A reminder that Cyprus remains a divided island. The northern third being occupied by Turkey. It has been this way since the summer of 1974. Famagusta or Varosha as the Greeks called the new town was full of posh hotels, but now stands as a ghost town, with the only people that enter it being United Nations soldiers. The Greeks would dearly love to have it back ( it would have to flattened after all this time) but the Turks dangle this bit of rotting meat in front of them. I’m not saying the Turks were the bad guys, on the contrary, the Turks were treated badly by the Greeks, but they have yet to reach an agreement to reunite the island.
These pictures were taken from a moving car as we travelled the corridor road from Dhekelia to Ay Nik yesterday. These are Turkish observation posts, they are all armed & have been known to shoot at those trying to breach the border. Some are of the abandoned village of Achna too, as seen from the road! We used to travel this road all the time when we lived here. Not your average tourist photos!
A sad sight indeed. We were only allowed to go inside the walled city in Famagusta when we went to Northern Cyprus during our tour. Unfortunately we took a wrong turn and ended up briefly in Varosha it was a scary time as we thought we were going to be shot. Luckily we found our way back quickly. Did you go to Northern Cyprus when you were posted there?
@onewing yes Babs, have been several times. They have some of the best antiquities, but aren’t looking after them. Salamis & bellapais. You can look into Verosha through the wire & it’s as as it was , there is a laundry van with laundry still in the backv etc. You can still go into the walled city.
@onewing We did Northern Cyprus quite often. We were allowed over twice a year on our first tour ‘82-‘85 and as often as we wanted on our second tour ‘95-‘98. We did the old walled town of Famagusta, Kyrenia (Turks call it Girné), Belapaise, St Hilarion Castle and Kanyara on the pan-handle also. I lived in Cyprus as a child, ‘68-‘71 and Northern Cyprus is how I remember all of the island as a kid.
@phil_sandford We were there from '83-'86. Lots going on at that time wasn't there.
We went to all the places Phil has mentioned.
David was there for a short time in '69 too just before we got married.
@onewing Carole and I went up to Bellapais one day. It was closed. Whilst having a coke in the cafe, a man offered to open it just for us. We spent a couple of hours with the place to ourselves. When we left, to head back down to the Kyrenia road, the road down from Bellapais had vanished. It had been dug up and ploughed 🤣 (guess that was why the place was closed)
@phil_sandford Ha ha indeed. We followed the signs once from Erimi to Troodos and came to a junction, Troodos to the left, Troodos to the right and Troodos straight on, we followed the straight on road and the road got worse and worse until it disappeared altogether and we had to drive through a dam they were building before returning to the road again. As you say only in Cyprus. Its okay, no problem.
@onewing ha ha that happened to us once up Troodos! On the same occasion it was good Friday & we just managed to coast into Kakapetria before the garage shut for Easter! Phew!
So long ago; it’s a shame they can’t come to an agreement and reunite the island.
@onewing We did Northern Cyprus quite often. We were allowed over twice a year on our first tour ‘82-‘85 and as often as we wanted on our second tour ‘95-‘98. We did the old walled town of Famagusta, Kyrenia (Turks call it Girné), Belapaise, St Hilarion Castle and Kanyara on the pan-handle also. I lived in Cyprus as a child, ‘68-‘71 and Northern Cyprus is how I remember all of the island as a kid.
We went to all the places Phil has mentioned.
David was there for a short time in '69 too just before we got married.
@onewing Carole and I went up to Bellapais one day. It was closed. Whilst having a coke in the cafe, a man offered to open it just for us. We spent a couple of hours with the place to ourselves. When we left, to head back down to the Kyrenia road, the road down from Bellapais had vanished. It had been dug up and ploughed 🤣 (guess that was why the place was closed)
Only in Cyprus 🇨🇾🇨🇾