Συχνές Ερωτήσεις
ABOUT CYPRUS
Q. What language do they speak in Cyprus?
A. Greek is the population’s mother tongue but with the strong influence Britain has exerted on the island’s history, English is widely spoken and understood. Knowledge of French, Russian and German is increasing with the island’s tourist trade.
Q. Is Cyprus now a full member of the European Union?
A. The first phase of the agreement was implemented on 1st January 1998 with the abolition of all customs duties and quantitative restrictions on trade of industrial products between the EU and Cyprus. The second phase was recently agreed and Cyprus was welcomed as a full member of the EU on May 1st 2004.
Q. What about the currency in Cyprus?
A. The European Union’s Council of Ministers has approved the entry of Cyprus into the Eurozone. European finance ministers (collectively known as Ecofin) set fixed rates of one euro to 0.585274 Cypriot pounds and euro is the official currency used in Cyprus since January 1, 2008.
The design of the Cypriot euro coins
• 1 cent, 2 cent and 5 cent: The Mouflon, the most characteristic species of fauna in Cyprus, representing the island’s nature and wildlife.
• 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent: The Kyrenia ship of 4th Century B.C., representing Cyprus’s history and its character as an island as well as its importance in trade.
• 1 and 2: The Idol of Pomos, a cross-shaped idol dating back to the Cypriot chalcolithic period (3000 B.C.), found in Pomos, a village in the district of Paphos. It is a characteristic example of prehistoric art in Cyprus, representing the island’s antiquity, culture and civilization.
Q. What voltage is used on Cyprus?
A. The voltage on the island is 240 Socket outlets of flat 3 pin-type.
Q. Which side of the road should I drive on while in Cyprus?
A. While in Cyprus you must always remember to drive on the left hand side of the road. In Cyprus, we drive on the LEFT side of the road, NOT the right.
Pedestrians must remember that traffic moves on the LEFT side of the road. Therefore you must always:
- Walk on the pavement. In case there is no pavement, walk on the right side of the road (ie. towards the oncoming traffic).
- Look both to your right and left before crossing any road. In case of an accident, call 199 immediately.