Travel, Travel news

Larnaka gears up for summer season

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Introducing the new Vavatsinia Honeybee Trail 

With the holiday season gearing up one of the most popular areas of Cyprus is preparing to show visitors some of the areas hidden treasures.

A new bee-themed nature trail at Vavatsinia has opened which takes walkers on a 2.5km journey through the life of bees and their role in wellbeing.  ‘The Humming of the Bees’ trail combines walking in the picturesque and tranquil surroundings of mountainous Vavatsinia village with an educational and healing experience centred around the therapeutic sound of the humming of bees; something that has been proven to have health and wellness benefits. 

Vavatsinia is one of the nine Rural Larnaka Honey Villages that share a rich history of beekeeping and honey production. The route has bee-friendly plants signposted, decorative beehives and bee ‘hotels’ offering refuge for solitary bees, as well as a pavilion, benches and wooden loungers to enjoy a relaxing break. Walkers can discover interesting information on bees, such as facts about ‘apitherapy’ which uses products made by honeybees for medicinal purposes and the way in which bees communicate with flowers. Click here for more info.

Historic Larnaka Municipal Market is re-born with new indoor market

The new Larnaka Municipal Market has opened on its original site with an indoor market throughout the week and an open-air farmer’s market on Saturdays. With the market’s long history as an integral part of Larnaka city’s fabric, the new design honours its heritage by fusing traditional elements with a contemporary structure and is set to be a landmark in the commercial centre. 

The market first opened in 1928 and operated in its original form until 1963. It remained unused for some 30 years until it was demolished at the end of the 1990s to create municipal parking. Alongside the open-air farmer’s market that operated at the site, a smaller indoor market was opened in a building across the street. 

The new market houses 20 vendors offering a variety of traditional, local produce from across the region, including stalls selling wine, dairy, cured meats, baked goods and sweets, herbal products, souvenirs and fresh fruit and vegetables. The Saturday open-air farmer’s market (from 6am – 1.30pm) offers fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh flowers and other produce. 

The new structure is a reimagined design reminiscent of the circular dwellings of the Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement. In the future the mezzanine level will host restaurants, cafes and a snack bar, as well as cultural spaces, whilst the upper level will feature a terrace with seating area, roof garden and bars.  The market has a Facebook page that will be updated with news and events. 

Kalavasos-Tenta archaeological site ‘virtually’ reconstructed

The Kalavasos-Tenta archaeological site has been ‘virtually’ reconstructed with a historically accurate video that shows how the Neolithic settlement appeared 9500 years ago. The video takes viewers back in time to the site during the Aceramic Neolithic period (7.000-5.200 BC), when the island’s first permanent residents established a village west of the Vasilikos River plain.  

The remains of the settlement in Kalavasos village – alongside those at Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement – are an excellent example of an early permanent settlement. The village was eventually abandoned in 5.600 BC for reasons unknown.  Watch the video here to find out more about this fascinating and sophisticated settlement. Click here for more info.

Two new ‘Talking’ statues bring history alive

Two new Larnaka Storytelling Statues have been unveiled. ‘Man with Wreath of Leaves’ at the Archaeological Museum of the Larnaka District and ‘Medieval Knight of Larnaka Castle’ are the newest members of the Larnaka Storytelling Statues family ready to narrate their unique histories. 

The Larnaka Storytelling Statues are a series of statues, busts and monuments that bear a plaque with a QR code. Once scanned users receive a call-back in English or Greek from the monument and can listen to the insightful story of each in a character narration. 

‘Man with Wreath of Leaves’ paints a vivid picture of Larnaka city during ancient times, and in particular, the areas surrounding the museum and the site of the Ancient Port of Kition. ‘Medieval Knight of Larnaka Castle’ is a noble French knight’s narration conjuring evocative images of the castle during its different eras; Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman and British. Click here for more info.

For tourist information from the Larnaka Tourism Board, visit www.larnakaregion.com

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Mazda, SUV/4X4

Diesel do nicely for Mazda’s new hi-tech engines

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Mazda CX-60

By Bill McCarthy

It may seem a tad strange to be introducing a diesel engine in the days of the race to zero emissions and previous diesel scandals.

Mazda is undeterred and actually bullish about its new 3.3 litre e-Skyactive in the mid-range CX-60, saying it is one of the cleanest and most efficient in the world.

Clearly, the firm has identified potential markets citing high-mileage drivers and those towing regularly. The engine’s high torque delivery gives it a 2,500kg trailer weight towing capacity.

It has already proved its pedigree, a challenger to the German and Swedish premium brands, the car continues to look fresh and attractive with a dynamic, sculpted elegance that gives it real road credibility.

Both existing  PHEV and new diesel models are offered in three model grades, which are: Exclusive-Line, Homura and Takumi.

They all offer high levels of equipment and cutting edge technology, putting them firmly at the premium end of the market.

Innovations include high-end safety equipment, and connectivity through Mazda Connect for phone apps, to control vehicle settings, as well as mirroring phone settings on the touchscreen, which also controls navigation, infotainment through the high end Bose system.

‘Crafted in Japan’ is the interior theme, and all feature leather upholstery and heated front seats, heated steering wheel and front seats and head-up display. Move up the grades and you get more equipment.

Innovation is also the key here with diesel, due to be phased out in new cars from 2030, but will still be on the roads for years beyond that and the new 3.208 unit offers plenty.

The six-cylinder unit is available with two power levels — a 254PS all-wheel drive beast with 550nM of torque, assisted by a 48v mild-hybrid electric motor — and a less powerful 200PS unit available with rear-wheel drive only.

The firm calls it the ‘right solution at the right time, it features the fancy-named Distribution-Controlled Partially Premixed Compression Ignition (DCPCI) Technology, which helps it achieve a thermal efficiency (the relationship between the total energy contained in the fuel, and the amount of energy used to perform useful work) of over 40 per cent.

The 200PS engine returns a WLTP average fuel consumption of 56.5mpg with CO2 emissions of only 129g/km in rear-wheel drive while the AWD 254PS WLTP average is 53.3mpg with CO2 emissions from 137g/km.

The drive comes via a slick-shifting eight-speed auto box, which can be switched to steering wheel paddles for a more engaging drive, and engaging  Sport mode, to sharpen up engine and suspension responses.

The more powerful version delivers instant power and hauls the  2.5 tonne vehicle to 60mph in an impressive 7.5 seconds with the pleasant thrum of the six-cylinder power unit always in the background.

Not much is lost with the two-wheel drive version, just one second slower to 60mph.

It certainly made an impression on a lengthy test run around the Scottish borders and managed to get pretty close to the official figures.

On a combination of main drags, twisting country roads and potholed narrow lanes, the car handled well, leaning well into corners and feeling stable when cornering.

There is a little wind noise and the large wheels, up to 20-inch, can mean significant road noise on poorer surfaces. But it also offers excellent manoeuvrability for such a big vehicle with an excellent turning circle.


The ride is also pretty good, but did get unsettled on some of the rougher tracks, but overall it is a comfortable and refined SUV, 

As an SUV it is also highly practical, offering plenty of space for five occupants together with a large 520-litre boot which opens up into a cavernous space with the rear seats folded.

All Mazdas are packed with safety kit with a comprehensive array of airbags, while the newcomer adds a new 360-degree monitor with extended field of view at low speeds; Hill Descent Control (HDC); Adaptive Cruise Control (i-ACC), and Traffic Sign Recognition.

The new engine also demonstrates there’s life in the diesel market.

Prices start at £42,990 rising to £50,730 on the road.

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