First up was Larnaca itself, where the new Rise Street Art Hotel has brought a fantastic funkiness to the city
AS Britain shivered, I was wandering along a sandy beach in Cyprus in dazzling 21C sunshine.
At the water’s edge, a family relaxed on sunloungers while a man struck yoga poses.
And even in winter, the water was warm enough for a dip.
Summer party hot spot Ayia Napa may be slumbering until the spring, but lovely Larnaca, just 40 minutes away, continues to welcome a more relaxed traveller in the depths of winter.
That was my cue to discover just how much there is to do out of season on this Mediterranean island — and brighten up an otherwise dreary winter.
Food would play a starring role — and I was about to go meze mad.