Hestia Group News

Shopping MALL - OPENS IN Paphos cyprus.

Paphos now has its very own Shopping mall for the first time… On Saturday 26th July, House President Marios Karoyian officially opened The Paphos Mall, which covers an area of 30,000 square meters at the entrance of Paphos, with retail space of 6,000 square meters and over 1,000 parking places, most of which are covered.

The Paphos Mall is easily accessible, situated on Demokratis Avenue, the main road connecting the Limassol highway with Kato Paphos / the Tourist area. This location in convenient for both visitors coming from Paphos, as well as people living in Paphos and coming from nearby towns and villages such as Polis, Peyia, Chloraka and Geroskipou.

Retail stores represent well known brands and chains, while its cafeteria is the first Costa Coffee to open in Paphos (7th in cyprus). One can enjoy Shopping and spend their money in the following stores: Orphanidies Hypermarket, Eye Deal Optical (Opticians), Germanos, Beauty Line, Scholl, BonBon, Kappa Kids, Calzedonia and Charles & Keith. A selection of restaurants will also be on the premises.

According to a press release, “The Paphos Mall has been especially designed to care for all the family’s needs and to become the single destination for a family outing. Furthermore, the meticulous design and careful selection, as well as the set up of its outlets, aims at attracting non-Cypriot customers as well.”

The opening week saw visitors being greeted by “many pleasant surprises, with a number of events held on the premises to entertain the public”.
LINKS;
Shopping - http://www.hestia-group.com/news/2007/08/18/shopping-opening-hours/
Opticians - http://www.hestia-group.com/news/2008/03/06/opticians-in-cyprus/

Adopting just a couple of elements of the Mediterranean diet could cut the risk of cancer by 12%, say scientists. A study of 26,000 Greek people found just using more olive oil alone cut the risk by 9%. The diet, reports the British Journal of Cancer, also includes higher amounts of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and less red meat. A separate study found adding broccoli to meals might help men vulnerable to prostate cancer cut their risk.
 
The Mediterranean diet came under scrutiny after researchers noticed lower rates of illnesses such as heart disease in countries such as Spain, Greece and cyprus. They noticed that people living there generally ate more vegetables and fish, less red meat, cooked in olive oil and drank moderate amounts of alcohol. The latest study is one of the largest yet to look at the potential impact on cancer of the various parts of this diet.

Researchers from Harvard University persuaded thousands of Greek people of various ages to record their food intake over an eight-year-period. Their adherence to the Mediterranean diet was ranked using a scoring system, and the group with the worst score compared with those who followed a couple of aspects of the diet, and those who followed it the most closely.

The biggest effect they found - a 9% reduction in risk - was achieved simply by eating more “unsaturated” fats such as olive oil. But just two changes - eating less red meat, and more peas, beans and lentils, cut the risk of cancer by 12%.

Dr Dimitrios Trichopoulos, who led the study, said: “Adjusting one’s overall dietary habits towards the traditional Mediterranean pattern had an important effect.” Sara Hiom, from Cancer Research UK, said the research highlighted the importance of a healthy balanced diet. “It shows there are a number of things you can do, and there is no one ’superfood’ that can stop you developing the disease.”

The other study suggesting that food had the power to prevent cancer came from the Institute of Food Research in Norwich. Scientists compared the effects of adding 400 grams of broccoli or peas a week to the diet of men at high risk of prostate cancer - and in the case of broccoli found differences in the activity of genes in the prostate which other studies have linked to cancer.

Their findings raised the possibility that broccoli, or other “cruciferous” vegetables, such as cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, could help prevent or slow down the disease, particularly if the man had a particular gene variant - GSTM1. Professor Richard Mithen, who led the research, published in the Public Library of Science journal, said: “Eating two or three portions of cruciferous vegetables per week, and maybe a few more if you lack the GSTM1 gene - should be encouraged.”

Professor Karol Sikora, medical director of CancerPartnersUK, said the study was the first time in a properly controlled clinical trial that broccoli had been shown to change the expression of specific genes in the prostate gland. “Although the observation period was too short and the numbers too small to show that the incidence of cancer actually fell, it is the first clear demonstration that broccoli and presumably other cruciferous vegetables may well reduce cancer risk.”
This article was reported on BBC news, 2nd July 08.

The Karpas wild donkeys are seen as a symbol of cyprus. Recently both Greek and Turkish Cypriots have united together on their divided island to save these endangered wild donkeys… The initiative was launched by a group of people on the social networking website ‘Facebook’ after discovering 10 donkeys were found shot dead at the end of March 2008. “Let’s stop the massacre of Karpas donkeys!” says a message from the group, which has already attracted more than 2,000 members to date. The Karpas Peninsula in Northern cyprus is home to several hundred donkeys.

The Facebook group says the Karpas donkeys “are the symbol of cyprus and it is our responsibility to protect them”. The messages which are posted in both Greek and Turkish, are a new gesture of unity on the island, whose communities remain divided by a UN-patrolled buffer zone.

A group of Greek and Turkish Cypriots rallied on a beach in the Karpas Peninsula on 13 April to “Save the cyprus donkey“. The Karpas donkeys are a legacy of the 1974 Turkish invasion of northern cyprus, when Greek Cypriot farmers fled the area, leaving their animals behind, the AFP news agency reports.
 
This article was reported on BBC news, 22nd April 08.

Naturally a big concern or factor when deciding to move abroad or buy a holiday home in the sun is the medical service and Health Care in the Country… cyprus health care is of a high standard which is acknowledged by the World Health Organisation and because infectious diseases and epidemics throughout the country are so low, foreign nationals entering cyprus are not required to have any vaccinations.  Life expectancy for the population is around at 75 years for men and 80 years for women – that’s a bit higher than the UK?..

cyprus gives priority to its health care system and actively promotes preventive medicine. Many of the medical professionals have trained abroad, with a good number graduating from the UK.  The low cost of consultations and care, together with short waiting lists make cyprus an attractive destination for treatment.

State run hospitals are located in all the major cities, these ‘General Hospitals’ are in Polis, Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca, Nicosia and Paralimni… and smaller government-run hospitals and clinics are present in other areas of the country. There are also a large number of private hospitals and clinics most of which have excellent equipment and facilities.

Anyone who has paid regular social security contributions in another EU country for two full years prior to coming to cyprus is entitled to public health cover for a limited period from the date of their last contribution. Social security form E106 must be obtained from the social security authorities in your home country and presented to your local Social Insurance office in cyprus.  The European Health Insurance Card (E.H.I.C) is now being used throughout Europe for reciprocal health care. This is available free of charge from the NHS in the UK.

Retirees living in cyprus and receiving a state pension from another EU country are entitled to free or subsidised state healthcare (dependant upon income). You will need to obtain the necessary forms from your home country and submit them to any general hospital with your application for a cyprus medical card.  You should contact the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Medical Benefits Section to acquire the necessary forms.

If you are under state pension age you will need to take out private health insurance, which offers a wider choice of medical practitioners and hospitals. If you already have private health insurance in another country, you may be able to extend it to cover you in cyprus; however, this may not be the most economical alternative.  There are a great many insurance companies out there, both Cypriot and International and it pays to shop around and get at least three quotes.  Many schemes will have an excess and the amount should be carefully considered.  Check whether the insurance company will deal directly with the hospital when paying the fees and carefully scrutinize exactly what the insurance company will pay for and what is excluded.

The benefits of health care in cyprus can be great in that you may be able to walk in to a hospital or clinic and get a same day appointment to see a specialist and leave only around 35 euros worse off, but with a diagnosis and medication!

To the North of Paphos, just off the road to Polis, you can find Evretou; the valley, the village and the dam.  It is a place where you can easily while away several hours exploring and discovering an array of delights… 

There are two ways of reaching the dam; take a right turn signposted ‘Simou, Lasa & Fyti’ or just below the village of Simou there is a left turn signposted ‘Skarfos Bridge’ - follow the part concrete / part gravel road that winds down the valley and discover the remains of this lovely Venetian bridge.  Built in 1618, it is 2.75m wide and 8.5m long and was built with pebbles and limestone blocks hewn from the river bed.  The river has long been diverted but the road over the bridge was the main thoroughfare between Paphos and Polis in medieval times and was used for transporting copper after which cyprus is named.

If you traverse the modern bridge downstream, bear left and approx 200m further on you will come to the ancient watermill situated above a citrus grove – another beautiful photo opportunity!  Backtrack a little and look for the sign to the dam and follow the track until you see water.  It is best to park and wander to really discover things.  The abandoned Turkish Cypriot village of Evretou is now home to numerous goats but it still makes fascinating strolling.  To circumnavigate the dam would take several hours and you would need to ensure plentiful supplies of drinking water and sun protection. 

Many species of flowers & flora can be found around here including some of the more rare orchids.  It is also a bird watchers paradise and recent sightings have included Storks and Bonelli’s Eagles to name a couple.  If fishing is your thing, then grab a rod and a licence (obtainable from the Harbourmasters Office in Paphos or Latchi) and try your luck catching bass, zander, carp, roach, bream and catfish!

The other approach to the dam and one that gives a totally different perspective of the valley is a little further along the Polis road in the village of Skoulli.  Here, there is a right hand turn signposted ‘Peristerona and Lysos’. A kilometre or so up this road and you will see the Evretou Dam signpost.  Follow the road through to it’s end and you will find yourself at the dam wall.  Although you can’t wander very far unless you have rugged shoes on, it is very picturesque and worth the trip, especially if you are exploring the area.  Have fun and explore Evretou, valley, village and dam.

The 1929 Chrysler 75 Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton

The tradition of cyprus being home to classical artefacts from bygone days has taken a new twist with the discovery that the island is now home to one of only two vintage cars of its type left in the world - a 1929 Chrysler 75 Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton.

The Car is now making a rare appearance on the open market, having arrived in cyprus five years ago from the UK with its owner Pete Woodward.

Although the model is rare to the point of being on the brink of extinction, this example of the Chrysler 75 has an interesting pedigree as it approaches its 80th year.

From 1929, it was owned by the Mayor of New York - and is only one of 238 ever produced.

Mr Woodward bought the Car 20 years ago and had it shipped to the UK from New York.

What happened after the Mayor decided to sell is unknown - but when stripping the Car down to its chassis a theatre ticket to see Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour was discovered under the seats.

Restoration work took place across 14 years but Woodward has reluctantly decided that it’s time to let go.

“I’ve always liked working on vintage Chrysler cars because they were so advanced compared to other makes.

Ultimately the joy of motoring is about taking to the open road - and this Car doesn’t get used as much as it should so I’ve decided to put it on the market and can promise the new owner that it runs like new,“ he said.

The Car is being sold on the cyprus Car sales website: http://www.buysellcarscyprus.com/with a pricetag of 49,000 euros.

Are you fed up with waiting months to get an appointment with your dentist?  Do you feel you that you might have to take out a mortgage to pay for the cost of restorative treatment?  Would you like a brighter smile but just know that it isn’t in your budget?  Then consider dentistry in cyprus; some of the advantages are:
  
* Significant savings – pricing is a fraction of that in the UK
* Excellent high-tech treatment in superb facilities
* Combined with a vacation to allay any trauma and promote healing and a healthier, more beautiful smile.

cyprus is within easy reach of the UK and has an impressive number of quality dental facilities, making it an ideal destination for those seeking restorative or cosmetic dental treatments.  The huge difference in the cost of treatment is amazing; for example, Nicosia Dental Polyclinic charges around £150 for laser whitening, whereas in a British private clinic, the cost can vary between £300 and £700!  Many clinics offer treatment/holiday packages to really tailor to your needs.  Maintenance and restorative treatments are of course available throughout the country but some of the most popular procedures offered by the cosmetic dental clinics in cyprus include
  
* Teeth Bleaching
* Porcelain Laminate Veneers
* Porcelain Crowns
* Porcelain Fused to Metal Crowns
* Inlay and Outlay

With all this on offer and a truly beautiful country to explore, try cyprus for your next holiday and consider some dental treatment?
Nicosia is the capital of cyprus and is home to some of the best dental practices in the country and Europe.  Popular cosmetic dental clinics are also situated in the other major towns of Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.

cyprus does not have its own medical university, and a large proportion of Cypriot dentists qualify in Athens, UK or US after a 6 year degree course.  Many of the Athens graduates then choose to study in Europe or US for their 3 year post grad specialist courses. This ensures you’ll have no confusion over the work carried out as they all speak English very well.

The cyprus Ministry of Health is in charge of monitoring, assessing and approving all dental practices and clinics in cyprus and the rules and regulations are upheld by the two main member organisations, The cyprus Dental Council and The cyprus Dental Association.

Looking for some fun & excitement, or want to arrange some activities for the kids whilst you are on holiday in cyprus? If you are an adventure seeker and also enjoy natural surroundings and nature at it’s best, come and explore all the stunning scenery that cyprus has to offer and have fun at the same time with Zephyros Adventure Sports.

Established in 2001, this Paphos-based centre was the first of its kind in cyprus and offers year round adventure in the form of Climbing, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, scuba Diving, Skiing, Snorkeling and Trekking.  For those of you that don’t fancy scheduled biking, Zephyros also rent bikes to suit all ages and conditions and at extremely good rates…

Zephyros Adventure Sports offers very good value for money with their varied and exciting programme and with the minimum requirement for most activities being only two people, there’s no need to share, you can have a family trip while keeping it in the family! All the tuition and equipment is included in the prices, as is transport to the numerous locations across the island and in some cases, lunch is thrown in as well!

If the stunning Troodos Mountains are your thing, they can be explored on skis during the winter months of January, February and March, when there is often up to 2m of snow to enjoy.  Not a skier?  No worries, try snowboarding or tobogganing instead.  Excluding the water based activities for obvious reasons, all of the other adventures that are available with Zephyros can be done in this region.
If you are a water baby, try Diving or snorkeling around the beautiful Paphos coastline, taking in parts of the Akamas Peninsular with a vast array of Sea Caves and rock formations.  Some of these can only be reached from the sea and if you want to get up close and personal, a kayak trip is a must.  The Sea Caves Paddle takes you along the coastline where you can explore places that the ordinary holidaymaker will never see – paddling into various caves, all with their own names such as ‘Jonah’, ‘Purple Haze’ and ‘Standing Room Only’.  Paddle around the uninhabited Yeronissos island and watch in wonder as various sea birds roost in the rocky crevices and outcrops.  Have a swim or relax on the beach afterwards for a truly lovely adventure. For the romantics among you, try the sunset paddle which takes in some of the Sea Caves trip and then heads out to sea a little way heading west, then stops as the sun settles on the horizon so that you can lie back, relax and take in the beautiful colours of a stunning sunset – it’s also a great photo opportunity before you paddle gently home as the orange and yellow hues change into lavender and blue.

Visit the website for Zephyros Adventure Sports for more information and bookings: http://www.enjoycyprus.com/

Flying to cyprus has never been easier, with a wide variety of flights to suit every budget and from many destinations in the UK and Europe.

Both the international airports at Larnaca (LCA) and Paphos (PFO) are getting a total revamp and being redesigned, rebuilt and offering many more and much better facilities than in the past. Visitors and residents experience of travel to and from cyprus should improve greatly.  A new passenger terminal at Paphos International Airport is scheduled to open in November 2008 and the new Larnaca Airport is due to open in November 2009 according to Hermes Airports Ltd, who now officially operates the two cyprus Airports.  The upgrade is being done under a rapid design and build contract and will offer “world class state-of-the-art facilities, with an emphasis on excellent customer services”.  Both airports are having runways extended and passenger capacity is expected to be around 2.7 million per annum for Paphos and 7.5 million initially at Larnaca, increasing with demand to 9 million by 2013.  Live flight information for both airports is now available on the Hermes official website.  This handy featured is greatly appreciated by residents awaiting guest arrivals, as is the recent addition of Park and Fly facilities at both Larnaca and Paphos Airports.

Easyjet have recently taken over the BA franchise, GB Airways and this offers travelers a budget option, while Monarch have also started regular flights.  Both Larnaca and Paphos are well served by a variety of charter  airlines including the big names such as Thomas Cook, Thompson, XL and Olympic to name a few, together with the scheduled carriers, British Airways and cyprus Airways.  For those travelling from Scotland, Globescan offer some very good deals from Glasgow to Paphos.

On the continent, Lufthansa started a new route from Munich to cyprus in March and Blue Air are now flying in from Romania.  These additions to the regular flights from other parts of Europe such as Belgium, Malta, Italy and France means that the unique charms that cyprus has to offer, are now even easier to reach.

For the regular traveller and those planning a holiday in cyprus who want the freedom and enjoyment of their own apartment or villa, the best way to source and arrange your flights is to simply set 1 or 2 hours aside and trawl through the many website available!.. You can find a useful list of various airlines, flight search engines and travel companies on the Hestia Holidays website, visit; http://www.hestia-holidays.com/info.cfm#flights. In todays competitive travel industry, most carriers have electronic tickets which make booking via the internet very convenient - we hope this might help save a few pounds on getting to cyprus, so you can come back more often or just have a bit more spending money!

LINKS;

(LCA) - to; http://www.hestia-group.com/news/2007/08/03/expansion-of-Larnaca-airport/
Easyjet - to; http://www.hestia-group.com/news/2008/02/11/easyjet-flying-to-cyprus-%e2%80%93-more-cheap-flights-to-Paphos/
Flying - to; http://www.hestia-holidays.com/info.cfm#flights

If you feel the need to get away from the stresses and strains of life, to ‘exit stage left’ and run far away from the daily grind, then come to cyprus for a well deserved relaxing holiday, find a spa and pamper yourself!

cyprus offers you a wonderful location for relaxation and rejuvenation and is host to a plethora of top class hotels with magnificent spas.  There is so much on offer in the variety of treatments available; you will be thoroughly spoilt for choice.

There are fabulous treatments to be had in most of the island’s resorts and below are some suggestions for you.  The toughest part will be deciding which one to go to or maybe try them all!

The Adams Beach Hotel in agia napa offers some unusual and enticing treatments such as a Deluxe Chocolate Body Wrap, a Deluxe Coffee Body Wrap, a Milk Bath and a Red Grape bath.  Or treat yourself to a massage in all its variations - you choose aromatherapy massage, asiaroma harmonizing massage, Indian head massage or the popular hot stone massage.

The St. Raphael Resort Spa in Limassol offers all types of spa treatments using Thalgo products. On the menu are the usual massages such as hot-stone and Indian head together with relaxing massages, luxury manicures and pedicures, facials and face treatments, body treatments, body wraps, eye treatments, reflexology, anti-cellulite treatments and ultra toning.  All these are available for men and women.

Between Limassol and Paphos you can find two excellent spa facilities.  The Columbia Beach Resort Spa at Pissouri offers you numerous therapies for relaxation and revitalisation using the ever popular Molton Brown products, together with Phytomer, a brand which uses plants and minerals from the ocean.  Among the myriad of available treatments, Columbia have developed specialist therapies for mothers-to-be and men so nobody need feel left out of a pampering session!

‘The Retreat’ at the Aphrodite Hills Resort, set in a stunning location overlooking Aphrodite’s Rock, has everything for total serenity and tranquility.  This includes a traditional Hammam or Turkish Bath and if you opt for the full Hammam experience you can expect steam bathing, a loofah scrub and a full body soap massage, performed on a heated marble plinth – guaranteed to give deep muscle relaxation.  Specialist services here offer a hair spa and a couples programme to enjoy with a friend or partner and performed in the Thai Suite.

In Paphos, The Amathus Beach Hotel seems to offer just about everything previously mentioned on this page and more.  Here you can receive Reiki Healing, have a Reflexology massage, try Shiatsu and experience a good range of treatments geared to sun exposure.  The Golden Dream tanning preparation treatment not only looks good but makes you feel good and also prepares the skin for further exposure to the sun.  In harmony with this is the Sunset Treatment which soothes away burning sensations and helps repair any damage.

Also in Paphos is the Thalassa Hotel with its’ wonderful sunset views over Coral Bay.  This delightfully intimate hotel houses the Anagenisis, the first holistic spa on magical cyprus.  The philosophy is to treat the person as a whole, with therapies that soothe the mind, body and soul.  This is achieved through the therapies, the wonderful cuisine and their health and fitness facilities, creating a complete haven of relaxation and rejuvenation.

For a get-away-from-it-all experience, your ideal destination would be The Anassa Hotel, quietly nestling below the Akamas just beyond Latchi on the way to Aphrodite’s Baths and in an exclusive and tranquil setting.  Anassa’s entirely upgraded, newly-designed lifestyle spa, Thalassa Spa, also involves a holistic approach to wellbeing, together with The Organic Pharmacy’s 100% natural product line.  Holistic and therapeutic lifestyle consulting, acupuncture, spa cuisine and natural treatments using local produce are all here fro you to enjoy. 

Go on, you know you want to – pamper yourself!..