Even on a cool, cloudy day in winter, the picturesque city of Bruges is a head-turner. Quiet and comfortable, you never get the impression she’s trying to hard; a natural beauty doesn’t need much to command attention. Historic, romantic, and a storybook dream, from the top of a windmill we catch a glimpse of rooftops and twiggy trees before dashing off to savor chocolatey, sweet treats.

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On our travels, we were fortunate to find a wonderful place to stay with Theo. He was our kind and generous host, renting out a beautiful, ground floor apartment to us for our two week stopover (which we thoroughly enjoyed). He’s been kind enough to indulge us in a little Q&A, and share an insider’s look the island nation of Cyprus.

Hi! Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m Theodoros and I am a music teacher in a public secondary school in Limassol, Cyprus, and a professional flute performer. I consider myself an outgoing person, who enjoys meeting new people and discovering new places. I’m happy when travelers from abroad come to discover Cyprus, as I believe traveling brings people together, leads to better communication and ultimately, this will build a better world for tomorrow. I enjoy the arts and culture, music among them, which is also the best way humans can communicate! I enjoy relaxing by the beach and chilling with friends and loved ones.

Why Limassol? How long have you lived there?
Limassol is my home town, I’ve lived here all my life. I am part of Limassol and Limassol is part of me. We’re interconnected. It’s not just a city, it’s my home… As they say, home is where your heart is. Well, my heart is in Limassol. I love the fact the city embraces the sea, this openness to the blue, this forever changing view that looks like a live canvas. The marine colour with splashes of white in fall and spring, the dark ocean blue in winter when it’s difficult to see where the sea ends and the sky begins, the bright blue in summer when the sea mirrors the bright sun… all this with the coming and going of ships and boats…

Is it easy to get around on foot, or do you recommend a bike, car, public transportation, etc?
Walking in Limassol is easy, and it’s an ideal way to take in the beautiful seafront with the promenade. Biking is highly recommended as there is already infrastructure with cycle lanes and a bike sharing system, and improvements keep being implemented to make cycling an even better experience. Renting a car is still the best way to discover the island though, as many of the picturesque places are not easily accessible by public transportation.

How many days do you recommend visitors spend in Limassol? In Cyprus?
An ideal stay in Cyprus should be around 10 days. Even though Cyprus is a small island, there are beautiful spots and hidden gems all over the island. The most idyllic places are not easily accessible and deserve a full day excursion. Visiting all the island’s cities is also a must, as each has a distinct character, something quite amazing for such a small island. Limassol is an ideal starting base for discovering the island as it is situated in between other cities and close to the Troodos mountain range, the “green heart” of Cyprus.

Are there any “must see” things visitors can’t leave Cyprus without seeing?
There are many “must see” things, but the most important are “Petra tou Romiou”, Aphrodite’s birth place according to Greek mythology, and Ancient Kourion, an amazing archaeological site overseeing the sea.

What is your favorite restaurant right now?
Favourite restaurant is Forsos Tavern in Moutayiaka, a traditional tavern, serving Cypriot meze as they should be: local products, plentiful and tasty!

Are there any “locals only” secrets you can let us in on?
Agios Epiktitos Tavern in Amenochori for an amazing view over Limassol and Millomeris Waterfalls for an “oasis” of freshness in the mountains, even during the summer months!

Do you enjoy travel? Where have you been? Where would you like to go?
I love travelling. Seeing new places, living differently, interacting with other people with different cultures and histories, is an amazing thing. Travelling is to me a life-enriching experience. I’ve been to many European countries, both in Western and Eastern Europe, but I would love to have the opportunity to go back to the USA to see more of it, and to discover Thailand, Brazil and Australia!

Thanks so much again to Theo for answering our questions, giving us helpful insight, and for being such an amazing host during our travels. If you plan on visiting Cyprus and are looking for a great place to stay, check out his airbnb listing.

The post Interview with a Local: Theo from Cyprus appeared first on Camera & Carry On.

While staying with some great friends in Madrid, they recommended we get out of the city and explore the surrounding towns. It came down to Segovia and Toledo as their top two picks, to which the latter struck our interest most. At just over an hour away, Toledo is the ideal day tripper destination: historic, walkable, and scenic. In addition to boasting attractions (cathedral, Jewish quarter, Alcazar) in the old part of town, there are amazing views of the ancient, walled city from across the Tagus river which can be easily reached on the public bus, or if you’re like us and avoid buses whenever possible*, on foot!

[See image gallery at www.cameraandcarryon.com]

The City of Three Cultures, in reference to occupation by those of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish faiths over the years, stands tall and is entered by crossing a stone bridge and climbing an eternity of steps to reach the main plaza. After a short break to cool our burning thighs, we bee-lined it for the Santo Tomé confitería, known for its mazapan. Generally, I’m not a fan of the almond paste treats, but we were specifically told we MUST try the mazapan in Toledo; that it was much different than the similar marzipan found elsewhere in Europe. I had to give it to the Spaniards… they know a thing or two about sweets and won my taste buds over.

The remainder of our afternoon was spent meandering through cobbled streets, poking our heads in various sword shops (they’re known for high quality ‘Toledo steel’), getting lost, admiring the architecture, and indulging ourselves with lots of silly photos. Sometimes it’s more about who you’re with than where you are that makes a day special, don’t you agree? Toledo, however, proved to be a beautiful city and the perfect place to enjoy a crisp, winter day.

*Let’s just say bumpy buses and sensitivity to motion don’t always mix well. For instance, in 2012 while trying to get from Nice to Cannes, we had to make an emergency stop to get off mid-ride (someone was feeling a bit queasy). Crisis averted, and we now travel with motion sickness pills and essential oils for dabbing behind the ears. Besides, we prefer to walk… be one with our surroundings… and it doesn’t hurt that we get a good workout in, too!

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