Dave, G4WXJ will be active as ZC4RH from Cyprus, IOTA AS - 004, 6 - 11 April 2025.
He will operate on 40 - 6m Bands, FT8, FT4, SSB, CW.
Recent DX Spots ZC4RH
ZC4RH Log search QSL via DK6SP, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS.
Cyprus
For many people today Cyprus is an exotic island in the Mediterranean Sea, where the tourist rests easily and pleasantly, there are many warm beaches and delicious fruits. All this is true, but this state conceals a lot of interesting and in other areas. In general, Cyprus is unique in its kind.
Larnaca, Cyprus. Author - Daniel Kieffer.
Island of flowers and suffering
There are many legends about the origin of the name of the island. One of them explains the name by the fact that there are many cypresses growing in this area, which are extremely beautiful here. Some connect the name with the deposits of copper, which were discovered here, because in Latin this metal sounds like “cuprum”. However, opponents of this theory, on the contrary, assure that copper was named so because there was a lot of it just on this island.
In short, there were many oddities and all sorts of twists and turns in the history of Cyprus. Homer enthusiastically called this place an island of fragrance, and Byron called it an island of suffering. And both were right. Cyprus is indeed home to many lovely-smelling flowers and spices, but there are still echoes of the long war of independence that the locals fought with England.
Nearly 75% of the island's population is Greek, so for a long time it was considered Greek. But, to its misfortune, Cyprus was located at the crossroads of almost all trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea. Many people wanted to take possession of such a transshipment base. From time to time the territory went to the Roman Empire, Persia and Egypt. For some time it was owned by Alexander the Great. Even the famous crusader Richard the Lionheart in the XII century captured this island with his army. However, the brave knight did not need the territory itself - material benefits were more important, and he sold it to other surrounding rulers. Once the local queen even gave the island to Venice, but it was quickly seized by the Turks.
However, the Turks also had to squeeze: in 1878 they were driven out of here by the British and made the island their colony. Only in 1959, the colonizers left it, and here formed an independent republic. But the island's troubles did not end there. Now Turkish troops landed here under the pretext that not only Christian Greeks, but also Muslim Turks live here, and their presence on the island is about 30%, so the Turks should be given a corresponding part of the territory. The conquerors occupied even a large part of the land, but stopped near the British military bases, which still remained in Cyprus after colonization. On the captured territory the Turks formed their republic, which exists there to this day as a state recognized only by Turkey.
Now the conflict has passed into a calm phase, and the island is comfortable to rest at any time of the year, as well as to engage in commercial affairs.
True, the division of the island is still noticeable. For example, Nicosia, after German unification, remained the only divided capital in the world. Its southern part belongs to the Republic of Cyprus and its northern part to the Turkish Northern Republic. The border of this division runs just along the historic streets of the city and is guarded by UN troops.
Larnaca, Cyprus. Author - Wouter van Eenoo.
Seasons
Cyprus is attractive for tourist travel all year round. But each season has its own characteristics.
Winter: folk festivities
Greeks love winter for its festivities, especially New Year's Eve. Christmas fairs here are comparable in scale to those in Russia. The New Year's fireworks over the sea are something inexpressible.
And it also seems very exotic to a tourist from Russia that tangerines can be taken not from a bag with gifts, but plucked directly from the branch of a nearby tree.
Snow falls here in the mountains in late December, which attracts skiers. For example, above the village of Prodromos there is its own piste that meets all international standards. And just an hour away is the sea coast.
In January, pink flamingos come here for wintering, and thousands of them settle on the local salt lakes. The sight is impressive.
In general, winter here is warm - from +12 to +20 °C.
Spring: Tulip Festival
Homer must have been here in the spring. It is at this time of year that Cyprus is a feast of scents. You can find whole fields of tulips and poppies. Orchids grow actively, jasmine blooms lushly, citrus fruits and almonds delight.
Few people risk swimming until mid-May, but the air temperature rises to +20...+25 °C. You can sunbathe or go on a fascinating trip around the island.
Many people come here with children at this time: the resorts are not yet full of tourists, so you can relax in peace and comfort.
Summer: only the cacti remain, but the sea is beautiful
This time of year in Cyprus is the season for swimming and sunbathing. The main problem is not to get sunburned and avoid sunstroke. However, the level of service here is high enough to protect tourists from trouble. There are plenty of cool drinks, shade - too.
But there is almost no rain in summer here. The air is dry. And the vegetation on the coast is almost all burned out, only palm trees and cacti survive. But nature lovers can go up to the Troodos Mountains, where plants and flowers are still incredibly abundant.
Autumn: a truly velvet season
September and October in Cyprus is a time of grace. The heat is gone and the sea is still warm and calm. People swim here in general until November, and even longer. Only in December the temperature of air and sea water reaches about +18...+19 °C.
Usually in October, the bathing tourist season closes, the beaches are empty. But the island itself is not empty: numerous sports teams start coming here for pre-season training camps.
But in the fall it is full of fruits. Peaches, plums, grapes, pomegranates - there are so many of them in the markets that it is hard to believe your eyes.
Cyprus. Author - Oleksandr Sukholeyster.
What to see
There are many historical monuments on the island, so there are plenty of places to visit if you want to broaden your horizons. The most visited places are:
- Lazarus' tomb, where Jesus Christ revived the deceased;
- the tomb of Hala Sultan;
- Archaeological Museum of Antiquities;
- the fortress where the prototype of Shakespeare's Othello lived - commander Moro;
- Museum of shipwrecks;
- the ancient city of Kurion.
Faithful people tend to visit the monastery of Stavrovouni. It is believed that it was founded by St. Helena in 327.
Cypriot cuisine
The local cuisine is based on a combination of Turkish and Greek dishes. For example, meze, a kind of Russian meat or fish assortment, is extremely popular. Tourists also like kleftiko - meat of lamb or goat, baked in a special way. It is curious that in the past this was the name of meat, which shepherds stole from the owners, buried in the ground and cooked by building a big fire over it. Today, kleftiko is cooked in a tightly closed oven.
Among seafood, squid or octopus cooked in red dry wine are more often used.
From sweet things you should try jam from figs, walnuts and even eggplants.
Cinnamon is used almost everywhere, even in coffee. It is, by the way, served with a glass of ice water.
In conclusion, it remains to add that the locals are characterized by cordiality and hospitality. However, this is quite understandable: tourism today is the basis of the state's economy.
