X
news
Looking for Mural Art in Pafos
31/01/2019
Artists in Pafos have long decorated the surfaces of structures—think of the mosaic floors of Roman villas, the wall paintings in the Tombs of the Kings, or the frescoed ceilings in the monastery of Agios Neofytos. Take a walk around Pafos today, and you’ll see that this practice continues with an especially urban aesthetic. You might start near the cluster of coffee shops on Poseidonos Avenue, where a pedestrian pathway is lined by a concrete wall painted with over a dozen recent works. The heaviest concentration of contemporary street art, though, is found near Kennedy Square in the Old Town section. Stand in the square and look high above the Attikon arts complex to see a woman floating with a sea creature. Walk just a block toward the municipal market and find a car park ringed with images of an astronaut, a robotic hand, and other creatures; the collection includes a figurative work by Christos Avraam and a stencil of a peasant parking his donkey by Charis Christoforou, both noted Cypriot artists. Wander by the shops and cafes of the pedestrian zone and you’ll continue to be visually rewarded. Can you find the mural of a heavily bearded barber by Greek street artist/skateboarder Billy Gee? (Hint: It’s just around the corner from a shop that declares “Hippies Always Welcome” on its window). How about the work of cementography hanging on a wall nearby? Keep looking—there’s another mural just around the corner.
It’s Time to Get a Fitness Plan
18/01/2019
It’s a common resolution for the New Year: a vow to lose weight and get fit. When starting a new fitness regime, you need to define your goals and create a plan to achieve them. At Almyraspa, we offer two programmes specifically designed to set your new exercise routine on a solid footing. The Three-Day Lose Weight and Get Fit package avails you of three 90-minute sessions with a personal trainer. On the first day, spend 30 minutes discussing your weight loss goals before undertaking a 60-minute outdoor sweat and stretch session. The second day starts with a 30-minute discussion of nutrition followed by 60 minutes devoted to burning fat and toning the core. On the final day, you and your trainer will examine your fitness beliefs in a 30-minute talk before concluding with 60 minutes of high intensity interval training. You will emerge with a focused plan and the techniques to carry it out. We also offer an extended Six-Day Lose Weight and Get Fit package for those seeking to discover more exercise techniques. In addition to the sessions of the three-day package, this package includes consultations on fitness, positivity, and exercise along with a five-kilometre run on the coastal path, a five-kilometre interval run, and a 60-minute total body workout. Having completed 90-minute training sessions six days in a row, you’ll be well on your way to fitness. The packages are available for anyone over sixteen years of age. So why not follow through on that resolution? We’re here to help you get started.
Almyra Introduces Cultural Programmes in Russian
09/01/2019
Almyra now offers cultural programmes in the Russian language. For this year’s celebration of the Russian Orthodox Christmas, for example, the Mirror Theatre Project presented two storytelling events for children featuring the folk characters Father Frost (Rus Santa) and his granddaughter Snegurochka. In ‘Father Frost, Help Me!’ kids ages 2 to 5 helped little but brave Piglet save the holiday after naughty Duduka stole presents from Father Frost. Kids ages 5 to 12 faced a different challenge in ‘The Magic of New Year’: Agent Gluck from a faraway galaxy tried to destroy the holiday! Fortunately, the kids prevailed and the holiday survived. The next Russian language cultural event takes place on Friday, 11 January: ‘Grace Kelly Movie Night with Evgenia Mamedova’. A seven-year resident of Cyprus, Evgenia has given several biographical programmes in Limassol focusing on celebrities such as Annie Leibovitz, Maya Plisetskaya, Dalida, and Frank Sinatra. Gather in Aeras at 18:00 for a welcome cocktail; participants are encouraged to arrive costumed like Grace Kelly and to discuss their outfits with each other. At 19:00, Evgenia will give a behind-the-scenes lecture about the tumultuous life of Grace Kelly, ranging from her early life to her film career to her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Then the group will be treated to a screening of the controversial 2014 film ‘Grace of Monaco’ starring Nicole Kidman (screening time 103 minutes). Afterwards, Evgenia will lead the group in a discussion of the film. It is a great way to connect with Russian language speakers in the area.
Присоединяйтесь к нам.
Some Variations on the Mimosa Theme
21/12/2018
Sometimes when you’re onto a good thing, you just have to run with it. Consider the Mimosa, that staple of the brunch menu. Its recipe is simple: mix equal measures of champagne and orange juice and garnish with an orange twist. The fizzy buoyancy of the champagne and the tangy sweetness of the orange juice combine for a light and refreshing midday drink. This winning formula prompted our mixologists to experiment with other complements for the champagne. The simplest variations use other fruits—champagne and fresh mango purée, champagne and homemade tangerine sorbet, or champagne with pineapple purée and fresh lime juice. And then there are options for mixing in berries, nuts, and herbs (blackberry purée, mint, and fresh blackberries; combined purée of pineapple and coconut). The use of other spirits can produce a Mimosa with a distinctive kick. The Paloma Mimosa, for example, includes tequila and grenadine along with lime and grapefruit juices. The Mediterranean liqueur mastiha makes an appearance with fresh mint leaves in the Mastihosa. And for a distinctly autumnal sensation, try the Apple Caramel Mimosa: We combine the bubbly with caramel vodka and apple cider and coat the rim with cinnamon and caramel. All of these combinations are found on the Mimosas Cocktail Menu offered at Almyra’s brunch. Listen to chill music from DJ Aris, let the kids have fun in the adjoining playroom, and enjoy a relaxing meal. It all happens from 10:00 to 14:00 on Sundays.
Top Five Ways to Get Kids into the Holiday Spirit
20/12/2018
During the busy festive season, it’s important to keep kids engaged with holiday activities organised especially for them. Almyra’s Kids’ Club shares its top recommendations for getting kids into the holiday spirit:

1. Christmas Crafts: Kids can unleash their creativity using crayons, scissors, paste, paper, and fabric. Make any number of objects, from holiday cards to Christmas stockings to tree ornaments.
2. A Visit with Santa: Nothing captivates a child’s imagination like a visit with Santa Claus. A chance to sit on Santa’s lap and share Christmas wishes is a cherished opportunity. And Santa’s vibrant ‘Ho Ho Ho’ is bound to make any kid merry.
3. Fireside Fun: During the chilly winter season, there is nothing like a roaring fire in the fireplace to warm both body and spirit. Kids can participate by roasting marshmallows and chestnuts at the hearth.
4. Storytelling: Listening to a grown-up read Christmas stories or ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ can be an enchanting experience. Similarly, holiday movies like ‘Elf’ provide fun entertainment for all the family.
5. Christmas Biscuit Decoration: Once the biscuits have cooled from the oven’s heat, it is time to decorate them. Kids can add coloured icing and sprinkles to make each biscuit one of a kind.

The Kids’ Club offers a daily kids’ activity throughout the festive season—including variations on the top five and more! Click here [link to holiday brochure] to see the full schedule of events.
Spice Up Your Holiday Cocktails
14/12/2018
One way to enjoy the holidays is to enhance your favourite cocktails with seasonal ingredients. A shot of peppermint schnapps, for example, adds holiday flare to a mug of hot chocolate. The inclusion of winter berries also gives a nod to the season. The Sea Breeze, for example, is typically thought of as a summer concoction of vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice served over ice with a lime wedge for garnish. Almyra’s Winter Sea Breeze substitutes tonic water for cranberry juice, yet it includes fresh cranberries as well as pomegranate seeds and mint: the result is a slightly more astringent taste suitable to cooler climes. The classic Martini cocktail is a mixture of gin with vermouth garnished with olives or a lemon twist. Mixologists have developed endless variations on the drink in recent years—so why not try one specifically invented for the holidays? Almyra offers the Santa Hat Martini. It evokes holiday biscuits with a base of Absolut Vanilla Vodka (which gives hints of butterscotch and dark chocolate in addition to its distinctive vanilla flavouring); Malibu Rum adds a warm, buttery taste with tropical coconut overtones. Santa’s hat receives its red colouring from cranberry juice, while its fringe is suggested by a garnish of grated coconut on the rim. Try it and you’ll be tipping your hat to the bartender! Are you looking for more inspiration? Stop by the bar in Almyra’s Lobby and sample these and other offerings from our Festive Cocktail Menu.