Cyprus Was Never the Plan. Now It’s Home

If you had asked me a few years ago if I saw myself living in Cyprus, I probably would have laughed.

The truth is, the idea wasn’t mine at all. Many years ago Roman, my partner, suggested that we move to Cyprus, and I dismissed the idea almost immediately. For me, there were so many other countries in Europe that seemed much more interesting. I dreamed of Spain, Portugal, Italy, and places with more culture, cuisine, big cities, and endless things to do.

Cyprus, in my mind, was a nice place for a vacation. A few days of sea, a good hotel, and sunshine, but not a place where you build a life.

But life changes, and so do we.

After we got married, Roman and I did something that wasn’t very typical for us at that time. We left our jobs, bought one-way tickets to Thailand, and set off on a long journey through Asia.

For months, we traveled through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and India. It was actually when we decided to stop for two months in an apartment in India, without moving from place to place every few days, that I started my travel blog.

At first, it was just a hobby. A place where I shared itineraries and experiences from our trip. I never imagined that over the years it would become my business and the profession I love so much.

After we came back, life continued to develop. Maya was born, COVID arrived, and the dream of living in another country always stayed somewhere in the background. But then we became parents. And suddenly, I started looking at moving to another country in a completely different way.

Before having children, maybe I would have looked for a place with more excitement, more places to travel, more restaurants, and more cultural life.

But with a young baby, I started thinking about completely different things. I wanted a safe and peaceful place, with pleasant weather, a place where we would enjoy raising children and where we could create a better quality of life for ourselves.

When we started seriously exploring our options, we had several clear criteria. We wanted a destination that was relatively close so we could visit family and they could visit us. We wanted warm weather because we are really not winter people, and we wanted a place that would allow us to continue working as self-employed people.

After considering different options in Europe, we realized that Cyprus was exactly the right fit for us at this stage of life. Looking back today, I think it was a very good decision.

If we didn’t have children, or if our children had been older, we might not have chosen Cyprus specifically. At the end of the day, it is a small island. There aren’t endless possibilities like in larger European countries, and in some areas, it is still less developed. But with young children, its advantages became much more significant.

We chose to live in Limassol because we felt it was the city that suited us best. It is the most modern city in Cyprus, with a large international community, many business owners, high-tech professionals, and entrepreneurs. It combines urban life with the sea and a relaxed atmosphere.

We are city people. We love cafés, restaurants, and being close to things happening around us, but at the same time, we wanted a place that didn’t feel crowded or stressful. Limassol gave us exactly that balance.

The week before our flight was very stressful. We had to sell all our furniture, close bank accounts, cancel different services like internet, return our leased car, pack our entire lives, say goodbye to family and friends, and also try to entertain a little girl who didn’t really understand why her home was suddenly changing.

There were so many small arrangements to think about, from transportation to the airport to arranging a ride that would pick us up when we arrived in Limassol.

The day of the flight itself was very emotional.

On one hand, there was huge excitement about starting a new chapter, but on the other hand, it was very sad to say goodbye to our family. It was difficult for them to say goodbye to us as well.

That was exactly why it was important for us to choose a place like Cyprus. We knew it wasn’t a move to the other side of the world. You could get on a short flight and come visit us, even just for a weekend.

We flew with five suitcases, two carry-ons, a stroller, a car seat, and two bicycles taken apart and packed inside huge boxes. We booked a large van with a trailer in advance to pick us up upon arrival because of all the luggage, and luckily, everything went smoothly.

When we arrived in Limassol, we moved into the apartment we had rented in advance. It was a place that truly felt like a fresh start. A penthouse with two balconies, a swimming pool in the building, and about 200 meters from the sea.

One of the things that made the move much easier for us was that the apartment was fully furnished. We only needed to bring personal belongings, towels, and bedding, and we didn’t have to start dealing with buying furniture and appliances. In Cyprus, many rental apartments come fully furnished, and it is something I highly recommend to anyone moving here.

The first few months were a period of adjustment. Slowly, we started building our own routine.

The biggest challenge at the beginning was finding a suitable framework for Maya. We moved her between three different kindergartens until we found the perfect one for her. Very quickly, we saw that she was adapting well, and we were very happy with our choice.

More than five years have passed since then.

When I look back at the journey we have been through, I realize how much our lives have changed since that day when we landed here with five suitcases and a little girl. Cyprus became much more than just a temporary home.

This is where our family continued to grow. This is where I gave birth to Sophie, and two months ago, also to Benji. There is something very special about raising children in another country, especially when they grow up surrounded by the local culture and the life we have built here.

After a few years of getting to know the local market more deeply, we also entered the real estate field in Cyprus and made several investments. It was something we never imagined doing when we first arrived, but after living in a country for several years, getting to know the different areas, and seeing how the place develops, you also begin to understand the opportunities that exist here.

And of course, Cyprus itself has changed a lot.

Five years ago, prices here were completely different. Since then, the island has gone through significant changes. Many people from around the world have moved here, new businesses have opened, different areas have developed, and demand has increased significantly.

On one hand, this has made Cyprus much more interesting and developed. Today there are more restaurants, cafés, entertainment options, and services that didn’t exist before. On the other hand, it also means that prices have risen significantly, especially housing and rental prices, and even areas such as private education have become more expensive.

One of the things that makes me happiest recently is that we moved back to live near the sea. After two and a half years living in the city center, we realized how much the sea is a meaningful part of our lifestyle. Especially now, with a new baby at home, living near the sea has made my maternity leave much calmer and more enjoyable.

We have a hotel membership, and it has become part of our lifestyle. On weekends, we can go with the kids to the pool, have lunch at the hotel, and spend an entire day there without having to plan too much.

Maybe that is one of the reasons Cyprus suits us so well. It allows us to enjoy the little things and feel like we are living at a different pace. It is not perfect, and it is not the right place for everyone. But for us, at this stage of life, it has given us exactly what we were looking for.

It turns out that sometimes the place you least expected becomes the place you call home.