Nick Sanna

Snakes in Cyprus – What Travelers Need to Know

November 2, 2020 by Nick Sanna

Southeast of Greece, the Republic of Cyprus is a gorgeous island to visit in the Eastern Mediterranean. Full of ancient history and delicious wines, Cyprus has something for everyone. However, it’s important to stay safe while on vacation, and that includes familiarizing yourself with the wildlife of the area. If you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, but don’t want to get bitten by any snakes in Cyprus, keep reading.

While Cyprus is only an island of around 1 million people or so, there’s ten known species of snakes that inhabit the island. There are only two species that are native to Cyprus, but there may be smaller colonies of other snake species. While the snakes obviously don’t swim to Cyprus, they hitch rides on shipping containers from North Africa and the Middle East.

The following are the snakes you might encounter on your trip to Cyprus:

Snakes Found in Cyprus

Large Whip Snake

The first snake, and definitely the most common, is the Large Whip Snake (Dolichophis jugularis). This snake can be seen crossing the roads from time to time, which can prompt locals to run them over out of fear.

Fortunately, the Whip Snake is scared of humans and will try and get away from you as quickly as possible. Even better, the Large Whip Snake is non-venomous and is only interested in eating smaller snakes, rodents, and insects.

The Large Whip Snake is found all over Cyprus and remains Europe’s longest snake, measuring in a three meters long.

Coin Snake

The Coin-marked snake (Hemorrhois nummifer), or the Ravergier’s whip snake, is another snake found on Cyprus, but is completely harmless to humans. It has a greyish-brown body and markings on its back that resemble coins.

Unfortunately, it looks like a poisonous viper found on the island, so people remain fearful. Much like the Large Whip Snake, it feeds on common household pests like rodents and insects.

Be sure not to disturb the coin snake, as it can become aggressive when threatened and the bites can hurt. However, it is not venomous and will not kill you.

Cyprus Whip Snake

The Cyprus Whip Snake (Hierophis cypriensis) is one of the two species native to Cyprus, and is very rare. Much like the coin-marked snake, it will attack when provoked, so it’s best to leave them alone.

This snake is around 1 meter long, with an olive brown, black brown, or black body. It should be noted that all of the whip snakes on the island can climb vertically, and are adept at climbing over walls.

Dwarf snake / Worm Snake

The Dwarf snake (Eirenis modestus) is small like its name suggests. This snake is pencil thin, short, and harmless.

A reddish-brown or yellowish-brown color, the dwarf snake likes to hide under rocks all day, which makes the likelihood of seeing one unlikely.

Worm Snake

Similarly to the dwarf snake, the worm snake (resembles an earthworm in both color and size), is rarely seen and is not harmless to human.

The worm snake (Xerotyphlops vermicularis) lives underground and is not typically seen by humans.

Dahl’s Whip Snake

The Dahl whip snake (Platyceps najadum dahli) is light brown or pale pink, and is not harmful to human beings.

This type of whip snake likes to hang out in the scrubland of Cyprus.

Cyprus Grass Snake

The Cyprus Grass Snake (Natrix natrix cypriaca) is another harmless snake, but is found near water and feeds on animals like frogs.

The grass snake is very rare and is light brown in color.

Now to the fun part, the snakes that are actually venomous. However, only one snake on Cyprus is deadly to humans.

Montpellier snake

The Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus insignitus), while it does carry venom, is not harmful to humans. This is because it doesn’t have enough venom to hurt a human being.

The Montpellier snake is greenish-gray or brown and can grow to about two meters in length. If bitten by a Montpellier snake, you should seek medical attention, as the bite can swell quite a bit.

European cat snake

The next venomous (but not really) snake is the gray-brown European cat snake (Telescopus fallax cyprianus), which is found in Cyprus. This snake is nocturnal and is almost never seen during the day.

The cat snake has backward facing fangs that make it very difficult to bite human beings. It also hardly injects venom when defending itself and the venom is not enough to kill a human, so it’s not really much of an issue.

Cyprian blunt-nosed viper

Cyprian Blunt-nose Viper — Image via Hectonichus
CC BY-SA 3.0

Now on to the only one you could plausibly have to worry about ; the Cyprian blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina lebetina). The blunt-nosed viper, also known as the Levantine viper, looks like your stereotypical viper.

It has a very triangular head, along with a shorter, fat body. The blunt-nosed viper is yellowish-grey or light brown in color. This snake moves slowly and is mostly found near water beds in North Cyprus.

It can sometimes be found in swimming pools. Only 20 people have been bitten in the past 15 years, with one fatality. All medical centers and hospitals in Cyprus stock the anti-venom, so you will be fine if you seek proper medical attention.

Conclusion

Overall, you don’t really have much to worry about in Cyprus when it comes to snakes. All species of snakes on the island are much more afraid of you than you are of them, and both parties do best when they leave each other alone.

If a snake is in your path while doing an activity like hiking, it’s best to find a different route. If you’re that paranoid of snakes, plan your trip to Cyprus outside of the month of May, because that’s breeding season.

Blue Lagoon Beach

May 18, 2020 by Nick Sanna

Beautiful Blue Lagoon Beach is one of Cyprus’s most remote and stunning beaches, providing a spectacular view of clear water. The small Khamilis Island lies right off the beach and is a popular spot to swim to.

The beach is located in the northwest of Cyprus, in the district of Paphos. The beach is open to the public, although getting there can be a little rough. The clear waters are different than most other beaches on Cyprus because it lies in a small bay which gives it warmer water. The beach itself is sandy and provides a nice place to relax in the water.

Around Khamilis Island there is a reef that is fun to snorkel around. There is no development around the Blue Lagoon beach so while there you can get a great view of the Mediterranean hills surrounding the area.

view of boats and mountains beyond — Boats in the bay

Traveling to the bay by road can be difficult. You should only travel here in a high-clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle. There are also boat tours from nearby Latsi village.

Aerial View of the Beach

Map of Blue Lagoon Beach

What Language Do They Speak in Cyprus?

April 26, 2020 by Nick Sanna

After the Turkish occupation of the north in 1974, Cyprus was split into two linguistic states. The Turkish speaking north, and the south which speaks both Greek and Turkish.

Greek Cypriots have a distinct dialect, but standard modern Greek is used for official government business.

Shops in Famagusta — Turkish is spoken in the Turkish north.

Cypriot Greek is the main language of the south.

Turkish Cypriots speak Turkish, even in a distinct dialect, although it is not as far from the Turkish standard as Cypriot Greek is from the Greek standard. That’s partly due to Cyprus’s separation from mainland Greece in the late middle ages for hundreds of years.

Maronite Arabs and Armenians on the island likewise speak Greek Cypriot. Those communities were forced to pick either Turkish or Greek as part of the new Constitution in 1960. They try to preserve their own languages as well.

Other notable languages spoken in the south are English, Russian and Armenian. It is estimated 76% of the southern Cypriots can speak some English.

Adonis Baths Waterfalls – Paphos

April 29, 2018 by Nick Sanna

The Adonis Baths Waterfalls is one of prettiest locations in Cyprus. Its said by the locals that swimming in the water has positive effects on both men and women. There are even Statues of Adonis and Aphrodite at this location due to its connection to the old tale.

Adonis bath is where Adonis met his end. Its location on the island makes it a very peaceful peace. Traveling is very easy from Paphos.

view of the Adonis baths from the cliffs above — View from cliff

Main pool of the Adonis baths — The main pool of the baths.

The Adonis baths and waterfalls said to be the place where Adonis used to meet and bathe with Aphrodite, spending much of their time together here as it was their favorite place. It was also here that many of their children were supposedly born.

However, it was also the place where Adonis died in the arms of his lover Aphrodite after a man disguised as a wild boar fatally wounded him in battle.

Outside of the baths, there is a sign beside the statues of the lovers, which says

‘Ladies infertile who wish to become pregnant touch Adonis’s appendage and have many children thereafter.’

The baths lie below a waterfall with high cliffs on either side. Swimming in the Adonis baths is said to make women look younger and more beautiful, and men stronger.

Map of Waterfalls Location

Adonis Baths Video

Lamb Kleftiko Recipe

April 18, 2018 by Nick Sanna

Kleftiko is a tender and hearty lamb dish that is a standard part of traditional Greek cuisine. Flavor is infused through a long and slow marinade that usually includes garlic, cinnamon, and lemons.

While the most traditional Kleftiko is prepared using a bone-in leg of lamb, there are many different styles of preparing the meat that have long and gentle cooking in common.

Legend has it that lamb Kleftiko, meaning stolen lamb or lamb in the style of the klephts, originated in the thievery of bandits known as the klephts.

Since the klephts were wanderers and did not own flocks of their own, they would steal sheep and cook them in a sealed pit to trap smoke and to keep their meal hidden.

Today, kleftiko is a dish enjoyed across Greece and Cyprus. One of the more popular variations is to wrap the lamb and marinade in a parchment packet to seal in flavor during the roast.

The method below uses the convenience of a slow cooker to capture the traditional kleftiko tenderness and flavor.

Its short hands-on preparation time makes it ideal for a hot meal for a family to enjoy together at the end of a busy day.

Prep Time: 6 hours
Cook Time: 8 hours
Serves: 6 – 8

Ingredients

1 leg of lamb
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 lemons, juiced and zested
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
3-4 large potatoes
1 large onion
3 bay leaves
500mL lamb or vegetable stock (16 oz)
Feta or plain yogurt for serving

Directions

Create a mixture using the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, oregano, rosemary, cinnamon, garlic, salt, and black pepper.
Rub the mixture into the leg of lamb and allow to rest covered in the refrigerator overnight.
Dice the potatoes and onion and place along with the lamb and the marinade into a large slow cooker. Add the bay leaves and the stock.
Cook on low-medium heat for at least 8 hours.
Remove bay leaves. Serve with feta or plain yogurt.

For more good food please visit the Recipes index page.

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Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Cyprus as a First Timer

April 15, 2018 by Nick Sanna

Cyprus, more officially known as the Republic of Cyprus, is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and a member of the European Union. It is south of Turkey, southeast of Greece, and north of Egypt. Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided between the Greeks and the Turks, with the Greeks controlling the southern half.

The following are all located on the Greek side and are must-see attractions if this is your first time in Cyprus.

1) Aphrodite’s Rock

According to classical mythology, the goddess Aphrodite was born either on Cyprus or Kythira. She supposedly was born of sea foam. Aphrodite’s Rock, a large rock formation, is the place where she emerged onto dry land to be welcomed by the local deities who brought her to Mt. Olympus.

Aphrodite’s Rock is also known as “Petra tou Romiou” (Rock of the Roman). The name refers to the legendary Byzantine hero Dighenis who supposedly defended his lady from pirates by throwing the large rocks at them.

Another story claims that the waves rise, break and form a column of water under certain weather conditions. That column then briefly becomes a pillar of foam with a humanoid shape.

The Rock is on the west coast of Cyprus near Paphos. Many travelers enjoy visiting both places. Visitors to Aphrodite’s Rock may also go swimming or enjoy a snack at the local cafe.

2) Khirokitia

Sometimes spelled Choirokoitia, Khirokitia is one of the best-preserved prehistoric settlements in the eastern Mediterranean area.

UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site in 1988 on account of its age and state of preservation. Khirokitia is 3.7 miles (6 km) inland of the island’s south coast.

Archaeologists have found evidence that humans began settling on Cyprus around the 10th millennium BC. Khirokitia was established three millennia later, and people lived there until the 4th millennium BC. At its largest, the village covered three hectares or 30,000 square meters.

A series of walls protected the village, which consisted of round houses with flat roofs. The houses were made of stone and mudbrick. The inhabitants buried their dead in pits beneath the earthen floors.

Archaeologists have found artifacts within or near the houses like stone vessels, tools made of bone or flint, figurines, and the remains of animals and plants.

3) Paphos Zoo

Paphos or Pafos Zoo is the largest zoo in Cyprus. It was established by Mr. Christos Christoforou, the proud owner of a large aviary. He originally intended to make it a private zoo, but he changed his mind and decided to open it the public. After three years of work, the Zoo opened in September 20003.

The Zoo is best known for its bird collection: 1,000 birds representing around 200 species and 18 orders. While some are native to Cyprus, others come from all over the world. The zoo offers a parrot and owl show several times a day every day.

The Paphos Zoo is also home to over 25 species of venomous snakes – one of the most extensive such collections in Europe. It also houses over 40 different mammal species including elephants, giraffes, tigers, meerkats, and nine species of monkeys.

4) Tombs of the Kings

The Tombs of the Kings is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is a large necropolis in the old city of Paphos. The oldest tombs date back to the 3rd century BC, while the newest are from the 3rd century AD. The tombs don’t house any kings; they owe their name to their impressive looks. In fact, the people of Nea Paphos had not had a monarchy since 312 BC, so the tombs were for powerful officials and their families.

Although people had known of the tombs’ existence at least as far back as the 19th century, the Department of Antiquities’ archaeologists didn’t start systematically excavating them until 1977. So far, they have found eight underground tomb complexes, and the third is considered the grandest. Many of the tombs have rectangular, open-aired atria cut out of the rock and surrounded by porticoes supported by columns. The graves also have niches for the bodies carved into the walls. The walls may have been decorated with frescoes, but archaeologists have found only a few fragments.

While Egyptian beliefs influenced the construction of the tombs that houses for the dead should resemble those for the living, the architectural styles show Hellenistic influences.

5) Kykkos Monastery

The Kykkos Monastery, which is located in the Troodos Mountains in central Cyprus at an elevation of 4324 feet (1318 meters), is one of the largest and most opulent monasteries in Cyprus. It is about 12.4 miles (20 km) west of Pedoulas. It was originally built during the reign of Alexios I Komninos (1056-1118), who was the Byzantine Emperor. Unfortunately, a series of fires destroyed the original monastery, and the current building was completed in 1831.

There’s a legend about the construction of the original monastery: A hermit called Esaias or Isaiah lived on what would become the site of the monastery. Manouil Voutomytis, the Byzantine governor of Cyprus, was out hunting and got lost. He asked Esaias for directions, but the hermit had taken a vow of silence and wouldn’t answer. Voutomytis angrily cursed and shoved him.

After finding his way back home to Nicosia, Voutomytis fell ill and realized he needed to apologize to Esaias to regain his health. Esaias, meantime, had received a vision from God telling him that Voutomytis needed to go to Constantinople to retrieve an icon of the Virgin Mary that was said to have been painted by St. Luke. Voutomytis visited Emperor Alexios, whose daughter was suffering from the same malady as Voutomytis, and convinced the Emperor that allowing him to take the icon to Cyprus would restore the princess to health. Alexios agreed and ordered the monastery to be built to properly house the icon, which still exists and is now kept in a sealed box made of mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell.

The monastery is also now home to the Monastery Museum that houses a collection of manuscripts, icons, and other antiquities. The tomb of Archbishop Makarios III, who had been Cyprus’ first President, is on the monastery grounds.

6) Akamas Peninsula National Park

Located on the west coast of Cyprus, the Akamas Peninsula National Park covers 88.8 square miles (230 square kilometers) of land that includes gorges, valleys and bays. The European Council added it to its Mediterranean Protection Programme because of its high biodiversity. Twelve mammal species, 16 butterfly species, 20 reptile species, and 168 bird species all make their home in the Park.

Akamas Peninsula National Park has many nature trails. The Blue Lagoon is one of the Park’s more popular attractions on account of its water being so clear that a visitor can see all the way to the bottom. Many visitors go snorkeling or take tours in glass-bottom boats. Lara Beach is a breeding ground for Hawksbill and Green Turtles, both of which are endangered sea turtle species. People can visit and swim – but they will need a vehicle with a four-wheel drive to reach the beach.

The Baths of Aphrodite, which is a starting point for a couple of the nature trails, is a cavern with a pool. Legend holds that the goddess Aphrodite liked to bathe here. It is also said that she met her lover Adonis at the Baths. Another myth claims that the waters can restore a bather’s youth. Unfortunately, swimming in the Baths is no longer permitted.

7) Limassol Castle

Limassol Castle is located in the town of the same name, and is near the harbor. It has fascinated archaeologists for years because it was built on top of even older structures. The first part of the castle was built by Guy de Lusignan (~1150-1194) in 1193. Underneath it, archaeologists have found the remains of a Christian basilica that was built sometime between the 4th and 7th centuries, a Byzantine monument erected in the 10th or 11th centuries, and what might have been a church or cathedral.

The castle was damaged over the centuries by both invaders and earthquakes. In the late 1560s, the Venetian governor of Cyprus decided to destroy the castle rather than let it fall into enemy hands. The Ottoman Empire, however, conquered Cyprus in 1576, well before the demolition had been completed. Fourteen years later, they began to rebuild Limassol Castle. The various rulers of Cyprus used the first floor and underground area as prisons until 1950.

The Department of Antiquities gained control of Limassol Castle and used it to house the Cyprus Medieval Museum, which is still there. Limassol Castle thus contains exhibits like medieval pottery, weapons, coins, crosses, tombstones, and silver plates.

8) Wreck of the Zenobia

Located off the coast of Lanarka, the shipwreck Zenobia is considered one of the best dive sites in Cyprus. The Zenobia was a Swedish ferry that was traveling to Syria on its maiden voyage. The captain had decided to make for Lanarka Harbor after one of the crew reported that the steering was malfunctioning. Engineers then reported that a glitch in the computer system was causing excess water to be pumped into the ship’s ballast tanks.

Despite the crew’s efforts, the ship continued to list, and it was eventually towed out to sea because the harbor authorities feared it would obstruct traffic if it sank in the harbor. The Zenobia capsized and sank on June 7, 1980, about .93 miles (1500 meters) from shore. It now lies on the seafloor at a depth of 138 feet (42 meters).

The Zenobia acts as an artificial reef, so it attracts a lot of fish of many different species. Another attraction for divers it that its location makes it relatively easy to reach. Divers of skill levels ranging from novice to expert can safely explore the wreckage.

9) Troodos Botanical Garden

The Troodos Botanical Garden, which was established in 2010, is one of the newer attractions in Cyprus. It is located near Troodos Geopark and an abandoned asbestos mine in Troodos National Forest Park. The Cypriot government has been working to restore the environment around the mine, and the Troodos Botanical Garden is part of that project.

The Garden is divided into several smaller gardens, each with a theme: Endemic Plants, Traditional Garden Plants, Riverine Vegetation, and so forth. While some of the plant species are common, others are rare and endangered. Other exhibits at the Garden include a photographic history of the asbestos mine, a documentary about the plants of the Troodos mountains, a database of Cypriot plants, and a display showing the vertical distributions of plants on the mountains.

10) Fasouri Watermania Waterpark

The Fasouri Watermania Waterpark, which first opened in 1999, is a ten-minute drive from Limassol. With roughly 25 acres (100,000 square meters) of land, Fasouri Watermania is the largest waterpark in Cyprus. The water park boasts several types of waterslides, swimming pools, and paddle boats. Some of the attractions are just for kids, while others are for the whole family.

There’s also an artificial river where visitors can ride rafts or inner tubes. Other facilities include a spa, souvenir shop, and a temporary tattoo shop. There are several kiosks that sell different types of snacks and drinks, as well as restaurants that provide more substantial fare like pizza, grilled food, and sandwiches.

The Waterpark is only open during the warmer months. This year, it will be open from April 29 to October 30. The park does close during inclement weather.