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Well Deserved Honeymoon in Cyprus
My husband and I moved to
Jordan to care for his ailing father, giving up everything we owned and
possessed in America. I had a thriving Real Estate Brokerage and he had a
car business. We were sure however that this was a necessary move and we
both left without a second thought. Mo, short for Mohammad, was the most
loved son of his family and they were calling him home for the final days.
When I left America I turned over my business to a local Realtor who would send me whatever referral fees that were owed to me. My favorite clients were from Thailand and they had built a home in Downey, California near Richard Carpenter’s house, the brother of Karen Carpenter. This home was priced close to a million dollars and once the deal closed I would receive my share. Mo and I never envisioned what we would do with the money once it arrived, but fate would soon decide for us. We had never gone on a honeymoon in America. We were very well off financially, but both of our businesses required a heavy work schedule, so
the luxury of time for ourselves was not possible. One day after my much
waited check had arrived, we were in Amman shopping. As luck would have
it, we passed by a travel agency and there is bright red letters were the words
Cyprus. The travel agency was offering a special to fly to Cyprus for five fun
packed days of sun, trips and relaxation.
Mo looked at me and just smiled and I knew then that we would soon be going on our much deserved honeymoon. We arranged to take a flight to Cyprus the following week and so for once in our marriage, we were planning a week in paradise. The flight was pretty short flying out of Amman, Jordan and once we arrived at the airport we had to apply to get a visa. The travel agency had neglected to take care of this for us. | 
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Arriving in Larnaka
Our honeymoon included a luxury suite at the fabulous Socoriky Sea Gardens outside of Larnaka. When I say outside, I mean outside. The hotel was 5 kg from Larnaka and each time you want to do anything, you must pay for a taxi or private car to go and it was not cheap. If you will look at this beautiful long winding road in the picture, you will know exactly what it looked like outside our hotel.
The hotel was located in farm land practically and there was only one local store nearby. The transportation was not the worse problem of the trip though, the hotel itself was awful. I had specifically requested a queen size bed and when we arrive to our honeymoon suite, there were
Our honeymoon included a luxury suite at the fabulous Socoriky Sea Gardens outside of Larnaka. When I say outside, I mean outside. The hotel was 5 kg from Larnaka and each time you want to do anything, you must pay for a taxi or private car to go and it was not cheap. If you will look at this beautiful long winding road in the picture, you will know exactly what it looked like outside our hotel.
The hotel was located in farm land practically and there was only one local store nearby. The transportation was not the worse problem of the trip though, the hotel itself was awful. I had specifically requested a queen size bed and when we arrive to our honeymoon suite, there were
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two single
beds. I screamed in horror. This was my honeymoon and how were Mo
and I going to be madly in love sleeping in two separate beds. The agency
lied; there was not queen size bed in the entire hotel.
The first night in the hotel was horrible. We woke up in the morning with tons of bites all over our backs. The hotel was infested with bed bugs. I marched straight to the office and complained and they told us there was nothing they could do. We were trapped in hell. The hotel did have a small beach outside the hotel, down a little path that was open during the day time and there was a nice swimming pool. The trip itself was very cheap, so Mo kept telling me that we should be thankful. The next morning we went to downtown Larnaka and we had a blast. The town itself is very beautiful and we sat out on the balcony of a restaurant to have our lunch. The prices were very high, so we just had something small. The smell of seawater was everywhere and we were having a nice day.
Mo surprised me when we got into the taxi. He was speaking Greek with the driver of the taxi and he started laughing. He told me, “See I told you I could speak Greek.” The taxi personally escorted us all over town and told us not to bother with the paid sightseeing tours and just take a bus or taxi and go to the cities ourselves, so that was what we did. The next day we would be going to Limassol.
The first night in the hotel was horrible. We woke up in the morning with tons of bites all over our backs. The hotel was infested with bed bugs. I marched straight to the office and complained and they told us there was nothing they could do. We were trapped in hell. The hotel did have a small beach outside the hotel, down a little path that was open during the day time and there was a nice swimming pool. The trip itself was very cheap, so Mo kept telling me that we should be thankful. The next morning we went to downtown Larnaka and we had a blast. The town itself is very beautiful and we sat out on the balcony of a restaurant to have our lunch. The prices were very high, so we just had something small. The smell of seawater was everywhere and we were having a nice day.
Mo surprised me when we got into the taxi. He was speaking Greek with the driver of the taxi and he started laughing. He told me, “See I told you I could speak Greek.” The taxi personally escorted us all over town and told us not to bother with the paid sightseeing tours and just take a bus or taxi and go to the cities ourselves, so that was what we did. The next day we would be going to Limassol.
| Beach Life at Limassol and More
I had high hopes for our trip to Limassol and so hoped for a nice relaxing day. When we arrived there, we walked several blocks to get to the beach. I had packed a lunch for us and planned on a picnic at the beach. To my surprise when we got to the beach, a large majority of the women were practically naked. It was nothing to see an old woman in their 50’s or 60’s running around with no top on. As Muslims this is not allowed. I was not in a bathing suit, but a long traditional dress and Mo, well Mo was Mo. An old woman sat down next to us, naked of course and she explained to us some of the highlights of the city. I told her I want to go to Limassol Castle. I just love castles and so wanted to go and see this historical place. I also wanted to go eat somewhere nice. She told us how to go to a very famous restaurant called Megaro Restaurant. It has traditional Lebanese food there and we would not be disappointed. |
We headed straight to the castle, but stopped on the street to buy
some ice cream. Mo knew I would be happy with an ice cream in my hand.
From there we walked to the castle. I was so excited and I was
jumping all around in excitement and as we came near to the area, my mouth
dropped open. Why it was not a castle at all, but a square looking
building that was old. Come on? Castles have moats, drawbridges and huge
upped decks. Not this old building. It was an old square building
with no appeal at all, so we kept walking.
Megaro Restaurant is located at 6 Angyras Street and their
telephone number is 25354996 and located near the castle on a back street full
of quaint embroidery and lace shops. Limassol is famous for these
specialty shops. As we entered the door of the restaurant, we were in
heaven. The service was impeccable and the waiters attended to our every need.
They made suggestions that we have the meza specials. They brought us out
20 different dishes. Oh My God! I was in pig heaven.
We had a wonderful day and although I was not too happy with all the naked women on the beach, other vacationers just might. The next day we were off to Nicosia. Nicosia was my least favorite city of my whole trip, except for the area by my hotel of course. It was the most expensive place, not beautiful like Limassol and well the place we ate lunch with could never compare with Megaro Restaurant. | 
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Memories of Mo and of Cyprus
Mo bought a ton of post cards. I asked Mo, “Why are you buying so many post cards?” He told me, “I like them better than pictures and you will always remember our trip here.” He was right. I have always remembered my trip to Cyprus with my Mo. We enjoyed many things about Cyprus and Larnaca was very nice in the city. They do have many 5 star hotels near the boat docks where you could live like a king. The streets are full of outside eating patios and the air, oh my the air is so sweet.
I have so many good memories of Cyprus and I remember laughing so much with Mo as he had me and the taxi driver cracking up with his jokes. Mo knew so well how to make people laugh. Mo was right, to this day I have all his post cards and I have several in a frame in my kitchen. I keep them there to remember my dear sweet Mo, who died a few months later. I miss you Mo and most of all I missed eating and laughing with you in Cyprus.
Mo bought a ton of post cards. I asked Mo, “Why are you buying so many post cards?” He told me, “I like them better than pictures and you will always remember our trip here.” He was right. I have always remembered my trip to Cyprus with my Mo. We enjoyed many things about Cyprus and Larnaca was very nice in the city. They do have many 5 star hotels near the boat docks where you could live like a king. The streets are full of outside eating patios and the air, oh my the air is so sweet.
I have so many good memories of Cyprus and I remember laughing so much with Mo as he had me and the taxi driver cracking up with his jokes. Mo knew so well how to make people laugh. Mo was right, to this day I have all his post cards and I have several in a frame in my kitchen. I keep them there to remember my dear sweet Mo, who died a few months later. I miss you Mo and most of all I missed eating and laughing with you in Cyprus.
