A Cyprus covid Christmas

Christmas was always going to be strange for many people this year, for some a little strange would be more than they could hope for of course but I'm staying away from the absolute sadness and horrors of the world like I've always done on my blog.    

I'm talking about the people I know and know off in Cyprus, those who would have traveled back to the UK, or elsewhere,  those who were expecting family to come here, those who would have met friends for Christmas dinner in a restaurant, or had a large gathering at home. 

Our restrictions changed mid December and a 9 pm curfew came into place. Soon after  all bars and restaurants had to close.   We were allowed to have up to 10 people in our houses  (but randomly only 2 people could meet outside).  

Most Christmas events had been cancelled, so no markets, school shows, parties etc.  

All the towns still put up the Christmas lights which were lovely to see as long as you were home by 9 pm.

We went to Paralimni on Christmas Eve for a little walk around to see the lights, it was nice but a little strange.  The roads were very busy with traffic but there were very few people on the streets.  Shops were open but quiet apart from the large ones like Lidl, and Public. 

I'm glad we went, it was like we were in a little Christmas bubble, after many years of seeing the lights in crowds of people at noisy events it was a little surreal. Hopefully one we will find hard to imagine doing same next year in a crowd once again.

As Cyprus is a popular tourist destination we are used it be quiet in the winter months. Paralimni would be busy at Christmas being that it is inland and residential, Protaras would be pretty much closed,  Kapparis would be open almost as usual and busy with expats who live here year round.   Pernera would be somewhere in between the two (literally and figuratively!)

Ayia Napa would still have its tourists,  a different vibe to the busy summer months but still with life to be found. Popular with tourists from the Scandinavian countries staying in the hotels and with visitors from expats and locals all over the region going to enjoy the bars and restaurants and coastal walks.  

We had a walk around the harbour today and of course it's a very quiet place this year.

Yesterday more restrictions were suddenly announced.   Around lunchtime it was declared that from 6 pm that evening it was no longer possible to have visitors in your house who are not permanent residents there.   

It was lucky we checked our phones as we were at a friends at the time! It was a little strange watching the clock to make sure we left by 6pm.   Jokes were made as we finished our drinks as we wondered if we could just take them to the car and have them bring out more to us outside in the road. 

There is an exception to the new rule, tomorrow on New Years Eve the restriction will be lifted for one day only, until 1 am and 10 people from 2 families may meet indoors.   I know what you are thinking - that's a bit crazy but I'm happy enough with it, it means that while we have to cancel our planned New Years Day dinner with my parents, we can still have them at ours for NYE evening. 

I'm so very grateful we got both Christmas and New Year as we would have done every other year. I know that we are in the minority.   I can only imagine what it must have felt like to have Christmas planned ruined when so many went into tier 4 (including my old home town) so suddenly and especially if that was the first time they were all planning to get together.  

As to what will happen in 2021 - who knows?

After my absolute definite opinion back in March that 'Of course they won't shut the airports'  I don't think I'm qualified to comment!

As it stands, schools are not returning on the 7th as they should, and are closed until the 10th January.  This is the date that all the current measures are in place till.   With record numbers over the last few days though there is no way it's all going to be lifted then. 

It is what it is though,  we can only keep on keeping on.

Let's hope that 2021 will bring better days for everyone.