Coffee On The Go

Thirty Years on the Road: How I Found My Home in Coral Bay When I first arrived in Cyprus more than 30 years ago, I didn’t plan on staying. I came for work, driving for other people, learning the roads, the shortcuts, and the rhythm of life here. Back then, the airport at Paphos was much smaller, the roads less busy, and Coral Bay was still a sleepy stretch of coastline. I’d wait outside arrivals, watching tired holidaymakers step into the warm night air, clutching their bags and looking around for someone they could trust to take them to Peyia, Paphos City, or the villages further inland. At first, I was just another driver. But every journey left me with a story. A family’s excitement on their first trip to Cyprus. A couple returning every year to the same hotel in Coral Bay. The farmer who told me about the old vineyards in the Troodos mountains . And slowly, the island started to feel like home. From the Driver’s Seat to My Own Car After years of driving for others, I saved enough to buy my own taxi — an old Mercedes that had already seen better days. But to me, it meant freedom. I could finally work for myself, build relationships with regulars, and look after people the way I thought they deserved. It wasn’t about grand plans. It was about being reliable. Showing up on time. Knowing that if someone booked me for a Paphos Airport transfer at 2am , I’d be there. That trust became the foundation of what eventually grew into Coral Bay Taxi . What Has Changed Cyprus has changed a lot since then. The roads are busier. The hotels bigger. And if you search online for a taxi today, you’ll see dozens of names pop up- some official, some not. But some things have changed. Travelling is more frequent and travellers are more discerning now than thirty years ago. They should : Know their driver is licensed and insured . Feel safe getting into a car, whether it’s outside Paphos Airport or after a night in town. Start their holiday without stress, heading straight to Coral Bay, Peyia, or wherever they’re staying. That part hasn’t changed at all. The Stories That Stay With Me Over the years, I’ve driven honeymooners to Aphrodite’s Rock at sunset. I’ve carried three generations of one family who come back to the same villa in Coral Bay every summer. I’ve driven wedding parties up narrow village roads, and watched kids fall asleep in the backseat after a long day at the zoo. These are the journeys that have stayed with me.. not just the miles on the road, but the memories shared along the way. Still Here, Still Driving I didn’t know, when I first stepped off that plane, that Cyprus would become my home. But thirty years later, I’m still here. Still driving. Still meeting new faces every day and catching up with familiar ones who’ve been riding with us for years. So whether you’re landing at Paphos Airport , heading into the mountains, or just making your way down to the beach, I hope you’ll let us be part of your story too. - Robert