Son, sea and Cyprus
Phil, 40, a freelance-driving instructor, first visited Cyprus when he was young, free and single. His memories of the wonderful island, with its warm weather, sparkling ocean and friendly people finally drew him back last July, but this time with his son Alex, 11, as his travelling companion.
My first visit to Cyprus was a really great holiday experience, so when a friend of mine offered to lend me his apartment in Protarus, on the South East coast of the island, it was too great an offer to resist!
I was deeply in need of some R&R, not to mention some sunshine and heat to warm up the old joints, and I was also really keen to spend some quality, one-on-one time with Alex, so Cyprus it was.
I have haemophilia A, with an inhibitor and take my factor 'on demand'. When I do need it, I need 9000 units, so I had to get organised in terms of how much I had to take with me on holiday and how I would pack for the flight.
Fortunately, I did not have to order in extra factor, as I keep quite a large supply at home, thanks to Factor Direct deliveries. I decided that to cover me against all eventualities I would need to take enough factor for two bleeds. At three doses per bleed I needed about a half a dozen doses, not to mention syringes, diluent, ice packs and all the other paraphernalia.
Phil and Alex had a great time in Cyprus
I visited the Travel Factor website for advice about travelling with liquids, syringes and prescription medicines to make sure there would be no hitches at check in or airport security. As per the advice, I also made sure I had a letter from my haemophilia centre to explain my suspicious looking rucksack and its contents.
I also downloaded the contact details of the nearest haemophilia centre to where we would be staying, in the event of any problems while we were away, and printed it off to take along with me, just in case!
The Haemophilia Society gave me a list of insurance companies that cover people with my condition. I contacted one and, after a brief phone call and a few questions, we were fully covered for the trip.
Packing was quite simple really. I used gel ice packs and a special cooler bag for the factor, which I put into a rucksack to carry on board, and the infusion kit, needles etcetera went into my suitcase, to go in the hold.
The first and only hurdle
The first and only hurdle was the flight. That was probably the funniest and most exciting part of our holiday rolled into one. It was only a short flight, about four and a half hours, but my problem is that I am terrified of flying. This can be a bit of a dilemma for a guy who loves to holiday in places with warm climates.
Alex, of course, is as happy in the air as he is on the ground and he takes great delight in ribbing me about my flying phobia. So, when we took off, there he was, laughing at me and making jibes about hoping there would be lots of turbulence, and there I was, gripping the arm rests as if my life depended on it. Sure enough, it was probably the bumpiest flight we have ever experienced!
It was all worth it
It was all worth it though. We disembarked at Larnaca airport to be hit by this wonderful blast of warm air. It was HOT. The sky was an incredible blue and we had a whole week of rest, relaxing, sun, sand and fun to look forward to.
We arrived at the apartment, which was just great, transferred the factor from rucksack to refrigerator and were ready to roll. Alex is a sports freak and always on the go. We did some wild jet skiing together and he got stuck into beach volleyball, snooker and football. I did the proud father/spectator thing. At my age, and after two total knee replacements in '95, I know my limits. I also have some arthritis in my arms, so the hot dry climate of Cyprus was just perfect for my joints and made me feel really great.
The beach was fabulous. Called Fig Tree Bay, it was definitely the best beach on the island, with golden sand stretching for ten miles along the coast and shelving gently down into the crystal clear Mediterranean. It was ideal for swimming, my favourite sport. The town of Protarus was purpose built for tourism. It was very family friendly and a great place for kids. They had every conceivable water sport on offer at the beach and, on top of that, there were two big water theme parks nearby, at Ayia Napa, for those who enjoy ‘thrills and spills'. I settled for swimming, snorkelling, lazing about in the sun and watching Alex tear about like a wild thing.
The next great thing about Cyprus was the food. Cypriot cooking is really tasty and there were no shortage of tavernas, bars and open-air seafood restaurants to try in Protarus. Two of my favourite meals were the local delicacy, Kleftico, and a hearty beef stew called Stifado. Kleftico is made with lamb and in Greek the name means ‘stolen meal'. There is a legend that this meal was made from a lamb stolen from a flock and cooked by the thief in a hole in the ground, sealed with mud, so no steam could escape and give him away. Nowadays, the lamb is sealed inside a paper package, which keeps the meat moist and traps in all the fragrant juices; it's truly delicious.
What was the worst part of our holiday in Cyprus?
Getting back on the dreaded aircraft and coming home! To make matters worse, it was a late night flight and we were pretty shattered. I think the airport staff felt the same way, because no one bothered to ask about the contents of the rucksack on the way through security there. I was also lucky enough to get a seat next to the emergency exit, so I had a little more room to stretch out, which was much appreciated.
I would recommend Cyprus to anyone who wants a really relaxing, warm holiday with plenty of water based activity and great food. Alex and I had such a good time we're already planning our next holiday adventure together.
Do I have any advice for fellow travellers with haemophilia?
Firstly, information is power. Do your research on the local health facilities, clinics and hospitals in the place you are visiting before you go. Secondly, know your limitations. Most people my age know what they can and can't do but when you are on holiday and feeling really good it's easy to overdo it, so think before saying yes to bungee jumping!
'Phil' (aged 40)
