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 Powered by www.eurovision.tv Impression of the first rehearsal of Ivi Adamou from Cyprus. Ivi Adamou who is representing Cyprus in Europe's Favourite TV Show is the third artist to rehearse today in the Crystal Hall, with the uptempo song La, La, Love. 87602 views |
 Cyprus (Greek: Κύπρος, Kýpros, IPA: [ˈcipros]; Turkish: Kıbrıs, IPA: [kɯbɾɯs]), officially the Republic of Cyprus (Greek: Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία, Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía, IPA: [cipriaˈci ðimokraˈtia]; Turkish: Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti, IPA: [kɯbɾɯs dʒumhuɾijeti]), is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The earliest known human activity on the island dates back to around the 10th millennium BCE. Archaeological remains from this period include the well-preserved Neolithic village of Khirokitia, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with the Tombs of the Kings. Cyprus is home to some of the oldest water wells in the world, and is the site of the earliest known example of feline domestication. At a strategic location in the Middle East, Cyprus has been occupied by several major powers, including the empires of the Hittites, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Rashidun and Umayyad Arab caliphates, Lusignans, Venetians, and Ottomans. Settled by Mycenean Greeks in the 2nd millennium BCE, the island also experienced long periods of Greek rule under the Ptolemaic Egyptians and the Byzantines. In 333 BCE, Alexander the Great conquered the island from the Persians. The Ottoman Empire conquered the island in 1571 and it remained under Ottoman control for over three centuries. It was placed under British ... 59578 views |
 Discover the Island of Love with its history and beautiful attractions 162805 views |
 powered by www.eurovision.tv Ivi Adamou will represent Cyprus in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan with the song "La La Love". 1676117 views |
 *** Please leave constructive comments below. Comments inciting hate, bigotry and racism will be removed. *** In the summer of 1974, while the US passively stood by, Turkey launched a brutal invation of the Republic of Cyprus, using US-supplied arms and equipment to grab nearly 40% of Cyprus' sovereign territory and force 170000 Greek-Cypriots from their homes and property. Cyprus remains divided to this day. The Turkish army occupies the northern third of the island in violation of international law, and Turkey has illegally settled that land with more than 180000 Turks from Anatolia. Successive US administrations have acknowledged these actions to be illegal but the US has yet to rectify the situation. Why did Washington fail to prevent the invasion and the subsequent settlements despite having the knowledge and power to act? The answer lies in a tangled web of domestic politics, the realpolitik of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and the repeated refusal of American presidents to demand that the rule of law and fundamental human rights be upheld in Cyprus. *** Please leave constructive comments below. Comments inciting hate, bigotry and racism will be removed. *** 6743 views |
Cyprus
The island of Cyprus lies in the eastern Mediterranean and offers a fascinating alternative to the Red Sea diving holiday    |
The water is clear and warm most of the year, but it has to be said that marine life is relatively sparse. Nevertheless, the underwater topography is varied, with plenty of swim-throughs and drop-offs and the odd octopus and barracuda thrown in for good measure.
The primary lure for divers, though, is the wreck of the Zenobia: a roll-on, roll-off passenger ferry that sank on its maiden voyage in 1980 and now lies just outside Larnarca harbour, making it easily accessible from the shore (expect a five-minute RIB ride). The wreck is 178m long by 28m wide and lies on its port side, starting at a depth of 16m and descending to the sea bed at 42m. There are more than 100 lorries on board, each containing their original cargo. The wreck is completely intact and there are numerous opportunities for penetration dives.
Cyprus would ideally suit recreational divers looking to combine a family holiday with a couple of days of diving, or those with an interest in wrecks – particularly serious wreck-divers looking for challenging penetration dives.
Zenobia – outside tour and upper cargo deck: Starting at the stern, this tour passes the propellers and the huge loading door before entering the upper cargo hold – a huge cavern about half the length of the ship, with a maximum depth of about 32m. In near-total darkness, a torch is an essential tool when exploring the remains of the lorries inside. Instructions to boarding lorries are still visible, written on the wall of the hold.
Zenobia – canteen and accommodation block: This tour enters the wreck through the windows of the canteen, where you can still make out the original carpet. From there, the tour moves through the accommodation block and on into the captain’s quarters, with a maximum depth of about 31m.
Tunnels and Cave: Access to this site, located in the Cape Greco area between the towns of Agia Napa and Protaras, is via a giant 3m stride from the rocks. A gentle reef swim leads to a rocky outcrop with numerous tunnel swim-throughs harbouring abundant sealife, notably the ubiquitous fireworm, and other little critters. Exiting the site is an entertaining experience, as you have to be hoisted through a blowhole by the dive guide.
Seasonality
Cyprus has a typical Mediterranean climate. The summer months of June to September are hot and inland temperatures can soar over 40°C. August is peak season and the beaches, restaurants and hotels can get full; accommodation tends to be more expensive during this time. Winters are moderately wet, with temperatures of 5–15°C. The visibility is typically around 20–30m and the water temperature varies between 28°C in the summer and 16°C in the winter.
Getting there
British Airways (http://www.britishairways.com), easyJet (http://www.easyjet.com) and Cyprus Airways (http://www.cyprusairways.com) all fly regularly to either Larnaca or Paphos. There are numerous cheap deals around and, with a flight time of four and a half hours, you can even visit over a long weekend. I used Dive in Larnaca ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), which offers full tours inside the Zenobia wreck. Most dive centres can organise cheap accommodation close to their bases.