Protaras - not in the eyebrow, but in the eye!
In support of European resorts and in continuation of nostalgic excursions on TurPravda (against the background of general quarantine), I want to share my memories of my first trip to Cyprus.
If you want to feel, or rather feel, abroad, you are not here. Swim in the crystal clear turquoise sea - yes, dissolve in the crowd of locals - no. In any case, this is the impression I got after a holiday in the Cypriot resort of Protaras.
There are just a lot of Russian-speaking tourists here. There are, of course, the ubiquitous British who have taken a fancy to their ex-colony. But one gets the impression that immigrants from the post-Soviet countries staked out Cyprus for themselves seriously and for a long time. Signboards of shops, clubs and taverns call out on the "mighty" on a par with English. Against their background, the Greek language, which Cypriots write and speak (and not Cypriot, as some believe), appears as a kind of national minority language.
It gets ridiculous: you don't have time to go to the store, as you immediately say “Hello! ”, although before that you were quieter than water, lower than grass. Even the driver of a crowded bus, commanding the distribution of visiting bodies around the cabin, did it at first in English, but not finding a response, he switched to Russian. And behind the counter, no, no, and you will run into a compatriot anchored in these parts.
In an effort to please Russian-speaking tourists, the Cypriots translate not only the restaurant menu, but also other useful information. And sometimes it looks very funny:
Since our compatriots (as, in fact, the British) feel at home here, they don’t bother memorizing at least a couple of Greek phrases. The service staff in this regard is so wild that when you say something to them in Greek, your face lights up with a sincere smile.
We're done with the lyrics.
Let's move on to physics. What can be distinguished from local attractions?
In Protaras, you can (if necessary) go to the fountain show. This pleasure will cost 26 euros from the nose. This money is not worth it, but since this is the most trump attraction in Protaras, there is nowhere to go: "everyone went - and I went. " For an hour, you will witness bizarre water dances mixed with a laser show. And in the end - the apogee of the apotheosis! - eruption. The latter looks very impressive.
The second attraction in Protaras (it is also the last one) is the Church of St. Elijah the Prophet, which stands on top of a mountain, offering a panoramic view of Protaras and its surroundings. My wife read somewhere that if you count the steps while climbing the mountain, and then when descending, then their number will not converge,
and the resulting difference is the number of your sins. I agreed, my wife didn’t: I missed ten pieces, such a sinner!
On the heel near the church, trees grow, on which people tie... I would like to say ribbons, but in fact, everything that comes to hand. For wishes to come true. Although you can stock up on ribbons right there, in the church shop, for 50 euro cents apiece. Agree, a negligible price for the fulfillment of desires.
Not far from Protaras, if you move towards Ayia Napa, there is an undeservedly neglected hiking trail through the Cavo Greco National Park. Moreover, part of the path is along the edge of a rocky shore.
At the finish line, an equally impressive sight awaits you - the elegant church of Ayia Anargiri. The trail starts from the Konnos Bay Hotel Apartments, which offers stunning views of the lagoon.
The "spiers" of a British military base can be seen in the distance:
If you want to tickle your nerves, then you are in Ayia Napa. More precisely, for Ayia Napa, where an excellent water park is located. Getting there is easy, as this is the final stop of bus number 102. Entrance fee is 35 euros. The water park itself is very colorful.
the creators set a goal to plunge visitors into the atmosphere of Ancient Greece in the truest sense of the word. And they did it. If you are a frequenter of water parks, then do not waste your time and blow to the attraction with the encouraging name Kamikaze: a few seconds of free fall from a vertical slide will not leave you indifferent.
After the water park, do not be lazy to walk for 15-20 minutes in the opposite direction from Ayia Napa to see one of the local wonders - the church of Ayia Thekla, which is located right on the seashore.
And finally, a few incoherent observations.
Everyone is buying up Commandaria, a Cypriot dessert wine, as a gift home. It costs about 10 euros,
tastes like Madeira. From dry inexpensive wines (4-7 euros), Aphrodite (white), Xynisteri (white), Othello (red) and D’Ahera (red) can be distinguished. Our last row is for a catchy name that gives away the homeland.
Local souvenir fetish - cats and donkeys. They are everywhere: on signs, cups, T-shirts, bags, coasters, etc. Although during my entire stay I did not see a single live donkey, and the local street cats are so shabby and stubby that our big-faced homeless people noticeably benefit from them.
On the coast of Cyprus, you can safely conduct NASA tests. Why not the surface of Mars?
Most of all, I remember the lagoons in Protaras. There are not many tourist-oriented places in the world where you can find such a secluded place and indulge in water bliss.
