Beautiful Northern Cyprus
“I would rather own little and see the world than own the world and see little of it.”
Cyprus, south of Turkey, is the easternmost island in the Mediterranean, and the third largest after Sicily and Sardinia. The island has always been a melting pot of many cultures, and has been a significant crossroads for European, Asian and African influences, with a history that spans over 100 centuries.
Bogaz Beach, situated on the southern edge of the Karpas Peninsula
As children we travelled for almost a week from London to Cyprus, all six of us in a Volkswagen caravanette, camping along the way or sleeping in the van. There were no satnavs or Google maps back then! Dad just planned his route months in advance and used paper maps to plan out the entire trip. From Dover to Calais we journeyed by hovercraft (they are no longer in existence - the last hovercraft sailed 1st of October 2000). Over the choppy waters we went ...all hyper and excited as the journey had just began...through France and Germany, Austria and Bulgaria, then Yugoslavia, until we reached Turkey and then headed south. We boarded a boat across the turquoise Mediterranean to northern Cyprus. From 9 weeks of summer holidays from school, 2 were spent travelling and 4-6 weeks in Cyprus visiting grandparents, relatives - and the beach!! We kids felt like we had just died and gone to heaven as soon as we saw the beach and got a chance to dive in. We had no time to waste...we were not interested in being cooped up in some relative's house listening to gossip.
I was only 9 years old when we took that first big journey as a family. It was also the first time in 12 years that my parents went back to where they had left for London. It sure wasn’t London! It was relaxed and chilled out.....I could see the beauty even then. But now I am older and wiser, (LOL) I realise that my heritage is an amazing one from an amazing island, with great beauty, great food and great people; tucked away in the Mediterranean ocean.
Bogaz, a small fishing village, with a picturesque harbour from which the fishermen take their boats out every morning and return to sell their catch later in the day
Bogaz fishermen baskets and nets after the catch
On route to Topcukoy, seeing this amazing sunset over the fields
Kemeralti Asevi Restaurant, based in the small village of Büyükkonuk specialising in home cooked dishes and traditional Turkish handmade pastas
Homemade traditional Turkish pasta
Homemade traditional Turkish pasta
One of my all time favourites - Turkish pasta with loads of grated hellim (Cypriot cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk) with mint in tomato sauce-simply yummy!
Followed by the traditional shot of Turkish coffee
Cyprus has many homemade cheeses in addition to a wide variety of cheeses imported from Turkey
Friday market where all the organic produce from local farms are sold
Artichokes
Artichoke hearts with a little salt - a traditional Turkish appetiser
Cypriot oranges fresh from the farms
Beautiful Turkish women
Travelling to Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach - famous for its nesting beach for both Loggerhead Turtles and Green Turtles. Loggerhead Turtles and Green Turtles travel thousands of miles to return to the beach where they were born and they then lay their eggs, which is between 100 - 200. What an amazing fact :)
Unspoilt, uncrowded, beautiful stretches of sand as far as the eye can see, kissed with the currents of the beautiful Mediterranean sea
The never ending walk to the vast beach
Man's best friend after a dip in the sea
A stop at Hemingway's Restobar for a cold drink and some Turkish mezzes, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the harbour
Harbour view
What better place to putt a golf ball, over looking the Mediterranean
Melandra House in Agios Sergios, Cyprus
Turkish house restored brick by brick - now a museum for people to visit
Oven used for baking bread, Melandra House
Entrance of a Turkish house with Turkish jasmine surrounding the doorway
Girne (Kyrenia) noted for its historic harbour and castle, with its history dating back to the end of the Trojan War - 13th or 12th century BC. We walked along the cobbled streets and ate delicious Turkish snacks washed down with a nice Turkish coffee
Girne (Kyrenia), cobbled streets, with shops and restaurants
Salamis Bay Beach, just in front of Salamis Ruins.
Salamis Ruins - situated north of Famagusta at the base of the Karpas Peninsula - lie the remains of the city of Salamis, the capital of Cyprus as far back as 1100 BC. Salamis Ruins was an ancient Roman city, most of which is now underwater in the Mediterranean Sea. I never ever tire of visiting this fantastic site and sitting peacefully wondering how life may have been back then.....
Salamis Ruins
Salamis Ruins
Salamis Ruins
Salamis Ruins
The famous St Nicolas Cathedral, also known as the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque- 1298-1312
The stained glass window in the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
Turkish pine tree
On the plane flying back after an amazing time in beautiful Northern Cyprus heading towards Istanbul airport before venturing back home
Google Maps- Cyprus