Episode 15 Escape to the Continent

Local legend has it that swimming around these rocks under a full moon

will make you a year younger for every lap.

As you can see, I did about 20 laps last night.

But where are these revitalising reefs?

Find out in just a moment.

After years of working six days a week and watching life drive on by,

today's buyers are eager to explore sunnier climes.

Our properties throw up moments of confusion...

This is all your villas under one roof.

-I'm confused.

-Bear with me.

..and a bit of a ruckus in the kitchen.

Excuse me! You've made it sound...

I can cook, I hasten to add.

I'm on the coast between Limassol and Paphos on the island of Cyprus.

And these limestone crags are known collectively as

the Rock of Aphrodite,

because it's said that the goddess of love and beauty was born out

of the sea foam here and carried in a sea shell

towards this very beach.

And generations of hopeless romantics, like myself,

have come to tie little handkerchiefs

to the bushes on the beach,

in the hope that the goddess will hear their prayer

and send them true love.

Not sure if it works but it's a magical gesture and all of a piece

with this island's geographical beauty

and ancient mystique.

Cyprus is situated at the eastern corner of the Med,

37 miles south of Turkey

and a 4.5 hour flight from the UK.

Once a British colony, the island is now divided between

a Turkish occupied northern territory

and Greek influenced lands to the south.

Nearly 900,000 Brits visited the island nation last year,

drawn to a romantic combination of white sand beaches, blue seas

and ancient lore and legend.

Nea Pafos, the sprawling archaeological site,

is home to the house of Dionysus,

named after the Greek god of wine,

whose story dominates the countless artworks under foot.

These intricate mosaics, undetected until stumbled upon by a farmer,

some 40 years ago,

have come to be known as some of the most beautiful in the world.

Inland is an oft-overlooked territory of rustic landscapes

with wide-ranging vistas

and hilltop communities, interspersed with Byzantine churches

and the occasional goat herd.

And, at its heart, Cyprus has its very own Mount Olympus,

a 6,000 foot-high range,

where snowy peaks contrast with

the glistening coastline below.

Snow creates this winter wonderland in the Troodos from

December to February, all just a 90 minute drive from the beach.

What about property prices on the island?

Well, over the last five years, property prices in Cyprus on average

have dropped dramatically,

with about 30% being knocked off their value.

And if you couple that with a strong pound,

now is a very good time for us to be buying here.

Though, of course, as always location is key.

If you want a seaside view, you're going to be paying above the odds.

The most popular and expensive areas, the southern coast,

with a three bedroom, semidetached house in Paphos, for example,

going at £255,000.

But you do get a lot for your money.

So much so that 60,000 Brits have

chosen to make Cyprus their home.

So let's meet today's house buyers

and find out why they want to be among their number.

Seeking a new life abroad on this island are Nicola and Louis,

from Watford in Hertfordshire,

for whom bold leaps into the unknown hold no fear.

It's a bit of a whirlwind romance.

We got engaged within six weeks

and married within ten months.

I'd had a skiing accident and

Louis' sister sent him down with a box of chocolates.

We met in November.

I'd only been out twice with her and I said,

"It's pretty obvious to me, you and me are going to end up married."

About Christmas time she started moaning to me that I hadn't actually asked.

I said, "Well, all right, then, will you marry me?"

And she said, "Yes." I said, "Well, there you are."

But their shared profession has

begun to undermine this romantic union.

I've been a driving instructor now for about 20 years.

I've been a driving instructor as well

for about 14 years.

We literally only have, probably, one day when we've got time together

because, when you're self-employed,

you don't want to turn the business away.

And, having visited Cyprus every year for the past decade to

celebrate their wedding anniversary,

it's time to look into making the move permanent.

Over the years, I can see the stress building up on people

and over there it's a bit more laid-back.

We want to embrace the life of Cyprus.

It's got a lot of Greek tradition - the tavernas, the food.

And you can go right up into the mountains

and really feel that you are in a completely different country.

If Cyprus does indeed turn out to be the right location,

they'll still need to put their three-bed home on the market.

This hasn't stopped them dreaming about their perfect new home.

We've got to think about meeting new people over there.

So we'd like to be in an area where we're not, sort of,

secluded on our own.

We'd like a property that is fairly new,

that doesn't need a lot of work.

I'm not that great on do-it-yourself.

Well, he can do, do-it-yourself

but it just takes a bit of a long time to do it.

And, as well as having to consider the practical side of a move,

Louis' mind-set is also causing some concern.

I'm hoping that we'll have a nice long life there but

whenever we're talking about it, Louis says,

"I could get up in the morning

"and I could go to the pastry shop and we can go to the restaurant."

I keep saying to him, "It's not going to be a holiday."

I've got to obviously keep him focused and make him

realise that we are actually going there

to set up our life there.

Founded in the 12th century, Paphos will be the

focal point of our property search.

But there is scope to branch out to surrounding, popular villages,

either looking north around Peyia

and the popular village of Tala,

or south along the coastal road towards Kouklia.

I've arranged to meet our prospective buyers in the ancient

Tomb of King's,

right in the heart of Paphos' Archaeological Park.

-Hey, guys.

-Hello.

-Hello.

Kalosorisate, as they say in Greek.

-I'm learning it word by word.

-Are you?

-It means "Welcome."

Oh, right. Thank you.

-I only know "Yamas," that's cheers.

-Oh, yeah.

-Well, that's useful.

-No, I'm not very good at all.

-Not good at Greek?

-No, no.

-So what sort of lifestyle are you looking for?

Because, obviously, this is a very Brit-centric kind of island.

Are you looking to be part of that community or more Cypriot?

In reality it's probably going to be mixing more with Brits.

-I'm going to be more Greeky.

-You're going to be more Greeky?

I'm going to start mixing with the locals.

Just a bit concerned about whether Louis thinks

-it's just going to be a long holiday.

-Louis?

No, no, no. I'm... I've come here for the slowness

and the pace of life.

I don't know about Louis saying about being a big more laid-back.

-He's already laid-back. So I don't...

-You're quite relaxed now.

You are thinking about possibly working because we're hoping to

open your eyes a little bit to that.

Yes, we can both teach driving still

on the licence that we hold in the UK.

I don't know if my nerves would stand it doing it over here.

I would be quite happy doing something like villa management.

And how are you two at, sort of, deciding about houses?

We've both got the same taste really, so...

And I think it's important when I go into a house and I know

whether it would be homely.

-So you're more heart than head?

-Yeah.

Tell me about the spec of house.

What are you looking for in the house specifically?

Preferably detached,

-minimum of two, three bedrooms...

-Yeah.

..and somewhere where we could see the sea.

Any no-no's? Any things that you really don't want?

We don't want it to be overlooked.

-But we do want to be in the middle of nowhere, though, do we?

-No.

-No.

And your budget, remind us about the budget.

How much money have you got in sterling?

Well, it's going to be in the budget of

about £375,000.

Well, Watford to Paphos is quite a leap

and we've got some beautiful properties, we really have.

-So let's go.

-Right.

-Follow me.

-BOTH: Thank you.

Once taxes are factored in,

Nicola and Louis will be

looking for a property costing

no more than £350,000.

Their wish list seems refreshingly unconstrained,

yet with a focus on the feel

and little else for the guidance,

we'll have to use our nous to find

at least one property that comes up to scratch.

Over the coming days I'll be taking our buyers

to view four diverse homes

to see if they're truly ready to turn their romantic

Cypriot dream into reality.

But I'll keep the price tag a secret until the end of each tour.

And we end on our mystery property, where we mix things up with

a truly unique home, that could totally transform

Nicola and Louis' Cypriot future.

Our first property is set within the Kamares development,

just six miles north of Paphos.

The 25-year-old village was designed for luxurious practicality,

with access to an assortment of community facilities

based around a clubhouse.

Its cosiness, cocooned within Mediterranean

architecture and design.

Cypriots make up 40% of the local population,

giving a great mix of local and expat residents.

So will this combination of lodging and lifestyle be enough

to entice Nicola and Louis?

Now, usually at this point I'd say, "What you think from the outside."

But actually, what are you going to say?

-It's rather small.

-Yes, tiny.

This is actually because the house is built vertically, down the side

-of the hill to maximise the views.

-Oh, right.

So really this is effectively the porch.

-I'd be interested to see what's inside.

-Yes, please.

-Then let's look.

-Let's go.

Not too much for them to go on, thus far, but satisfied purrings

from Nicola and Louis, none the less.

The top floor of this three-storey property houses a main guest bedroom,

separate bathroom and an extra spare room,

which shares a balcony with the adjoining master bedroom.

-So it's upside down, the house.

-Right.

So this is the master.

So, you've got an en-suite next door with a bathtub.

-Any thoughts straight away?

-Yes, it's pleasant.

-Pleasant?

-That's a damning word.

-That's a nice, neutral word, isn't it?

-Louis, what do you think? You're a bit quiet.

-Me?

Well, eh, it's a bit white, isn't it?

You've got to remember all of these houses are designed

for lots of bright sunlight.

I'm wondering, how do you get up to these wardrobes, up here?

These ones?

I mean, shelves right at the top

but what do you need, a ladder to get up there?

High ceilings.

-Yeah, good in the summer when it gets hot.

-Yeah.

And also you can go out here onto the balcony.

So on a sunny day you'd step out into 40 degree heat.

It's a bit rainy today but

it's all about this, the view.

-Oh, that's lovely.

-That's a lovely view, isn't it?

That must be right over to Paphos, isn't it?

-Is it feeling like somewhere you could live.

-It doesn't wow me.

The area does and I do like this area

but not from what I've seen so far.

-This particular house?

-Mmm.

-The same for you?

-It feels too closed in.

-Well, bear all this in mind, we haven't finished yet.

-No.

-The main course, if you like, is downstairs.

-OK, then.

So let's look at that.

Hmm, not the start I'd hoped for

and, if anything, it seems that those expansive views have penalised

the house itself by emphasising a perceived lack of space.

-Now, this is nice.

-Oh, yeah.

Now this is the real living space.

-This room doesn't feel so closed in, does it?

-No, no.

Because you've got the two patio windows

and another side window.

So, yeah, it's nice.

The only thing that's really putting me off is this staircase.

You get out the car and you open the door

and you've got come down those steep steps.

What about the style? Is this your style? It's quite modern.

It suits me quite well.

Downstairs you've also got another bedroom.

It also has access out into the garden

and another bathroom, so three bathrooms.

-Oh, right.

-Right.

-Useful.

And then here's the kitchen.

It's a bit cramped for me.

I'd like a bigger kitchen.

I think it needs a little more work surface area

and you'd probably want to modernise it a little bit more.

Oh, fluorescent light bulb.

I think we're going to get rid of that.

I thought they went out about 20 years ago, those things.

OK, I think when we started to talk about the light bulbs

we've probably talked enough about this.

Shall we look at the garden? Let's step outside.

Although, actually Louis, fluorescents are making quite the comeback.

But their sudden prominence does draw attention to some rather

underwhelming reactions.

But Louis hasn't quite spotted all the small details.

The house has fans throughout, as well as

underfloor heating downstairs.

And when it comes to what's available outside...

-It's not a massive plot.

-No.

Got some nice plants and some nice shady trees.

It's enough to keep me busy, I think.

But for me it's just a bit too up-and-down. Too many...

I still don't like that staircase.

I'm having difficulty getting you outside.

Look at the view, Louis.

Look, look.

Don't look at staircase, look over here.

I mean, the view is beautiful.

I mean, that is ideally what we would be looking for.

-That really is nice, isn't it?

-It is.

Pertinent to the whole search is the price.

So how much do you think this is on the market for in pounds?

I'll let you go first.

I'd say £275,000.

No.

I'm going to go

£325,000.

It's actually a bit higher than that. It's on right at the

-top of your budget, £350,000.

-Right.

That's partly to do with its proximity to the clubhouse,

which is a real asset in this village.

But also you're only 50 minutes drive from the sea.

Definitely, as far as the clubhouse is concerned,

I think it's a nice idea

because you've got the opportunity to meet new people.

It's probably just a question of finding everything we want for the house really.

Why don't you go inside and have a look because there are rooms that we didn't look at.

-And I'll meet you at the top once you're done.

-OK.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

The views and locations certainly

come at a premium with...

Our first property has certainly

offered plenty to think about.

But the topsy-turvy architecture is

perhaps too bold a step,

even for this intrepid duo.

If this was somewhere else on the island

I wouldn't expect to pay that amount.

We don't really want to change on the budget, do we?

This is nice, I like this. This has got a nice feel to it.

If the rest of the house was like this room, I'd say yes.

You're on about three floors, the stairs are steep

and definitely the kitchen is too small.

I don't feel comfortable, basically.

-We're not fussy at all really, are we?

-No!

Not quite the result I was hoping for, for our first house

but, nonetheless, there was some positive stuff in there.

OK, guys.

Pull the door and come with me.

-That's our house for the day...

-Yep.

..but I've something else I want to show you.

Oh, good. We're looking forward to that.

You don't know what it is yet.

Well, Louis was right to be excited because I'm whisking them off

to a stunning beach-side property.

So we figured, you know, just looking at houses

during the day is too easy.

What we thought would be really good is if you lived in a house...

-Oh, right.

-..while we were here.

So we've organised this little beach-side residence for you.

-Very nice.

-Do you like it?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-Little, it's huge.

It's slightly out of your budget.

It's not going to be one you can actually buy, sadly.

Those are the keys, we'll bring your bags down.

But go in, settle in and see what it is like.

-I'll see you tomorrow morning.

-BOTH: Thank you.

-Have fun.

The two-tier home is quite a find.

As well as the sizeable open-plan living space

with underfloor heating...

Oh, wow, this is nice.

..there are two double bedrooms,

a luxurious pool

and a variety of outdoor comforts.

But it's definitely not for sale.

Yes, I could like this place.

Put an offer on this one.

After a first night in their seaside villa, Nicola and Louis are already

planning for life on their adopted island.

Are you going to be out this time every morning at seven o'clock?

No.

Well, you're not going to be on holiday. You're not going to be

laying in every morning, you'll be out walking the dog.

Day two of our property search here in Cyprus.

Yesterday was a bit damp, damp in terms of weather

and also in terms of enthusiasm from Nicola and Louis.

But today is going to be a bit better, I think.

We've got a bigger house, bit more space, bigger balcony.

A lot of these things crystallised for them yesterday,

so I'm hoping that it's going to work.

Although they need a bit of an imagination, so I'm hoping they slept well.

-There they are. Hello.

-Good morning.

-Good morning.

-How was your night?

-Very nice, thank you.

-Was it good, nice and warm?

-Wonderful, yes.

-Yes, very nice, very comfortable.

So winter in Cyprus is not too bad?

-No, it's lovely.

-No.

Today is very nice.

-You haven't been in the pool though?

-No, no that's pushing it a bit.

-There's always this evening. Come on, we've got another house to view.

-OK, then. Thank you.

We're off to the town of Peyia for our next property.

Built into the steep slopes of the coastal hills inland from Coral Bay,

the town lies just eight miles north of Paphos.

It typifies the contrast between the old and the new with eye-catching

villas backing on to tavernas, cafes and small, local hideaways.

The picturesque Coral Bay is a nine minute drive west.

Or head east around the hilltops to encounter Cypriot wine country.

And it's along these towering hilltops that we're set to explore

with our next property.

-Do you know Peyia? Have you been here before?

-Yes, yes.

We've been driving mainly.

Not to actually look up the houses this far up.

Well, what about...

this one?

-No, I haven't seen that before.

-Good, that's a relief.

That would be awful, wouldn't it?

Although this actually is a holiday property,

-so it's not fully furnished.

-Right.

-So we're going to need a little bit of imagination.

-Right.

-It's a beautiful approach, so follow me.

-OK, then.

Things are certainly looking up after yesterday.

This four-bed villa was built just 11 years ago

and has operated as a holiday let.

But to access its most impressive side,

we're veering slightly off-piste.

Hopefully it was worth the jungle safari through the garden

because then it leads to this.

Oh, this is nice.

A nice barbecue area.

-You wouldn't know this was here from the bottom, would you?

-No.

-That's the point.

-There's nothing around you here is there?

-This is lovely.

-It's a big, handsome property.

-It is.

I just like the view of those mountains.

The view with that sea behind.

I'm dying to see what's inside.

Louis has certainly sparked into life

and it's no surprise given what's on offer.

This big house, covering 3,500 square feet,

has landscaped gardens, large pool, the barbecue area

and a hot-tub, which only avoided Louis' curious gaze as he was

so taken with the surrounding mountains and sea.

But will everyone still be bubbly once we get inside?

Step in.

-I like that.

-That's a nice kitchen, isn't it?

-Yes.

Oh, good. So this is a better size, is it?

Yeah, this is far more spacious. Yeah.

Now, all these doors open, so on a hot day you can have them all open.

It goes straight out onto the patio area, doesn't it?

That's handy if you're barbecuing, isn't it?

You haven't got too far to walk.

-And you get a nice...

-Louis!

You get a nice view out of the swimming pool here

while you're doing your washing up.

While you're doing the washing up?

Or while Nicola's doing the washing up?

He's going to be doing the washing up.

-Louis, do you want to join the party again?

-All right.

There's a utility room here, sort of larder, really,

-you've got all the storage and the white goods.

-That would be good.

In terms of size, it's not that much bigger than the one yesterday

-but it's just because it's open-plan.

-I think that's it.

Step down here because then you get the sitting room round there

with a little fireplace as well.

Well, you could put tables and chairs up there

and use this for, maybe, a bit more

of a sitting area.

Yeah, I'm more comfortable in this place.

What is it that you like?

I suppose it feels more airy, doesn't it?

You could even have a little table there, couldn't you?

-I know, that's what I said.

-Yeah.

The top floor boasts three generously proportioned double bedrooms.

There's a separate bathroom and...

the master suite which has got an en-suite and amazing views.

This is strange, this area though, isn't it?

It's sort of a balcony room.

It's still got those high wardrobes again.

Yes, Louis, those high wardrobes. It's a Cypriot thing.

They're very tall here, they're all 8-foot tall.

It's nice and bright and it's a better size and, I mean,

beautiful to wake up and look at that view every morning.

You'd get nice sunsets from here.

Let's go and see the view.

A series of sliding doors and you

come out to this which is a really gorgeous view.

It is really nice.

-It's the whole of Coral Bay, you see.

-You'll be able to see your sunsets here, Louis.

-Oh, yeah.

You haven't got any problem with anybody building in front. OK, you might get somebody there but

you haven't got to worry that you're going to lose your view

or anything, have you?

-Not at all.

-Let's go into the garden and talk about price.

With the outdoor space and facilities

coupled with open-plan living inside,

benefiting from separate air-con and heating throughout

and those panoramic views, there's plenty on offer.

Do you want to go first?

No, I'll let you go first.

Well, I'd got for about

the £350,000 mark.

I don't think it's far off that.

I think

£340,000.

OK, well, in this case you going to be pleasantly surprised

because it's actually on the market for

£316,000.

-Oh, really?

-Oh.

-Is there something you're not telling us about this?

-No.

THEY LAUGH

It's just nine minutes down to Coral Bay, three minutes

to the centre of town in the car.

-It's a lovely property.

-It is.

I'd be tempted by this one?

Well, see if you can fall in love a little bit more walking around

and then I will see you at the back and we can head off.

I think we're falling in love with it already.

Come on then.

A big reaction to a big house.

And with a potential 10% saving

off their top budget, this four-bed

villa is set to up the ante,

putting the prospect of that move sharply into focus.

I do like to roam about and this house gives me

an open-air feel unlike the other house we looked at.

I wonder what's up there?

It's pretty sturdy, isn't it?

No, I'd better not, she'd kill me.

I like the downstairs.

I like that it's open-plan.

I think you could do a lot with it

and I think there's different options.

Nicola is the one that really decorates the house,

I leave that to her.

She does ask me but I haven't got a clue

from one colour to another.

From the master bedroom, there was that extra space before you

actually went out onto the balcony.

Maybe you could knock the wall through.

She needs to know every little detail about the house

and what she can put where, what table she can put where.

The bathrooms don't really even need any work doing to them,

maybe just a shower screen.

As long as I know where the plug points are

and where my bed is,

I'm quite happy.

The staircases seem to be quite wide.

I think we've got to look further ahead, you know, if we do have a

problem with stairs can always have a stairlift put it.

-There you are, very good. Still in a positive mood about this one?

-Yes.

-You too, Louis?

-Yes.

-Excellent.

Right, well, we're going to head off

and meet a certain couple who might give you some ideas.

Come with me.

This is not, in fact, the first time we've visited Cyprus on

Escape To The Continent.

We previously accompanied Evie and Brian as they were looking to swap

Yorkshire for Paphos, on a budget of £200,000.

As luck would have it, they did move over.

The couple have been living in the mountainside village of Tala

for the past nine months since

they moved into a two-bedroom villa, complete with pool

and towering views down onto Paphos.

And, given that they'd only been together for six months

before deciding to permanently relocate to a foreign country,

I've arranged a rendezvous to see

if their rather bold outlook will

inspire Nicola and Louis.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-I've brought some guests.

-Hello.

-Welcome.

So this is Evie and Brian.

-Hello, nice to meet you.

-Hello, Brian.

-Hiya.

Now, I'm going to split you up, actually, because Brian you're

the kind of cook of the two and so is Louis, so I thought it would be

quite good for you to go food shopping.

-Anything you'd like?

-Shall I place an order?

-You can do.

-Surprise me.

Surprise me, something fancy.

Do you want to take his order?

-You'll get used to him, Brian, don't worry.

-Bye!

-Bye.

-Shall we have a cup of tea?

-That would be lovely, thank you.

Oh, yes, please.

As the boys buckle-up for a ride down to Brian's favourite shop,

we have an opportunity to ask, "What happened next?"

So has it lived up to expectations?

-Better, I think, better.

-Oh, that's nice to know.

-Yeah.

You just feel better generally

because you're just in such beautiful surroundings.

How was the whole business of buying?

The actual house buying process is really, really simple

and it normally only takes four weeks to go from when you

put your money down to exchange,

which is really, really quickly.

Out on the roads and up in the front seat, Louis just can't help himself.

-I'm a driving instructor.

-Yes, yes, I heard.

-Yeah.

-Is there anything I'm doing wrong?

-Well, not yet. I'll soon...

-I'm sure you'll tell me.

-Well, how do you find these Cypriot drivers?

The driving... Well expect the unexpected.

They seem to get into these cars

and take on a completely different character.

They all think they're Lewis Hamilton.

So do you miss home?

Only raspberries because they're not here all year round.

But you can get them and there's plenty of other fruit here instead.

-Well, if that's the only think you miss that's pretty good.

-Yeah, exactly!

-It's the only thing I miss.

-But do you think of this as home now?

Yes, yeah, I do.

And for my family to come out and see me, when I lived in Yorkshire,

I was still four and a half hours away and

here I'm four and a half hours away, it's just it's a flight

instead of a drive.

When people come to visit you

it's actually more quality time that you're spending together.

Yeah, I think that's true. And then you've got us?

How do you find the social life?

In Tala and other places in Cyprus,

there's quite a large expat community.

So, I mean, if you want the social life it's there.

-Cypriots are very friendly.

-Yeah.

I mean, that's what it says in the books and it's true as well.

That's what I've found.

What about the work side of things? Because you do work here, don't you?

I do but I was really lucky to get one. I work at the Herb Garden.

I like to go to work. I meet a lot of people through work

and that's really interesting.

A lot of expats have gone back, I think, because there isn't that...

-There's not that much variety of work.

-Hmm, really?

If you're coming here now, you need to have some form

-of supporting yourself.

-Absolutely.

We certainly wouldn't be able to be here just on what I earn.

Have you got yourself a job?

No, I'm not working. I've been retired before we moved out here.

So you're used to not doing anything?

Yeah, I'm just carrying on doing what I do.

And retiree, Brian, has made the most of his time to source

the very best local produce.

-So if you want to eat healthily...

-Yep.

..in Cyprus it's no problem at all.

If you're a foodie there's never a shortage of fresh produce.

-So much of it, as well, is grown here.

-Yep.

So, of course, it's a good price because there's no importing costs.

I see oranges are in season, aren't they?

-Citrus fruit. I think it's October or November when all the trees explode.

-Right.

-What are these?

-I think you need to boil them for a couple of hours.

Oh, I wonder if Alistair would like that.

By the time he's stripped the leaves off there's maybe be a little

-bit to eat inside.

-We're going to get him that.

-He'll be happy with that.

-As you wish, yeah.

-I think I'll take that one back. I'll tell you what...

-A valentine one...

I'll take that back for Nicola.

How do you get on with the Greek?

-I am learning Greek...

-Yeah.

-..but you don't need it.

Hello.

One euro, please.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much. Have a lovely afternoon.

The next stop on Brian's tour is Paphos harbour.

Central to the town's history and guarded by a Byzantine fort,

it's now acknowledged for its collection of restaurants and cafes.

And it's here we're all meeting up to eke out those final few

snippets of house-buying advice.

First, some vegetables to dispose of.

My favourite flower, I'll put it on my lapel.

How did you pick that place, where you're living at the moment?

It's quite high up, isn't it?

The temperatures are always a few degrees cooler where we are

then coming down here.

So that's good in summer but not so good in winter.

Have you found it a bit of a faff with all the driving, or not?

It's only 20 minutes to come down here.

You guys actually want to stop driving, right?

It would be nice to be somewhere where you could just

walk to the local shops.

When you move to Cyprus, you live in a smaller world

so everything is a lot nearer.

It's no problem with parking, we've found, even in the season,

we're always able to find somewhere to park for free.

That's a big bonus, isn't it?

Now, you came over here with a wish list.

How easy was it to fulfil it?

The property that you've got, did you get everything you want?

-We forgot to put on that we wanted a sea view...

-Quite a big...

..in the programme.

And we have got one now.

But I think it was pretty close.

-Do you?

-Yeah, I think we pretty much got what we wanted for our budget.

Your budget is a bit bigger. Do you think you're going to have to compromise?

Or are you quite confident you can get what you want?

-I think we can get what we want.

-Yeah.

There might be slight compromises,

Maybe one bedroom isn't as big as we might have liked.

-You're never going to get it exact.

-No, you're not.

Also, it's not really the indoor space anyway.

Because most of the time you're outside. It's only really in the winter.

That's a good point because we were talking about where you would

have a dining room in that house that we saw today

and then you're not really going to use it that much.

Which is true, isn't it?

-Well, we didn't buy one until the weather started getting colder...

-Really...

..and we couldn't sit out and then we bought a dining table and chairs.

And in terms of the, sort of, down sides of moving,

because you did move in a sort of...I have to say, we were a bit surprised and thought,

"Oh, that's so romantic but it'll never work." But it did

and it's wonderful.

But I was wondering whether there were any sort of...

Where you thought, "Oh, this is not quite as good as we imagined."

-No.

-No.

-Oh.

-It's a good advert, isn't it?

-It is, yeah.

You picked the right people to visit.

British influence here extends far and wide.

Cypriots drive on the left and road signs are even given in English.

But, most pertinently, the house-buying process

is very similar.

The biggest difference being that there is a non-refundable

reservation deposit which must be paid once an offer is accepted.

Day-to-day living costs don't differ dramatically from those

in the UK, particularly when it comes

to utility bills or petrol, for example.

But pennies will certainly be saved if you follow Brian's penchant

for local fruit and veg.

13% of the island is dedicated to agriculture,

meaning lots of fresh, low-priced fare.

Lovely Cypriot sun on day three of our property search

here on the island of love for our

ever romantic couple, Nicola and Louis.

Yesterday I, sort of, got the feeling that they were a little bit

lukewarm even though the house really pleased them.

I'm wondering whether they're dancing on the edge of this adventure

in Cyprus rather than plunging in.

So I'm going to be probing that a little bit and, improbably,

we've sent them up into the snow this morning.

So I'm hoping they are still in good form.

Rather surprisingly, snow is a regular feature

in the Cypriot climate.

Rain and snowfall happen mainly between November and March

and, whilst the brollies are out on the coast, the central

Troodos mountains can be covered in up to 40 foot of snow.

One part of the day you're in the sunshine...

And now you're up here in the snow, swinging on swings.

But it's obviously been quite deep. Look how deep it is.

I mean, when you consider...

-how long it took us to get up here?

-Not that long.

-About an hour?

-Um...

-Yeah.

Yeah, just over an hour.

-I could get back into skiing.

-You could.

-You and I have never been skiing together, have we?

-No.

-No.

I don't want anything to happen to me that happened to you

but, then again, it was because of your accident we met, wasn't it?

It was, that's true.

Do you think I'd have the strength to ski now?

I'll carry you down.

And from the snowy splendour of the Troodos

it's time to head back down towards Paphos.

Our chosen target, the ancient village of Kouklia,

which sits in an important archaeological region.

The route, a seaside drive along the old coastal B6.

When you hit the palm-tree-lined streets ten miles shy of Paphos,

they're impossible to miss, take the exit and you're presented with

one of the region's most traditional villages.

Adorned with tavernas and small stone houses,

we're back at the mythical home of Aphrodite, where the modern

Aphrodite Hills developments have made this one of the most

prestigious postcodes in southern Cyprus.

This is a great offering. It also looks fantastic in the sun.

-Really, really nice.

-I can't wait to see what's inside.

-No.

Hold on to your horses.

The great thing about this is that down there is the sea

So you've got about an 800 metre walk down to the sea.

-I think this might be a bit above our budget.

-You'll have to wait and see.

He doesn't want to give anything away, does he?

Shall we take a look inside since you're so keen to go in?

-Definitely.

-OK then.

This four-bed villa has a variety of exterior features that seem

to be piquing Nicola and Louis' curiosity.

I expect they'll like what's coming up too.

Oh, this is fantastic.

NICOLA LAUGHS

Yes, I could do a few things in here, can't I?

Really nice. I certainly could imagine living here, couldn't you?

I can just imagine myself sitting down in the chair.

She is doing the cooking here.

Making me a cup of tea or something

and we're just chatting away

while she burns everything.

Excuse me! You've made it... I can cook, I hasten to add.

-Louis doesn't do as much as he makes out.

-I do, I do.

I like the way that you don't actually just imagine it, you actually do it.

-That's a good sign. It means that you're settled in.

-Yeah.

-Shall we continue the tour?

-Oh, yes, yeah.

It's quite a simple layout in this house.

There's this big living space which overlooks the pool

and then ultimately overlooks the sea. There's another small room

at the back which is a sort of the morning room. What about you, Louis?

Can you imagine settling in here?

I can. It's a bit similar to what we've got home but a lot bigger.

Well, the strikingly and cleverly designed thing about this house

is that this is south-facing, so this gets the brunt of the sun.

But because it's got this big veranda and overhang,

this room is always cool.

-Which is brilliant.

-That's good, isn't it?

The smiles continue as Nicola and Louis lead on upstairs,

stirring my curiosity as to what

they'll actually do once they find something they want.

But I suspect there are few more ums and ahs

to come before we have that chat.

Hmm, look at that.

Oh, not again. It's these high wardrobes.

THEY LAUGH

That's enough!

-This is facing the sunset.

-It is.

Yes, it's south-west.

So the sun basically moves across to that point.

So wherever you are you get a great sunset.

You get a better view of it out here.

It is a great view.

You can see that the sea is literally down there,

so you can actually walk.

Just to know that you can step out the door

and just stroll off is a bonus.

Let's go into the back garden and we can talk about price.

-OK, we've got a back garden as well.

-Yeah.

There's a total of three decent sized double bedrooms upstairs,

one with an en-suite and all

enjoying fantastic sea views.

-Oh, it's nice outside.

-Oh, nice!

Oranges, Louis.

I don't know what to say really.

It's beautiful.

We'll invite you round.

-Ah, so you've already moved in?

-Yes.

So I get the impression this is the one that actually has moved

-you to think, "Oh, I could actually live here?"

-Yes.

It's got everything really.

I did get the impression over the last two days

that you were, sort of, playing at looking at the houses.

Like, "Oh, yeah. That's nice."

A lot of it has got to do with the feel

and, I suppose, first impressions when you walk in.

-But this one does have the feel?

-Yes, definitely.

So what does that set in motion?

Thinking along the lines that, "Wouldn't it be lovely." Um...

But that's still quite abstract though because you could buy it.

If something is going to make us move I think this house would do it.

So what you think the price is?

I'm going to go for £345,000.

I'm going way above.

I'm going over budget,

£375,000.

Well, in this instance you are a bit closer.

It's actually on the market for £368,000

but the owner is open to offers because she wants to move.

So it could be that you could negotiate down.

Does that make it feel a bit more real?

Yes, yes.

I mean, obviously, there is a lot of other things to

look at from our point of view at home and everything.

But if it was...

If we were able to do it this would certainly be the property.

That's good to hear. So go in and have a look around.

Sit yourself down on some sofas

and imagine drinking some tea or gin and tonics.

-Off we go then.

-All right. Got any gin and tonics?

-I don't know, we'll go have a look.

-OK, then.

-I'm sure if anyone

can find them you can.

See, that's it you see.

I wasn't really believing the reactions to the other two houses

because it was like, "Oh, that could be nice, might be nice."

But here I think there's a hook and here I think, you know, if they could negotiate

it could become a reality, much more exciting.

Well, we've done our darnedest.

It's clearly the right place

but is it the right time?

Speculation aside, this house is

truly to be admired.

The four-bedroom home was

designed by the present owners

seven years ago and cleverly

embraces the abundant sunshine

into carefully created

outdoor spaces and

cool, weatherproof indoor living.

This one has definitely got me.

I feel really comfortable in this house.

I can't actually find a fault with the house.

Nice setting, beautiful pool.

I like the fact it's got a choice of having the sun or the shade, which is good.

If Louis and I get on each other's nerves we've got

plenty of areas that we can still sit outside.

That doesn't happen very often.

I do like pottering around in the kitchen.

Whatever he might say, he doesn't do all the cooking.

So it is important for me as well to have a nice kitchen.

We're very tempted to actually say yes now but

we can't just go ahead and say it,

we've got things to tie up at home.

I've still got family at home,

I've got my mother to consider, we've got our business.

So it's not just a question of just packing up and going.

-There you are in the shade, nice and comfy.

-Enjoying ourselves.

This is a nice spot, isn't it?

Chop chop, we've got things to do, places to see.

We don't really want to go yet, though.

Well, you can come back, especially if you buy it.

Nicola and Louis have plenty to ponder on as another day

draws to a close.

So I'm leaving them to explore the surroundings of,

what I hope could be, their dream home.

Do you think we're allowed up here?

-What's up here then?

-I don't know.

You can't eat olives directly off the tree, can you?

Haven't they got to be processed, or whatever they do?

I don't know. Here's one here.

-Don't eat it.

-Just try it.

No!

Oh, it's very bitter.

-Well, I'm not surprised.

-No, you won't want to eat that.

THEY LAUGH

-Could you see yourself living here?

-I could, yeah.

This would be a nice place to walk the dog.

-This is like some kind of sanctuary or something.

-Yeah.

It's morning in Paphos where our buyers from Watford are looking

for a Cypriot getaway that fits

within their £350,000 budget.

And, with the morning off from house-hunting,

they continue to road test the region by popping out for a coffee.

Do you think you could tolerate me all day long?

Well, we do normally so I'm sure it'll be fine.

I'd behave completely differently as to how I am on my holidays.

In what way?

-I just wouldn't be going and sitting on beaches all the time and...

-You would though.

I'd gradually mix in with the locals.

You never know I might even get a little job.

Well, that's the bonus though, isn't it?

You'd have the time to have

the odd day on the beach or to go

out for meals, or come up to somewhere like this for a coffee.

Do you see the shadows of those clouds on the sea...

-Louis, I'm talking to you.

-Oh, yeah!

-I forgot you were.

-You never listen to me, do you?

-No.

Do you think you could put up with this kind of lifestyle?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

Provided we could afford it.

I mean, there's no point moving here

and not being able to do all

the things we want to do, is there?

Here in the glorious sun of Cyprus it's easy to forget that actually

selling up your home, ending your business, leaving your relatives

and coming to start afresh in a new country is quite anxiety evoking.

Yesterday I got the distinct feeling that, even though the property

was almost perfect, that Nicola and Louis were, sort of,

desperately looking around for negative reasons not to buy it.

And that's quite common.

So today, our last day on the island, we've taken them

up into the hills to a beautiful ancient village

and we're going to offer them a serious business venture

which might, at least, allay their fears about their finances.

We've travelled back inland for our mystery property.

Kallepeia may only lie ten miles from the sea

but it's a world away from Paphos' beach-dominated coastline.

It's a crumbly, Greek-style village and feels much closer to the

real Cyprus you'd imagine from yesteryear

with its two shops,

monastery-shaped tavern and an old church.

The sea is 30 minutes away and the epic Troodos Mountains

shimmer on the horizon.

With a population barely reaching 300,

could this peaceful community be the romantic getaway

Nicola and Louis have always been searching for?

Have you ever thought about coming up into the mountains to live?

-Not really to live...

-Not really, not this far up.

-To visit definitely.

What about you, Louis? Would you like to live up here?

-I just think this is a bit too high up for me.

-Too high?

Well, maybe what's behind this door, our mystery house,

might change your mind.

-It certainly looks a mystery.

-Let's have a look.

Come up here and I'll show you around.

-You mentioned villa management.

-Mmm.

This is all your villas under one roof.

-I'm confused.

-Bear with me.

So we've come up into a very charming bit of the countryside,

amazing views, very quiet, very rural.

And essentially you've got

two holiday lets and your home all in one complex.

That sounds interesting.

-I'm game.

-Shall we take a look at your domain?

-Definitely.

Let's take a look at this one first.

Taking that step from villa management to actually

running a B&B could ease those

lingering financial concerns.

The original cottage was built in 1910

but after a recent refurbishment it has been split into three.

A three-bedroom chalet, a smaller two-bed set up

and a more modern and larger main property

that towers above the others.

The rental chalets are similarly designed and proportioned,

with functional bedrooms to the rear as well as integrated

kitchen and living areas at the front.

This is a good size, isn't it?

What about the idea of doing a project like this?

I love the fact it's local life

and away from the tourist area

but it is probably just a

little bit far out. I would still like to see it all.

Right place, possibly the wrong location.

But as remote as we may feel,

Paphos town centre is still less than 20 minutes away by car.

Throw in the injection of Mediterranean charm with

a stone-clad courtyard, cosy pool

and 360-degree viewing deck

and I'm still hopeful that the living quarters

can win over our couple.

-This would be your house.

-Oh, right.

-You've got a nice view of those mountains.

-That's beautiful.

The mountains are really beautiful. It's a much more peaceful

offering than down the road in Paphos.

You're in a more Cypriot community.

Yeah, which isn't a bad thing.

I don't really want to just mix with expats.

Let's have a quick peek upstairs. You get an overview.

There are two rooms on the top floor, one with en suite

and both with views.

A particularly lovely view over the Troodos.

It's beautiful, really nice.

-Your stomping ground.

-Yep.

This is a typical view of Cyprus really, isn't it?

To open up a place up here, I would think,

towards the summer you must have a few people coming through.

And so it's a year-round island, isn't it?

So they're not... Times like now they're not going to be out on the beaches.

Are we winning you round?

Are you starting to think, "I want to run this place?"

I think...

-If this place was lower down...

-Yeah.

-..I'd do it.

-Maybe.

Well, it's worth maybe thinking about.

Well, this might be a mystery too far but let's go downstairs

-and find a spot to talk about the price.

-Yep.

But money talks and these properties can earn a pretty penny.

The smaller two chalets will fetch up to £500 a week

in peak season.

How much do you think this whole complex is worth?

LOUIS SIGHS

-It's a very difficult one.

-I'd say

about £245,000.

I would probably say

£265,000.

OK, so this is a testament of how much

you don't want to move up here

because this is actually on the market at £367,000.

A bit over budget but they would negotiate probably down to

-your price if you were interested, which you're clearly not.

-No.

Nonetheless, you know, it's still an interesting proposition.

Certainly it is an option that we could look at.

Well, the mystery is a mystery because it's a bit of a risk.

And that risk hasn't quite worked for Nicola and Louis.

Nonetheless we have planted an idea that could blossom

financially for the both of them.

In total the three properties here

have seven bedrooms with modern

practical fittings and it offers

the best vantage point from which to

admire the rural charm of the village.

And I thought Nicola and Louis might benefit from exploring

the area to see if there's any hope they could be charmed away

from the familiar terrain of central Paphos.

-This is really old, isn't it?

-I know.

-Yeah, look at the grapes.

-Oh, yeah.

Your grapes in our garden don't grow that big, do they?

-Oh, what's going on here?

-I tell you what they call that,

in Italy they call that bocce.

-Is it like boules?

-What bowls?

Yeah, no, not bowls.

Those boules, like they play in France.

Yeah, same thing.

-They sound like they're English, Louis.

-Let's go and ask them.

No, they're in the middle of playing their game.

If you come to live here you get crazy, like us,

-and do silly things like this.

-Do you know...

-We were just going to ask you that.

-Looking at you, I actually thought you were a Cypriot.

-Not really, no.

-Do you live in this village?

-No, no.

-I live in another village called Stroumpi...

-Oh, yeah.

..not far from here.

-And how long have you been living here?

-Ten and a half years.

No regrets?

No, I do not want to go back.

-And what made you move here?

-Well, it's a different lifestyle basically.

-Yeah.

We like Cypriots. We get on with Cypriots, we have Cypriot friends.

And there's a lot to do.

-And it's all to do with the weather really.

-Yes, exactly.

You can get out and you can do things.

Are we interfering with your game?

Thanks for that.

You're making him conscious now.

-Oh, rubbish!

-That's rubbish.

That's us putting you off, isn't it?

You're my excuse.

I hope your mission is very successful.

-Thank you. Nice to meet you.

-Nice to talk to you.

-Thank you very much.

-They looked a bit Cypriot, didn't they?

-They did.

That's how you're going to look.

We're going that way, yeah.

I think we need to go that way, don't we?

I don't know.

Thankfully, it's just a short 200 metre stroll through the local

cobbled streets back to the mystery house.

Well, all that's left for our couple to explore is the

magnificent viewing deck.

Although I fear it's possibly come a little too late

to salvage this particular property.

I don't think this location is quite their cup of tea. But, you know,

the mystery house is always good for planting ideas.

-There you are.

-Oh, hello.

It is a lovely view, you've got to admit that, haven't you?

We were just enjoying it.

-But maybe a bit remote for you?

-I'm afraid so.

Never mind, we can't win them all. But it's been good.

So now is the time for us to put our thinking caps on.

So come with me.

Cyprus' mountainside communities offer glimpses of the ancient world

with which this small island has such lasting ties.

Indeed, the story of wine,

so vividly told through the ancient tales of Gods and Kings

depicted in Paphos' mosaics,

doesn't end here for Cyprus.

And the legacy of viniculture lives on into the 21st-century.

I've headed across to the SODAP wine co-op, to the north of Paphos,

to meet wine expert Alexis Machuca to learn more.

-This is the future.

-This is the future.

-It looks like a school lab.

This is the science part of wine.

So what's going on here, for example? Hello.

-This is Stefanos.

-Stefanos, nice to meet you.

We are measuring the alcohol content, the sugar content.

We're trying to control the quality of the wine.

40% of all Cypriot wine is produced here,

requiring 4.5 million kilos of grapes

to produce around five million bottles of wine.

We have very strong varieties here in Cyprus, dry, medium dry,

medium sweet.

I have to admit I don't know Cypriot wine.

If somebody in England, for example, says "I want to try and taste a Cypriot grape,"

which name should they look for?

-Maratheftiko.

-Maratheftiko.

-Maratheftiko.

Yes.

Botanical analyses have revealed that wine has been

produced on the island for almost 5,000 years,

making Cyprus the origin of

wine development in the entire Mediterranean basin.

Science dominates wine production, with a round-the-clock monitoring

of sulphur and oxygen levels, acidity and much more besides.

There seems to be a lot of white coats.

The main point of the wine is not the science.

There is not a machine that can tell you the flavours

that you can find in wine.

There is no chemical analysis that

gives you the strength of the wine.

These are things that only the eye, the nose and the mouth

of a human being can do.

-You're not in a white coat, does that mean you do the tasting?

-Every day.

Well, we're talking about tasting so maybe we could taste some?

-Yes, let's do this?

-Well, take off your white coat though.

The vaults here age the mellow, sweet dessert wine, Commandaria.

It was originally believed to have been given its name by

crusading knights in the 13th century,

but to have been first made up to 5,000 years ago.

-How would you sell this to me?

-It's the most aged label in the world.

-Really?

-And this Commandaria here won the trophy medal

in London in 2007.

-You're showing off now.

-Oh, yeah.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

-I'm following you, you're swirling and you're smelling.

-Yes.

Oh, it's very sweet.

The traditional Commandaria should be like this.

-Can I ask some of your customers?

-Oh, yes, please.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Are you drinking...

-Oh, you're not drinking the sweet one.

-No. That's your dessert wine.

You need a day wine.

-You sound like an expert.

-I'm not, no.

-What are you drinking there?

-This is a red, it's the Merlot 2008.

We have those grapes in our garden.

-Oh, in your garden here?

-Yes.

-You live here?

-Of course, we live here, yeah, yeah.

I was thinking, "Does it grow in England?" Very nice to meet you.

-Yes, nice to meet you too.

-Yes, enjoy your wine.

-Thank you, guys, so much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Very delicious.

A history of wine in a glass. Cheers.

In offering the islands to his bride-to-be Cleopatra,

Mark Anthony wrote "The sweetness of your love is like Cyprus wine."

Musings that ensure wine's permanent link

to the romance of the island.

The suitcases herald the end of our quest to find

Nicola and Louis' perfect Cypriot hideaway.

All that remains is to meet up and find out

what our buyers want to do next.

I'm as sure as I'll ever be that Louis and Nicola

are not going to buy the mystery house.

But I am interested whether this week of Cypriot winter sunshine

has focused their mind to make that decision about

whether to move here or not.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Hello.

So before I ask you about the houses, I wanted to ask generally

-about how was living in your own home?

-Lovely, really, really enjoyed it.

Because you were worried about Louis being a bit too holiday-ish.

I'm going to be like that all the time whether I'm here or in England.

I'm that type of person.

Let's talk about the house that you seem to like the most,

-the one with the lovely kitchen and wraparound garden.

-This morning when we woke up I said to Louis,

"Did you go to sleep last night dreaming about that house?"

And he said, "Yes." I said, "So did I."

-Blimey, you two sound like the estate agents.

-Yes!

We could sell it.

-Never felt like you were like, "Oh, yes, we got to move and this is the house."

-No.

There wasn't much urgency in your house search. Is that fair?

I mean, if we could do it and we had nothing holding us back

at home then we probably would

make an offer on that house, wouldn't we?

-And go for it.

-We would.

After speaking to Brian I realise

it's not that straightforward and

it's not that easy just to wind down the business and walk away from it.

So do you think you came over here more with the dream that didn't

have much detail to it?

No, no. I knew it wasn't going to be

an easy change of lifestyle.

But it was a lifestyle I've been looking forward to.

The one thing that was holding me back was whether we would have

a circle of friends.

Already, you know, just chatting to Brian and Evie

and the people that we saw in the square,

that has made me feel a lot more positive about it.

What happens next in terms of the actual nuts and bolts of buying it?

We're not going to go home and just say, "Right, that was fun,"

and get on with things.

We do need to look at everything to see when

we could reasonably do it by.

Well, it's been lovely showing you round. Very amusing, especially Louis with your...

-That's been me, meeting you.

-..with your obsession with wardrobes.

-And fluorescent lights.

And fluorescent lights. You taught me a lot as well, so thank you for that.

-I wish you well.

-Thank you and thank you for all of your help.

-Thank you.