Our three months in Cyprus have flown by, but we also packed a lot in. It’s amazing how quickly a place begins to feel like home once you start exploring — and explore we certainly did.
One of the boys’ favorite outings was our day at the Museum of Templar Ages, where we stepped straight into medieval history. We tried on real chain mail and armor (surprisingly heavy!), practiced swinging swords, and even tested our aim with archery. For a moment, we were knights ourselves, imagining life centuries ago.
One weekend, the boys were thrilled to visit the Cyprus Air Force Base, which had opened its doors to the public. They explored aircraft and watched demonstrations. They got to climb on the machines, which was a highlight for them.
As winter rolled in, we found a bit of holiday magic at a local Christmas market, complete with twinkling lights, delicious treats, and traditional Cypriot dancers performing in bright costumes. We also explored some churches and monasteries.
We also celebrated a very special milestone: Vivian’s 9th birthday. For her celebration, we packed our bags and headed to the Adonis Botanical Garden for an overnight adventure. We spent the night in a cozy little glamping shed surrounded by greenery, stars, and the sounds of nature (including a mouse in our shed). Some people even took a cold plunge in the pool there — a fun birthday memory for all of us.
There were quieter adventures too. A small group made a day trip to Limassol, where shopping and wandering the city’s bustling streets offered a different taste of Cyprus life. Henry proudly bought his first pair of jeans — a rite of passage in its own way — and he was especially excited to find a One Piece t-shirt that he has been wanting to buy for a while.
Not all of our experiences were planned. A series of earthquakes shook the island during our stay. Thankfully, there was no damage to our houses, but we definitely felt the jolts — the whole house shook more than once, and the aftershocks kept us on our toes for the next couple of days.
As our time in Cyprus comes to an end, we’re leaving with full hearts, new stories, and memories we’ll be talking about for years. From medieval adventures to birthday glamping, from holiday markets to unexpected earthquakes, Cyprus has kept things interesting.
