Zorba rocks out in Cyprus

Jul 12 2009 Sunday Sun

FRANK CORLESS travels to Cyprus, the birthplace of Aphrodite, and a haven for lovers.

MOST places in Cyprus are special, but straying from the beaten track will almost certainly take you into an extra dimension of scenic beauty and solitude.

You might even bump into Zorba.

That’s my nickname for a grizzled, larger-than-life man who instantly reminded me of the main character in the memorable Hollywood film starring Anthony Quinn.

I met Zorba purely by chance when I was trying to find my way out of a remote, seemingly deserted valley cloaked in endless vineyards and spring flowers.

“You seem lost, my friend,” he said in flawless English as I stopped my car to peer at a map.

He set me right. But not before listing places he had visited in the UK, and giving me a 10-minute discourse on the art of turning grapes into wine, right down to putting the cork in the bottle.

“You seem to know so much, do you make wine yourself?” I asked. With a twinkle in his eyes, he replied: “No, but I drink it.”

It was a fleeting episode, but one that set the tone for a happy week spent among many other Cypriots, all equally kind and anxious to please.

They included everyone from maids to management at the four-star Columbia Beach Hotel, which sits alongside a sand and shingle Blue Flag beach in lovely, crescent-shaped Pissouri Bay.

Framed by steep, bleached cliffs, the hotel proudly boasts one of the best locations on the island. Despite being close to the two big resorts of Paphos and Limassol it manages to retain a sanctuary-style feel.

The hotel has been popular with British visitors for years. But a modernisation scheme costing £5.5m has given it an extra touch of class and sophistication, without losing a warm and friendly ambience.

Top-class cuisine, luxurious guest facilities, and excellent relaxation areas on the beach or around the superb swimming pool help make it a place you won’t want to leave.

If you do feel the need to tear yourself away, it’s a short stroll along the seafront walkway, or up a small hill, to a sprinkling of shops and restaurants.