Villa Carpe Diem, Maroni, Cyprus

Sunrise viewed from our sundeck at six am, breathtaking Carpe Diem front view showing the sundeck outside the diningroom and the bedroom balconies above Local road sign - most are in English and Greek! Maroni sunset in February, you won't see cloud like this in July & August! Weathered blue door, someone must have had bulk supplies of this paint, I love the way it looks after about 100 years!

'the much awaited website will shortly be here - there should be two versions the revised form of this site will have more photos and a guest comments page the second site will take the form of a blog, the aim being to provide regular news updates about the Villa, MAroni and Cyprus life'

Carpe Diem – a great place to relax

Cyprus update 5 April 2009

This year the Cyprus Government, through the relevant Ministry, have been putting into place desalination arrangements which should cover anticiapted demand for water. The reservoirs are also in much better shape as with the winter rainfall, one is full and overflowing, whilst others are significantly ahead of where they were at this time last year. I track the water situation with a weekly update check and in discussion with my local agent. At the moment Cyprus is looking particularly green and the farmers are looking forward to a bumper grain crop.

Cyprus Rally update 16 March 2009

The WRC Cyprus Rally returns to Cyprus - after a gap of two years the WRC took place between 13 -15 March and saw Sebastien Loeb emerge triumphant yet again. I watched him racing towards eventual victory in 2006 on a dry, dusty off road stage at Vavatsinia. It is good to see the Cyprus stage of this championship back in the World series. If you enjoy watching rallying why not book Villa Carpe Diem for next year. We are well situated for all the rally action from the Limassol opening right through to the closing party again held in Limassol. Do please get in touch if you would like more information.

Picture credit: www.cyprusrally.com/cy

Cyprus Update 7 June 2008

Water rationing - the ongoing water shortage in Cyprus has seen the Government introduce water rationing measures. In the Larnaca District the situation is difficult but managable. For guests of Villa Carpe Diem this means the mains water supply to the property is available on alternate days - one day on, one day off. Water is available at the house as follows; the large water storage tank in the roof will supply water for showers and wc's. There are four 25 litre containers for 'mountain water'. This high quality drinking water is obtained from a dispenser at the nearby supermarket. These measures will ensure you have a continuing supply of water during the period of rationing. We are monitoring the situation and will respond appropriately to any developments. The most recent news is that the government are obtaining significant deliveries of water from Greece via tanker vessels whilst local production of desalinated water is being stepped up.

Cyprus continues to enjoy fantastic summer sunshine, returning guests have given Villa Carpe Diem a reassuring 'thumbs up'. 4 June 2008

"Hi Andy,

what a wonderful time we had in your Cyprus house. It's a fantastic house for so many people, so much space in it. The swimming pool is great! Of course we used it every day with very much pleasure. The internet pictures showed exactly the way it was in reality! We had a great time being there together with our kids and grandchild. Thank you for the bottles of wine, could not find these in the supermarket, pity, but we bought some others, Cyprus wines, taste lovely.
Your friends Mary and Graham are wonderful, helpful, loving people!

Many greetings, Anne Marie & Bert"

Cambridgeshire Agenda features Villa Carpe Diem

We are particularly delighted to have been featured in the May edition of Cambrigeshire Agenda. This lively magazine is packed full of articles of interest. If you live in Cambridgeshire or travel through that beautiful part of the country why not pick up an 'Agenda' and read about Villa Carpe Diem and Cyprus! With fantastic weather and temperatures up to 25 degrees Celsius, why not grab a flight, enjoy the sunshine and relax by the pool?

Happy Easter- 2008

Advertising with holiday-rentals, a popular on-line villa rental company has proved to be very successful. People like our standardised pricing structure. Bookings accepted on a strictly first come first served basis.

28 March 2008 - Graham & Mary Stewart report that the weather in Cyprus at the moment is fantastic; they have been breakfasting outside at 8 am with the temperature at 23 degrees Celcius - I ask you, how good is that? Some new photos will arrive on the site any day as well as a second page where you can make a enquiry direct to me.

If I book the house could someone else book the flat at the same time? Short answer - no. Explanation, I have decided that this house should be exclusively available to the people that book it. It is a private villa after all. So if there are two of you you have the pick of four bedrooms in the house. Plenty of choice then!

Some more thoughts about the flat - If you have a larger party, maybe eight plus, the flat could be very useful. Alternatively - the flat is designed to be wheel chair friendly, the bathroom has a shower that you can easily wheel your chair in and out, all doorways are extra width and plug outlets are at a sensible height above the floor (throughout the house). There is even a gentle winding path leading to the poolside and from there ramped access to the ground floor of the house. (I got into a bit of a rabbit about the flat there! In truth I'm quite proud of the fact that I've been able to create a house which is 'accessible'. It needs 'user testing' if anyone is up for it?

Availability calendar - availability is shown here, this is a 'real time' calendar. Once I have confirmed details the calendar is updated.

Holding open dates: 'pencilled bookings' must have a limited life to be fair to all - so if you have a booking in pencil please act promptly to confirm or decline.

If you see dates you would like have been pencilled in for someone else, please enquire. The initial enquirer will be re-contacted and offered the chance to confirm or decline, if the latter you take priority.

Contract terms - the small print. Coming soon to a page near here. Protection for you the client and moi the landlord. It will probably sound terribly legal but in essence will mean ' lets treat each other fairly at the outset, if something goes wrong tell us and we will try to sort it out, if you damage something by doing something you shouldn't have done or by not doing something you should have done then you agree to pay a reasonable amount to put things back into good order, if you use it you pay for it (unless we said you could use it as part of the rental agreement) and if we have said we will do something we do not do or something that should work doesn't then we will get it sorted or compensate you in the way that we would expect to be compensated were we in your shoes' Make sense? I hope so. If in doubt ask - please, thanks Andy.

29-Jul-2007

The pool has been completed and it is wonderful! The water is comfortably warm not the usual shock - when you just want to cool off after sunbathing!

Immediately available - a newly built luxury four bedroom detached non estate property with private pool. Located in Maroni, on the East coast of Cyprus, Carpe Diem has lots of space to relax. Far enough away from the crowds to be peaceful yet close to special places of interest. Take this opportunity and have a fantastic holiday at Carpe Diem. Interest is sure to build fast so please be quick. Remember it is first come first served!

Swim or sunbathe - you choose, our ten metre salt water pool is kind on the skin and unlike chlorine won't give you red eyes. Feel free to relax or swim!

Fed up having to squeeze around tightly packed sun beds? 100 square metres of pool side patio finished with fabulous local Tochni stone. Space to have your sun loungers and sun shades where you want them, now relax and top up your tan in style.

Sleep - I don't know about you but I love a good night's sleep. Choose from four double rooms. The master bedroom as well as the very best views across the valley, has its own en suite shower room and wc. If you don't get that room don't worry we've a twin bedded room and two more double bedrooms all offering unique views.

Early birds - I particularly recommend opening up the shutters and watching the sun rise over the hills on the skyline – it's breath taking,but you'll need to be in a front bedroom! The rear facing bedroom gets the sunset though, so no one need miss out.

Sunshine - is plentiful in Cyprus so here at Villa Carpe Diem our bedrooms all have whisper quiet air conditioning – so you control the room temperature. When travelling ladies seem to like to have a variety of clothes to wear whilst us men seem to manage with far less. Rather than try to understand this particular trait we have provided each bedroom with its own spacious built in wardrobe. The beds are comfortable, and with a table at each side; there's space to park your blockbuster novel or the travel guide when sleep finally calls!

I'm a foodie - so this house has a kitchen equipped for catering. You may not want to cook on holiday and with the range of great local places at which to eat I wouldn't blame you! If you like fish, Zygi is the next village, literally five minutes away by car; here you will find the best of the best fish tavernas, there must be a dozen - pick one and you'll probably want to return more than once whilst you are here! More about the local places to eat and visit later – when you arrive the fridge freezer will be stocked with a selection of cold drinks and some useful essentials to get you started. If you would like to have the kitchen fully stocked let us know. A four ring halogen hob and a full size oven together with a combination microwave provide flexibility when cooking. Clearing up afterwards is a breeze – there's a full size dishwasher.

Our dining room - seats eight in comfort around the table whilst giving fantastic views across the valley. If you didn't get the bedroom with the best view maybe you'll get my favourite seat at the dining table and be able to gaze out at the sea.

The lounge - should take care of your entertainment needs. Our flat screen TV and satellite offer a mix of local, world and UK TV channels. Have a favourite movie or perhaps a new one from the airport? Our DVD plays UK region. Love radio? Access a wide range of stations again via satellite. Bring your iPod or MP3 to share your love of music . Two air conditioning units take care of the lounge, dining and kitchen space.

Internet - I've spoken a lot about what we have – sadly we lack an internet connection, we'd love to have one but it simply hasn't happened yet in Maroni. Internet cafés in Larnaca and Limassol have broadband, so if like me you need to access the web almost as often as you need good coffee both cities are about twenty five minutes away, take your pick.

Connection essential - if so, it is possible to have a slow speed XP compliant connection (Vista will not work, I've tried it) talk to me, we could probably arrange something. A phone line is available.

The washing machine - is in the flat. Did I mention the flat? OK here goes, as well as its own well equipped kitchen, the flat offers a further 1 / 2 bedrooms and has a great wet room. You can choose to be self contained or use this space as an annexe to the house. The flat makes an ideal base if you find coping with stairs a challenge. There's a gently climbing path up to the poolside area and house - lovingly named 'The Yellow Brick Road' - I'm sure you get the idea!

Our gardens - are just getting established and we have planted a variety of Mediterranean plants, shrubs and trees. Our orchard though had a significant head start - established five years ago we now have fifty or so olives trees, a dozen or so pomegranate, two fig trees one black, one green, and some guava and loquat trees. We plan further planting including citrus trees. In the photo gallery there are photos of the young olives. Why not take some photos, come back and visit again next year and see how quickly things grow!

Getting here – as a preference I'd fly into Larnaca, its the closest airport, but far enough away not to be constantly bothered by aircraft landing and taking off, a twenty five minutes sedate drive by car will see you here. If you can only get a flight to Paphos it will be about an hour drive to get here but you will see the sights (or should that be sites) of Limassol en route! If you wish to be collected from the airport please let me know, our friends and local agents can arrange this at cost.

Garage parking - space for two cars on the lower ground floor.

Car hire - you can arrange an airport collection and return. If you would like a quotation let me know, we may be able to obtain a discount.

In Cyprus as in the UK, drive on the left.

Golf – get in touch if you would like to know more about Golf courses in Cyprus. Flying lessons, Parachuting, Scuba Diving, Fishing trips, Yacht charter, 4x4 exploration – think of something you would like to do when you've done relaxing – Villa Carpe Diem is a great base for exploration and quiet enquiry.

Bag a flight and call now to arrange your booking – I look forward to hearing from you Andy – 07989 419742 (UK Mobile) Remember this is a 'first come first served offer' up to 35% off competitor rates, don't delay!

Maroni News - find out more about Maroni and the surrounding area by checking out this invaluable source of local news and information.

If your group would like to have the use of the flat please call to discuss.

Availability calendar - check availability, enquire and make your booking here.

Availability chart data provided by Holiday-Rentals.co.uk