As the lockdown continues in the UK, specialist tour operator Discover Egypt (featuring holidays to Egypt, Jordan and Israel), have now cancelled trips through and until the end of June 2020.
All customers due to travel have been offered to transfer their holiday at the same price, to an alternative date in 2021 or a full cash refund.
This policy follows the law brought about by the European Package Travel Regulations 2018 and Discover Egypt, Jordan & Israel continue to adhere to this.
Check out the superb documentary on Channel 4 with great discoveries in both Luxor and Aswan. Equally fascinating is how Tutankhamun’s possessions are being transported from Luxor to the new Grand Cairo Museum (GEM), due to open later this year. Check out the Channel 4 programmes here.
The Egyptian government continues to offer access to a series of virtual tours of the country’s archaeological sites and antiquities. This project is the result of the cooperation of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities with Harvard University and until we can travel once more these ‘virtual visits’ provide inspiration and may help draw up a wish list for a next visit to Egypt.
Perhaps not top of anyone’s list right now, but Discover Egypt do have holidays and cruises for 2021 now on sale.
To enjoy some of the virtual tours, follow the links below:
The Palm Beach Hotel in Larnaka will reopen for business
Larnaka Tourism Board’s latest newsletter asks readers to ‘keep Larnaka in their heart’ as Covid-19 lockdown continues and this Cyprus regional tourist board adds home experiences for all on social media platforms. To read the spring newsletter, please follow the link here.
Experience Larnaka from Home
Larnaka Tourism Board posts videos posted on LTB’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter each week. The first in the series was local basket weaver, Petros Nicolaou of the Basket Workshop & Museum in Choirokoitia village. Petros explains the different types of baskets made with wheat stick stems, reeds and bamboo, and traditionally used in the Cypriot home.
The second video is filmed at the family friendly Golden Donkeys Farm in Skarinou village. This donkey sanctuary allows visitors to meet the donkeys and holds various traditional festivals during the year. The video highlights the superior nutritional qualities of donkey milk.
Looking Forward to ‘Sunnier’ Times
When the resort can reopen there will be new hotels and accommodation available for visitors explains CEO of Sunnyseeker Hotels and Board Member of the Larnaka Tourism Board, Marios Polyviou.
Sunnyseeker Hotels is the largest hotel group in Larnaka region and opened the region’s first hotel by an international brand (the Radisson Blu). The group currently operates six hotels and serviced apartments and has an additional three hotels in the pipeline branded under the Radisson, Intercontinental and Best Western chains.
On a personal level, Mr Polyviou’s favourite parts of Larnaka, includes the Finikoudes promenade especially the stretch of the promenade that extends along the Piale Pashia walkway, which Mr Polyviou says is filled with diverse views: “This area offers visitors amazing views of Larnaka Bay, and the scenery is so different from morning to afternoon and across all seasons.”
Stories from the Statues
Larnaka Town is home to a number of historic statues, each one has an interesting and unique story to tell and soon they will be able to recount it ‘personally’ thanks to the innovative ‘Larnaka Storytelling Statues’ initiative.
Scanning the QR code with a mobile device, visitors can select from English or Greek, and the statue then ‘calls’ them and narrates their story.
Dotted around the town centre and the main seafront promenade, the seven statues are: Zeno of Kition (three different statues of the founder of the Stoic school of Philosophy – born 334BC); the bust of General Kimon (who defeated his enemies even in death in the 5th century BC); Apollonios Kitieas (a physician of the Empiric school of thought); artist Michael Kashalos (a self-taught painter who began his career in his 70s), and the Winged Lion of Venice, a gift from Venice to mark the twinning of the two cities.
Created by the LTB and supported by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Larnaka Municipality and the Youth Board of Cyprus, Larnaka’s ‘Storytelling Statues’ will be the first on the island to talk! This initiative is to be introduced by the end of August 2020.
Pandemics of the Past
The Kyriazis Medical Museum is a fascinating time capsule of ancient medicine, including exhibits from pandemics of the past!
The Kyriazis family practised medicine for many generations, including Dr Marios Kyriazis, who collected artefacts from his own family collection as well as donations from other medics in order to create Larnaka’s non-profit museum; an archive of the island’s medical history.
Included in the epidemic exhibits at the museum are the outfits worn by medical staff. Whilst the scrubs are not dissimilar to those that our medical professionals wear today, the masks were very different, with the ancient ones designed to ‘scare’ the virus away and make the doctor look more authoritative.
A Window to Worlds
With all events cancelled for spring, and citizens asked to remain at home, Larnaka Municipality has been bringing the arts to residents and friends of Larnaka region with entertaining videos.
With the hashtag #Ménoumespíti (‘we stay at home’), Larnaka Municipality is posting regular, short videos of performances and entertainment on its Facebook page under the ‘Cultural Window’ banner.
The ‘Cultural Window’ videos all appear in a charming blue shuttered window animation – much like the windows you can see on houses in the neighbourhoods of Larnaka old town! These windows act as a glimpse inside the world of culture and arts, and clips include choral performances, musical performances from members of the Larnaka Philharmonic Wind Band.
In addition to the cultural videos, the Municipality also posts videos from its ‘Open School’ evening classes. These videos are interactive and offer viewers something to enjoy whilst learning.
Made at home by tutors, the videos offer a fantastic opportunity for everyone to benefit from these lessons. Videos cover instruction on Cyprus herbs, Pilates and exercise routines, cooking demonstrations, crafts and dance lessons.
Made with Love & Tradition!
Spending more time at home has seen a surge in cooking and baking from scratch as many people try their hand at new recipes. One group of women for whom this has always been a daily passion is the Larnaka Rural Women’s Association, who continue to produce their homemade, traditional delicacies.
Erimi Traditional Sweets in mountainous Vavatisinia have shared their simple recipe for traditional strawberry jam; Tsimpi-Τσίμπι in Skarinou teaches the step-by-step method for ‘Kaloirka’ (handmade village pasta filled with meat), and ‘To Madratzi tis Yiayias’ (Granny’s shop) in Kato Drys introduces an unusual biscuit with terebinth berries called ‘Tremithopites’. The recipes can be accessed here.
On the road 