Inna @ Cyprus,

You should remember her songs that we had fun the whole summer all over the world. Yeah its right ! They are now at cyprus !

Here are the dates

12 march FRIDAY 2010 at Club ICEBERG ( Mağusa / Famagusta )
13 March Satuday 2010 at Mansion ( Girne / Kyrenia )

Hurry up ! the tickets will be on sale at the gates too, but dont forget that you can buy cheaper before the deadline

Before beginning to my post, I hope that you bought a nice digital/analog photo machine, if not, you came to the wrong island to buy electronic equipments.

Cyprus is very expensive in electronics. Never forget this warning

So anyways, lets start what to do at the first place.

If you are going to the NORTH part of Cyprus via air ( to Ercan airport in Nicosia / Lefkosa ) rent a car from the airport or get a taxi (to Kyrenia it is something arround 20pound). They are approximately 30-50 Pounds daily ( don’t forget that our traffic flows from the left side of the road same as U.K ) than I hope you look out the Hotels page from the left menu bar and have chosen one. I don’t want to say this hotel is the best but my advice to you is go somewhere to Kyrenia ( Girne in Turkish ) because it is a wonderfull place.

Go to a cheap hotel, trust me, there won’t be free time to spend in your Hotel room!

After you settled to your hotel lets go eat something!

What to eat?

Well there is a very big restaurant list on the left side but try to avoid fast food restaurants. Off course we have burger king (in a fake named Burger City) but I am pretty sure that you are sick of that too.

My advice is try to eat these;

This is Seftali Kebap which is my favorite. You know what Kebap is right? This is something different.. If you have cholesterol stay away but nothing hurts from one time right?

This is Hellim Cheese. No no, not a regular cheese! This cheese is the ONLY cheese that doesn’t melt in heat and we use this cheese in breakfast, in launch, everywhere possible. It tastes a little salty but when you put it in the griller ( as seen on the picture ) omg.. nothing else to say (out of records: try to find Özlem or Koop labeled ones in the supermarket).

The last and the most favorite meal that takes more then 3hours to cook is MOLEHIYA. A very healthy and tasty traditional meal which I can’t explain what it is.. You have to live it.

So, no more hungry I hope.
Lets see what we can do next.

What about lets go to some historical places. There is a list at the left side of the Menu where to go but If you are in Kyrenia my best advice is to go to the harbor which you saw the picture up the first one. It is a very beautiful place full of historical museums, arts and so more which I really can’t calculate them but my second favorite is the Bellapais Abbet Which has the Most beautiful view in the world.. Just go there and don’t ask any questions. Don’t forget to take as many batteries you can because you will take hundreds of photos there trust me!

So we went there and now we are tired. Do you want to drink a glass of wine next to the view of see in the harbor? Again, go there. Just ask any local Cypriot (Liman) they will show you. It is in the middle of Kyrenia. By the way I forgot to tell you that you can have a beautiful fish there too. It costs like 5-10 Pound s/ person.

More will come soon Keep in touch

Cuisine in North Cyprus

Being at the crossroads of South Europe, Africa and the Middle East, North Cyprus’s cuisine is heavily influenced by the cooking style of these regions. Though many dishes have overtones of these cuisines, North Cypriot cuisine has a heart of its own, being much lighter and tastier than all of them. Though many big hotels serve delectable dishes in the country, actual traditional North Cyprus’s delicacies can be enjoyed at numerous small restaurants laced throughout the country.

Meze is a good starting point if you are a newcomer to North Cypriot cuisine. It is an array of appetizers served with drinks. Combined with salad and breads, this can be turned into a wholesome main course. It consists of a whole lot of dishes, including ‘cacik’ (a yoghurt dish), chakistes(a green olive dish), humus, tahin, fried hellim, pickles, calamari and fried aborigines, served hot or cold.

Kebabs are another special type of cuisine from North Cyprus. A kebab is marinated meat cube skewered or grilled on charcoal, served on skewers, with bread or salads. shish kebabs(lamb marinated in herbs), donner kebabs and sheftali kebabs are the most famous.

Main course includes dishes like kofte(meatballs), dolma(stuffed meat or vegetables), musakka ( baked minced meat with potatoes topped with cheese), bumbar, and various other bean and vegetable dishes. Vegetarians also have a lot of options including molohiya, yalanci dolma(vine leaves with rice, onions and tomatoes), and the very famous cheese hellim.

Rich and heavy soups along with pilaf ( rice sometimes cooked with vegetables or meat) are favorite fillers along with these delicacies.

Dessert is one the most savory part of a North Cypriot meal. A wide variety of pastries filled with honey, nuts, cream, fruit, yogurt are on the menu. Coffee shops serve small cakes that are very filling and are a mini meal in themselves. lokma(fried delicacies covered in honey or syrup), ceviz macunu( green walnuts in syrup) and turunc macunu(oranges in syrup) are worth trying. A meal is generally rounded up with tasty Turkish Coffee, a medium-dark blend with foamy layer at the top.

Visit our North Cyprus Restaurants page for all restaurants, cafes and bars in North Cyprus.

An island for all seasons

North Cyprus enjoys the benefits from the Mediterranean climate with long hot summers, short winters and little rain. The temperature in summer reaches 30/35 degrees centigrade, while winter is mild with an average rainfall of 500 mm. Fascinating multi-coloured vegetation very dominates autumn, winter and spring. Olive and carob trees thrive in the country side, together with citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit plus melons and vegetables. Mountains are covered with sweet-smelling pines. While the coastlines offer bushes of acacia and eucalyptus. The landscape is ideal for goats and sheep and tourists are often delighted to see flocks being shepherded along peaceful by-ways.

Caretta Caretta & Chelonia mydas

Sea Turtles are found in plenty on the shores of North Cyprus especially between the months of May to August. The Alagadi Beach in North Cyprus is classified as a prohibited area to protect these endangered species from getting extinct. The two of the most endangered species of turtles are found on the deserted beaches of North Cyprus which is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea as the turtles come here to nest. There are only 300-400 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 2000 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) found in the Mediterranean Sea out of which 10% of the loggerhead varieties and 30% of the green turtles are found in the Mediterranean nest in North Cyprus. People are today trying their level best to protect these species from getting extinct.

The Sea Turtles in North Cyprus start their journey from land as they emerge from eggs laid by the female turtles that come to the land to lay their eggs. Their incubation period lasts for about 45-60 days on land. Once the eggs hatch the little ones make an attempt to reach the sea and anxiously swim on the sea waters where they live for the rest of their lives. As soon as they are 25-30 years old and 1-2 meters in length they migrate to the beaches to eat and reproduce. The female turtle lays 3-4 nests with each nest carrying around 100 eggs and she will nest every 1-3 years at the same beach every time. These turtles have a long life if they survive the initial years and live up to 160 years. There are two species of marine turtles nesting in North Cyprus which is the loggerhead and the green turtle variety. Although both the varieties are endangered the green turtle are more vulnerable.

There are over 80 beaches along North Cyprus and these are monitored closely for their turtle activity especially between the months of May to October. It is estimated that only a single hatching from among 2000 will make it to adulthood as most of the sea turtles do not survive till maturity. A group of ecologists and students have been studying and helping these rare species to survive to avoid them from getting extinct. The main causes of worry and threats to the Sea Turtles in North Cyprus are degradation due to increase in tourism and beach usage, sand extraction, direct and incidental catch in fisheries and nets of fishermen, destruction due to wild and domestic animals, and marine land based pollution. The Environmental Protection Office of Northern Cyprus in combination with environmental related NGOs is now very active in the protection of sea turtles. The environmental related NGOs include organizations such as society for protection of marine turtles, green peace movement of North Cyprus and North Cyprus national trust. Since 1992 over 200 students and staff from British universities have taken part in the yearly monitoring and preservation of sea turtles in North Cyprus. The work is carried out at the request and in combination with the members of the local society for the protection of turtles and the local department of environmental protection.

Some general information for you to keep on hand:
Mating time for these turtles is May/June
Hatching time is Aug/Sep
Nesting time is June/July

I hope that by through this article you can take away some general information on sea turtles in North Cyprus. If ever in the area on vacation or stay pay a visit to these wonderful beautiful creatures.

Visitors are welcome to observe this exciting experience!!!

The common mode of transportation in North Cyprus is by flight and ferries. If you are flying from England you can avail a flight from any of the three airports – Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow. Most of the flights arriving from European countries have to touch down at Turkey and then proceed onwards to North Cyprus. There are numerous ferry services operating between Turkey and North Cyprus.

North Cyprus by flight
There are restrictions on direct flights to North Cyprus. Since North Cyprus is not recognized as an autonomous state the entry ports to North Cyprus is only through Azerbaijan and Turkey. The airports that allow flights from other countries are the ones at Gecitkale and Ercan situated in the south. If you have a TRNC immigration stamp you may be denied entry into the country although the rules have been made more flexible now.

Since North Cyprus controls the Green Line from the part of Nicosia it does not restrict any passage from this direction. You do not require a valid visa and immigration stamp for these visits.

North Cyprus by ferry
You can get frequent ferry transportation from Girne and Gazi Magusa to the southern coasts of Alanya, Tasucu and Mersin. There are various ferries meant for transportation of passengers and car ferries are also available. The car ferries are comparatively slower than the passenger ferries.

Frequency of the ferries
While in North Cyprus you can avail the ferry services from Mersin to Gazimagusa or Famagusta three times a week.

There are passenger ferries and car ferries plying daily from Tasucu to Girne (Kyrenia) and the duration last for 2 hours. The distance from Girne(Kyrenia) to Tasucu is shorter. So it is advisable that you take this route to avoid the normal 8 hours of journey.

The car ferries are slower and take 4 hours to complete the journey.

There are also ferry services in the summer from Antalya, Alanya and Anamur to Girne (Kyrenia).

Companies providing the ferries
The two companies who are responsible for the ferry services between North Cyprus and Turkey are Akgunler Shipping and Fergun Shipping. Both the companies provide both passenger and car ferry services. You can contact both the companies for the schedules and rates of these ferries.

Passports and visas
A valid passport and an entry visa on arrival are necessary for entering North Cyprus.

Duty free goods
If you are an adult you are allowed upto either 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 500 gms of tobacco. The other duty free items are 1 litre of spirit or 1 litre wine and perfumes are permitted upto 100 cl. Exporting of antiques and materials which are of archaeological importance are illegal.

In 1921, after the fall of Acre, Crusaders began to settle in the town bringing with them the vast wealth they had accumulated in their conquests in the Holy Lands, creating, in Famagusta, the richest city in the Eastern Mediterranean. To proclaim the superiority of Christianity and to appease God of their sins, the inhabitants built churches all over the city. At one time there were 365 churches in Famagusta – one for every day of the year. Later conflicts between the Venetians and the Genoese in the city, coupled with the increasing amount of resources and energy being channelled into defence in fear of an Ottoman invasion, seriously hampered trade and further development of the city.

In 1571 the Ottomans took the city and Famagusta, no longer having strategic or economic importance, reverted to the insignificant port town – that it had been before.

During British rule much of the architectural heritage of Famagusta was lost when stone was taken from many historical sites to build the Suez Canal.

Places To Visit In Famagusta:The Kertikli Bath
St Barnabas Monastery
The Panaya Kanakaria Church
The Twin Churches
Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
Salamis Ruins
Church of St George of the Latins
Othello Castle
Namik Kemal Dungeon and Museum
Ravelin
Famagusta City Walls
Canbulat Tomb and Museum
Sinan Pasha Mosque
Ancient City of Alasia Enkomi
The Cathedral Sycamore Fig Tree
Royal Tombs and Museum
Enkomi Ruins Alasia
St George of the Greeks

Until 3 12 Be. Kyrenia was an independent city kingdom, but was then taken over by Salamis. The name Kyrenia is believed to date back to that time. Ptolemy(King of Salamis) apparently referred to the town as “Keravnia” which means Aphrodite with the Thunderbolt. During the tenth century, the Phoenicians settled relatively large amount of autonomy, allowing it to develop along its own lines. In fact, Kyrenia during Roman times was Christian even before Christianity had become the official religion of the Roman Empire. During Roman rule the importance of the port as an access to markets in Asia Minor helped the town in both stature and status.

In 1192 Girne fell to the Crusaders led by Richard the Lionheart, but was then handed on the Lusignans who divided the region into feudal estates. Interestingly, some place names closely resemble the names given to them by the Frankish overlords. The village of Temblos(Zeytinlik in Turkish) was the estate of the Knights Templar. Karmi village(Karaman in Turkish) was the property of the Carmelites. And Agrida(Agirdag in Turkish) was known as La Gride by the Franks. During Venetian rule the notifications of Kyrenia, which were also extensive during Frankish rule, were extended and strengthened. But their efforts were in vain as in 1571 the Ottomans took Kyrenia without a single shot being fired.

After the Ottoman conquest Kyrenia entered so meting of a decline due to the fact that as part of the greater Ottoman Empire, and surrounded by lands also within that realm, the strategic and economic value of the town was negligible.

After the British took over the administration of Cyprus in 1889 attempts were made to improve and renovate Kyrenia harbour with a view to increasing trade and shipping. However it was hard for the harbour to shake off its reputation as a ‘shipwrecker’.

In recent times Kyrenia has developed into a popular tourist resort, but fortunately for those who live in or visit the town it has never been overrun by tourists.

Places To Visit In Kyrenia:Old Kyrenia Harbor
Bellapais Abbey
St Hilarion Castle
Kyrenia Castle
Antiphonitis Church
Shipwreck Museum
Buffavento Castle
The Museum of Public Arts
Baldoken Graveyard
Arkhangelos Mikhael Church Ikon Museum
Antiphonitis Monastery
The Kyrenia Museum of Folk Art
Lambousa
Lapithos Lapta
Kirsokava Chrysokava
Hz. Omer Tomb
Sourp Magar Monastery
Necropolis of Karmi

The necropolis of the village of Karmi is thought to date from the Middle Bronze Age (c 1900-1625 BC). Here a number of rich chamber tombs have been excavated. On the wall of an access passage of a tomb the crude relief of a human figure has survived. This is the earliest relief of a human figure discovered on the island so far. In one of the tombs a Minoan ‘Kamares’ cup and blue faience beads from Egypt which suggest very early trading relations with Crete and Egypt were discovered. It is called ‘the tomb of the seafarer’ because it was believed ‘that the man probably walked down to the sea at Lapithos and took service with one of the vessels trading between the Syrian ports and the Aegean and that these objects are momentous of his travels’.