Cyprus’s most famous claim to romantic fame is undoubtedly as the birthplace of the legendary Greek goddess of love Aphrodite. Rising from the sea foam off the coast of Paphos (which can be found on the main road to Limassol), Aphrodite, known as Venus to the Romans, was said to have been carried ashore upon a giant shell by Cyprus’s gentle sea breeze at the rocks of Petra tou Romiou. This is most memorably depicted in the seminal artwork Birth of Venus by Botticelli, but depictions can also be found in the preserved murals of Pompeii in the House of Venus on the Shell.

Aphrodite’s birth isn’t the only legendary connection the rocks of Petra tou Romiou can claim: the name Petra tou Romiou literally means “the Rock of the Greek”, originating from the story of Byzantine hero Digenis Akritas. Legend has it that the largest rock ended up out in the waters after Digenis threw it at Saracen ships to save the island. Using his amazing strength, Digenis is said to have reached back and grabbed part of the Kyreneia mountain range – this is also the tale of the creation of Pentadaktylos, the “Five Finger” mountain.

Cyprus also appears in one of the greatest love stories of all time; that of Antony and Cleopatra. After their controversial wedding, Antony was so enamoured with the gorgeous Egyptian queen and desperate to prove his undying love to her, he is said to have gifted Cyprus to her as a reflection of the queen’s own beauty. Although you too might be swept away by the island’s splendour on your Cyprus holiday, buying a gift of this size can be a tricky business, so don’t expect your partner to follow Antony’s example in this day and age.

These are a few of the romantic tales associated with this breathtaking island, but there will be none more romantic to you and your partner than the ones you create yourself. If you’ve already experienced the magic of Cyprus for yourself, why don’t you tell us about your experience in the comments? We’d love to hear your story.

The Venetian Bridges

When the Venetians ruled the island from 1489 to 1571 they had a nasty habit of stripping anything of wealth from Cyprus and shipping it back to Italy. To facilitate this, they built a camel trail across the island and because of Cyprus’s many gorges, they also had to construct a number of bridges. Three still exist today, the Eleia Bridge, Roudias Bridge, and Kelefos Bridge, each surrounded by lush Cyprus forestry in an idyllic setting. To get to the bridges, follow the road north east from Koilineia in the Paphos region and walk through the deserted village of Vretsia, which is a fascinating attraction in itself.

Kykkos Monastery

Constructed in the  11th century, Kykkos Monastery is not only beautiful to look at, it’s also the largest ecclesiastical library in Cyprus. The monastery is home to religious iconography dating back to the Byzantine period as well as a resplendent statue of the Virgin Mary. Kykkos’ bells can be heard for miles around and if you visit on a Sunday we recommend heading into the nearby valley, where the sound of the bells reverberates off the valley walls to spectacular effect.

Avakas Gorge

The Avakas Gorge is a stunning natural wonder – found on the Akamas peninsula, the gorge was formed over millions of years by a river, and in fact still turns into a river during the island’s wetter months. Avakas Gorge is one of the few accessible gorges on the island and takes about 30 minutes to walk through during Cyprus’s dry summer months, taking visitors on a tour through lush smelling citrus plantations and ending at the famous Lara Beach. The beach forms part of the appeal of this walk, as it’s known for being home to nesting turtles. In the mornings and evenings, as the sun dips below the horizon, the light bounces off the gorge sides to beautiful effect.

Attractions like these are what authentic Cyprus holidays are all about, but they are just a taste of what this brilliant island has to offer the curious traveller.

Have you been to Cyprus? Have you got any recommendations not on this list? Let us know in the comments!

Aside from being the third largest island in the Mediterranean, trailing slightly behind Sicily and Sardinia, Cyprus is notable for being an island with a split personality: almost two-thirds is known as The Republic of Cyprus, while the remaining area to the north  is the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This gives it a rather unique atmosphere with two very divergent, individual cultures present on the island married by one that is distinctly Cypriot.

This diversity is reflected in the variety of Cypriot holiday destinations – Ayia Napa  is renowned for its 24 hour parties, while Paphos to the west is a haven for couples looking for romance in the birthplace of the Greek goddess of love Aphrodite and Coral Bay caters to those looking for a quiet, family-friendly resort. Cyprus’s west coast is where you will find the more traditional side of the island, replete with olive groves and picturesque white houses perched on steep ridges halfway up mountains.

For a true taste of Cyprus, you need look no further than the remote community of Lefkara in the Larnaca district. This sleepy little village is known as ‘Lefkara the beautiful’ and ‘The Lace Village’ to locals, owing to its natural beauty and a long-standing tradition of fine lacemaking amongst the villagers. You can’t visit Cyprus without strolling down Lefkara’s narrow, cobbled stone streets while biting down on delectable locally-produced Turkish delight.

There is so much more to discover on a holiday to this diverse island than we have mentioned here – so without further ado prepare to delve deeper into wonderful, beautiful, magical Cyprus with Holiday Hypermarket.

Italian food came first with a strong 30 per cent of the vote. Italian cuisine is famous for a good reason – pizza and pasta are popular dishes in the UK as well as abroad, not to mention Italy’s famous wine, cheese, olives, coffee and gelato. No trip to Italy is complete without visiting a winery or sipping an espresso with biscotti on a sunny café terrace. While dining for hours on caprese salad, parma ham, risotto and tiramisu may seem extravagant in Britain it is par for the course in Italy.

What surprised us most is that the UK came second in the poll; 22 per cent of respondents said that British cuisine was the best in Europe, a stronger showing than both France (12 per cent) and Spain (6 per cent). While Britain’s cuisine has a bad reputation abroad, we know that our Scottish salmon, Cumberland sausage, and Yorkshire pudding deserve better. Where would we be without fish and chips by the seaside, strawberries at Wimbledon, or a Devonshire cream tea?

The survey also found some interesting differences between men and women and between generations as well. Young people choose Italian food over British by a huge margin, while older people tend to slightly prefer British food. While men and women both prefer Italian food overall, British food had a stronger showing amongst men than women.

We’d love to hear from you: which European country do you think has the best national cuisine? Support Britain or lobby for your favourite country’s food in the comments, or join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #TravelFoodie.

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<a href="http://web1.holidayhype.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tastiest-Country-in-Europe-Infographic-Final.jpg"><img src="http://web1.holidayhype.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tastiest-Country-in-Europe-Infographic-Final.jpg" alt="Tastiest Country in Europe Infographic Final Whats the Tastiest Country in Europe?" width="600" border="0" title="Whats the Tastiest Country in Europe?" /></a><br /> <span style="font-size: 10px;">This infographic was created by <a href="http://www.holidayhypermarket.co.uk">Holiday Hypermarket</a></span><br />

Gok’s Best and Worst Holidays

Gok Wan one of Britain’s top fashion consultants and tv personalities tells of his best and worst holiday experiences. 

His favourite destination is Thailand, he loved everything about it but most of all he loves the food and shopping in the street markets.

He also mentioned how much he loved Cairo particularly the Mena House Oberoi Hotel with views of the Pyramids of Giza.

The worst holiday he had despite also being his favourite destination was actually in Thailand in a resort called Chiang-Mai where him and friends stayed in a tree house, they awoke in the middle of the night thinking they were being burgled when they heard lots of loud noises,  but when they looked to see what was happening they discovered next doors cabin was on fire.

What about you? Where are your best and worst holiday destinations?

The Caribbean

The royal family’s love affair with the Caribbean is well documented, and Prince Harry toured the islands earlier this year as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. The private island of Mustique was a favourite holiday venue of the late Princess Margaret and the Middleton family enjoyed a  trip here in January. Relax on a pristine beach with a cocktail, try your hand at some watersports in the tropical waters, or dance to Reggae beats in a lively and cosmopolitan city; holidays in the Caribbean offer something for every taste.

Seychelles

Prince William and Duchess Catherine celebrated their honeymoon last year in the Seychelles, an island paradise in the Indian Ocean. The nation’s 115 islands are blessed with exquisite white beaches and some of the most beautiful tropical island landscapes in the world. During the honeymoon William reportedly enjoyed a spot of scuba diving, an activity popular with holidaymakers in the Seychelles. Visit the islands and discover a little romance of your own.

Ibiza

Kate Middleton fever truly started when images surfaced of her and sister Pippa frolicking on a yacht in Ibiza. Pack your own white bikini and enjoy the sun-drenched party scene of this popular Spanish island. Head to Ibiza Town for the big clubs, or if you’re after a more refined atmosphere (or the Ibiza Rocks music festival) visit the chic town of San Antonio. Ibiza’s beautiful landscape, seas and ancient monuments are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the island enjoys water temperatures of up to 27 C in the summer.

Kenya

The royal couple got engaged during a rustic holiday in Kenya, a country that is also a favourite of Harry, the Queen and Prince Phillip. Relax at a luxurious safari lodge, go camping (or glamping) under the stars, or relax on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. There are 19 national parks and reserves in the country, the most famous of which is the wildlife-packed Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Scotland

Kate and Wills met while studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. The royal family have long loved holidays in Scotland, particularly to the family’s famous getaway at Balmoral Castle. It may not be as exotic as an African safari or tropical retreat, but the Scottish landscape is equally beautiful. Have a game of golf at the famous Old Course in St. Andrews and head south to Edinburgh for even more royal fun. Visit the Palace of Holyrood House, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland, and head up Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to the iconic castle.

It doesn’t end there – everything from boarding cards to self-service check-in counters that are also decorated in the Hello Kitty motif.

Whilst on board there are over 100 items all with the Hello Kitty theme, including the meals which have Hello Kitty shaped fruit and pasta etc.

Hello Kitty takes to the skies

Hello Kitty fans will love this.  What about you? Would you fly on a Hello Kitty themed plane?

If you’re a bit of a couch potato, you might not be glad to hear this diet does involve daily activity: physical exertion has been the cornerstone of Greek life for thousands of years and comes part and parcel with their eating habits. This is the country that gave usthe Olympics after all! Fret not though as you won’t need to be pumping iron for hours to see results from a Medi diet as incorporating some light exercise such as a walk, cycle or swim in to your day is plenty.

The Medi diet pyramid breaks food down into groups that you should eat daily, weekly and then monthly, with most of the foods that make up the daily diet originating in the region, from Italy, to Greece to Cyprus. Potatoes, whole grain bread and pasta, rice, couscous, quinoa and polenta form the base of the diet pyramid and should be eaten most often throughout the day and lightly in the evenings.

Beans and legumes, as well as a wide mixture of other vegetables and fruits should be consumed daily and supplemented by complex fatty foods such as olive oil and nuts. Dairy is also recommended as a part of your daily diet, with goat’s cheese and Greek yogurt being the top recommendations for healthy dairy consumption.

There are certain foods that should only be incorporated into your diet on a weekly basis: to lose weight with the Medi diet it’s recommended you cut your meat intake down drastically, dining on fish and seafood rather than poultry or red meats. Fish is recommended at least twice a week, while poultry in reasonable portions can be eaten throughout the week for those not looking to shed the pounds. Red meats such as steak, bacon, sausage and pork should be consumed very sparingly, as should a sweet dish: about once a month.

The health benefits of the Medi diet are increased physical activity levels, lower cholesterol due to the high amount of monounsaturated fats in the diet, a rise in alertness and energy levels, a better sleep pattern and an all-round increased sense of well-being. So go ahead: eat like a Greek and feel the benefits of the Mediterranean way of life without leaving home!

We had an amazing response to our Red Sea competition and we want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who entered!

But there can only be 1 winner! So we selected 1 name at random to win £250 off any holiday provided by Red Sea Holidays and the winner is…

WENDY MANN

Congratulations Wendy! We have sent you an e mail with instructions on how to claim your prize! I look forward to hearing from you!

And don’t forget, there will be another chance to win very soon!

TOP 10 REASONS TO WEAR SUN CREAM!

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