Ultimate Coldpay in Peyia

 There’s something special about live music on a warm Cyprus evening — and for Mandy, Tania, Dawn and Kuli, their trip to Ampelones Arena in Peyia turned into one of those unforgettable nights.

The group made their way up to the venue full of anticipation, ready to experience Ultimate Coldplay, widely recognised as the world’s most accurate Coldplay tribute act. Expectations were high — and the band delivered.

From the moment the lights came up and the first notes rang out across the arena, the atmosphere was electric. Ultimate Coldplay captured not only the sound but also the energy, emotion and stadium feel that fans associate with Coldplay’s biggest performances.

As the evening unfolded, the crowd sang along to hit after hit, creating the kind of shared experience that makes live music so memorable. With impressive musicianship, incredible attention to detail and a performance full of energy, the band brought the songs to life in spectacular fashion.

For Mandy, the verdict was immediate:

“One of the best tribute acts to play in Cyprus.”

High praise indeed — but after such a terrific performance, it was easy to understand why.

Lisa and Andrew's Epic Oz Aventure

 News reached us from Australia that Rob’s cousin, Lisa, and her husband Andrew are continuing their incredible camper van adventure across one of the world’s largest and most varied countries.

Their journey began back in February in the Perth area on Australia’s west coast. Rather than rushing from place to place, they’ve taken the scenic approach — slowly making their way across this vast country, stopping in smaller towns and local communities along the way to experience parts of Australia that many travellers pass straight by.

As they travelled eastward, they reached the famous east coast and spent time visiting the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and numerous coastal towns, enjoying the changing scenery from long open roads to bustling seaside destinations.

Now the latest update is that they are heading inland once again and making the drive from Brisbane towards Alice Springs — a route that will take them deep into Australia’s rugged and iconic outback landscape. It’s a very different side of the country from the coast, with long distances, dramatic scenery and a sense of space that few places in the world can match.

Their camper van has clearly become both transport and home as they continue to explore at their own pace. We look forward to hearing more news from Lisa and Andrew as they continue this memorable Australian journey and discover what lies ahead on the road to Alice Springs.

Old RhodesTown

The following morning we deciced to revisit the Old quarter of Rhodes town. We entered via the Gate d' Ambrose, an impressive entry point into the complex.

We past through the gate with its huge, thick stone wall and impressive moat.

 Nearby, we stopped to admire the Medieval Clock Tower when an elderly local gentleman sauntered over and shared a little of its history with us.

The sheer size of the old town is remarkable, with countless narrow alleyways waiting to be explored. Among the many souvenir and tat shops, there are also some lovely stores selling genuine artistic wares and handmade items.

We wandered over to the magnificent Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, an impressive building that, at that early hour, was accompanied only by a few local cats basking in the quiet streets.

                               

Next we walked the famousThe Street of Knights , a superbly preserved cobblestone street from the 14th Century. Lined with Gothic style inns, also known as "Inns of Tongues"

Later, we stopped at a small taverna for a cooling drink beneath a huge tree in a picturesque square. It was one of those peaceful moments that perfectly captures the charm of the old town.

You could easily spend hours wandering through the narrow streets and admiring the ancient buildings, with something interesting waiting around almost every corner.

                             

  Continuing into the main square  which was very busy by now. Our final stop was at The ruins of Church of the Virgin Mary of the Burgh. 

We the exited the old town at the Panayia Gate (Virgin Mary) which has lovely views over the harbour towards the De Naillac Tower.

A Coastal walk

We decided to slow things down today after a few busy days of travelling, so we planned a leisurely walk along the eastern coastline of Rhodes Town.

The walk begins at Elli Beach which, on this particular day, looked a little scruffy with various bits of debris washed up along the shoreline. 

Despite this, the sea itself was stunning — a brilliant mix of deep blue and turquoise, sparkling brightly in the sunshine as we passed the small fishing pier.

                      

Continuing along the promenade, we came to the statue of Diagoras, the famous ancient Greek Olympic boxer from Rhodes. The statue depicts him being carried around the stadium by his sons, Damagetos and Akousilaos, after their victories in the 5th century BC.

From there we reached Akti Kanari Beach, where sun worshippers gathered to swim and soak up the warm Mediterranean sunshine. The beach is easy to spot thanks to its colourful WC building and small snack bar sitting just behind the sand.

At the far end of the beach, the path climbs onto a small rocky promontory with superb views stretching back along the coastline. The walkway is in good condition as it meanders along the cliff face, with waves crashing dramatically against the rocks below.

There was very little vegetation along the route, although a few hardy spring flowers had managed to force their way through the rocky ground. 

Along the path we also discovered a couple of shallow caves and several small religious icons tucked into the rocks.

The walk eventually ends at a tiny beach bar with just a handful of chairs perfectly positioned to look out across the sea — a peaceful spot to sit, relax, and enjoy the view.

                                 

Lindos

On another bright and breezy day, we once again made our way down to Mandraki Harbour to board the Aphrodite Queen for our trip to the village of Lindos.

The Aphrodite Queen was clearly built for speed, and she soon proved it as we zipped across the sea at an impressive pace. At times the spray swept over the sides of the boat, leaving some passengers with a refreshing soaking.

After a journey of just over an hour, we slowed as we approached a beautiful bay guarded by the ruins of an ancient Acropolis, standing high on a promontory overlooking the village of Lindos.

After disembarking via a rather rickety pier, we made our way up to the village along a footpath offering striking views across the bay below.

Lindos itself is a maze of narrow alleyways lined with whitewashed buildings, while shops and restaurants compete to tempt the many visitors exploring the village.

We spent some time wandering through the charming streets before stopping for lunch at a restaurant with an outdoor terrace, where the Acropolis provided a spectacular backdrop.

All too soon, it was time to head back down to the harbour and reboard the boat for the lively and somewhat bumpy ride back to Rhodes Town.