The Turkish Republic of North Cyprus is an interesting place for a holiday - not least because it doesn't exist...
If you are looking for sophistication, golden sands and five star hotels then perhaps I would also suggest that it is not the place for you. But for all that, it does have the feel of the the Greek islands as they were 40 years ago before the Great God Tourism took over and fucked the place up completely.
The last time I was in Cyprus - the southern bit - things were a little more strained between the two halves. You couldn't cross the border between the two halves because if you tried then you got shot at. The only way to get in to the Turkish Republic - or as the southern Cypriots call it "the occupied territories" - was to fly in via Istanbul and then only if you didn't have a Greek stamp in your passport. And if the Turks stamped your passport then you had to get a new one if you wanted to go to Greece. Just too much hassle; so you avoided the place altogether. And because of this, the tourist industry never really got off to a flying start.
We flew into Larnaca and crossed the border at Nicosia. You fill in your passport details on a piece of paper and they stamp that instead of your passport. They do the same on the way out and then you conveniently misplace the piece of paper before you get to the airport. That way you can pretend that you never went to the place that officially doesn't exist anyway. Still, if keeps then happy then why rock the boat?
For a place that hasn't officially existed since the invasion / liberation in 1974, it's rather difficult for the Greeks to ignore the bloody great flag chiseled in to chalk on the hills overlooking Nicosia. It's a sort of great big 'fuck you' sign really. It's particularly attractive at night when they illuminate it. Kinda makes the piece of paper routine look a bit silly really...
It gets even sillier when you consider the EU. The EU doesn't recognise that the North exists, so they only let Cyprus join as an entity. They held two referenda. In the North they voted 74% Yes and in the South they voted 75% No. You need to bear in mind that the population is much higher in the South. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004. Let's hope that if we ever get our referendum, they actually take notice of the result!
Like I said, interesting place the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus / occupied territories - depending how you look at it...
8 comments:
They held two referenda. In the North they voted 74% Yes and in the South they voted 75% No. You need to bear in mind that the population is much higher in the South. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004.
I think you are referring to the Annan plan for the reunification of Cyprus which was rejected by the South.
The South was overwhelmingly in favour of joining the EU in the belief that membership would solve the 'Cyprus Problem'.
Of course it hasn't. It has just pushed up taxes, made everything more expensive and introduced endless rules and regulations that benefit the country not one bit.
I stand corrected but in my defence I was given this information by a Turkish Cypriot!!
The reason for the Souths no vote was because the North was in such a poor state due to its isolation.
If they re-unified then joined the EU all of the incoming structural funds would have gone to the North and the South would have dipped out
So after all the political breastbeating naked self interest won the day
I stand corrected but in my defence I was given this information by a Turkish Cypriot!!
You're beginning to see why one side calls it the TRNC and the other The Occupied territories!
Who was it said "There's three sides to every story - yours, mine and the truth!" Seems particularly apt in this case...
just simple ignorance your comments are based on your deslike of the greek cypriots.
Have you even bother reading the Annan plan? do you know at least the basics of this plan?
as for the f...y.. sign try to remember that it is Turkey and its military machine with an army that numbers twice of the whole population of cyprus who invaded the island.
it is easy to write and comment of a subject and place away from home.
I could write of how did many countries became GREAT with cruelties-wars and stealing other countries richess.
But what i would like to see is WALES And SCOTLAND declaring themselves countries wth official borders and currencies.
Hope to your support.
And that's how you get the worms out of the can ;o)
Sorry, but how is criticising the Turks for sticking two fingers up to the Greeks showing dislike of the Greeks? Suggest you re-read the article which I thought supported the Greek viewpoint against the Turkish invaders.
I have been to Greece many, many times over the years and have studiously avoided Turkey. My first experience last year (see previous posts) was that my aversion to holidaying in Turkey was well founded and my recent trip to TRNC has not changed my opinion. It was OK, but I have no plans to visit Turkey or North Cyprus again.
I also have to admit that the constant wailing calls to prayer from the minarettes really got on my tits after a few days!
As regards Wales and Scotland, I support Scottish independence - or at least the right of the Scottish people to decide - and have been pilloried by the Welsh for saying they should have the guts to vote for a full pariament and then piss their own money up the wall, not ours.
Either my English is not clearly written or your understanding of it is limitted?
Hope that clarifies my opinion.
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