Our journey brings us to Cyprus, a sun-drenched island in the eastern Mediterranean where legend says the goddess Aphrodite emerged from the sea foam. There are around 1 million people living here, and the capital is Nicosia, which is unique for being the only divided capital city in the world. The official languages are Greek and Turkish, though English is very widely spoken.

Cyprus covers about 9,251 square kilometers, or 3,572 square miles. To imagine its size, the country is roughly the same size as the state of Delaware in the U.S., or approximately the same size as the island of Corsica. It sits at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia, which has influenced its history for thousands of years.

The most popular sport is Football, but the island is also great for water sports and mountain trekking. Their national animal is the Mouflon, a shy and majestic wild sheep with curved horns that lives in the pine forests of the Troodos Mountains.

The flag is unique because it features a map of the island in copper-orange above two green olive branches, where the copper color represents the island’s ancient copper resources and the olive branches represent the hope for peace.

The food is a Mediterranean feast! You must try Halloumi, the world-famous “squeaky cheese” that is often grilled or fried until golden. Another favorite is Souvla, large chunks of meat slow-cooked on a long skewer over a charcoal grill. For dessert, locals love Glyka tou koutaliou, or “spoon sweets,” which are fruits preserved in a thick, sugary syrup.

Cyprus is home to some of the oldest water wells in the world, dating back over 10,000 years! The island is also famous for its cats—tradition says that Saint Helena sent boatloads of cats to the island centuries ago to help deal with snakes, and today, cats are everywhere and very well-loved. In the Troodos Mountains, you can find beautiful Byzantine churches filled with colorful wall paintings that are so special they are protected by UNESCO. If you visit Paphos, you can walk through ancient Roman villas with incredibly detailed floor mosaics that look as bright today as they did 2,000 years ago.

From the party beaches of Ayia Napa to the quiet, stone-built villages in the hills, Cyprus is a land of ancient myths and golden sunshine. Efcharistó and Teşekkürler! That means “Thank you!”