| Have you heard of the blanket trip? This is a new | | | | told where places like Coral Bay was and the |
| free excursion. It is most popular in Spain, | | | | Tomb of Kings. |
| Tenerife and the Canary Islands. Now, it is | | | | The Wine Tasting Experience |
| available in Paphos for the first time. | | | | There we were seated and given a variety of |
| What the Tour Involves | | | | wines and liqueurs to taste along with bread and |
| I was invited to take the coach tour by the | | | | olives. This is a family run business that has been |
| owners. European Health Promotions have teamed | | | | going for many years. The owner sells the wine |
| up with Thomson Holidays so tourists can book | | | | and tourists have the opportunity to buy some at |
| through their Holiday Representative via their | | | | the end along with any gifts such as hand crafted |
| Welcome Meetings. | | | | pottery or homemade sweets. The Cypriot |
| The coach picks up outside hotels and everyone | | | | owner has vine yards all around the winery and |
| is taken to a Factory outlet showroom where | | | | he was delighted to let all the tourists taste his |
| Therapeutic products, such as Orthopaedic | | | | delicious wines. First, he brought a white dry wine |
| mattresses and wool blankets are shown. | | | | around, pouring generously into our glasses. There |
| I was seated at a table and provided with | | | | was olives and bread on the table for us munch |
| refreshments and cake. The speaker showed and | | | | too. The second bottle, was a red wine. The third |
| explained to us how therapeutic their products | | | | was another red and so on until we had tried a |
| can be. There was no hard selling here or any | | | | total of five bottles. The last of all was a special |
| exchange of money or credit card transactions if | | | | liquor that is made at his vine yard, which is a |
| anything is wished to be purchased. All you do is | | | | strong burning drink that not many people can |
| fill out a form and everything is sent to your | | | | tolerate. Overall, he was chatty, informative and |
| home in the United Kingdom directly from Majorca | | | | witty all at the same time. |
| where the Head Office is situated. Even when | | | | What Products Are On Offer? |
| tourists receive them they have six days to | | | | This half day excursion is not just for tourists, but |
| consider whether they are happy with them or | | | | can benefit people who live here too. They are |
| not. After that the customer sends payment to | | | | perfect for the health and help to alienate any |
| Majorca. At the end, there is a raffle and some | | | | aches and pains that people may suffer from, |
| beautiful jewellery is presented. Everyone gets a | | | | such as arthritis or a bad back. Prices for wool |
| free Majorcan pearl too. | | | | blankets and orthopaedic mattresses are cheaper |
| During my ride on the coach, I was able to sit | | | | at factory outlet prices than they are in the |
| back and enjoy a guided tour through picturesque | | | | United Kingdom. The cost of a set is roughly |
| countryside. At the end there is a visit to Sterna | | | | about £500 sterling for a single orthopaedic |
| winery. The trip lasts between 9am to 2pm or an | | | | mattress, a wool blanket and a pillow and plus you |
| afternoon from 12pm to 3.30pm. You are taken | | | | get a free gift with it, such as a dressing gown or |
| directly back to your hotel in time for lunch or tea | | | | slippers. |
| time. | | | | Booking The Trip |
| The Sights We Saw | | | | This free morning or afternoon outing is becoming |
| I thought the day was very enjoyable. The coach | | | | very popular here in Paphos. If you wish to take |
| ride from the factory outlet showroom was a | | | | part then book with a Thompson Representative |
| spectacular guided tour up into the hills passing | | | | at the hotel you are staying at whilst on holiday in |
| villages Mesogi, Tsada, Stroumbi and finally arriving | | | | Paphos, Cyprus. If you live here, then just go to |
| in Kathikas where we visited Sterna winery. As it | | | | your nearest travel agent for details of booking. |
| was February, we got to see snow filled | | | | Recommendation |
| mountains of Troodos in the distance. On the way | | | | Overall, Thompson recommends this trip to |
| back from Sterna winery, the coach takes a | | | | anyone, as it is free and you are able to see |
| different route giving people the opportunity to | | | | more of Cyprus. Even if you live here, it is still a |
| see more sights, such as going through the quaint | | | | good way to get to see what is on offer. The |
| village of Peiya. From here we were shown and | | | | whole family can go too! |