I have a long trip to cover this morning and I will try to reach my destination
by using only the Public means of Transport. No taxis, no car rentals. I am doing
this in an attempt to prove that traveling around the island is pleasant and many
popular destinations are very easily accessible by local buses. I used them again
when I went from Limassol to Platres and Troodos for just a euro on my previous
trip.
Car renting and taxi companies are not pleased lately because buses have become
quite popular with tourists. It is disappointing when I ask Cypriots about buses.
I can surely get an answer from a tourist but probably not from a Cypriot. You see,
Cypriots are tenderfoot. Each family owes two or three cars and they never use buses
themselves.
My starting point is Larnaca and my destination is Latchi out in the Chrysochou
bay in the north west of Cyprus very near Akamas.
I get the intercity green bus leaving for Limassol from the Phinikoudes Avenue for
3 euro. The funniest of all is that I find people who remember me from previous
trips and Mr. Diomides is one such person. He remembered me from the trip I had
in January when I used the same bus company then. His politeness surprises me happily
and he is very helpful giving information and knows how to deal with everyone. He
wants to attend everyone's wants and many people know him by name and greet him
as they enter the bus.
I always try to get the seat next to the drivers because I can take much info from
them. Upon reaching the old port of Limassol the driver requests everyone to step
off at the bus stop next to the roundabout. The main station is at the new port
so I remain in the bus for 10 more minutes until we reach there. Later on Mr. Diomides
tells me that they usually let people off at the old port because it is the city
centre and people would probably want to see the city before taking the next bus
– of course this gives them time to stretch their legs before the next trip.
I don't have to wait long as the bus to Paphos leaves in 15 minutes. I find a number
of tourists waiting at the bus stop and we are soon heading back to the old port
to pick the rest of the people traveling to Paphos. The cost is again 3 euro, but
for somebody who wants to return the same day, a two way ticket would cost just
5 euro. I recognize some of the people who were traveling with me from Larnaca,
-a group of friends coming from the U.K. and they ask me why I did not come off
when they did. I explain and we start chatting throughout the trip about tourism
and the public means of transport on the island and as always I try to help -something
I always do especially when I am traveling around Cyprus, the island I love so much
and for which I am very proud of Urban blue lines.
The trip to Paphos is now very pleasant and interesting with much chatting with
the British group who are excited and eager to get to know Cyprus as they are traveling
here for the first time. The day is beautiful, and I, on the other hand feel pleased
that I can be of help with my suggestions and tips. I tell them of places not to
be missed, and restaurants to eat well and cheap. Of course there is always Mum
back in my mind and this makes me restless but as a positive person I try not to
think negative. I am on my way to the outskirts of Latchi –a fishing little resort
very popular not only with locals but tourists as well. I am going to post many
photos in the following entries and write about this place in the coming days. I
really don’t know what to expect even though I have visited Latchi many times before
but I am anxious to see what the hotel I have picked to stay at this time will be
like. It is still a long way to go until I reach my destination but I take it as
it comes. The funniest of all is that I just have 50 euro cash on me like always,
and I don’t plan to spend more during the 2 weeks that I will be on the island.
I feel secure with my credit card of course but I never use it anyway unless urgently
needed. This never happened, …..so why now?
We come to Paphos main station and in a short distance, 3 to 5 minutes walk I come
to the other station. This time it is the OSYPA and I have to wait for about 20
minutes to catch the bus to take me to Polis and then change from the same station
to go to Latchi. This might seem complicated but I really want to have this experience
of traveling by bus so here I am today and indeed it is something that I truly enjoy.
All buses are new and the idea of the cost of traveling out here makes it tempting.
A euro for such a long trip from Paphos to Polis is actually nothing! When I reach
Polis, I change for the bus to Latchi with just a euro again.
I am going to be picked from Latchi by the owner of the Aphrodite Hotel where I
am staying at, so this is kind of relief for me for today, however I plan to have
the same trip back from Latchi to Paphos and move around by bus on another day to
experience this route as well. In reality now that I am writing all these it is
not only very cheap, but so simple and easy at the same time.
For people reading my pages who would like to use the Public means of transport
to come here I suggest they ask for the booklet with all routes and time tables
from the main bus stations. They will get them for free and they are very handy.
So I traveled all the way from Larnaca to Latchi with just 8 euro!
It would have cost me at least 80 – 100 euro to come here if I used a taxi.
I left Larnaca at 8 A.M. and by 11:00 A.M. I was at the hotel which was just a 4
or 5 kms from Latchi. I urge tourists visiting Cyprus to use the Public Means of
Transport as much as they can. I believe the more people use them, the better they
become.
Read more: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/greekcypriot/7/1309624251/tpod.html#ixzz1RDT0H6sy
The main bus station at the New Port
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The green Intercity bus at the New Port
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The intercity green and blue urban bus
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Urban blue lines
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Latchi bus stop
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The bus station in Paphos
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