The weather is a strong point of living here, but some do underestimate the Cypriot summer climate. The heat is something that you have to get used to. Some find it unbearably uncomfortable. At the height of the summer, particularly inland, the sunny, dry, dusty and still atmosphere is extremely uncomfortable and very dangerous. It is certainly hot enough to make the unprepared very ill, and just as old people die in the UK each year of the cold, each year people die in the Mediterranean because of the heat waves.

The temperatures regularly tops 40 inland (the Government weather services often quote up to 39 to avoid closing down events etc on health and safety grounds), but I've recorded temperatures in the shade of 43 and above day after day - and it can get very tiring. In fact the culture has adapted - people tend to get up and start work early (say 7ish) - and then have a break when the sun is highest - everything closes down from 1-4 when it is too hot to do anything but sleep) - indeed to attempt to function at that time of the day could be dangerous, so people tend to sleep during that time - shops close, traffic lightens dramatically and some areas are turned into virtual ghost towns. The shops re-open and things get moving again from 4in the afternoon until 8in the evening. This means that the usual time for going out and socialising, having a meal etc is very late as people only have a few hours sleep at night as they supplement their sleep with the afternoon siesta. Research has shown that this diurnal sleep pattern is actually more natural and healthier than having a longer unbroken day. Of course the tourist oriented parts of the island are open 24/7, but if you find yourself living in a traditional area, it can be a little unusual getting used to the pattern and rhythm of life here. Lots of companies simply close down for most of August when most Cypriots leave for their cooler mountain and beachside homes, or leave the island altogether on extended holidays. This can be frustrating if you're relying on getting something done by one of these companies.

As Veronica has said, there are ways of escaping the heat, but if you find yourself (as has happened to us on occasion) trapped in the heat during a powercut when there are no fans, the fridge has defrosted and there seems to be no escape, it can be extremely uncomfortable. I remember once warning a visitor of ours not to venture out into Nicosia Old Town in the heat of the midday sun, everything would be closed for the siesta, the heat would be intolerable and the sun would be so bright they wouldn't be able to enjoy sight seeing - but they insisted and felt they didn't want to 'waste' their holiday. They got lost, returning a couple of hours later in tears and suffereing from the onset of heat exhaustion.

The weather then is fabulous, but potentially dangerous and has to be treated with respect - certainly I would never recommend anyone who does not particularly enjoy hot weather to plan to live here.