Landing in Larnaca, I was immediately aware of the cultural differences between here and the US. Unfamiliar Greek lettering, unique snack options, and locals wearing business casual attire on international flights showed me a glimpse into what I would experience as my journey in Cyprus continues. After a gloriously short trip through getting our passports stamps and going through customs, we were boarding a bus to Limassol, the city that will serve as our home base for the trip. During our bus ride, I fought off the temptation to sleep after the exhausting day of travel and instead tried to focus on the local scenery. I was drawn in immediately by the rural landscape that sits not far from the coastline of this small island. Despite the short inland distance, it reminded me immediately of Tuscany, Italy, which I loved when I visited a few years ago. This similarity immediately made me excited to explore more of this beautiful island, for I didn’t realize it would contain such a wide breadth of terrain.
Once we got closer to Limassol, I could see more clearly just how much Cyprus differs in culture from what I’m used to. Besides the cats which freely roam the streets (unfortunately we can’t pet them, which takes some serious self-restraint!), I noticed that there are also a lot of kids that run loose on the streets. Due to safety concerns in America, you would never expect to see kids running and playing in the streets of a busy town. We also saw playgrounds that were absolutely full of families and lots of kids, which I thought was quite unexpected for a Sunday evening.
As we walked around town and explored the marina and local restaurants and cafes, I could feel my excitement growing for my time in Limassol. Along with a group of seven of the other girls on the trip, I ate at Jamie Oliver’s by the marina and enjoyed some Mediterranean food in a sophisticated but relaxed environment, it was the perfect meal to kick off our time in Cyprus! Now, sitting with the group and posting this from the rooftop pool at our hotel, I can tell that today was just a glimpse of what this trip has to offer. I can’t wait to continue this journey and experience more of the local culture while also getting to know everyone on the trip more.