Home » Cyprus » Cyprus - part I.

Prelude

After almost two years I revisited Cyprus in February 2004 to participate in a seminar near Limassol. Although mostly work it was a nice prelude to the vacation Helle and I had already booked for April.
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Saltwater pool at Le Meridien The seminar was arranged at the star-spangled spa hotel, Le Meridien, 15 km from Limassol. A luxurious reservation with lots of servants and prices set accordingly. I had a nice time, which made me long even more for the holiday. <br/>

Cyprus - part I.

Eric
2005-12-08 19:42:23

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inside by the open door. I do like a puff now and then, so we take the table just inside, but the draft is pretty cold so we quickly change our minds and move into the large and almost empty non-smokers' area. We don't remember the smokers and non-smokers division from the last time we were here, but with time it will probably be a demand in the EU. In Italy and Ireland it is already forbidden by law to smoke at bars and restaurants - not even a single "gas chamber" is allowed for addict comfort. If you want to smoke you must go outside. In a city like Rome that at least triples the health risk because of the smog, and in Ireland you'll probably get wet feet and catch a cold. Smoking is indeed dangerous to your health.

We get Meze, the Cypriot national dish, which is an endless flow of different dishes in small portions. Militzis' red house wine is local and goes well with the food. Cypriot wines made from local grape varieties are sunburnt and spicy with less body and weight than traditional wines from e.g. Europe or South America. Twice I excuse myself for "a bit of fresh air" and leave Helle to battle the dishes while I have a silent conversation with the Med and my pipe.

At about ten a large Cypriot party arrives and is placed in the non-smokers' area even though most of the men are armed with lighters and cigarettes. Most of the tourists have left by now, so the waiter puts an ashtray on our table too and says with a smile that now it is okay to smoke.

We finish our Cyp-coffee and the brandy. The bill says £ 16,45. Coffee and brandy on the house, says the waiter and makes an excuse for a small slip of no importance - they had brought the bill when I wanted the waiter's attention so I could order coffee. Maybe they didn't care to make a new bill. Fortunately the customer decides the tip.

Militzis is just as good as we remembered. The menu hasn't changed and prices have increased on a few items only. Home to bed.