h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today I'm going to introduce you to the complicated issue of opening hours. It's only after you've lived here for a good number of years that you partially begin to crack this wizardry - prior to that, you'll need plenty of forward-planning and a large degree of patience.

It is usually safe to assume that the shop or service that you require will be shut. There are a few exceptions; Periptero (small kiosks) and bakeries are open 24hrs/7days. In addition, Kafeneion (coffee shops) and Taberna are open until 2am - anything supporting the national pastimes of smoking, eating and socialising is encouraged, it would seem.

Any facilty operated by the public-sector or by workers-unions are open from 7am until 1pm unless it's a holday or a strike. All other business open when they feel like it. Wednesday is a half-day and Sunday is a no,no. If you can't imagine Ikea, Lidl or Marks and Spencer having a half-day, well, they do here.

All this tends to bring about problems for the workers. How do you do your banking or nip to the post office when your working hours are 7am to 1pm? Quite simply, you don't. Moves are being made to address this situation and it is now almost solved. Hairdressers ARE allowed to open on a Wednesday afternoon, but if they do, they must close on a Thursday. No other business is permitted the exception.

For the private-sector, things are a little more relaxed. Extended opening hours are the norm. Some shops are even known to open as late as 8pm. Bear in mind the time of year though. Winter and summer hours vary enormously and so does the lunch break. Expect most shops to be shut between 1pm and 5pm in the summer.

Public holidays need careful consideration. In general there are 18 of these a year, but usually a couple of extra are thrown in to satisfy the public-sector by providing an extra few days holiday in addition to their 5-weeks paid-leave and 13th salary. Again, all public services will be closed. Some private enterprises will be open depending on whether the holiday is a holy day or just a holiday. I've never got to the bottom of what determines this.

Once or twice a year you can be caught by surprise and find shops open on a Sunday. This usually happens in the run up to Christmas and Easter and at another random time (can't remember) when the government decrees that the annual sales are permitted. Most of the shops are empty though; no-one expected them to be open.

So, in summary, if you find yourself facing a closed door, don't be surprised. There's always the Cypriot failsafe - Avrio!

Enjoying reading this.

*checks opening times on thread, yup, tis 24/7*

Sounds challenging!