Hestia Group News

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.