maverickbirdIn the spring of 2017, we combined work with pleasure to visit Northern Cyprus. Tarek had some professional meetings to attend there and we went along with him. The short flight via Bucharest was uneventful and we landed in Larnaca late in the evening. The “North-South” confusion started immediately upon landing and soon I found myself strangely entangled in Cyprus‘s famous rift.
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The divided island of Cyprus
An old orange seller walks past Buyuk Hamam, an old Turkish bathhouse in northern Cyprus
A beautiful Mediterranean island, Cyprus is sadly divided into two parts and one claims complete autonomy from the other. Though Cyprus is an enlisted member of the European Union, in reality only the Southern part is considered to be a part of Europe and Turkey claims the northern part to be a part of its territory. So, while a Schengen visa is enough to fly down to Southern Cyprus, going to the northern part of the island is an entirely new story. To visit Northern Cyprus, certain nationalities need a Turkish visa and the currency used there is the Turkish Lira.
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Slicing up of homes and lives
One of the divided capitals of the world
Until recently, the residents of the two were not allowed to cross over and the island was divided by UN Buffer Zone. Though this situation has improved with time, till now Nicosia remains the last divided capital in the world, with the official dividing “Green Line” slicing it into two parts. Thus, it is quite obvious, that tourism, especially in the Turkish part is much affected by this confusion and over the years many myths have enveloped the island. Like many people, I too had many misconceptions about this lovely island and to be able to visit Northern Cyprus was a huge thing for me.
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Why should you visit Northern Cyprus?
It turned out to be an eye-opening affair that cleared a lot of my misconceptions and here I am sharing a sneak peek of our impressionable trip. Full of history, heritage, incredible natural beauty, lovely culture, and golden beaches, Northern Cyprus seems to have it all. The island which is the birthplace of mythological beauty Aphrodite has immense potential and the present political situation is simply heartbreaking. So, here‘s hoping that the upcoming unification talks in Switzerland turn out to be fruitful and Cyprus returns to being what it was once upon a time – a safe home of the peace-loving Cypriots.
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Nicosia is the
Last divided capital
In the world.
This is a truly
Gorgeous Mediterranean island with
Beautiful Greek history,
And centuries-old Turkish heritage.
It is a time-warped place
With a modern twist.
Northern Cyprus is blessed
With stunning natural beauty
And the island has a
Delicious multi-cultural cuisine.
Then there is the great mild Mediterranean climate.
Visit Northern Cyprus for gorgeous mosques,
Fairytale like cathedrals,
Awesome food, and
Strange political intrigues like
The ghost town of Varosha.
Northern Cyprus is
Very picturesque,
Exotic, photogenic,
With an incredible
Modern and ancient history.
Here‘s what other bloggers have to say about their Northern Cyprus experience.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVELING-BECAUSE I CARE