Elevation, Staycation

Summers are not just about travelling abroad and going on holiday. They are about a longed awaited rest. A chunk of time allocated for a well-deserved break; from the monotonous routine of a fast paced life. Whether we have children or not only we know what we go through and how tired we are. Vacationing is seen as a medicinal necessity, especially during the summer months. Going on holiday – having a change of scenery helps us re charge our batteries leaving us with a healthy mind, body and spirit but If you haven’t got around to making summer vacation plans, or it’s just not on the cards this year, having a summer staycation might be well worth considering.

A staycation is like a vacation, only you spend it at home. Instead of spending lots of money on airfare and expensive hotels, you can take advantage of the attractions your town has to offer that you never get a chance to enjoy. This includes your house – when was the last time you relaxed at home? Find the beauty in the small moments. Find joy in your hometown. Celebrate simple, experiences and never forget that the best things in life are free. Soak in the sun and splash in the sea, even if it’s not nominated for one of the top ten beaches in the world, or simply play around spraying the backyard hose instead of in the sea if you are not near a coast. Go on hikes, have picnics, organize camp fires with marshmallows, sing songs, have out door movie nights with all the trimmings. Walk, explore, eat, sing, and, above all, celebrate life, no matter where that is. Make the most of what your town has to offer, after all others pay to come and visit it! Don’t forget we are responsible for making our lives richer, happier and to fill it with experiences.

SET SOME GROUND RULES

The point of a Staycation is to make it feel as much like a real family getaway as possible, while staying at home. It is good to start with some ground rules that everyone can agree on to make sure the whole family is on the same page. Start with deciding exactly when your staycation starts and ends, and then set a few ground rules for what your family may and may not do during this time. These could include all or some of the following:

• No smart phone
• No email
• No computer or video games
• No television
• No working from home
• No worrying
• No fighting
• Family time only—no independent activities or outside plans
• No cooking
• No cleaning
• No laundry

PLAN YOUR FUN!

Just like a real vacation, the more you plan for fun, the more successful your staycation is likely to be. Start by setting a reasonable, realistic budget for your week of fun at home. Set some money aside for activities, eating out. Be creative! Visit a zoo or aquarium (non-existent in CY), go to the theatre, try paintballing, go bowling, camp in your garden, do arts and crafts at home with the family, enjoy long walks, take a virtual museum tour (do that anyway). A thinking and doing list can be endless!

We are envied by many for having the opportunity to live in Cyprus but as with most places it has its pros and cons, but truth be said the greatest advantage is that there is no need to travel to get that ‘summer holiday’ buzz. There are lots of things to do here while on your staycation even if there is a lack of cultural entertainment.

Here is my mini list to get the ball rolling:

Limassol’s beach bars, old port, Marina and old town have lots to offer both day and night.

Go to Caledonia Falls, Platres – enjoy long walks surrounded by forest to cool off during the summer.

Visit kykkos Monastery located in the mountainous region of Marathasa Valley, it is the wealthiest and most lavish on the island, and stands on a mountain peak. Or my favourite one, Panayia Amyrou Monastery located in Apsiou Village.