Getting To Your Villa
The nearest international airport to Latchi and the Arsinoë Beach Village is Pafos (usually still designated at UK airports with its earlier spelling of Paphos), which, regardless of your country of departure, is likely to be well serviced with flights at all times of the year. Once at the airport, there are a number of ways of travelling the 28 miles (45 km) to the resort, · Taxi - there are plenty of taxis and people carriers at Pafos airport. You should agree the price in advance, which should be around EUR 55-65 for the single journey. · Car Hire - there are numerous reputable car hire companies at Pafos Airport, although booking in advance is strongly recommended. Prices vary significantly, depending on your choice of company, vehicle, insurance cover and so on There are two routes from Pafos and the airport to Latchi, one via the scenic mountain road and the other by the equally-picturesque coast road. Driving is on the left as in England. Road signs all conform to European standards. The roads are generally uncrowded and the pace is gentle and unhurried · Bus - buses run regularly from Pafos to many towns and villages, including Latchi. The adult single fare is around EUR 2.00 (see below).
Watersports
There is a comprehensive watersports and scuba-diving centre in Latchi, just 10 minutes walk from your villa (see below for link to the web site). You can enjoy windsurfing, sailing, waterskiing, jetski, hydrojet, wakeboarding, parasailing or kayaks and canoes. SCUBA diving and PADI instruction courses are available. A range of boats is available for hire from Latchi harbour including speedboats, and traditional boat cruises are also available.
Tourism and Local Information
Several travel agents in Latchi and Polis offer day tours to the many attractions in the mountains and coasts of Cyprus (see below for links to Polis and Akamas National Park web sites). Eating and Drinking Both Latchi and Polis have an excellent selection of Tavernas in pleasant surroundings, by the harbour in Latchi or on the pedestrian town square in Polis. Both towns are within walking distance of your villa, under 10 minutes to Latchi and about 20 minutes to Polis, or there are plenty of taxis available at all times. For self-catering there is a well-stocked supermarket in Latchi.
The Currency
Cyprus now uses the Euro as its currency, divided into 100 Cents. All notes and coins are acceptable without problem. There is a currency converter at www.xe.com for up-to-the-minute exchange rates.
What To Take ... And What Not To Take
We're sure that you will have your own check lists of all the things you need to take to make your holiday at your Beach Villa the best break you've ever had. However, there may be a few things that are worth mentioning that you might not have thought of, and there are also a few things that you won't need to bring. What you will need to pack are: · beach towels. Please don't use the bath and hand towels that are provided for your comfort in the villa on the beach. You won't need to pack: · an iron or a hair dryer. Both are provided · coat hangers. We are aware of how frustrating it is to arrive at a hotel with suitcases full of clothes and only a hand-full of bent hangers to put them on, so you will find plenty in built-in wardrobes in the villa.
Contact
For further information on your Beach Villa please call us on
+357 99473627
or e-mail us at
villa@cyprusonthebeach.com.
Links
There are numerous web sites offering information on Cyprus, Pafos and the Latchi/Polis area, but we thought it might be worth noting a few that we have found particularly useful. Click here for Latchi beach. Also, go back to Home on this site for information about Polis. Click here for lots of information on the villages of Akamas, including Polis. For details of nature trails around the Akamas National Park click here. Click here for information on watersports in the Latchi area. And if you find any other really good sites covering Cyprus or the area around your villa, let us know and we'll include them here with acknowledgement.
And Finally ... Who Was Arsinoë?
Like most Greek myths, she is complicated and tragic. Arsinoë (pronounced "Arseenoi") was the daughter of King Phegeus of Psophis and she married Alcmaeon who gave her a celebrated magic robe and necklace which Aphrodite had given to his ancestress Hammonia. But Alcmaeon was cursed and the land of Psophis grew barren because of his presence. The Delphic Oracle advised him to approach the river-god Achelous who removed the curse, and Alcmaeon married Achelous' daughter Callirrhoë. But Callirrhoë wanted the celebrated robe and necklace so Alcmaeon went back to Psophis and deceived Phegeus into thinking he was going to dedicate the robe and necklace to Apollo's shrine. So Arsinoë gave them back to him but one of his servants told Phegeus the truth so he was very angry and his sons killed Alcmaeon as he left the palace. Arsinoë witnessed the murder but was unaware of the deception and was furious and cursed her father and brothers to die before the next new moon. She refused to listen to their explanation, and so Phegeus locked her in a chest and presented her as a slave to the king of Nemea. Her curse was fulfilled nevertheless, because Callirrhoë, when she heard of what had happened, prayed that her infant sons by Alcmaeon would become full grown men in a day, and they killed Phegeus and his sons. And that's the simplified version!
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