The 17th SDEWES Conference will be held at Coral Beach Hotel and Resort, 5*. situated on 500 meters of natural sandy beach with its own private harbour. It is close to the town of Paphos, 25 minutes from the Paphos International Airport and an hour drive from Larnaca International Airport. This unique resort combines the traditional Cypriot décor of white walls and authentic woodwork with the modern amenities of a five-star resort.
THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS
Cyprus is a small island with a long history and a rich culture that spans 11.000 years, making it one of the oldest civilisations in the Mediterranean - as evidenced by the many fascinating cultural sights, museums, monuments and galleries. Situated at the crossroads of three continents - Europe, Asia and Africa - the island’s unique geographic position has played an important part in its turbulent past since antiquity. Its Prehistoric Age inhabitants were joined 3,500 years ago by the Mycenaean Greeks, who introduced and established their civilisation, thus permanently instilling the island’s Greek roots. Many other cultures followed thereafter, including Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Romans, Franks, Venetians, Ottomans and British, who all left behind visible remnants of their passage, and have thus created a mosaic of different cultures and periods.
THE TOWN OF PAPHOS
Paphos is a city on the southwest coast of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Inhabited since Neolithic times, it has several sites relating to the cult of goddess Aphrodite, whose mythical birthplace was at Old Paphos (Kouklia). New Paphos is the modern city that incorporates the harbour, and the ancient ruins of tombs, fortresses, theatres and villas at Paphos Archaeological Park. Paphos is also a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cyprus.
Paphos has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. It was a centre of the cult of Aphrodite and of pre-Hellenic fertility deities. Aphrodite's legendary birthplace was on this island, where her temple was erected by the Myceneans in the 12th century B.C. The remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses and tombs mean that the site is of exceptional architectural and historic value. The mosaics of Nea Paphos are among the most beautiful in the world.
Today, Paphos has a population of about 97,000 and has a quickly developing tourist resort economy complete with beaches, an excellent harbor for sport fishing, and ancient site seeing. Paphos is divided into two main sections; Ktima is the main residential district where the majority of the cities residents reside and Kato Pafos on the sea is built around the medieval port and is where the hotels and villas to rent in Paphos, attractions, and other tourist holiday destinations are located.
Climate
Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers from mid–May to mid–October, and mild winters from December to February, which are separated by short autumn and spring seasons.
Summer is a season of high temperatures with cloudless skies, but the sea breeze creates a pleasant atmosphere in the coastal areas. Isolated thunder showers are possible mainly over the mountains during early afternoons.
Winters are mild with rain and snow on Troodos Mountains (usually starting before Christmas).
The island enjoys abundant sunshine, and even in December and January, there is an average of six hours of bright sunshine per day, whilst over the six ‘summer’ months, there is an average of 11.5 hours of bright sunshine per day.
Clothing and Activities in November
This month has pleasantly warm days and cool evenings. Lunch in the open–air can still be enjoyed, and even sunbathing and swimming can too, along with most outdoor sports. The weather is ideal for autumn travel. The clothing advised is medium-weight apparel and light woollies.
Currency
On January 01, 2008, the Republic of Cyprus introduced the Euro (€) as its official currency, replacing the Cyprus pound (CY£) as the legal tender of Cyprus, at the irrevocable fixed exchange rate of €1 = CY£ 0,585274.
Currency Exchange
All banks operating in Cyprus offer foreign currency exchange services and quote the exchange rates of the Euro against all major foreign currencies daily. Foreign currency can also be exchanged at hotels.
Forms of Payment
Hotels, large shops and restaurants accept credit cards.
Credit Cards
Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Cyprus, especially in major towns and tourist areas that are used for serving tourists. Visa and MasterCard are the most-accepted types of cards, with American Express, Maestro accepted less frequently.
Visitors in possession of any of the above mentioned international credit cards may contact the appropriate bank for the withdrawal of cash.
Time
Cyprus Time is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +2 hours.
Electricity
The electricity supply in Cyprus and the sockets used are of the 3-pin type: 240 volts, ac 50Hz. Sockets are usually 5A or 13A, square-pin. Adaptors are available from the hotel reception.
Food Safety and Drinking Water Quality
The safety of food and drinking water quality in Cyprus is monitored by the Health Inspectors of the Medical and Public Health Services of the Ministry of Health and the Local Authorities. Food and drinking water are of high quality and absolutely safe.
Climate-climatic conditions in Cyprus can be termed as excellent from a health point of view. Therefore, the climate is ideal for holiday travellers throughout the year.
Driving Safely on the Island
Please note the following for driving safely on the island:
- Traffic moves on the LEFT hand-side of the road, NOT on the right.
Pedestrians
Pedestrians must remember that traffic moves on the LEFT side of the road. Therefore you must always:
- Walk on the pavement. If there is no pavement, walk on the right side of the road. (ie. towards the oncoming
