When those who visit from abroad ask me why I like living here (often after they have stated their outrage at supermarket prices and exclaimed that they could ‘never live out here’), my reply isn’t the typical one about the weather. Nor is it about the more relaxed pace of life, or the fresh produce, or the safety-element. For me, it’s about a real sense of community.
I find that community in Larnaca can be split into two; the locals who have their close-knit families nearby, and the ‘foreigners’ who have forged their own families through the activities and groups available. I am fortunate enough to benefit from both!
For the locals, the lovely tradition of leaving work at lunchtime and going to mum’s or yiayia’s house for lunch still prevails, as does the common practise of the grandparents looking after the children whilst the parents work. Sunday is still a family day, and many locals (like me) still have keys to the family home where they let themselves in and out as they please, or just use the back door. I wouldn’t change this for the world and couldn’t give a stuff if our supermarket prices on imported goods are so crippling that it keeps those who prefer to eat out of packets where they are! As far as I am concerned, we eat perfectly well – and economically - with real, fresh food, and I think it is quite logical that imported brands would cost more… just don’t buy them!
The second ‘family’ I am part of is the community-family, created by those who have chosen Cyprus as their home. The very fact that these people have left behind families of their own to be here, out of the entire vast world of countries they could have chosen, should show those who are negative about the island (and our food prices) that it can’t be that bad out here.
I was fortunate enough to become part of this community after I became a stay-at-home mum. I was amazed at the amount of groups, activities and support there is for Anglo-speakers and how the people that are part of this world have really bonded and formed a community of their own. It’s a new kind of family for those who don’t have theirs here, and during hard times, I have witnessed everyone rally round. In one case, a lady was left with a child and no money when her partner walked out on her and that winter, her community-family provided her with firewood, clothing and food. I cannot believe that this would happen in many countries, it certainly wouldn’t if she had been back in the UK.
It is this sense of community – made up of both kinds of family; blood and created – that separates us from other European countries in similar situations and gives me the hope that we will pull through the crisis better than they. You only have to read my article on the recent donations in these pages to feel as proud as I do of the people of Larnaca – one big family.
Theatre
Today, 4pm. Alice’s Wonderland by Little Muse
Theatre. Written by Catherine Beger and directed by Torkild Lindebjerg. Theatre
Scala. Admission adults €7, children €5.
Music
Today. Chris Andre and Echo (rock and blues duo)
perform at the Lithos Bar, Oroklini. Admission €10 including buffet. Details: 99790678
Fiesta Sunday, 11am – 5pm. Pet Fiesta for the protection and welfare of
animals. Classic car exhibition, stalls, music, bouncy castle, face painting,
advice on pet care. Organised by the Larnaca-Famagusta Association for the
Protection of Animals and Birds and the Cyprus Classic Cars Club. Europe
Square, Phoinikoudes promenade. Admission free.
Remembrance
Sunday, Sunday 12.30pm onwards. With Carl, live
sing-a-long music in the afternoon, plus the UKCA’s very own ‘The Slapper Tappers’.
DIY BBQs available or bring your own picnic, or hot food from GI’s. UKCA Val:
99743388 / Gerry: 99908999.
Theatre Sunday, 10.30am. Children’s (Greek) theatre ‘Bouki Boo, The Elf of
the Forest’. Performed by The Children's
stage of Skala Theater, written by the educator Eleni Artemiou Photiadou and
directed by Monica Meleki. Skala Theater.
Dance Sunday 10 – 11am.
Musical Sundays. ‘Nostos Pissouriou’ Cultural Association. Programme with
traditional Cypriot and Greek dances. Organised by the CTO. Seafront stage,
Phoinikoudes promenade. Admission free.
Exercise Wednesday,
10.30am – 11.15am. Mama & Me, mother and baby exercise class. Wow Action
Park. €5 for the class or €8 for the class, tea/coffee and the play area.
Angela: 97610998.
Music/Dance Wednesday,
8.30pm. Zenon Serenaders Group ‘How Sweet to be Loved’. Evening of music and
dance as part of the Fortnight of Larnaka Amateurs Artistic Creation.
Participating: Cultural Society of the Staff of EAC Larnaka-Famagusta-Dhekelia,
Musical direction: Daniel Sabotinov, Choreography: Giorgos Theodoulou.
Municipal Theatre. Admission free.
Exhibition all week. ‘The
Byzantine Architecture of Cyprus’ drawings and watercolours by architect
Andreas Philippou, alongside a watercolour exhibition ‘The Destruction of the
Cyprus Landscape’ with 122 rare specimens of our architectural heritage within
the landscape of Cyprus – all left to time’s mercy. Kypriaki Gonia Gallery, 45
Stadiou Street.
Exhibition all week. Fine
arts exhibition “Not a single day without a line”
Organised
by the Larnaka Municipality and the Cyprus Chamber of Fine Arts
(Larnaka-Famagusta). Municipal Gallery. Admission free.
Keep Paula updated with News & Events : paulamanoli@hotmail.com
