This morning, Silver Moon is docked in the port of Limassol, Cyprus. Limassol is a major commercial port and cruise ship port-of-call. It is an important wine-making center as well. This is our first visit to the island of Cyprus. After my morning blogging duties are complete, Rickee and I chose to do some souvenir shopping in Limassol. Silversea provides a complimentary shuttle service to/from the port to the center of the city. A schedule is posted at the Shore Excursion desk.

After disembarking the ship, we were immediately struck by the heat and humidity here as we walked to the modern cruise terminal building.

After exiting the cruise terminal, we found the Silversea shuttle bus waiting with air conditioning running, thank goodness!

The shuttle ride takes about 15 minutes through some busy traffic in Limassol. We are dropped off within walking distance of the Old Town shopping district. However, it is about a 15-minute walk from the shuttle stop. We had no idea where we were going, we just started following some other guests who looked like they knew where they were headed. Soon, we began seeing signs along the way that direct pedestrians to the Old Town area.

The shopping district is a pedestrian street lined with shops, many of which are closed on our visit. There were, however, several souvenir shops open. We went into the first one we came across which was very large, air conditioned and had a nice variety of souvenirs. We also purchased postcards and stamps here. The very nice lady running the shop told us how to get to the post office, which is just a a couple of blocks from the shop. She even offered us candy while we shopped! I should also mention that the prices here were very reasonable. I purchased six coasters for only 5€, and a refrigerator magnet for 1.95€.

We went to another souvenir shop across the street and as soon as we entered, the clerk asked me for my “green pass”, to which I replied “huh?” She said “do you have your safe pass?” I had no idea what she was referring to. Then, I remembered that Silversea told us to always carry a copy of our vaccination certificates with us. I showed that to her and, apparently, that was what she wanted to see. So, if you are traveling to Europe, make sure to carry a photocopy of your vaccination certificate.

After our souvenir shopping, we returned to Silver Moon where it is now time for lunch. I was in the mood for a burger, but did not want to sit out on the pool deck at The Grill. So, I suggested we have lunch in Atlantide on Deck 4.

I was surprised that there was no burger on the menu at Atlantide, sort of like an “always available” option. But, when I told the waiter that I wanted a cheeseburger, he said “no problem, we will bring one down to you from The Grill”. You just can’t beat the service on Silversea. No matter what you ask for, they will get it if they can.

At 3:30pm, we joined a group of other media professionals for another S.A.L.T. excursion titled The History of Wine in Cyprus. We boarded the air conditioned coach for the 45-minute drive into the hillsides of Cyprus. Our destination, the Oenou Yi – Ktima Vassiliades winery.

Without question, this was the most beautiful winery we have ever visited. And, I should say that we have visited quite a lot of them all over the world.

We had the opportunity to meet the resident winemaker and she took us on a tour of the facility, including a visit to the barrel room where the wines are stored and aged.

After our tour of the production facilities, we had the most amazing wine tasting with the best charcuterie and cheese selection I think I have ever had. We tasted four different wines. Of the four, the first and the last were my favorites, but we are not wine connoisseurs, as were some in our group.

After our wine tasting, we boarded the coach again for a short ride to an area where we walked down cobblestone streets to visit an ancient wine press in a building from the 15th century.

Another short walk brings us to a shop where they make an interesting snack from almonds dipped in a caramel-like mixture. The caramel mixture is heated and stirred while the almonds, which have been threaded onto a long string, get dipped repeatedly into the mixture. This creates a thick coating of the “caramel” surrounding the almond in a slightly sweet, soft candy. I am using the term “caramel” loosely. This is not like the caramel we are used to. It was not really to my liking, but many in the group took a cup of the product back to the ship with them!

Tables were set up right in the street where the candy was being made so that everyone could sit and enjoy a tasting of the product.

Another short walk and we arrive at Taverna Ambelothea for our evening meal. The beautiful outdoor patio was the perfect spot for a Greek/Cypriot meal.

As soon as we were seated, our plates were being filled with a huge variety of Greek/Cypriot delicacies. There were meatballs, pork, a dish that was like Lasagna but with macaroni noodles. There were so many different items coming so fast I could not keep up with the photos. It was truly a feast! The delicious salad below was served with no dressing, just a bottle of olive oil was all that was needed. The tomatoes are incredible here.

We spent the evening eating, drinking Cypriot wine and enjoying incredible conversation, all while learning the customs and cuisine of another culture. Isn’t that what travel is all about? Without question, this S.A.L.T. excursion is well worth the $259/pp. price tag. Just book it!

We returned to Silver Moon around 9:30pm after a long, but enriching day in Cyprus.