The tour started with a bang on Wednesday the 26th April 2023 when we arrived at the Queens Bay Hotel, Coral Bay Road, Kissonerga, Paphos after an overnight journey via Bristol Airport arriving at the hotel by early afternoon and we took some time out to enjoy the obvious pleasures of the Queen’s Bay with some entering the pool and others having a quiet afternoon engaged in a fact finding mission with the rest of the guests. We shared stories and made arrangements for later in the week when the Choir were due to sing at the Hotel.
The food was divine, a buffet style evening meal enjoyed by all in readiness for the Karaoke evening that night hosted by a DJ whose mother was from Tonypandy Music Maz https://fb.watch/koBpn3VmP0/ . There was a mad rush for the microphone despite the tiredness which was setting in rapidly. We had great performances by the choristor’s and also a cameo role by the intrepid Vice President Davie Scott from Edinburgh who stole the show.
Thursday was a free day and we met in Paphos harbour later that evening at 6 pm for an evening aboard the Ocean Vision courtesy of our incredible Captain and Bus Driver Dinos who was ever present all week in some capacity and he was also a singer entertainer who was an accomplished guitar player! The boat was incredible the meal was fantastic and we provided Dinos and the crew with a short recital which was really well received.
And then it was showtime on Friday the 28th when we appeared at the Timi Community Centre with the fabulous Judith Kathleen Evans. We were fortunate enough for the concert to be introduced by none other than Wales and British Lion Centre Steve Fenwick. We sung a varied selection which had been selected especially for our audience who hailed from Cyprus, Britain and all over Europe. The programme was well received and the choir enjoyed the positive feedback from the audience before during and after the event. After the Concert we retreated to the Treehouse Bar which is in the village where we sung a few more show stoppers being careful not to repeat any of the official programme.
Saturday was the night of the official concert at the Queen’s Bay Hotel. We assembled for another excellent early evening meal and we were on stage by 830pm everyone as keen as mustard. The lounge area was packed and the audience had arrived from various countries all attracted by the prospect of a unique show by a Welsh Male Voice Choir. We wooed them with Welsh classics, songs from the shows and eventually a medley of tunes from the British Isles. The place erupted and the videos have already gone viral with much positive feed back. Morlais were truly back after Covid and back with a bang! Stuart tinkled the ivories on a class grand piano and John was the perfect host and conductor for the evening. We finished with another selection of different social songs and Edmundo by this time was in full swing with his Salsa lessons for the ladies of the Choir and also the audience eventually! Also his War Chronicles were in full swing giving a blow by blow account of proceedings and providing excellent daily reading for the party. ( More on that in a separate post)
Sunday was a free day and by now we had learnt of shopping trips to the old town, visits to the ultra modern mall in Paphos, walks along the Coast path, visits to the little bar on the hill the Kambana and exploration of the ancient ruins that surrounded us. That night we were singing in the Sapphire Bar to a full house after a meal at the large indoor and outdoor venue. Another great performance and we were joined at one point by the owner who is also an accomplished Elvis Presley tribute artist for a rendition of An American Trilogy. That night it was back to the Hotel for another of our regular nightcaps.
Monday and we are in the back straight now it was the trip on the bus around the island with Captain Dinos ably guided by Paul and Judith. We visited St Raphaels which is a wonderfully ornate Church on a promontory overlooking the beach where we sung Gwahoddiad for the lucky visitors who happened to be there and there is a link to this among the pictures on this post. We feasted at the Souli Beach Hotel and we sung a few songs for the assembled guests the wine flowed and Paul from the Cambrian decided it was time for a dip in the Mediterranean . Monday also saw us meet Nicoletta who is still working in the Atlantic where we stayed back in 2011 and she is still the wonderful host and people person we left back then! That evening there was an expedition to Coral Bay and to the Blazing Saddles Bar. We were entertained by a Michael Jackson and a Cher Tribute the night was a good one and Alwyn was overcome with joy when a scantily clad Cher decided to sing him a happy birthday for no apparent reason!
Tuesday and its pack the bags ready for the trip home on Wednesday and we met down the harbour for a meal and a last days celebration. Some of the boys went on a boat trip and swum in the Blue Lagoon which was a real treat for them and they joined us later for a meal at the Captains Bistro. We entertained the harbour for an hour or so and we were joined by the waiters when we sung the Cypriot national anthem. The last evening was spent at the Queens Bay and we slipped quietly to bed at midnight to prepare for the journey home.
