Oroklini was once famed for its traditional charm

This is evidenced by the simple fact that Oroklini now boasts a larger population of British expatriates than Cypriots. But while it may be easy to dismiss the village as just another Little Britain, simply based on its extraordinarily high expat population, there is more to Oroklini than meets the eye.

Indeed, four of the six Aphrodite staff currently based in Cyprus have been living in the village for some time, and in their own words, this community does represent the best of both worlds. For starters, and unlike so many other farming-communities-turned-housing-projects, Oroklini's community infrastructure has grown along with its population.

Nowadays, the village boasts a wide selection of local amenities, ranging from hardware stores, butchers, and a first-rate greengrocer, to a handful of small supermarkets, one of which boasts prices equal to the much larger chainstores found in Larnaca.

This convenience factor alone sets Oroklini apart from so many of Cyprus' other small communities, where one small corner kiosk now services a population of thousands, and the nearest proper supermarket is a twenty minute drive away.

But life in Oroklini is not just about convenience; there are a number of other factors involved in its appeal.

For starters, the village has stayed quiet and peaceful, despite its increased population. And it's not just a retirement community either. There are also a substantial number of professionals and younger families living in the village, drawn here by the peaceful lifestyle, the proximity to Larnaca and the fact that the commercial centres of Nicosia and Limassol are less than an hour's drive away.

The village is also home to a number of popular bars, and some truly excellent eateries, a fact which contributes more than a little to Oroklini's relaxed atmosphere. Indeed, the Voreas Tavern, tucked away in a back street at the hill's base, is widely acclaimed to be the best meze restaurant in the Larnaca region.

And then there are the local beaches, sweeping along the shores of Larnaca Bay for a number of miles. With offshore breakwaters and shallow, gradually sloping waters, these are among the finest, and safest, beaches to be found anywhere on the island.