large open area seemingly flowing to the conservatory and the garden setting beyond that.

A brand new slim-line 12Kw log burner adds a distinctive touch to the living area with that extra sense of ‘homeliness’ and comfort. To the right of entry an archway leads to a brilliant custom-designed kitchen. Boasting natural granite splash-backs and work surfaces, solid wood slim-line cabinetry, under-lighting and ‘top of the range’ stainless steel appliances is a dream kitchen you’ll love to own. Curved wooden inlaid stairs ascend to the first floor landing (with a small west facing balcony), an elegant large family bathroom and two double bedrooms. The bedrooms open to a sizeable east- facing continuous balcony with wonderful outlook to the communal garden and pool. Don’t miss this exceptional lifestyle offer. Join us in Cyprus for next summer and have the time of your life. Winters are sunny and mild and your new home is very cosy – you may as well start planning to come even earlier!

When we are wishing each other ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Happy New Year’ it’s a nice celebratory way to end the year and an enthusiastic way to start to a new one. Cyprus is a great place for these cheerful experiences. Expats as a social group are a positive bunch which readily adopts and adapts, making their new lifestyle rich and vibrant through networking, support, and the ‘inclusiveness’ mindset.

2011 has not been an easy year full of ups and downs, so the approach of the ‘festive’ season brings hope and cheer. It has been a difficult year but not as bad as the financial media and markets would have us believe. The Euro remains remarkably resilient, the British economy is coping and sterling, well, it is better than it has been in the past ‘difficult’ periods. Cyprus Christmas social events are apace with many a charitable event gathering wide enthusiasm and the expatriate community leads with active participation and support. Reduced cost flights to Cyprus for winter have not deterred many eyeing the bargains to be had in the property market. Paphos property can be a safe haven, especially now when prices are very low and quality villa prices are pretty much ‘rock bottom’. ‘Canny’ buyers from many countries are converging on Cyprus because of its sunshine, stability, dependable infrastructure and welcoming family atmosphere.

Yes, Cyprus property appeals to lots of people, including Cypriots of course and, no, the Russians are not the only people from overseas who desperately want to leave their ' not so rosy’ countries to find a much nicer place to live, or enjoy those hard-earned holidays.

Russians, Germans, Swedish, Ukrainians and many other nationalities are in love with Cyprus for the same reasons as the rest of us and they seemed undaunted by the prospect of having to learn how to drive on the left hand side of the road (a brave thing to do, in my opinion).

Having now decided to pick one of the deliciously ripe properties in Paphos, where do buyers go? Naturally they look at the internet and browse for interesting property and try to fathom whether or not the seller is reliable, what represents good value, am I getting the right information, etc. They may even ask friends or acquaintances to go to offices to find out more and ‘scout the environment’. The website is a very reliable indication of the strength of the purveyor of property. How often it is updated, how many properties have been sold, how current is the information are key questions to ask to determine the quality of the website and it’s owners. Often, first impressions are crucial and lasting and more often than not, are ‘spot on’.

If the agent has a good name and offers reliable service people, do get to know it and Fitzgerald’s have always focused on building on the ‘value’ of a good reputation for quality and personable service. The reliability of their world-class website www.fitzgeraldcyprus.com reaches a world audience attracting all nationalities. Ms Bella translates information to Russian and helps with Greek clients, but the biggest number of buyers by far, are still British.

The British love Cyprus because the local people are friendly, English is widely spoken, the climate is excellent and properties are registered under the British established Title Deed system. There are great buys to be made and buyers can get quality with Title Deeds, or very close to it.

The steady stream of inquiries and a busy appointment calendar at Fitzgerald Property Marketing office shows a healthy interest in Paphos properties and promises a good many champagne bottles being opened to celebrate the beginnings of a new lifestyle adventure in Cyprus. What better way to enjoy Cyprus and celebrate the season’s greetings than with the successful acquisition of an outstanding property that only a year ago would have been impossible?

That’s why there is a steady stream of canny buyers and pragmatic sellers making their way to Fitzgerald’s. Take for instance, the ‘canny couple’ who just came to the office recently and said they were advised by a fellow passenger on the Easyjet flight from Stanstead, that Fitzgerald’s was the ONLY place to buy property because they ‘have it all together’. Cheers and Thank You All for your support and confidence! It just doesn’t get better than this! Enjoy the Festive Season and Happy New Year to all.

Not all people who move to Cyprus are retired, there are many who make the decision to move while still having a young family. In this situation schooling is a major consideration. Some with very young children send their children to the local schools run by the government, being young they soon pick up the Greek language and will benefit later in life from being bi-lingual. However those who bringer older children find being thrust into a Greek speaking medium somewhat daunting. There are other options for educating children in the Paphos area with several private schools whose teaching medium is English. These schools appeal not only to British parents and there are are Russian, Ukrainian and Cypriot children attending these schools as their parents understand the benefits of English as an international language. Probably the most well known of these schools is the International School of Paphos. The school caters for the needs of children from Kindergarten to Year 13 and the school has been registered with the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture since 1987 functioning under its regulations and laws of the Republic of Cyprus. The school also has strong links with the British Council as well as two of the most prestigious and well-known Examination Boards in England: Edexcel, and CIE (Cambridge International Examinations).

The Primary School covers under its umbrella the Kindergarten, the Infant classes (Reception, Year 1, Year 2) and the Junior School (Years 3 to 6). The Secondary School (Years 7 to 13) prepares pupils for external examinations up to ‘A’ Level in Year 13. The areas of learning are: Communication, Language and Literacy, Mathematical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Creative Development, Knowledge and Understanding of the World.

In Years 5 and 6, children are taught by specialist teachers in subject-specific rooms such as the Art Room, the ICT and Science Laboratories. This prepares them at an early age for the system which is common in Secondary Schools, thus ensuring a smooth transition from Year 6 to Year 7. In the Secondary School From Years 7 to 9, pupils pursue a rich and balanced programme of study which provides them with the knowledge required, enabling them to make informed choices. In Year 9, students choose their subjects for the two- year IGCSE courses they will follow in Years 10 and 11. English, Mathematics and one Science are compulsory. Greek and Cypriot pupils must also study Greek. At the end of Year 11, students choose their ‘AS’

The following subjects are offered within the School: Art, English, General Science, Geography, Greek (First Language), Greek (Foreign Language), Greek History, History, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Social Studies Topics linked to Science, History and Geography (Infants only). An emphasis is placed on the basic skills of oracy, numeracy and literacy.

The Institute offers exciting possibilities for education in the afternoon open to both students of the school and to external students. The intake process follows various stages depending on the age of the pupil. All Foundation Stage/pre-school children are admitted on the basis of an interview with the parents, subject to availability of places. Children who apply for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are assessed informally. In cases where the child has been attending school, reports and samples of work are essential to the application and selection process.

All applicants for Years 3 to 6 of the Junior School and Years 7 to 9 of the Secondary School are formally examined in English and Mathematics. Greek-speaking pupils are also examined in Greek. Applicants for ‘AS’ and ‘A’ Level courses are accepted on the basis of the results they have achieved at IGCSE (GCSE) or ‘AS’ Level. Applicants with ‘AS’ levels applying for ‘A’ level courses may only do so if they are transferring credits from the same Examination Board.

Pissouri Village is centrally located between Paphos and Limassol. The perception of being ‘out in the sticks’ couldn’t be further from the truth. A slower pace of life might be right on the button.

A leisurely coffee can be taken just outside the Post Office, where the elderly Gentleman perch in the shade while watching the coming and goings of those down in the village square. Tourists come here to relax and unwind. Some like to take long walks, some to paint and some just want to do nothing more than stretch out on a sun lounger and work on their sun tan.

There are no discos or night clubs here, just a series of friendly restaurants providing fresh local cuisine. Add to that a couple of pubs, a super kebab kitchen and a good pizza takeaway you have all you need for the makings of a light lunch or an evening meal with friends. There are three banks, two small mini markets and just a short drive away is the popular Papantoniou supermarket.

Outside of the village square other excellent restaurants can be found, including the locally famous Hill View apart hotel and restaurant. For that special occasion, mouth watering dishes can be enjoyed at a very reasonable price and are lovingly prepared by the owner, George. The Hill View has eleven comfortable modern rooms that also allow for self catering. Handy for when too many family and friends want to come over and all stay at the same time!

During the summer months from around the middle of June until the middle of October, Pissouri square transforms itself from a sleepy village to a lively place to cater for the weekly Wednesday ‘Cyprus Night’. The restaurants unite to make long tables for the diners. The waiting staff serves food and drink in traditional dress. The evening begins with everyone eating and drinking together before watching the entertainment and local dancing. People are invited to have a try for themselves which is always amusing for the onlookers. Later, during the interval, modern pop music is played and this is greeted enthusiastically with everyone up on their feet for a quick boogie! Afterwards, there is more traditional dancing to watch and usually some jaw dropping acrobatics. There is always a tremendous party atmosphere and many holiday makers end up making new friends before the night is out.

The Pissouri Residents Association (PRA) meeting place is at the 1911 club for expats, although it is open for any local people wishing to join. The PRA is a very active organisation with its own website, monthly newsletter and e magazine. There is always something going on. From learning and playing Bridge, to Backgammon or Majong, or perhaps a coach trip to somewhere exciting, there is something for everyone wishing to be involved. Thanks to the PRA, Pissouri now has a trained Defibrillation Team and for a small additional annual membership fee, members of the PRA can be covered for this extremely important benefit.

Pissouri Bay is just a short drive away from the village. The 5 star Columbia Beach Hotel and Resort Hotel sit regally at one end of the beach. A perfect place to enjoy coffee and cake, or splash out on a gourmet meal. There are several small shops and restaurants along the bay and despite it being a popular tourist attraction, the pebbly beach is never too busy to find space to spread out and sunbathe.

Living in Pissouri is a truly wonderful experience. It is having the best of both worlds by meeting and socialising with the local Cypriots not just the expats.

This month, the President of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias paid a visit to Noble Energy’s drilling rig, located some 160km off the island’s southern coast. It was the president’s first trip to the rig since US concession partners Noble started an exploratory drill in September.

Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said, “We are very close to the completion of this exploratory drilling and I believe that very soon we would be able to say more.” Noble said recently that the Cypriot concession holds an estimated 3.0 to 9.0 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas.

The prospect has a 60 per cent probability of geological success, the company added in what was its first public appraisal of the Cypriot gas prospect; such estimates are often revised upwards or downwards. Also this month, the Cabinet decided to launch the second licensing round for offshore oil and gas exploration, authorising the trade and industry minister to prepare the ground for the official announcement.

Stefanou said it would take up to six weeks for authorities to prepare the necessary documentation and the invitation for the public submission of proposals to be published. Companies would then have three months to submit proposals to consultants. The consultants would subsequently short-list companies and make recommendations to the energy minister. The cabinet will take any final decision, Stefanou said.

Asked whether the process would be concluded within 2012, he said: “I wouldn’t rush to predict when this process will be done, there is a timeframe for this in the law and in EU directives. Today the cabinet decided that these procedures be set in motion for the second licensing round.”

The second round will include 12 so-called blocks stretching from the south west to the south east of the island.

Just picture yourself living in a small prestigious estate of only seven luxury stone villas set on a gently rolling hill overlooking a vast valley that’s brimming with relaxing ambiance. A truly spectacular lifestyle setting for this gated community, secluded amid grand gardens, wide terraces and meandering luxury homes.Villa Vizcaya is sited at the very end of a cul-de-sac with the electric gates opening to a picturesque front courtyard which meanders along the long stretch of the villa. The single storey traditional stone built villa is so beautifully crafted, only someone with the love of natural stone could possibly have created it.A covered porch leads to an elegant entrance hall which opens to a luxurious vast lounge with its highly polished floors, bamboo ceiling, exposed beams and designer lighting. An intricately detailed natural stone fireplace spans almost the entire wall, with an in-set large ‘wood burner’ effect gas fire.Beyond the lounge, you have a view to the conservatory which opens to a colourful and ‘full of interest’ garden. On the other side of the fireplace wall is a cozy formal dining room, a perfect venue to celebrate good food, good life and good conversation.

Further on, a very generous kitchen/family room with a generous breakfast bar and volumes of soft pastel coloured cupboards, a large Smeg oven and 5 burner hob and enough work surfaces to satisfy the most fastidious chef. The kitchen connects directly to the double garage which also holds a workbench, storage areas, hot & cold water supply and freezer and laundry units.A series of sliding doors open to a brilliant long garden which skirts the side of a hill offering fabulous views of the valley and countryside. Extensive patio areas and a professionally designed garden are an ideal fusion of the indoor-outdoor setting for its discerning occupants. The vast area under a pergola features an outdoor Jacuzzi. Your garden extends to the very edge of a steep valley so that your views are awe-inspiring at any time of year.

The villa features three wonderful bedrooms. The master bedroom features wall-to-wall mirrored wardrobes, coved ceilings and designer lighting. The adjoining full bathroom en-suite features a full bath, generous walk-in shower, bidet, recessed lighting, heated rails and an attractive vanity unit. The family bathroom is stylishly arranged and fitted with top quality fixtures and fittings. This is a unique opportunity to secure this absolutely stunning home. Fantastically secluded and set on a truly luxurious estate, it is also very close to the Mesogi village centre (4.5km north of Paphos). You will find shops, supermarkets, a number of top quality restaurants and tavernas, including a community hall, all within 1km of your home. Don’t hesitate a minute! Inspired country home. Just picture yourself living in a small prestigious estate of only seven luxury stone villas set on a gently rolling hill overlooking a vast valley that’s brimming with relaxing ambiance. A truly spectacular lifestyle setting for this gated community, secluded amid grand gardens, wide terraces and meandering luxury homes.

For more information quote Ref: 1295

To have business in this economic climate is good but to have repeat business is fantastic. In the last few months at Fitzgerald’s we have seen an increased interest in properties from past clients as well as new clients who are interested in upgrading.

This week a British couple who bought a delightful 3 bedroom apartment from Fitzgerald’s last year, came back wanting to upgrade to something larger. As they got to know the city and areas in and around Paphos they saw the potential in owning a larger property.

Another inquiry came from a pair of Londoners, who are very pleased owners of a beautiful apartment in Kato Paphos. Impressed with Fitzgerald’s efficient service, they now want to upgrade to a villa and have asked to short list a range of two bedroom villas in the Kato Paphos and Chloraka area. This is a regular occurrence at Fitzgerald’s where our credo of marketing quality property at realistic prices with Title Deeds brings in the clients as well as keeping them.

Not unusual you say? Well, that may be so, but the interest from Brits to upgrade flies contrary to the market assumption that most British are packing up and going. ‘Many people have the idea that the British are leaving Cyprus in droves and only Russians are buying, which is absolutely false,’ says Daryl Fitzgerald owner of Fitzgerald’s Marketing.

In reality, most ex-pat owned property in Paphos is owned by British people for their own holiday use, so after 5-10 years many want a change and want to move on.

As we at Fitzgerald’s enter our ninth year we have seen many people fall in love with smaller properties and then because they are so happy with the Fitzgerald’s marketing system and the large choice of quality properties, they come back to us to ‘upsize’ and sell their first property.

‘We can easily do this because the price people paid reflected the local market prices rather than ballooned prices which targeted foreign market segment’, says Daryl, and many British, Russian, German and Cypriots are looking to Fitzgerald’s to buy property.

Of course many people coming into the market for the first time are also going straight for villas which are a great buy in today’s market because there are really not so many quality and prestigious properties on the market at realistic prices which also have their Title Deeds.

During 2011 at Fitzgerald’s we have doubled the number of properties we offer and are especially pleased with the increased range and quality of our apartments, town houses and villas.

Cyprus gold rush is well under way with the Government Mining Authority issuing 55 permits to mining firms to test locations in and around the Troodos Mountains, Paphos and Larnaca. According to Canadian firm Northern Lion, which began searching for gold in Troodos in January 2010, a ‘significant’amounts of gold and other valuable metals have already been found in one the sites. Drilling and surface excavations have revealed “strongly anomalous values in copper, zinc, gold and silver” according to firm’s spokesman.

“If the price of gold in the international market is low, then interest is low, but when there is an international economic crisis, the price of gold is high. Conversely, diamonds have fallen in value,” said Dr Eleni Morisseau, Director Geological Survey Department. In the present climate a yield of two grams of gold per tonne of excavated earth could make mining profitable.

The history of mineral exploitation (copper, gold and other metals) in Cyprus dates back to the Bronze Age, approximately 5,000 years ago, but really picked up when the Phoenicians, then Romans began processing the island’s copper.

Aside from gold, Morisseau said, recent geological surveys have revealed other valuable ores, such as cadmium, which are used in batteries and the electroplating of industrial and aeroplane parts.

There was an opening ceremony of the “Transaero” Airline new office on the 8th of September 2011 in Limassol.

General director of “Transaero” Airline Mrs Olga Pleshakova and Deputy General Director of Commerce Mr Boris Gulnitsky attended the opening ceremony. In her speech, Mrs Olga Pleshakova said: “Opening an office in Limassol is another important step to improve the quality of airline customer service in Cyprus. Today, the share of “Transaero” has more than 40% of all passenger traffic between Russia and Cyprus.

The growth dynamics of our transportation showed the following figures: in 2009 “Transaero” has transported between our two countries 167 000 passengers, in 2010 - 202 thousand passengers, and only the first eight months of 2011 showed more than 208 000 passengers. This year and for the first time, apart from the traditional flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg, our company started direct flights to Cyprus from other five regions of Russia.”

The new office of “Transaero” is located in the centre area of Limassol in Georgiou Street. The office is equipped to the highest standards which allow providing the clients with the quickest and most comfortable services. The office interior design is complete in “Transaero” corporate identity style. The information facilities of the office are based on hi tech technologies of such IT leaders as Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, IBM.

The 6th annual International Salon Circuit of Art Photography was organised by Dr Yuriy Titovets a member of the Rotary Club of Lviv, Ukraine. The theme ‘With Love to Women – 2011’ has attracted a massive 3,779 photographs from 448 artists representing 58 countries around the globe. The exhibition will tour Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic and finally it will tour Cyprus culminating with exhibition in Paphos on the 4th November, 2011.

The Mayor of Paphos, Mr Savvas Vergas will open the exhibition at Polochoros Politismou ‘Palia Ilektriki’ sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Paphos, on Friday the 4th, at 7pm. Ukraine’s famous Dr Yuriy Titovets who is absolutely passionate about photography, is exhibiting his latest works and will be on hand to enlighten us about photography as an art medium.

The exhibition is a world class event with brilliant representations of the ‘With Love to Women’ theme, so don’t miss it. All welcome and we can give you directions to find the venue. The exhibition will close with an auction with proceeds donated to a humanitarian project to support mothers and children.

Taking a casual bus trip I chanced upon a conversation about ‘bears’ and how good it is to have a ‘friend’ like that. 60 Plus and carrying pet Teddies? Curiosity won and I joined in on the friendly conversation and soon the subject of Teddies popped up.

The Teddies referred to, are the St Michael’s Hospice Teddies. It all became clear when the bears emerged from the handbags and were proudly displayed. The ladies referred to them as ‘companions’ rather than toys. One of the ladies volunteered that in less than 6 months ‘my bear’ went to Ireland, New York and now Cyprus.

They make great gifts too, I was told. What makes them so special I wondered aloud? “They are St Michael’s bears, you know, and everybody loves them”. I must have looked puzzled because just as I was leaving the bus the ladies recommended I read about St. Michael.

Soon enough I was enlightened. To begin with, Archangel Michael has a proud place in Islamic, Jewish and across Christian traditions where he is regarded as the field commander of the Army of God. To soldiers, fighter pilots, police officers, Saint Michael is thought of as their patron. Google in ‘St. Michael’ and there is enough material for several years reading.

All in all, St Michael’s Bear does makes for a good friend and company. The Building of the St. Michael’s Hospice in Paphos has found a warm support from far and wide. Donations from people across the globe are bringing the project to fruition with the completion of the ‘building stage’ with the ‘refurbishment’ stage well on the way.

St. Michael’s Hospice will open its doors to all who are in need, regardless of colour, race or creed – a noble cause indeed especially as the need is great.

St Michael’s Bears are there to make a difference and help in raising money for the Hospice. Companion or not the tiny St Michael’s bear packs a lot of symbolic and emotional punch. Representing credentials such as these it is easy to see how St Michael’s Bears holds special appeal. It’s a worthy friend and companion to have around!

Price €5 each so have one and spread them around! Available in all hospice shops & Fitzgerald’s.

Cyprus Airways are to restart flights to Stansted from December 19th and to Heathrow from October 30th, albeit from Larnaca only at the moment.

Flights to Stansted will depart every Monday & Thursday morning with additional flights during the summer. Heathrow flights will be twice daily, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

OK, it’s not Paphos – yet, but we can always hope. At the moment you need to use the airport shuttle bus from Larnaca airport to Limassol then change for Paphos. For under €20, it’s a very reasonable price. Further details at www.airportshuttlebus.eu where you can email them for full details.

EU citizens could play a key role in the forthcoming municipal elections after the Ministry announced the number of registered voters has more than tripled since 2006.

Interior Minister Electoral Dept. boss, Demetris Demetriou said “The participation of foreigners since 2006 has more than trebled. The final number on the electoral list will be finalized at the end of the month and it is expected to reach 12000”.

Most of these registrations are British or Greek nationals with the majority being in the Paphos area where locals have rallied expats to have a say in the running of their municipality. In several areas, the number of expats is now sufficient to secure several representatives on municipal councils. For example – in Tala 351 out of 976 registrations are non-Cypriot EU citizens. In Peyia, the number is 422 out of 2055. A similar trend has occurred in the Limassol area.

The number of expat voters should be much higher, however. An Interior Ministry official said “The Electoral Services are pleased that they may have another 6000 non-Cypriot EU voters registered for the next local election… however, the real issue is why the number is so low, considering that it could be 60000 not 6000?”.

The closing date for registrations was October 2nd.

The annual Cyprus Rally will take place this year between November 3rd and November 5th and is the final event of the IRC season.

This year, the rally starts in Paphos on the evening of the 3rd with the spectacular LTV Super Special stage – an urban rallying extravaganza in the centre of Paphos. The Service Park will be situated at Paphos Castle at the harbor and is a new feature to this year’s event, as is the LTV Special Stage.

The major sponsors of this year’s rally are the Municipality of Paphos and the CTO.

The chairman of the Cyprus Automobile Association, Antonis Michaelides, said “The choice of Paphos came about largely due to the zeal and efforts of Paphos Mayor Savvas Vergas and his Municipality to breathe some new life into the Cyprus Rally in terms of organization and to highlight the natural beauty of Paphos”.

Away from Cyprus the Rally is available to view on many TV channels including Eurosport.

Perfectly positioned in the popular and picturesque Peyia village, this charming home offers an ideal environment for the consummate entertainer. You have the luxury of a generous 800sqm plot, landscaped to offer varied garden themes and distinctive entertainment zones.

Central to Mediterranean lifestyle is the joy of outdoor living and here you’ll entertain in surroundings that are utterly romantic with an ambiance of Arabian Nights to complete this ideal setting.

Illuminated by floor lights, the timber walkways meander across the thoughtfully landscaped low maintenance garden. Strategically placed spotlights highlight a wide variety of feature trees and shrubs and numerous candle lanterns (many a permanent fixture throughout the garden) softly diffuse the evening air.

Set against the background of a sparkling swimming pool, an impressive gazebo with voluminous drapes catching the breeze and cushion scattered divans……it’s tantalisingly inviting!

Adjacent to the kitchen, a custom designed outdoor dining deck is surrounded by fragrant and aromatic shrubs.

The villa stands slightly apart and features its own charm. You are greeted by precisely sculptured topiary to one side and a voluminous fig tree on the other.

A small lobby opens to an interestingly laid out open–plan living area with angular supporting columns, exposed beams, strategically suspended designer lighting and wide windows. The interior design combines the colours, textures and shapes that masterfully blend the whole to comfortable, stylish and leisurely comfort for its occupants.

Fashionable splash-backs, down-lights, black granite workspace, top quality appliances and a massive American fridge…it’s a ‘can do’ kitchen for a modern hostess requiring a high level of functionality yet projecting a minimalist air.

The three bedrooms are simply brilliant. The master bedroom comes with a cutting edge lighting system (including down lights over the built-in wardrobes), and an ultra modern wet room en-suite. The balcony (shared by the master bedroom and 2nd bedroom) offers fabulous panoramic views over the countryside and the vast stretch of your garden.

This is a property for a privileged lifestyle. Here you’ll enjoy a level of privacy, peace of mind and seclusion that underpins this unique lifestyle. It’s a relaxation haven for you, your friends and family. A rare offering.

Fitzgerald Marketing excels in getting results for their clients. “Since 2008, the Cyprus property market has been anything but easy so getting results for our clients has been a real challenge,” says Daryl, the face behind Fitzgerald Marketing.

The Cyprus property market has entered a climate of diminished demand, attributed to the international economic downturn as well as to local factors such as the continuation of the title deeds problem, and various other property problems endemic in Cyprus.

When the market is saturated with available properties and demand is low, we enter into the Buyer’s Market phase. Sellers are in the unenviable position of having to secure ‘interest’ in their property at a time when there is an abundance of properties to choose from and the call for property is low.

In competition with private sellers, and to retain their market share of sales, the developers have resorted to heavy (on paper) discounting, pointing the way for buyers to negotiate down the bid price for second hand property as well.

Fitzgerald’s success is based on outdistancing the competition for buyers’ attention. Our marketing plan is comprehensive and the ‘marketing mix’ continually evaluated and evolving.

Firstly, Fitzgerald’s have an outstanding reputation in the marketplace as a purveyor of quality ‘safe’ (with title deeds or very close to it) properties. In this period of heightened Title Deeds issues, Fitzgerald’s are proactive in helping the sellers to find the ‘truth’ behind the ‘jargon’.

Secondly, Fitzgerald’s are extremely focused and have no more than 80-100 properties being marketed at any one time. Marketing is effective if it produces the desired results. Our sellers rely on us to get the message across and to do this effectively the number of properties has to be manageable to ensure every property takes the centre-stage.

Continual investment in extensive multi media advertising is coupled with in-house & international promotions, i.e. properties are routinely ‘emphasized’ and ‘featured’, etc ensuring a heightened exposure of individual property in the wider market place.

Buyers come from all over the world. While the UK is still the predominant market, recently buyers from Russia, Cyprus, Germany and Australia have become contented new owners of properties marketed by Fitzgerald’s.

Sellers don’t pay any ‘up front’ marketing fees and Fitzgerald’s do not get paid anything unless we secure a buyer for your property. This is the guaranteed commitment to our sellers that Fitzgerald’s will spare no effort in promoting their property. Developing a wide market awareness of each property goes hand in hand with an effective global marketing strategy which, in turn, means the popularity of the Fitzgerald website ranking has to be very high.

Among all of the property companies in Paphos, including giants like Leptos, Aristo & Pafilia, Fitzgerald’s ‘Web Ranking’ fluctuates between number 1 and 3. No mean feat if you consider these companies’ marketing muscle, not to mention their substantial marketing budget. Fitzgerald’s are ‘up there’ and we mean to continue to excel.

The global buyer demands expert photos, information and presentation, and our intimate knowledge of each property gives us the edge to attract and answer qualified inquiries. Our commitment translates to a high level of ‘marketing maintenance’ of each property. Hence, Fitzgerald’s work only on a 10 month sole agency basis, with a 5% marketing fee. We expect to sell your property within that time frame.

Daryl has 21 years experience in the Cyprus property market and knows the market prices of all the properties in the area. “In this difficult market, we have to be realistic with prices. Buyers are well informed and, often, have been ‘testing’ the market. Ultimately, buyers want quality properties in good locations with the Title Deeds and will pay good sensible prices that reflect a fair market price. Fitzgerald’s are very much in demand and we are actively looking for more property in Paphos, Polis and Pissouri.”

When you come to see us, please bring us a copy of your Title Deeds, a stamped copy of your Sales Agreement, floor plans, passport and utility bills to our office on Apostolos Pavlos Avenue, 300 metres on the right going from the Begonia Gardens traffic lights toward Paphos Harbour. 

Fitzgerald’s will give you a true and honest opinion of the market value of your property. It is up to you to decide whether to market it with Fitzgerald’s. “We are optimistic and use our extensive expertise and all the value added elements at our disposal to achieve the desired outcome,” says Daryl, “however in a Buyer’s Market we must be realistic.”

With our years of experience at Fitzgerald’s, we’ll also advise you on any necessary work that may need to be done to help promote buyer interest, maybe some touch-up painting, or a bit of de-cluttering – just the little things that make all the difference and enhance your property ready for sale. We are able to provide assistance with legal or financial questions though our panel of lawyers and accountants who deliver a quick and professional service.

Fitzgerald’s have marketed and sold more properties this year than any previous year, a testimony that what we do works. The sellers are happy because their properties receive the market attention they deserve and with Fitzgerald’s excellent success rate more people can realize their dream and happily move on.

If you would like to market your property with Fitzgerald’s please make an appointment to see us on 26930345 or contact@fitzgeraldcyprus.com Fitzgerald’s are open 9am to 5.30pm 6 days a week.

We look forward to receiving your call.

An overall increase in UK and Russian tourist arrivals during the height of this summer provided a welcome boost to the local economy. The figures ending August 2011 recorded the biggest hike in arrivals with 12.2% increase, translating to a positive 1.66 million tourists in the eight month from a 1.48 million during the same period last year.

August showed the biggest arrival spike of 10.8% vis-a vis arrivals in August 2010. The surge was led by 4.9% increase in arrivals from UK (the largest market share segment), followed by 36.3% increase in arrivals from Russia and 25.8% increase in arrival figures Greece.

The arrivals were not as promising from Austria which recorded a 39.8% drop followed by 29.1% decrease in arrivals from Israel. The tourist industry is confident that the overall figure for the 2011 will be in a positive territory with projected 10% increase in arrivals for the year. The corresponding tourism related income for the year is expected to reach €1.8 billion. Income from tourism accounts for nearly 12% of Cyprus gross domestic product.

Opening of the new school year was traditionally held on the 1st of September.

At the beginning of the school year Pavel Pavlov Stoevich, the Principal of Russian School in Paphos, said: “When we first started the school we were not sure at all about the results. But it is very nice when we get phone calls from Moscow and St. Petersburg from our graduates saying how grateful they are.”

This year the Russian school of Paphos is celebrating its 13th anniversary. And here are the results: Russian School graduates study and work in different spheres in Cyprus and Russia.

For a child to be enrolled to Russian School in Paphos one will need:

• Copy of Birth Certificate

• Personal File

• Application from parents

Pupils wear inform at school. All the necessary books and literature can be obtained in the school. The classrooms are fully equipped: audio & video facilities, educational films, modern computer lab. Apart from the basics of learning program the school arranges different tours around the town and island, holidays, competitions, etc. The educational system of Russian School in Paphos is as follows:

Stage 1 (grade 1-3): Primary General Education. This stage ensures development of primary education, development of reading and writing skills, culture of behaviour and speech.

Stage 2 (grades 5 - 9): Basic General Secondary Education. This stage provides programs of basic education, development of social self-confidence, formation of pupils’ personality, their interests and abilities.

Stage 3 (grades 10 – 11): Secondary (Complete) General Education. This is the final stage of the general educational program, providing development of cognitive skills, creativity, etc.

The educational material fully corresponds to that in Russia. Educational Stages 2 and 3 are completed by State Exams held by the board of examiners in Russian Embassy School in the Republic of Cyprus and issues Certificate of Russian Federation.

The Russian School of Paphos provides summer school activities. Children can take part in a range of activities under the supervision of qualified teaching staff.

Children will have an intensive English Course at all stages of education.

Amid pomp and ceremony permanent skating rink has opened in Paphos. The Paphos Mayor Mr Savvas Vergas was on hand to lend support for the venture and praised the projects positive impact on the local community. The opening of a permanent rink follows closely on the success of the temporary rink laid out for Christmas last year and winter wonderland received overwhelming local enthusiasm for the sport.

The 150sqm rink is located on Ayios Apostolos Avenue in the centre of Paphos in the venue known locally as the Carob Mill. The imposing stone buildings feature a series of magnificent solid stone domed ceilings where the processing of carob harvests from surrounding areas once took place. The buildings stood empty and forlorn for many years until a decade ago when the indoor bowling alley opened in one part of the building, much to our (citizens) delight that the old buildings will be preserved and no new ’improved’ structures will replace them.

The ice skating rink is indeed a welcomed addition to the city’s landscape and the Carob Mill venue is ideal. The growing popularity of the sport in Paphos is heartening. Capturing the children’s enthusiasm for the sport is important but, no doubt, it will inspire many adults to don their skates too. In the process, the survival of these magnificent old buildings is assured.

The rink caters for the figure skating discipline as well as bob skating (skate hire at €4 and €2 respectively). Entry is €4 per 1 hour time slot and the rink is open Wed, Fri from 3 to 9pm and Sat, Sun between 11am to 11pm. For more information call 26 955 868

Dogs will finally be able to run free along the sand and swim in the sea now that five beaches island wide have been declared dog beaches, following a recent decision by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) beaches committee to finally implement the law. A law was passed in 2003 mandating that each coastal area should have a special strip of coast for dogs but Cyprus has fallen way behind in implementing it because of opposition from local authorities.

The areas designated as dog beaches are the Louma area in Famagusta, Softades in Larnaca, Tsierkezou in Limassol, Achelia in Paphos and Mansoura in Kato Pyrgos. The beaches have an expiry date of up until January 1, 2014, just in case they do not do well. The status of the beaches will be reviewed in December 2013 when an extension will be issued if the project has been successful.

Each beach will have a parking area, bins for dog waste, toilets for dog owners as well as clear sign posting as to where the beach begins and ends. Future plans for the beaches include kiosks and an opportunity to sign up to become a member so only members will be able to use the beach. However, with the freedom to roam come rules that owners must obey such as picking up their dog’s waste and putting it in the specially provided dustbins. If they do not they can be banned for 720 days. Owners are expected to carry their own equipment to clean up after their dog.  The Green Party congratulated the decision made by the beaches committee to finally implement the law considering it their own achievement too as they also proposed the idea. In Paphos, the stretch of beach designated for dog bathing and use is close to Achelia.

To reach the beach, drivers east of Achelia travel though the village towards Paphos and take the left-hand turn immediately before the bridge on the outskirts. Coming from the direction of Paphos, the turning is the first right after the bridge at the entrance to Achelia.

The road to the beach is 2.7 kms long, travels through agricultural land and is covered in tarmac for a short distance before turning into a gravel road. The dog beach is at the end of the road located about 800 metres from Paphos airport runway.

“The beaches have been selected because they are not in the vicinity of beaches for people. Also, there are located in such a way that dominant currents and winds move towards the dog beaches so that there is little chance of waters which dogs have bathed in flowing toward beaches where people swim,” committee member Glafcos Kariolou said. Dogs which use the beaches need to have up to date medical care, all of their shots and registration certificates. Owners who take dogs without these criteria to the beach are breaking the law.

Future plans include the CTO providing funds to help establish small portable kiosks to sell provisions for dogs and their owners. “It is also important that the beaches are all properly signed so that people know where the dog areas start and finish and that there are shower facilities for the dogs. We are willing to provide assistance with this too,” Kariolou said.

There are no signs to the beach at present. Drivers of small cars are warned that the road is rough in some patches but not impassable.

A rare opportunity to secure one of Peyia’s most appealing and privileged locations. This beautifully presented, character- filled, family home is set on a stunning elevated plot of 725sqm and enjoys theatre views over the whole of Peyia valley and a vast expanse of coastline. Here the best Mediterranean lifestyle can be yours..today.Custom designed for people of substance and discerning taste, this executive home is set amidst a beautifully landscaped and wonderfully colourful garden. The sparkling pool, garden terraces, inviting entertainment and leisure areas….offer a perfect hideaway well suited to family living or large-scale entertaining.The interior reaches new heights of intelligent design & luxurious simplicity. Four bedrooms (all with en-suites), 2 living rooms, a huge kitchen and throughout, wall to wall bi-fold doors which offer a seamless flow of space mingling the indoor-outdoor lifestyle with ease.

Richly coloured natural slate flooring (imported from UK) mirrors the colourful vibrancy of your garden whilst permeating the interior with gentle hues and warmth which give your home a rustic robust feel, meeting the challenges of the extended family.

Everything about this home is free-flowing and spacious. Overly generous the well equipped kitchen is strategically located to serve a huge covered dining terrace to the side, and the picturesque pool-side terrace against the backdrop of neatly trimmed evergreen shrubs and towering palms. The centrally positioned expansive living room is the epitome of family comfort. The vast expanse of bi-fold doors connect the pool, and from every corner enables you to savour the spectacular panoramic vista to the sea. Mediterranean bliss at its best.

Upstairs, the second family living room features a built-in fireplace and is complemented by two entertainer balconies, one of which is a vast al-fresco dining area.

Four impressive bedroom suites occupy the east wing of this imposing home with two bedrooms downstairs and two on the upper level. Each opens seamlessly to private balconies or terraces capturing those stunning views…

This idyllic home is imaginative and original… it is both a private family retreat and a perfect venue for entertainment on a grand scale.

(Ref: 1198)

Drilling for natural gas off the southern coast of Cyprus has begun which means the country will, in about 2 months time, get a concrete picture of how rich its resources are.

Cyprus has signed a production-sharing contract with Houston-based Noble Energy. The company has a concession to explore for hydrocarbons in an offshore field in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) south-east of Cyprus, known as Block 12. The government will then proceed with a second round of licensing for other blocks in the region.

Exploratory drilling will last two months, the results of which will give Cyprus a very clear account of the level of hydrocarbon reserves in that field. Should Noble Energy strike gold in Cypriot waters, a pipeline would need to be built to bring the fuel ashore in its raw, gaseous form. So fingers crossed and maybe soon we’ll all be wearing “Dallas-style” stetsons!!!

Fitzgerald Marketing of residential property is very much in demand. To date 2011 has seen a 40% improvement in our marketing success over 2010, both in the number of satisfied customers and turnover. The marketing success has been hard won though and it is the continual commitment to a wide reaching combination of initiatives that is the cornerstone of the success.

The comprehensive investment and support of the website has secured a remarkable ranking of the website, giving us unprecedented global exposure. Development of the Fitzgerald Digest electronic magazine and the monthly newsletter give the websites innovative content, and supported by the continual upgrading of property presentations and content quality. Promoting the site and the full range of properties in such portals as Rightmove in the UK, Zagrandom, Russia and Scandinavian search engines gives our range of properties a focused international exposure second to none.

The full page Cyprus Mail advertisements every day play a vital supporting role as does the advertising on the leading Russian lifestyle magazine, Moi Ostrov, available locally which also commands a high on-line readership in Russia. Fitzgerald Property Catalogue, an informative glossy, top-end product which features our properties has just been launched. It serves as a good reference point for our top quality properties, it’s free, and its popularity is very encouraging.

As part of our growth strategy Bella Valieva, a bright linguist speaking Russian, English, Greek and German, has joined the Fitzgerald’s team in the main office in Paphos. Bella is a talented communicator with a vast knowledge of the property market and hence forth many more people will be able to use Fitzgerald’s specialist marketing service.

To build on our success and in response to a continual flow of inquiries from people wanting us to market their properties as well as buyers looking beyond just Paphos, we are expanding to Polis and Pissouri. ‘We have recently found very good and loyal people to spread the excellent service we have established over many years to these very popular centres,’ Daryl, the Managing Director, says.

‘This is our first strategic move to expand beyond Paphos. However the marketing systems and processes are in place to go island-wide under the Fitzgerald marketing umbrella. Perhaps we can find someone in Limassol soon too?’ he adds.

‘Buyers are looking for quality property at realistic prices with the Title Deeds (or very close to it), and this is what they get from Fitzgerald’s,’ Daryl said. The sellers do not have to pay any up-front marketing fees so Fitzgerald’s have excelled on getting results, based on their professional approach and marketing know-how. All enquires are welcome, we are open 9-5.30 Monday to Saturday. Contact us on 26 930345

Tourism arrivals were up by almost 20% in July compared with figures for last year for the month. This translates to 359, 104 of visitors versus 306,106 last year. Leading the increase are visitors from UK up 9.8%, followed by Russians with 6.1% increase in arrivals over the previous July. The period from January to July 2011 also recorded an overall increase of 12.6% in tourist arrivals which translates to an equivalent increase in income for Cyprus from €195.3 million in 2010 to €220 million in 2011. The statistics also show that the average daily amount spent by tourist (June figures) was €78.10 a day and the average stay is 9.4 days. By far the Belgians were the biggest spenders at an average of €140.9 a day whilst the recession hit Greeks managed only €63.50.

The tourism industry also accounts for 12% of Cyprus’s gross domestic product and is seem as a key sector to steady and, hopefully, boost the island’s economy. According to the JCC clearing house reported that the cardholders on the island swiped €1.3billion over the last seven months . Tourists credit card spending for July alone reached €55.9 million with an average purchase of €112.

Another treasure trove of archaeological findings was uncovered in Hala Sultan Teke site, in Larnaca, which was one of the largest harbour cities in the Late Bronze Age on the island spanning some 25 hectares. Five weeks of excavation at the site revealed a large building 30 x20m with living and working spaces dating back to 1200 B.C. Found at the site were spindle whorls and loom weights (indicating the production of textiles) and a large number of quality pottery of jugs, bowls, and jars of Mycenaean origin.

The Mycenaean civilisation dates back from 1600 to 1100 B.C., during the Late Bronze Age in Greece and its archipelago and the imports highlight close contact with the Greek mainland. Some of the finding were also imported from Egypt and some show Egyptian traits as is the case of a figurine of a female goddess uncovered at the site. Another important find was a haematite cylinder seal, an ancient form of an ‘identity card’ which could also be submerged in the dye and used as a stamp.

The excavations also uncovered three occupational layers which indicates that the city was destroyed twice and rebuilt on the same site. However, according to the Professor Fisher of the university of Gothenburg in Sweden, the city foundation reach well below the excavated level. He is hoping to come back to continue the dig to determine when the city was founded.

Welcome to quaint traditional Tremithousa Village on the outskirts of Paphos. The village has largely escaped the developing fervour and still retains its rustic charm of old. The long narrow Main Street runs between the main road to the St Neophytos Monastery and the village church and is lined with low level traditional cottages with an interesting and complex system of alleyways and homes either side.

The major lanes open the village into a more familiar contemporary urban scene and some 700m west of the Main Street you come to a charming wooded grove with a cluster of contemporary low set homes located around a central communal pool and park-like communal areas.

Access to villa 9 is from a private cul-de-sac with enormous street frontage featuring a private undercover parking area to the right, then the full length of the bungalow, with an attractive arched front gate and a generous garden to the left.

Architecturally designed, every aspect of this remarkable home is finished to fastidious perfection. The extensive use of natural local stone and wood perfectly balances the traditional with the contemporary, complementing the lifestyle and the country setting.

Step inside and you’ll be overwhelmed by how very special this home really is in the marketplace. Enter into the front hall and you face a gallery of perfect arches each inviting you to explore different areas of your home. Each arch is beautifully detailed with richly coloured natural marble bricks, interestingly framing the graceful curves.

Directly in front is the living room with its stylishly arranged fireplace dominating the west wall. The living room is of generous proportions and is flooded by natural light. Multiple patio doors open outwards to an expansive covered terrace with a nicely arranged garden. Evergreen hedging screens your home from view and the long boundary, adjoining the communal areas and the pool, features attractive shrubs and trees giving you all the privacy you could wish for. At the far end of the living room, another expansive archway leads to a massive 5m long x 4m wide kitchen come dining room. Solid wood cabinets, acres of granite inlaid worktops, fully integrated appliances: it’s a ‘dream come true’ kitchen where everything is possible. The kitchen opens to a custom designed al-fresco dining terrace to the side of the house.

The bedroom wing to the right of the entry hall features a massive master bedroom suite (shower en-suite) which opens to the living room garden terrace. Bedrooms two and three are also impressive with large windows and volumes of wardrobe space. They share a lovely family bathroom which features a full bath and a well arranged laundry nook.

For those longing for country living but within a few minutes of the city, this is the one you must see. Many search for quality homes like this one but rarely find them. Contact us today and make it yours.

Construction is under way to build a new mall in Paphos, which is hoped will help boost the flagging local economy. The Kings Avenue mall is a joint venture between Aristo developers and K. Athienitisa and is located in the tourist area, close to the Tombs of the Kings Road and St. Paul’s Avenue on a 46,181m2 plot of land. It will also include several department stores, supermarket(s), various shops, cafés, restaurants, covered playground, as well as a seven screen cinema, a fun park and underground parking spaces for 1,100 vehicles. The total indoor area of the new mall will be approximately 48,000m2..

The project which started in 2011, has proposed a completion date in sometime in 2013. The project which is currently a rather large hole in the ground is expected to cost more than €100 million and the mall will cover an area of 46,000 square metres. The new mall on an old KEO site in Kato Paphos is opposite the Begonia Garden Centre will have parking space for 1,000 vehicles.

A SURPRISE donation of €100,000 made to the St. Michael’s hospice ‘400 Countdown’ appeal’ has left supporters in Paphos reeling in delight. The cheque was presented to the St. Paul’s Catholic Parish presbytery on Monday and has meant a huge boost to the appeal, which is underway to ensure the completion of the Saint Michaels hospice in Mesa Chorio in Paphos.

The 400 Countdown campaign fund aims to raise the remaining €400,000 required to open the doors of the Hospice in 2012. So far, over €1.46 million has been raised. Father Carlos Ferrero, the Parish priest told the Cyprus Mail: “We have been asked by the donors to keep their identity anonymous. The donation was a big surprise and the largest single donation we have ever had.”

Father Jim Kennedy said:“I was absolutely staggered by the amount and by the generosity of the donors.” But he was quick to point out: “Every donation be it €1 or €1,000 is valuable to us, but this is the largest single donation we have ever received and we are eternally grateful to the individuals concerned”  he continued. “They were very impressed by our achievements to date, but were particularly interested in our future plans.”

Father Carlos added: “This money will enable us to purchase some major items such as a lift and kitchen equipment and really gets us on track to meet our objectives. We see this as the hand of God guiding and assisting us, we are doing God’s work for everyone. We are very grateful for this donation and we hope to make the whole of Paphos proud of our facility.”

Cameron McDonald from the presentation team said:“This has boosted the moral of everyone in our community, it allows us to do things now that we would otherwise have to wait for; the end of the project is now in sight.” The Hospice is owned by the Catholic Parish but its services will be available to everyone from all areas of Cyprus and it will aim to provide free palliative care to everyone coping with a life limiting illness, regardless of nationality or religious persuasion. The hospice will provide many facilities including nine double bedrooms, a lounge, a dining area, a chapel, a day care area and it will also provide complimentary therapies and home visits. The 400 Countdown appeal was launched in March this year and regular monthly accounts are available at their website - www.stpauls-catholic-parish-paphos.com. To make a donation, or for further information contact Father Jim or Father Carlos at the presbytery on 26931308.

Looking back over the last 24 years we have been in Cyprus, all in all, we consider ourselves lucky to have been here. Our children grew up in this safe and children-friendly environment and Cyprus is very much our home.

There have been many positive changes over the last 2 decades covering the whole spectrum of the social and economic ‘health’ of the island. The economic growth, major improvements in infrastructure and changes in governance have transformed the island beyond all measure.

Fundamental to this progress, was Cyprus’s entry into the EU, which heralded a major change and seismic shift in Cypriot mentality from a narrow ‘island’ focus to a European one. Despite some cultural differences with Western Europe, Cyprus overall is a well organised and well run, separate, European Union country, not part of, or dependent on Greece, though it traditionally has many cultural links with it.

The fact that the laws are based on British law gives it a degree of familiarity and having most Cypriots speak English was a very desirable aspect way back then. Today it plays a major role still in the island’s ‘appeal’ factor. Today many more Europeans are also choosing the island’s way of life and are making their homes and businesses here, helped by the EU open-door policy, low Government taxes, the comparatively low cost of buying property and low income and capital gains taxes. The banking system here in Cyprus is based on deposit accounts, and the banks are very conservative, which has put them currently in a better state than some of the banks in other countries.

The development of a good road infrastructure connecting the major cities and the substantial improvement in suburban roads has made an enormous impact on road safety and lifestyle. The recent addition of new inter-city and inner-city bus networks has positively impacted on tourists and locals alike and has substantially reduced travel costs. Substantial improvements of Cyprus’s airports are also very welcome.

Growth in Commerce has been impressive too. For the consumer, the vibrant commercial activity has brought a much wider spectrum of services and goods and increased competition has delivered much better value, coupled with heightened protection of consumer rights. Increased competition has a substantial impact on the weekly shopping basket and, with relatively low fuel prices and property taxes the household budget is adequately manageable.

For all the news about excess property developments, Cyprus still has a low population and low building density and absolutely fascinating countryside and beaches. The Cypriots are a friendly and hospitable people, proud of their unique and fascinating cross-continental history and culture and it is wonderful to be a part of it.

The fact that Cyprus has a Title Deed System laid down by the British over 100 years ago is a very big plus for property buyers and sellers here in Cyprus.  

Naturally there has been a huge back log of work for the Land Registry Departments caused by the property boom of 2000-2008 but this is being systematically addressed by the government.

Even though many developers made mileage out of the lax supervision and government slowness to issue Title Deeds, on the whole, most developers have behaved responsibly and sooner or later cooperated with the government to issue the Title Deeds for their projects.

Government, private individuals, not to mention the EU calls to comply with its laws, have exerted pressure on the developers and they are responding. Unfortunately there have been several cases that have adversely highlighted the Title Deed saga, but overall they are very small in number compared with the 250,000 properties that have been sold by developers in the last 20 years.

The recent changes to the Title Deeds Law as mentioned last month and the increased scrutiny of the legal profession in Cyprus are also a big step in the right direction to reduce the ‘red tape’ and protect buyers of immovable property.

This is precisely why Fitzgerald’s only sells property that we know all about and which either has the Title Deed, or is very close to it.

Following the unfortunate accident at the Mari Naval Base at Zygi which put Vassiliko the Islands largest power station out of action we have all been beset by power cuts. The accident has resulted in Cyprus losing approximately 60% of it’s power generating ability, a situation which would bring many countries to their knees. Here in Cyprus though it is business as usual around the inevitable power cuts.

There has of course been the expected rounds of Why? How? and Who? with some obvious politicising of the events. But to the ordinary people in Cyprus whilst there is great sadness at the loss of life surrounding the event they just want to get on with their lives and the one thing that is affecting most people are the power cuts. Of course the power cuts are not the same all over the island, initially there seemed to be a rolling schedule of power cuts and some areas suffered less than others.

There must have been a conscious decision to prioritise certain areas for power to help sustain the economy and those people who live in tourist areas, near airports and hospitals are much less likely to lose power whereas those of us out in the sticks have had to endure 3 or more power cuts a day. Whilst in this most technological of ages this may sound like an absolute nightmare, no TV, fans, air conditioning or computers; where we are forced to go out and sit on a sun lounger in a shady spot and relax in the beautiful weather that Cyprus provides. 

Yes the some what randomness of the power cuts has been an annoyance, will it go off just as you put the roast in the oven? The people who should get the sympathy are the people at the electricity board who in the aftermath of such an event must be pulling their hair out trying to balance the supplies and keep everyone as happy as possible, especially as the situation is not of their making.

To the credit of the EAC (Electricity Authority of Cyprus) they have managed to keep the vast majority of power outages, at least in the Paphos area to the daylight hours making for more comfortable nights. The plan is, until the situation is resolved, to have 22 areas of the island each having one power cut each day of no more than two and a half hours between the the hours of 8am and 7pm with everyone having power overnight.

It is going to take time probably in the region of six months before we see power coming from the Vassiliko power plant again, in the meantime much is being done to alleviate the situation. The first shipment of generators from Greece is due to arrive which will give an additional 70 MW to the national grid, generators from Israel are already in operation supplying 10 MW and Bank of Cyprus have purchased generators with the capacity of 20 MW, 10 MW of which will be fed into the national grid “for free for as long as needed”. There is also power coming from the North of the island. So the next time the lights go out find a comfortable spot open a bottle of Cyprus wine and remember why we came to Cyprus in the first place. To do just that!

CYPRUS’ entry into the digital world on 1st July went smoothly, with no major problems being reported.

According to the head of the Communications Ministry’s Department of Electronic Communications, Stelios Chimonas, everything went well, while the necessary adjustments were made by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) and consortium Velister, to ensure the areas that don’t receive the digital signal yet, will receive the analogue one for another few months.

Chimonas concluded that transition to the new digital environment was a necessity, which will offer viewers better sound and viewing, as well as unlimited opportunities. Apart from the current terrestrial stations - CyBC’s Rik 1 and 2, Ant1, Mega and Sigma - licensing for island-wide transmission has also been given to Fred TV, Larnaca channel Music TV, Limassol’s Capital TV and Extra TV.

Since the beginning of the month, there have been a few hiccups which are slowly being sorted.

To receive the channels you must have either a modern TV with built-in MPEG 4 compatibility, or an external set top decoder. The decoders can be bought at various supermarkets or electrical shops or DIY shop and start from just under €30, depending on make and from where purchased.

One point to remember is that you still need an antenna to receive a signal.

A lot of people are choosing to purchase brand new high definition (HD) digital televisions and so an expected 50,000 old TV sets are expected to be recycled in the next few months.

TV viewers in Cyprus are being urged to recycle their old TV sets in an eco-friendly way.

Due to the Digital switchover on July 1, the Operations Manager of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Cyprus Ltd., George Fotiou, said 50,000 old TV sets were expected to be recycled in the next few months.

The non-profit organisation set up under EU rules, has been operating in Cyprus for just over a year. It aims to tackle growing local waste resulting from obsolete and abandoned televisions, fridges, computers and most other household electronic appliances.

“We have had many enquiries from the public over the correct way to recycle old TVs recently and we predict around 50,000 sets will be returned”.

Fotiou explained that many hotels in Cyprus will be getting rid of their old TVs before the digital crossover occurred and said that he expected most households to get rid of at least one.

“Retailers of electronic goods have an obligation under the WEEE regulations to ensure that each member of the public can return two old television sets free of charge, regardless of whether they are buying a new TV”.

He added that there are currently more than 500 manufacturers and businesses in Cyprus that act as drop-off and collection points for expired appliances. In addition, there are 40 designated collection facilities, (recycling containers) around the Island where obsolete electronic items can be returned.

For more information visit http://www.electrocyclosis.com.cy/en/index.php

The Cyprus Institute officially opened its local branch at a ceremony at the former District Officer’s residence in Paphos, aiming to serve scientific and archaeological research.

It will support the activities of the Science and Technology in Archaeology Research Centre (STARC) as well as marine activities for archaeology and environment, based in the Paphos harbour. Moreover, the renovated building will also host various exhibitions, scientific symposia and conferences.

The landmark premises were designed by Maltese architect William Caruana for the Department of Public Works between 1925 and 1931. Caruana combined elements of Cypriot traditional architecture with features of the Tudor revival architectural style.

The residence occupies a prominent place in the topography of Paphos. Situated on a natural hill at the eastern end of the town, it once dominated the main road connecting Paphos to Limassol. The house is surrounded by a large mature herb garden which is home to indigenous and imported herbs.

True to the objectives of the centre, the opening ceremony launched an exhibition devoted to a famous two- millennia old Antikythera mechanism, a device found in a shipwreck off the Greek coast which was capable of accurate astronomical calendar calculations.

Described as an ancient analogue computer, the mechanism calculated the exact position of the sun, the phases of the moon, predicted eclipses and determined the dates of the ancient Crown Games.

The exhibition will run from Monday until Friday from 9am until 5pm until August 15th, presented as part of the cycle events on “Science and Archaeology”.

To find the residence take the road from the “Old Town” towards the “big” Debenhams and it’s on the left, just before the big statue of the head of Archbishop Makarios.

Lighthouse Villa Kato Paphos The perfect choice for those who value easy practical living, quality and a premier beach location. This attractive villa is flanked by wide terraces and pretty courtyards, encircled by a minimalistic palm-studded Mediterranean garden …a superb embodiment of Paphos’ indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

Your new home is a mere 150m from the beach and the ever present sea breeze makes entertaining outdoors a superbly pleasurable experience by day and by night. The setting of the kidney shaped walk-in pool is picture perfect. Light coloured natural sandstone paving is cool even on the hottest day and there is space aplenty for sun loungers and the outdoor dining setting, ideal to entertain your guests in style.

The ground floor of this charismatic home accommodates an open living area flowing out to the pool courtyard and an arch detailed dining terrace which extends seamlessly to an outdoor sitting area. The sitting area is under the woven pergola where you can relax in comfort protected from the midday sun.

Entry to your home is from the quiet private cul-de-sac with semi-enclosed galley kitchen to your left , straight ahead is the living room and to the right an attractive archway which leads to a small corridor with a double bedroom (which also connects to the shaded sitting area), separate laundry, a lovely full bathroom and a sweeping stairway.

The master bedroom on the first floor (shower en-suite) is bright and sunny with windows to the west, south and south east. Patio doors lead to an expansive, full length of your home, balcony which is partially covered with pergola. An ideal place to relax and enjoy the views to the sea, the lighthouse and the pool below. Access to the roof terrace is also here, from where you have a 360° view. The entire city, nestled as it were, between hills and sea is in view by day and of an evening , the mesmerising twinkling of the lights and the glow of the sunset over the sea makes for a truly memorable setting.

Everything about this property leaves lasting impression of warmth and quality of lifestyle with a desirable inner city address in the most historic and coveted residential precinct of Paphos.

This wonderful home offers the canny buyer the unprecedented opportunity to secure an attractive villa in an absolutely unique location.

Ref: 1197

When travelling towards Ayios Georgios and the Akamas Peninsular, have you ever noticed the small island not far off the coast of Ayios Georgios?

Well, this is called Geronisos island and there are now new theories about First Century BC visitors to the ‘Holy Island’ after a four week dig by 176 archaeologists from New York University. Apparently, ancient pilgrims to the “symbolically charged” Geronisos island might have celebrated rites of passage with a diet rich in liquids, soups and strained foods, dancing and clay gifts to Apollo, according to the latest excavations.

In early Byzantine times, a Christian basilica was built atop Geronisos, a partner to the three basilicas that sit just opposite on the mainland at Ayios Georgios tis Peyeias. Among the findings were stone tools, a large jar or pithos, a female figurine and a bead that was deliberately placed in a pit with ash during the early Chalcolithic period, around 3,800 B.C.

According to chief excavator, Professor Joan Breton Connelly, findings from around the first century B.C. suggest families may have brought their sons out to Geronisos for special rites of maturation. A circular platform unearthed in recent seasons may represent a dance floor, used for bys choral dancing – an integral part of education in Greek antiquity. Other findings suggest that a school for boys may have been part of the sanctuary operations.

Architect Richard Anderson continued his massive work of preparing a 3-D digital survey of all architectural remains on Geronisos using a total station laser theodolite.

Wind and sea erosion of the cliff edges of Geronisos makes survey and mapping of the island’s remains all the more urgent.

There has been a lot of discussion recently about a law that has been passed to ease the Title Deed situation and many things have been printed in newspapers.

The basic characteristics of the new laws are: The new laws apply for any land development which is holding a valid building and/or town planning permit. The legalization of the property will no longer be a precondition for the renewal of the existing title deed of a plot after a building has been erected on the same (meaning the registration of the building on the existing title deed). According to the new law, the issuance of the new title deed will now be possible, even if there are illegal construction works of the building which are not covered by the permits already granted for the erection of the building. However, these illegal construction works will have to appear on the newed title deed. In order for a new title deed (without any illegalities) to be issued, an application has to be submitted to Land Registry with a detailed description of the illegal works which have been carried out.

The Land Registry will issue: A final certificate of approval without restrictions after construction has been completed according to the existing permits, A final certificate of approval with notices on construction works which do not comply with the existing permits, A final certificate of approval for unauthorized works in case of substantial trespassing of the existing permits i.e. when illegal additional construction work has been executed.

The Building Inspection Office will forward all respective details and information to the Land Registry for the further processing of the title deed renewal.

The issuance of the new title deed for a property with illegalities does not mean that these illegalities will become legal. In cases of severe deviations from the existing permits, the authorities have the power and the obligation to force the owners to take appropriate measures to legalize the unapproved works. The owner of the development or the surveying engineer are responsible to inform the authority at the time it has been completed and utilization of the same has commenced and which illegal works in relation to the existing building and town planning permit have been carried out.

The purchaser as well as the authorities still have the right to demand that any unapproved works carried out by a property owner need to be legalized prior to the issuance of the renewed title deed.

The renewed title deed will only be issued in the name of the original property owner, not to the name of any new purchaser. No authority has the right to transfer the renewed title deed to another owner without the approval of the original owner. The transfer of the title deed without the approval of the original owner can only be carried out by a respective court order.

The new laws have been passed by the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus on 08/04/2011.

All owners possessing a property with unapproved construction work (or property purchasers who have carried out unapproved work at their property prior to the transfer of the title deed to their names) have the right to submit an application to the District Building Inspection Office in which they declare that they wish to execute the right to proceed with the legalization of the unapproved works. The deadline for this application is the 07/10/2011. After this, applications must be approved by the authority. The property owners or purchasers have the right until 07/04/2014 to apply for the legalization of the unapproved works under the precondition that all necessary documentation and information is submitted to the authority together with the application.

Some property businesses are charging buyers €1000-4000 for this service.

We are delighted to welcome Bella Valieva who is our new Russian/Greek/English speaking assistant. Bella graduated from the State University in Russia (Faculty of International Affairs) in 2001 and has also finished music school there. Bella has been in the real estate business for quite a long time and is familiar with tendencies and peculiarities of this market. She is instrumental in developing Fitzgerald’s multi faceted marketing strategy dedicated to the Rusian market. Bella is knowledgeable and talented communicator and provides high level of customer service for our growing number of Russian and Greek clients. Bella has settled well into the office ‘life’ and her friendly demeaner, quiet confidence, good organisational skills and sense of humour is a welcome addition to Fitzggerald’s team dynamics.

There are many more enquiries about our quality resale properties at realistic prices with the Title Deeds. This summer the number of visitors to Paphos is increasing and despite the Greek saga continuing there is a much more positive approach by buyers to the Paphos resale property market. Enquiries cover the whole range of property from small apartments to big villas and there are exceptional properties to be bought at realistic prices. Fitzgerald resale marketing is working for both buyers and sellers. Gone are the heady days of 2004-2008 and for those people that have grasped the fact that many properties have fallen by 50%, now is a good time to buy and sell.

Everyone who comes to Paphos marvels at the cheap bus fares of €1 whether it be from Coral Bay to the harbor in Kato Paphos or even as far as Aphrodites Rock! The €1 fare applies to all bus services across all municipalities. However, the taxi drivers, especially those at the East of the Island are not happy, as you may imagine.

One of the stories that have featured recently in the media covered the private taxi drivers’ protests against the low fares charged by the newly established bus system. The taxi drivers demand that the government increase fares on public buses to protect taxi drivers from losing their business. The taxi drivers are even threatening the government with strike action if their demands are not met.

According to the website www.cyprusbybus.com – “The taxi drivers complaining about losing their business to the new public bus system is confirming in a way that the new bus network has been a success and that more and more people are using it every day. Up until last year, when the department of road transport in Cyprus, with the aid of the European Union, implemented a new bus network to replace the old, almost not existing one, taxi drivers have been enjoying a monopoly in the public transport industry. They were thus inclined to overvalue considerably their monopolistic service, taking advantage of the luck of a comprehensive public transport system (for instance, it has been recently reported in the media that a passenger was asked to pay 70.00 Euros for a taxi transfer from Larnaca airport to Dasoupoli, Nicosia). Like in all such cases, this worked well for those years where competition in the market was lacking. However, now that competition is building in the public transport industry, the services of private taxis have become very uncompetitive and in many cases redundant”. The tourist area buses in Paphos are always packed and I’m sure that Alepa, the bus company, are very happy with their marketing strategy – other businesses take note!

This stunningly beautiful estate flows with confident individuality and promises an enchanting lifestyle for the whole family. Custom designed by a well-known local architect it takes full advantage of an extensive 886m/sq elevated plot and stunning 180° views to the coast.

The mix of elegant classic lines and contemporary flair is accentuated by lavish attention to detail and fine craftsmanship. The villa is endowed with a fine street presence which carries through to the impressive, and well suited to the Mediterranean climate, outdoor living areas.

Professionally designed landscaped gardens provide all-round colour and interest and a perfect backdrop to the expansive pool, garden dining area, sunbathing pavilion and a myriad of private courtyards. The pool is ‘hydrazzo’ coated (crushed non-slip marble) and benefits from solar heating collectors which extend the swimming season by 2 months.

Over the brilliant two-level floor plan, there are three oversized bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a study (4th bedroom) and expansive living areas with each room seamlessly connecting to superb terraces and balconies. The over-sized master-suite is a truly luxurious retreat and you’ll love the spectacular, uninterrupted vista to the sea!

The meandering interior offers a crisp palette of cream and white, glistening marble tile floors and bathrooms with matching marble vanities. The main living and dining areas, which incorporate a granite inlaid gourmet kitchen, effortlessly open out to an impressive, elevated, al-fresco area with direct access to the pool and gardens.

The villa has cavity-insulated walls, double glazing and gas-fired central heating. In addition there is a ‘living flame’ gas fireplace in the living room.

Added conveniences include a security system, an abundance of storage, an irrigation sprinkling system and covered parking area for two cars.

Easy Access Country Location

This villa is superbly located whatever your requirements and interests. Situated on the edge of the quiet hill village of Prastio, it is less than ten minutes away from unspoilt beaches. For restaurants and water sports you have the holiday village of Pissouri and for golf there’s the stunning five-star resort course at Aphrodite Hills – all within fifteen minutes. Paphos International Airport is a mere twenty five minute drive.

Half an hour east and you’re in Limassol with its shopping malls and bustling night life, half an hour west and you can enjoy the picturesque seafronts and archaeological sites of Paphos. Half an hour to the north, you are in the Troodos mountain nature reserve, which is ideal for walking or snow-skiing in winter.

You really must inspect this property to truly appreciate the free flowing design that gives this property an edge both in design and functionality. This is a showpiece country estate that you should see soonest. (Ref: 1236)

Well, at long last the opening date for the Paphos store on Tomb of the Kings Road has materialised - 30th June – and passed. As expected the car park was full and the crowds of bargain hunters were swarming by 9 am on the morning of opening. It had a very festive air to the event with balloons and marquees to welcome the onslaught!

This is a long-awaited event, but as we publish our Newsletter on the 1st, we cannot give you details of what the store is like until next month, none of us were brave enough to venture into the Melee on the opening day. Presumably it will follow on from the other stores on the island and if so, then it will be a few months before the majority of Lidl’s own brand products reach the shelves.

The best advice is to probably to keep away for a couple of weeks and let things settle, as at a previous store opening there were so many people that fighting broke out over car parking!!

Just started this month is the excavating for the new Mall at the traffic lights at the intersection of the road to the harbor and the Tomb of the Kings Road. Work is due to last 18 months, so in theory(!) the Mall could be open for Christmas 2012 – watch this space (and also the building site).

After the most peculiar Spring, (most Cypriots cannot remember such a long and cold spell), Summer has arrived with temperatures to match. Even so, it is still pleasant on an evening and if you’re above the humidity line, then the soft ones amongst us still need a blanket.

The tourists have arrived in droves and this year we have a lot of visitors from Russia, though Paphos has not usually been their first destination choice in Cyprus. This should be good news for the property market and especially for Fitzgeralds as we have a new Russian member of staff, which means we don’t have to talk in a loud voice and wave our arms about if a non-British client comes to the office!

This annual event comes round quicker and quicker each year!! 2011 brings us Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffman”, (Tales of Hoffman), performed by the Opera of the National Theatre, Prague. The dates to remember are 2/3/4 September.

Les Contes d’Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach premiered in Paris in 1881, a few months after the death of the composer and remains particularly popular until today. Jacques Offenbach was one of the biggest composers of popular music in 19th century Europe, one of the creators of the music kind of operetta and one of the pioneers of contemporary music comedy. For reservations and additional information please contact the offices of the Pafos Aphrodite Festival Cyprus Company in Pafos at 26822218, the all-Cyprus toll free number 8000 8005 or visit the company’s website www.pafc.com.cy to book your ticket online.Ticket prices are as following: 35 EUR, 50 EUR, 60 EUR and 80 EUR.

There will be a simultaneous translation in Greek and English via subtitles.

The first International Music Festival of young opera stars “Music Open Paphos” was held in 2010. This year we had a pleasure to enjoy this outstanding concert again on 8 – 10 July in Coral beach Hotel. The festival was headed by Alexander Morozov – Russia’s famous composer.

The concert hall was full and the spectators were charmed by the young singers, the winners of International Competitions – Andrey Savelyev (Tenor) – GranPri holder of the “Verdi in Italy” competition , Anastasia Maximova (Soprano) recognised as the best soprano of Neoclassic, Eduard Tsanga (Bass) – soloist of the Maryinsky Theater, Evgeny Juzhin (Tenor) – winner of the Russian Romance International competition. And also Yin Yanzhuang (Baritone) and Diana Chepik (Soprano) – for whom this festival was the first opportunity to show their talents.

The first day of the festival was dedicated to Maria Callas and Enrico Caruso where spectators could enjoy opera Arias of Verdi, Mozart, Puccini, Bizet, Bellini, etc.

The second day of the festival presented Music of World classic Cinema such as “Once in America”, “Titanic”, “Moulin Rouge”, “5th Element”, etc.

The third day’s gala concert presented russian classic composers – Tchikovsky, Sergei V. Rachmaninoff, Glinka, Musorsky, etc. And some works from the previous two festival days.

We are pleased to inform you that we are going to welcome our young opera stars with the third Music Open Paphos Festival next year and once again enjoy their magnificent and stunning performance.

When the world seems to be going crazy stay calm! The constant flux in the Cyprus property market is an unsettling factor for both buyers and sellers.

The local press reports that Cyprus property prices have dropped across the whole spectrum of the property market. Whilst the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors report covering the period to the end of 2010 describes the performance of the property market as ‘disappointing’, the report also mentions that there are signs of price stabilisation amid signs of growth in the economy.

At Fitzgerald’s there is ample evidence that buyers are returning to the market taking advantage of lower prices for holiday homes and for permanent residence. The numbers of ‘moneyed’ people coming from the South of England, Scandinavia and Russia to seek a new and better life is rapidly increasing. As well, Cypriots are cashing in on the situation too.

However the air of optimism is returning for the sellers. As demand increases, indications are out there that the market has bottomed out and the prospects are much brighter on the horizon. Although there are a lot of bargain hunters, the sellers are far more confident to achieve a ‘fair’ market price.

The behaviour in property prices across Cyprus is not so much ‘disappointing’, to paraphrase the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors report, but returning to a normal, manageable level down from being grossly overpriced, especially in Paphos. Limassol property prices seem to be holding on, perhaps banking on the Russian clients’ cash power, but with increased interest from Russian buyers in Paphos properties, they too are looking for better value for their money.

Where can you secure beach front line property in the developed Mediterranean for an astonishing €875,000? Interested? Check it out:

Coral Bay Beach: Chloraka Beach Villa: or

Pissouri Luxury Villa of 500 sqm at €725,000

The number of people who are looking at Fitzgerald’s quality property with Title Deeds is expanding rapidly, especially for villas, and the buyers are well aware that now is the right time to buy. Fitzgerald Estates has a large range of all types of quality property at all different price levels offering outstanding value.

To meet the demand Fitzgerald’s have expanded their portfolio of quality properties on www.fitzgeraldcyprus.com and their Prestige Property website www.fitzgeraldprestige.com As one well-healed Swede put it this week ‘I only look at your Prestige Property website www.fitzgeraldprestige.com because I want great quality under €1 million’.

‘There has never been a better time to buy your dream villa than now,’ says Daryl Fitzgerald. ‘The reasons that prices will increase, particularly for top quality properties, is that there is robust demand for quality properties at realistic prices.’

The new Desalination unit at Kouklia in Paphos has been unveiled in the presence of President Christofias who said “The completion is adecisive step towards the final solution of our water problem”.

In 2008, Cyprus needed to import water from Greece, spending more than €50 million, as a result of several years of drought on the island. Two further desalination units are to be completed by 2012 in Vasiliko, Larnaca and Episkopi, Limassol while it is estimated that reservoirs are currently at about 60 per cent of their capacity.

The Paphos desalination plant will be able to pump out 30,ooo cubic metres daily and will cover the needs of the municipalities of Paphos, Peyeia, Yeroskipou and of 20 other local communities. At the event President Christofias said that the government’s aim was to solely use recycled water to irrigate crops and keep water prices level throughout Cyprus as well as trying to instill a sense of “water consciousness” in the public.

According to the government the trend for Cyprus is for summers to grow and be increasingly arid while the island’s water needs have been consistently rising in recent years. The downside of course is that the desalination units were power hungry with ten per cent of the islands total energy consumption going to feed them.

The Cyprus government and Hermes Airports have entered into a partnership to help bolster the tourist arrivals to the island. The new links to Cyprus would be open from points of origin in Russia, the Middle East and several airports in southern and northern Europe and these will attract a subsidy of €25 per each arriving passenger shared equally between the government and Hermes company. No participating airline/s covering these routes have been named as yet, howeverthe initiative is said to guarantee a minimum of 400,000 passengers per year. The scheme will go into effect as of this autumn. For the existing routes there will be a €4 government subsidy and further €10 per passenger will be contributed Hermes Airports. Combined, the two schemes are projected to bring some 500,000 additional tourists in 2012, according to the Chairman of Hermes Airports. The agreements are valid for 5 years.

Latest government data meanwhile showed a rise in traffic in the first four months of the 2011. Tourist arrivals totalled some 405,463, a 17.6 per cent increase on the same period last year. For the month of April alone, tourist arrivals reached some 200,000, a 43 per cent increase compared to the same month last year. This included a 29.1 per cent increase in arrivals from the United Kingdom, a 74 per cent increase from Russia and a 30.8 per cent increase from Germany.

Prestigious dress-circle position – own private island resort.

Picture a rugged cape jutting out into the iridescent sea, a picturesque sheltered bay and across the water, the imposing headland with the remains of fortification walls dating back some 3200 years guarding the narrow strait.

Your home is near the top of the cape, an idyllic location with breathtaking scenery to the open Mediterranean and the Bay with its pristine beaches nestled against the hilly countryside. Sited on a generous plot with an uncommonly large sea frontage and almost directly opposite the ancient castle; the historical significance inspires and the natural beauty of the coast delights the soul.

Today your home is set on one of Coral Bay’s finest streets and within walking distance to the heart of the vibrant Coral Bay Resort Village where you find an eclectic mix of entertainment venues, shops and cafes catering to up-market international clientele. In a word, you’ll find everything you’d expect in a dynamic, resort- type environment within easy reach.

Your sprawling one level home offers comfortable living for the family. Featuring a clean, white palette accentuated by polished tiles and soaring pitched ceilings, the area offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere with contemporary elements and charm.

Generous open plan living and dining areas merge effortlessly with a centrally located kitchen. The living area is split level with the sitting room at entry level, then slightly lower (4 steps down), an expansive kitchen and dining area which flows seamlessly to the semi-screened living room.

Taking full advantage of the breathtaking panoramic vista the living room is surrounded by windows. Two sets of patio doors open the area to the massive sea-side terrace flanked by a series of imposing arches which frame the panoramic scenery to perfection.

Providing maximum privacy, the bedrooms are located on either side of the upper sitting room and feature walk-in wardrobes and private en-suites. Both bedrooms open to a sea-facing balcony with the master bedroom overlooking the expansive courtyard and the pool area.

Custom-built of stone, the barbeque is but a hint of the outdoor lifestyle enjoyed here.

The mesmerising beauty of the Mediterranean, cooling breezes and the spectacular sunsets…. it’s a setting to inspire you, your friends and family.

P.S. New planning regulations allow you to build a new home of 360sq m of covered area on this large 600 sq m plot. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to secure this outstanding front-line property and a lifestyle your heart will cherish forever. (Ref:1232)

As the nesting season approaches for Loggerhead and Green turtle (both are classified as endangered species) the Turtle Watch is in the full swing to clear the debris from the beaches and the shallows. Episkopi Turtle Watch held its sixth annual beach clean programme with a major clean up of Curium Beach in early May and the rubbish haul this year included fishing nets, tractor tyres, televisions and furniture items. According to the spokesman for the Turtle Watch the removal of rubbish in the Curium Bay reduces the hazards for the turtles making their journey to the beach and thankfully no dead turtles. The good news is over the past six years, there has been marked improvement in the Paphos Akamas National Park with its Lara Beach is also an important nesting site. Young turtle emerge from their nest in August and the Turtle Watch will be there to ensure each one reaches the sea.

The rare and very beautiful sun’s-eye tulip, (Tulipa agenensis) also known as Toulipa tou Polemiou as it mainly grows in the Polemi area in Paphos, has been found in the mountainous regions of Pitsilia, the Forestry Department announced. The rare find was discovered by husband and wife team Georgos and Fani Constantinou, along with the Forestry Department. Even more extraordinary is that the tulip is still in bloom, a month after its usual flowering period probably due to the altitude. Pitsilia is 1,200m above sea level. Tulips generally are indigenous to mountainous regions with mild climates. Polemi, Stroumbi and Fiti in the Paphos area as well as Monagri in the Limassol area, were in the past the only known sites of this specific type of tulip which is considered not only rare but vulnerable. According to the elderly lady who owns the vineyard where the rare tulip was found, the flowers have been there for as long as she can remember.

Forestry Department officials have already replanted tulip bulbs at the Troodos Botanical Gardens, in addition to agreeing with the community council on ways to protect the plant.

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