"It's safer here than in Cyprus": Greek Cypriot tells about life in Minsk and his restaurant
Kyriakos Kyriaku, an ethnic Greek from Cyprus, moved to Belarus for his wife and opened a Greek restaurant.
Kyriakos Kyriaku, an ethnic Greek from Cyprus, moved to Belarus for his wife and opened a Greek restaurant in the center of Minsk. His story is about love, about adaptation and about finding his place, the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti news agency reports.
The Belarusian foreigner was introduced in Cyprus by their mutual friends.
- Our relationship lasted two years, then we got married. It was difficult at first. She often flew to Cyprus, I often flew to Belarus. The reason I'm here is my wife. This is a love story, quotes the words of the hero mlyn.by.
He first flew to Belarus in 2014 and was shocked by the harsh winter. However, over time I was able to positively assess the local climate: a lot of greenery, no abnormal heat, although the humidity is high.
Before opening the restaurant, K. Kiriaku planned to move with his wife to Cyprus, but several attempts to find a place for business failed. Then he decided to stay in Belarus.
At the same time, K. Kiriaku notes that Cyprus has become unsafe due to the influx of illegal migrants: leaving the keys in a prominent place, sleeping with the window open or not closing the car is risky.
- I have no such fears in Belarus, it is safer here than in Cyprus or Greece.
A year ago, the businessman opened a restaurant in Minsk. It is the only original Greek restaurant in Belarus. The main ingredient of the kitchen – olive oil – K. Kiriaku gets from his tree or from familiar producers. Oregano, paprika and sea salt are also imported from Greece or Cyprus. Vegetables are mostly Belarusian.
In addition, the restaurant observes Greek traditions: on birthdays, guests write wishes on plaster plates, which then breaks the birthday boy, and everyone dances sirtaki.
K. Kiriaku does not hide that he longs for Cyprus and considers it his country. But over the years he has adapted to Belarus and now calls it a second home. The only thing missing is the sun and the sea.
Photo by Minsk Pravda
