Northern Cyprus the Lost Gem
Northern Cyprus the Lost Gem
Northern Cyprus is arguably the most aesthetic part of this Mediterranean Island paradise. With its rich mountain ranges and chromatic valleys the North is probably more fecund too. There are hundreds of unspoiled beaches and the conventional Cypriot villages have exciting views out over the ocean. In fact many Greek Cypriots in the South would agree that Northern Cyprus is the better half of the Island too. Unfortunately however these Greek Cypriots no longer dwell on the North of the Island and see themselves as refugees or displaced persons. You see, in 1974 Turkey intruded on Northern Cyprus which they have resided ever since despite foreign disaproval and many trade embargoes
Nicosia in Cyprus is the last dived city in the world split by a 3kilometer buffer zone which is patrolled by troops of the U.N. peace keeping force. Buildings given up within this zone have staid unaffected since 1974 and the shreds of rinsing still on the clothes lines impart a supernatural air to the entire area. Visitors to the Greek Cypriot side of Nicosia can view this no mans land from several view points and even go forth comments in a visitors book too. The pages of this book state an affectional tale in many of the prayers and wishes that have been appended to it over the years. There is still a big strength of emotion and feeling environing the “Cyprus problem” even to this day by those that vividly retrieve the events of that time
Further East is the even more eerie specter of the resort town of Famagust most of which lies in dereliction within the buffer zone. Tourist trips to Northern Cyprus take people to see the remains of this once arrogant holiday resort and they can still see the shell damage to buildings with entire sides totally drifted out. Famagusta was once the premier resort of the whole Mediterranean and any luxury cruise worthy its salt would have berthed in Famagusta port. The resort has miles of albescent beachlike beach and the aesthetic Mediterranean ocean is crystal unclouded. Visitors to this “ghost town” can’t assist but finger the sad sense of loss that exudes from the crumpling buildings and miles of barbed wire
;If you take your Cyprus holidays in the Famagusta area of Southern Cyprus appear out for the photos and pictures of the town proudly exposed by many of the business owners. These people or their parents would have been driven from their homes with nothing more than they could transport. They would have misplaced everything they ever had when they took flight from Northern Cyprus including land, homes and businesses going forth them poor refugees. In spite of these loses most of them have reconstructed their lives and now have booming businesses in the South close to the border. For most of them however the level of emotion has not facilitated with the going through of time and seeing their former homeland across the border in Northern Cyprus doesn’t assist
Since Turkey has expressed a desire to join the European Union the “Cyprus problem” is once again being debated and pressure is being bought to bear. No one can predict how the deadlock will be resolved but it is likely that a resolution is on the cards in the not too distant future. The entire issue of Northern Cyprus is bound to opened up many older wounds and there has even been mouth about compensation including the return of Famagusta to Southern Cypriot ownership. Who can state? perhaps one day soon the aesthetic resort of Famagusta will boom once again and those cruise ships will tie up in her port. Then maybe, just maybe there will be no border and no state of Northern Cyprus
