Cyprus-Forum.com

[cyprusgrump]

How many places did you see tumbling off the cliff and into the sea while you were here?

[simonwjones]

All of them!

[Oneness]

I seriously hope they dont spoil the bathing areas by putting the marina too close to the beach as is done at most hotels in Cyprus. Why cant they do something like in Larnaca or for that matter, Cannes in France and build a proper marina away from the better bathing areas. Is it any coincidence that at Polis you are surrounded by little fish in clear waters while in Limassol it is quite different? It would be more sense if it would be built in a neighbouring bay to Pissouri.

For me, in Pissouri, more important issues include the poor quality of the sand / stone on the beach ; the excessive dust from the barren calcium hills ; the lack of quality housing and shopping facilities in the village.

[bungle]

I stayed at The Columbia Bay Hotel in Nov 05 and was told by a member of staff that there were plans to build a marina next to the beach resort complex.

There was a restaurant called Monty's Beach which Columbia Bay purchased for ??Millions in Nov and that's where they plan to build the marina.

I returned a few weekends ago and heard the same thing from another staff member.

I am saddened that there are so many new villas / apartments being built in this area. I bet in 10 years time it will be unrecognisable

[simonwjones]

Cheers bungle!!!!!!!!

[Niki]

Pissouri has always sounded really appealing to me through it's friendliness and community spirit after speaking to people who know the area. I (with family) are visting beginning August to look around and we are potentially thinking about moving there next year.

Although I have never been there I would like to get my own perspective. I am sure Pissouri is more commercial than it used to be and the beaches are not the best on the island but I believe from things I have heard it has held on to it's core community which is more important. A good and friendly local restaurant is better than a high class indifferent restaurant to me. The same with the residents and shops. Also, I imagine if you get to know the right people you can avoid the dodgy builders and make informed choices about your future home. I may be wrong but I am hoping Pissouri is like this - please tell me if I'm wrong.

A marina would be great but there are many others nearby.

Niki

[simonwjones]

Hi Niki2410

I visited Pissouri last week and love the place. I have heard the beach isn't the best but I haven't heard that bad reports about it either.

Their is more to Pissouri than just a beach anyway. The village life is fantastic and the square, to me, is what Cyprus is all about. Their is definatley a community feel to the place. Pissouri is very laid back. If you want all action then this isnt the place.

I have just reserved an apartment there which should be built Nov 2007.

Can't wait!!!!

[andri_cy]

Why is it going to take that long for it to be built? Did you have to put a bunch of money down?
What if you dont like the final product...

[Niki]

Thanks Simon

I am really looking forward to being in Pissouri - it sunds ideal for us.

Niki

[Oneness]

I am being critical, in a friendly spirit, of Pissouri because I like the place and I think its a place that has potential to set standards for toursim in Cyprus. For a government that claims to want to attract quality toursim what is it doing in practical terms in a place like Pissouri?

Sure, there may be some deluxe hotels, some nice new houses in the resort and outside the village and a growing tight knit community. Yes the square does have a nice village feel but are the few tiny shops in the square really sufficient enough to cater for and to attract the mostly middle class people moving to the resort?

The high buidling density at the beach is also quite a problem. Its not that its any different to most places but you would think they might have learnt from the mistakes of other places. Sure, the Columbia hotels are excellent but when you look at them with an aerial view they look like an concrete mass whereas the Anassa, a hotel of similar quality, looks quite like a pictureque Italian landscape with lots of green space. A private marina right next door would not do much for appearance of the Pissouri.

Many from the baby boom generation look to retire over the next few years. The government is right that do not see is that golf courses and marinas will help attract quality tourism but another thing is also so important - space. Wide roads lined with trees ; a decent sized green lawn for every villa or low rise apartment building. People who want to "get away from it all" do not really want concrete breathing down their necks. These things should be regulated. There is enough space in Pissouri and in Cyprus.Only a small percentage of Cyprus is actually developoed and there are loads of empty plots peppered between developments in most tourism areas. Hopefully, Pissouri will at least get some green communal areas.

At the moment, there are two distinct residential areas - the tourist resort area and the poorer village area which generally consists of small quite dated cement buildings. Im wondering where are the facilities for the new quality tourist housing.Unfortunately, most of the shopping facilities for residents are located in the village which is located on quite steep slopes quite a distance from the main tourist area. Do retired people really prefer to manouveur these hills by car to stepping across the road by foot? The resort is growing and, hopefully, shopping and other facilities will develop as more people reside permanently there.