The Radisson Blu Larnaka International Marathon is twinned with the Rhodes Marathon which caught my attention because I ran the Rhodes 10k in 2017. The AIMS website where I learned about the Radisson Blu Larnaka International Marathon lists international running events around the world. 10,000 runners participated from 40 countries.
Distances included the Full-Marathon, Half-Marathon road (21.095 km),10km, 5km-Corporate, 5km- individual, McDonald’s Kids Race 1km, and RMHC Fun Race 1km for adults.
I ran the 5km- individual and finished 1/1 in the women’s 60-64 age group.
Cyprus Bus
Cyprus bus 425 from the airport drops you off at the Piyiale round-about which is within walking distance of hotels on Mackenzie Beach. The Central bus station is within walking distance of hotels closer to Central Larnaca and Finikoudes Beach. The fare is 1.5 euros. There is an information desk at the airport.
“Scala – Its Craftsmen” Walk
The guided “Scala – Its Craftsmen” Walk begins at the Medieval Larnaka Castle, at the end of the Palm Trees Promenade, every Friday at 10:00 AM. It explores the Scala area including stops at artisan workshops and ceramic artists.
The docent on the walking tour gave a brief overview of the conflict between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots. It has parallels to the Palestinian conflict in that both Turkish and Greek Cypriots lost their homes when they were forced to relocate. Our guide seemed to think at some point Cyprus would become an independent country not controlled by Turkey or Greece. There is no armed conflict going on right now and you can actually take a tour of the Turkish Cypriot side of the “green line” a United Nations-controlled buffer zone. One of the artisans described Cyprus as a country “under occupation” and in fact, Cyprus is divided into two regions the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus recognized only by Turkey, and the Republic of Cyprus.
Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque & Feral Cat Colony
There are currently about sixty feral cats at the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque down from about 300. Friends of Larnaca Cats feed the cats and pay the vet bills. Hala Sultan Tekke is walkable from the town of Larnaca. Follow the Artemidos Highway towards the Larnaca Airport on the pathway along the Larnaca Salt Lake to the Tekke Road turn-off. It’s about 5km or 3.3 miles from the Medieval Fort.
The cats are friendly, in fact so friendly, that when I sat down to scroll through the images on my camera two of them jumped into my lap.
Places to Eat
Militzis Traditional Tavern
Piale pasha 42, Larnaca 6029 Cyprus
+357 24 655867
Greek Kleftika is beef and potatoes cooked in a well-sealed traditional clay oven. Delicious. I ate there two nights in a row.
Lazaris BakeryBar
Coffee and cinnamon raisin buns
Register for the 2021 Radisson Blu Larnaka International Marathon
_____Susan M Hall is an American long-distance runner with a goal to run a 10k in all 193 UN recognized countries plus the two permanent non-member observer states of Palestine & the Holy See.
On her radar are the Košice Peace Half Marathon ☮️ Kosice, Slovakia, the Istanbul 15k 🇹🇷, Istanbul, Turkey the Beirut Half Marathon, Beirut, Lebanon, the Pyramids Half Marathon, Giza, Egypt & the Quantum Nicosia Half Marathon, Nicosia, Cyprus.