Cyprus - Great Inspiration for SAS in The Confessional!

I have now been to Cyprus six times and we always stay in Paphos, so I pretty much know it like the back of my hand. It’s home from home for me and I will never become bored of the place. Beautiful golden sandy beaches overlooked by rows of amazing hotels, all with their own gardens, pools, jacuzzi’s and bars.

We first stayed at The St George, Close to coral Beach and I thought this was amazingly stunning all marble and chandeliers. The evening entertainment was fabulous and I still hold fond memories of the first two holidays spent there. The Athena beach was just as lovely having evening entertainment and Greek dancing around the swimming pool by night. The Pathaneon, was my first ever attempt at an all inclusive holiday, which was marvellous although we rarely left the hotel because of it and I guess a lot of local businesses have suffered for it. And last summer we stayed at the Cypriot Maris a uber modern five star hotel, which was just brilliant. They were all like staying in paradise to me and I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I reminisce of these holidays and which is why I have to write about them in My New Crime Novels.

We've pretty much done all the touristy sightseeing for southern Cyprus, Kurium the Ancient Greek Amphitheatre and ancient city, the quaint little colonial town high in the Troodos mountains and Makarios’ birth place, plus his final resting place. I don’t understand why people find this guy a hero though. At the end of the day he was a man of the cloth who dabbled in politics and backed out of a deal that was made with the Turkish Cypriots back in the 1950’s. His Political decision made the Turkish government use it as an excuse to invade Northern Cyprus, which resulted in the deaths of many Greek Cypriots, yet they think he’s their saviour! I just struggle to understand it.

Whilst I am on the subject of the last divided city of Nicosia and the country the Turkish occupy, have opened it’s borders recently and on my last visit we went into the Northern part of Cyprus visiting Famagusta, which has been abandoned by the Turks as they say the Greek Cypriots can have it back one day. What’s the point in that? The place is crumbling ruins! We also wondered around Famagusta old town, which grieved me because most of the people there are from mainland Turkey and and occupy other peoples homes and businesses.

I also discovered the church across the road had been converted to a temple. Something I found sacrilegious and I wasn't impressed as the Greek Cypriots have left all the temples in the south as they were left during in the civil war in case there is one day peace and the Turkish Cypriots decide to return home one day. Though the trip there and past no man’s land was wholly depressing and we travelled back tad subdued from the experience I felt it was necessary to see both sides and hear the stories of the civil war from survivors to make one’s own mind up.

At the end of the day whenever someone tells me the North is nicer than the South of Cyprus at least I can categorically say it is not. The North may have been a trendy stomping ground for the rich and famous, but those days are long gone as the locals have left everything to crumble and disintegrate. Give me Paphos any day.

The Dyonisis Museum in Paphos has an amazing collection of Greek Mosaics, the castle t the port and the Valley of the Kings out towards Kato Paphos offers great ancient historical culture.




The pretty traditional village of Omodus offers a look into life in peaceful Cypriot villages of days gone by. Men sat out chatting in the coffee shops while the women gossip while they make beautiful pieces of lace. We went to a nunnery, which was fascinating. How they live in those huge black smocks in searing heat I do not know.

We’ve taken trips to Adonis and Aphrodites fountains and swam in a fresh water waterfall, and seen the mountains on a beach buggy trip, swam in the sea on turtle beach and held baby turtles that have been rescued from certain death. And the fun we’ve had in the evenings in traditional Greek Taverna’s over the years have been priceless, Zenia and Petros’s Place, Angelo’s, Zsa Zsa and Flintstone bar are some of my personal favourites and think all are still open to this day.

I’ve loved Cyprus so much I’ve written a novel set out there. A crime/military piece (as we have a British Military base out there) with a smidge of erotic romance for good measure. Still procrastinating about publishing that one. But in the meantime if you want to try my My Beyond Series all details are just a click away!
Alison Website: http://www.alisonkershaw.live