My Cyprus Dream
I am well aware that, for most people, dreams rarely come true and that I was extremely fortunate when an unexpected inheritance made mine possible. When I found I had been left a considerable sum of money by a distant uncle I had never even met, I took it as a sign for me to transform my life. I loved travel, but after discovering Cyprus, felt I had found my home from home and need look no further. My inheritance meant I could make my dream a reality by buying a property on the island.
I started my research online and a month later was stepping off the plane at Larnaca International Airport armed with my portfolio of property information and list of Cyprus realtors. I had pre-booked my car hire in Cyprus as I wanted the freedom to move from place to place under my own steam. Driving was easy as the Cypriots drive on the left, like we do; the only real problem was the need to keep a careful eye on the speed limits as I knew this was something the Cypriot authorities were very strict about.
I took the A3 motorway to Agia Napa, my first port of call. I had fallen in love with Agia Napa some years previously so naturally it was top of my list. The first apartment I saw was a new, two bedroom apartment in the village, quite close to the shops, taverns and local amenities. Because it was on a hill, it afforded beautiful views of the surrounding green belt, yet it was only minutes away from the beach. It felt quite spacious and airy with its private as well as communal gardens (which included a swimming pool), but I wasn’t quite sure about the open-plan design inside.
I looked over a new complex of villas and apartments which I could see would be spectacular when finished, but I knew I really wanted something with more character and age. I saw two charming bungalows on the outskirts of the village, which almost fit the bill and I shuffled them up my short-list of potential properties.
When I booked my car hire in Cyprus, the agent, who came from Limassol, mentioned a couple of properties she knew of, so the next day saw me back on the motorway, heading out to Limassol to explore the area. Being the second largest city on Cyprus, it has quite a cosmopolitan feel to it. It seemed like a lively, buzzing city but it also has the longest coastline of any other city, which was a definite appeal.
It was along the old coast road, heading towards Paphos, that I found my dream home – a two bedroom bungalow set on a hillside overlooking the sparkling, clear Mediterranean. The purchase went through without a hitch and a few months later I took possession of my own little piece of paradise on the lovely island of Cyprus.