North Cyprus Blogs

Ditch the Euro, embrace the Lira!

2008-05-07T17:45:00.003+02:00

The UK Times Money section has published a list of the top five currencies that are great value for UK holiday makers at the moment - and the Turkish Lira is one of them! Even though the exchange rate is not actually as good as last year, Anthony Rice of Travelex is quoted as saying; "Your money certainly goes a long way in Turkey.”

Yes, you've spotted my gripe already! The Times article doesn't even mention that North Cyprus uses the Turkish Lira. So, once again, North Cyprus loses out on publicity.
However, I've been browsing some travel forums recently, and am constantly amazed as to how many people don't know what currency various European countries use. There are endless questions along the lines of "What currency shall I bring to Cyprus?", and equally depressing answers that still mention the Cypriot pound, AND leave out any mention of the difference between north and south.

So, it's time to take up the challenge! With the Turkish Lira being such a good buy for the UK, this is the year to plug a TRNC holiday to all your friends as not only fun, sun-filled and relaxing, but also cheaper than in any Eurozone country. And that includes hotels, so they don't all have to stay in your villa all summer to save cash!!

A Happy SeaTerra Reserve customer

2008-03-04T12:58:00.002+02:00

If I had listened to all the bad stuff in the press about buying property abroad, I would never have come to North Cyprus, and just sat at home moaning about the weather. But if I had never come to North Cyprus, I would not be the proud owner of a place in the sun at SeaTerra Reserve.

North Cyprus has had such a bad press, and everyone said "oh, it's really difficult to buy", "you'll get ripped off", etc. Well, buying was easy, we haven't been ripped off and in fact we're very happy with progress so far. We've been out again to see how "our" space in the olive trees with a number on it has turned into a smart apartment block, and even the wife is impressed!

Our daughter's been trying to buy a new home in the UK, and the quality of some of the workmanship on some of the new builds she saw was terrible. Our apartment is much better built, with a more quality finish and certainly much better views.

To everyone thinking about buying in North Cyprus, get out here and see for yourself, and for all you Sea Terra buyers, I'll be there in May (fingers crossed) to soak up the sun and sink some beers!

Dave and Sue from Dudley, West Midlands

Why not book your hotel in Kyrenia online in 2008?

2008-02-28T22:39:00.005+02:00

Need a hotel in Kyrenia but don't know where to look? Fed up with trawling through endless web sites and travel brochures?

Then relax, because KyreniaHotels.co.uk has arrived, and we just can't wait to tell everyone here at the Cyprus 44 community all about it!

The team at goNorthCyprus Travel Ltd have been burning the midnight oil to create this unique one-stop online shop for booking your Kyrenia hotels. At last you can choose from 20 top Kyrenia hotels all on one site, from the family-friendly Acapulco Beach Club & Resort Hotel to the stately grande dame hotel of Kyrenia, the Dome Hotel.

As you've come to expect from the goNorthCyprus team, our new site is quick and easy to use, with three great features you are going to love:

We're online, not in an expensive office, so we can offer you amazing prices on Kyrenia hotels all year round.
Special Offers. All the latest discounts and exclusive free upgrades you just won't find at any other web site.
Over 20 Great Hotels to Choose From. You'll find your favourites here, including the cool and curvy Malpas Hotel and our new addition Colony Hotel, with up to date information and some great new pictures too.

We know many Cyprus 44 forum regulars already live in North Cyprus, and get lots of UK visitors as a result! So, if your villa is just too small for the mother-in-law to stay, you can now book her a lovely room in a comfortable Kyrenia hotel, can't you?!

We'd love you to try out the new site, so feel free to explore our brand new Kyrenia Hotels Booking Website, and discover the best hotels Kyrenia has to offer. Let us know your views too, by posting comments to this blog - we'd love to hear from you. And if you think our new site is good, tell all your friends about it, so they can save time, money and frustration with an instant online quote on hotel accommodation in Kyrenia.

Thanks!

The goNorthCyprus Team

North Cyprus Property Investment as a Business

2008-01-16T14:33:00.000+02:00

The recent post in the Cyprus 44 forum "Property investment as a business here - your views?" has set me thinking. Poster Mish (a professional international development economist, whatever that might be!) has been looking at the TRNC market with a keen eye for the margins.

Basically, his post boils down to three fundamental issues of investing in property in North Cyprus:

1) Long-term rental verses short term holiday lets?

2) If holiday lets, where?

3) If holiday lets, is there a market?

He's quite happy to consider the familiar property developer technique of flipping (selling an off-plan property before completion at a profit), yet is concerned with the number of completed and unoccupied properties for sale around Esentepe.

And here is the crux of the problem. Those eager property investors who bought off-plan for profit now face the same problem as flat owners in Leeds and other UK cities; in some developments, supply currently outstrips demand. (Please note I said, currently.)

The number of empty properties seen in developments are not attractive to those looking for a bustling location for family holiday lets, nor to those looking for a friendly retirement haven. Couple this with the downturn in tourist numbers, and the demise of holiday firms such as Cyprus Paradise, and us TRNC property owners must start to wonder if it's time to stick our heads in the nearest gas oven.

Of course, it's not. North Cyprus is not a market for making a quick buck, despite the sales hype from developers, but neither is the UK anymore. British property investors have been spoilt by great returns on a rising market for years, and it's made them greedy and impatient.

So, I'd ask them to take another view, and think outside the profit margins. Making an investment in North Cyprus property is also making an investment in North Cyprus itself, stating you have confidence in the Turkish Cypriot people and this country’s future. A solution will come, and each day it's getting closer. It won't make millionaires out of any of us overnight, nor will it necessarily be an easy ride, but I for one am here for the long term. As Julie Andrews sang, "I have confidence"!

I also have a great lifestyle, a lovely home, sunshine 300 days a year and wonderful neighbours. Perhaps Mish might like to leave the profit-chasing and chill out for a while in North Cyprus - it won't make him rich but it might make him happy!

North Cyprus Weather in February

2008-01-10T22:51:00.000+02:00

Toon Army's post asking about the weather in February on the Cyprus44 forum has reminded me just how lucky we are in North Cyprus. Couple that with the dark, damp, misery I experienced in London before Christmas, and I feel doubly blessed to be back home again!

It's all too easy to start complaining when the rain falls in North Cyprus, to shiver at the slightest draft, or huddle up to a fire in a restaurant muttering about the cold. In fact, we've had a couple of sunny days recently where I discarded my fleece and enjoyed a few rays on my terrace. OK, not suntan weather, but certainly not overcast, damp and grey either.

It's exactly this kind of mild weather that attracts so many tourists to south Cyprus all year round, so I think it's about time we started telling the world that the lovely winter weather doesn't stop north of the Troodos! North Cyprus is a year-round destination, and if more holiday apartment and villa owners like Toon Army would come year round, it would benefit them and North Cyprus.

New property developments would be less like ghost towns out of season, more local restaurants could afford to open throughout the year, and TRNC traders would not have to work so hard during the summer months if a winter source of income were available.

I love North Cyprus out of season, when I can walk on the beaches and see nothing but the horizon, when I can hike through the mountains and hear nothing but birds, or wonders of wonders, get a table in a Kyrenia harbour restaurant!

Yes, more out of season visitors might increase my chances of meeting someone on the beach, but I'd rather see more visitors and know they were spreading the good word back home, than know that for the local economy, silence is not so golden.

12 Days of Christmas Reasons to Move to North Cyprus

2007-12-26T13:38:00.000+02:00

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Why do I do this? Every year I vow that I will NOT visit the UK anytime within a tinsel’s length of Christmas, and yet every year I find myself sucked into the shopping frenzy that seems to extend from October onwards until the Queen’s Speech. However, this does ensure that I almost kiss the tarmac at Ercan the minute I get back to North Cyprus!

So, in a spirit of North Cyprus Christmas good cheer here’s my “12 Days of Christmas Reasons to Move to North Cyprus”. (Not the snappiest of titles I know, but you get the idea!)!

On the First Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Fresh fruit off a tree. You should hear the fuss in the UK at the moment about ‘food miles’ and the advantages of buying local produce. We know – it doesn’t get much fresher than off your own vine or tree, after all!

On the Second Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Two Migrating Birds. They know the best place to stop off for a rest – North Cyprus! The BBC dedicated two weeks of primetime TV to Autumn Watch this year, the highlight of which was the non-arrival of massive flocks of starlings. I rest my case.

On the Third Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Three Fresh-faced Tourists. I love meeting new tourists to North Cyprus, as every new visitor means one less prejudiced viewpoint, replaced with a happy memory.

On the Fourth Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Four Skype Calls. Thank heavens for Skype! No idea what I’m talking about? See the forum posts!

On the Fifth Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Five Golden Beaches. Well, more than five of course, but we all have our secret favourite, don’t we?

On the Sixth Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Six Great Restaurants. That stay open even when the tourists go home – hoorah! Nominate your top three at the forum if you like.

On the Seventh Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Seven Months of Swimming. Or thanks to solar panels, even more!

On the Eighth Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Eight Pints of Milk. For my cup of monkey-brand, builder’s strength tea – there are some British habits I just can’t shake off!

On the Ninth Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Nine Ladies Dancing in a Truly Traditional Fashion. I do try and take visitors to authentic North Cyprus events, but they are few and far between, it seems. What’s your favourite?

On the Tenth Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Ten Lords A’Sleeping. Let’s face it, at times, it is just too hot for lords to be leaping about, at which point we all do the sensible thing, and have a snooze...

On the Eleventh Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Eleven Pipers Piping. Pipe in the New Year by celebrating the small steps made towards North Cyprus being accepted by the EU. Remember what a hassle it used to be crossing the border to the south? Exactly!

On the Twelfth Day of Xmas, North Cyprus Gave to Me:
Twelve Drummers Drumming. I’ll reserve my drumming moment for when there is no border at all!

Hope you had a great Christmas and best wishes for a great 2008.

Kathy

A Day on Escape Beach in North Cyprus

2007-11-15T16:43:00.000+02:00

One of our Cyprus44 visitors who comes to North Cyprus for holiday, emailed me the other day with his comments about the high cost of entrance fee to Escape Beach in North Cyprus. I got permission from him to publish this:

I have recently returned home after a lovely holiday in Northern Cyprus. This was my fifth visit and was extremely dissapointed at the cost of a day on Escape Beach.

My family usually holiday with me. This includes children as well as adults. There were nine of us this trip. We always spend at least four days of our holiday on escape beach.

We were shocked this year when we were charged 15ytl per person. As you can imagine this was an expensive day for members of my family who have three children. Needles to say, we spent one day there.

I cannot understand how the cost has risen so much, as none of the facilities have changed that much.

We love to come to Northern Cyprus, as its a beautiful place, friendly locals, and is also great value for money, which is a pull for families.

I do hope you are not going to price yourself too high as I feel you would loose out on custom. In fact I drove passed the Escape beach on several occassions and it was pretty empty compared to previous years (we always visit in October).

Famagusta Cyprus on World Monuments Watch

2007-08-01T15:30:00.000+02:00

After my recent trip to Barcelona, a friend reminded me that since June, another great city with a fascinating past, Famagusta, was on the World Monuments Watch (WMW) List of 100 Most Endangered Sites. This list is produced every two years to highlight sites of cultural heritage at risk, and it makes disturbing reading.

Anyone who has visited the old walled city of Famagusta will know that those magnificent walls and battle-scarred buildings are an irrisistable draw for visitors, yet the WMW list a myriad of problems the city faces. The WMW report says:

"Lack of funding and expertise in the northern Cyprus heritage sector has proved detrimental to the welfare of 9,000 years of cultural heritage. Frescoes are bleached by the sun in summer and rained upon every winter; walls of churches and palaces are unstable and appear ready to tumble; cut sandstone is friable and crumbling, and what is viable is often removed from historic sites for reuse; old buildings are inappropriately used; and exponentially increasing numbers of concrete foundations are being poured to accommodate and rapidly growing university population. Watch listing is intended to call attention to the plight of Famagusta, a site of historic importance suffering as a result of its modern political situation."

Interestingly, the Architectural Record places Famagusta into the category of "Sites Threatened by Conflict: Whether past, ongoing, or imminent, conflict has become one of the most severe threats to cultural heritage." Not that this is a list of shame, more a reflection on how political events can affect ancient monuments. Also in the category is the Church of the Holy Nativity, Bethlehem, and the entire Cultural Heritage Sites of Iraq.

Sadly, many of North Cyprus' most ancient sites could also come under a couple of other categories, such as "Sites Threatened by Economic and Development Pressures: Often historic sites suffer in the interest of short-term gains that result in long-term losses. New construction often means destruction of historic places." We know what that feels like too.

Or, Famagusta could join the Historic Cities category: "With contemporary culture placing more value on modernity, historic cities and their local traditions are having an especially difficult time maintaining their way of life in a rapidly changing world.” One such example is Lima in Peru, whose issue have a familiar ring to them; "Its wealthy inhabitants built houses, palaces, gardens, and churches that were considered the most opulent and ostentatious in the Americas. Hundreds of monuments and thousands of residences in the city’s historic center are abandoned and threatened by collapse."

So, what can we do about this? As more property developments spring up across North Cyprus, more and more people will want to experience this delightful county we call home. No everyone will want to sunbathe and drink beer all day, and if the precious heritage of North Cyprus is not preserved, there will be less to attract the holiday maker who prefers culture to kebabs. So, I suggest you take your friends and visitors to historic sites, kicking and screaming if necessary! Show them the iconic columns of Salamis, the massive walls of Famagusta, the breathtaking views from St Hilarion Castle. Let them sit under the Tree of Idleness at Bellapais, feel the breeze on their faces at the palace at Vuoni, or discover an abandoned church in the Karpaz. Support those sites that are cared for, and bring attention to those that need care. If we value it, and visitors value it, then it becomes valuable, and worth preserving.

North Cyprus and Barcelona

2007-07-23T14:20:00.000+02:00

Sometimes it takes a trip away from North Cyprus to remind you how lucky we are here. The talk amongst many ex-pats here is of the explosion in North Cyprus property construction, and how new apartment complexes and hotel seem to be springing up every day. It’s sometimes hard to remember that we are not alone in this – just ask any Spaniard or south Cyprus Aphrodite Hills resident...

So, when I visited Barcelona a couple of weeks ago, I thought I’d get a break from construction and builders, but the city was filled with the sound of construction from dawn to dusk. However, in Barcelona most of the work being done was to renovate existing buildings. From Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece the Sagrada Familia cathedral, to ordinary 19th century apartment blocks, craftsmen and builders worked side by side to improve their city for the future. Nobody seemed to mind that whole streets had been closed for months with the construction of the new Metro, or that in certain areas, the skyline was a maze of towering cranes. If it meant a better Barcelona, all well and good.

Perhaps that’s what we are in danger of forgetting with our own property developments in North Cyprus. Most new developments are working hard to be sympathetic with the environment, (although we can all name those which are determined to stand out as much as possible). The aim to provide properties that will improve and enhance existing areas, rather than exploit or over-run them. If this ensures a better, more prosperous North Cyprus, then all well and good.

Of course, the other lesson from Barcelona is not to neglect the historical buildings we already have, beyond the high profile castles and churches. You only need to look at the crowds flocking to the harbour at Kyrenia or north Nicosia to see that historic areas are very attractive to visitors. Perhaps every new development permitted should contribute in some way towards restoration of older areas, so that both new build and historical buildings benefit from the current North Cyprus property boom.

The Other Cyprus......

2007-07-05T10:24:00.000+02:00

We can never be sure that the opinion we are endeavouring to stifle is a false opinion; and if we were sure, stifling it would be an evil still. - John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859.

Stifling an opinion - And this what the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) from the South Cyprus, a member of the European Union plans to do after finding out about an article published in a British women’s magazine Chat.

A holiday review about the North Cyprus referring to the “virgin beaches” and an ideal destination for summer holidays is causing this behaviour. The article is titled “The Other Cyprus” and calls Kyrenia the capital of “North Cyprus”. The article calls the north as the ideal destination for summer holidays and in comparison with the south’s bustling nightlife and concrete jungle. The magazine also directs readers to a website for booking a holiday in the north.

So, where is the concept, “freedom of press”, lost in the dictionary of CTO! Are publications not allowed to review a destination and publish an article! The so called champions of human rights are faltering just because they cannot stand being compared to the north! I guess it is unbearable for the so called free country to digest free press!

There are so many questions unanswered and contradictory stand the south takes when it comes to sitautions dealing with the north. I do hope the European Union takes notice of this discriminating position taken by one of its member.

CTO will be wasting its precious time by investigating whether they can take action against the magazine. And it would also help the magazine to concentrate more on productive work for its customers rather than running around courts. Who knows the magazine might even review the south much better in the near future and we can all go live there!!! I am insane....

I am very happy living in north, thank you very much. Who would leave an untouched paradise anyway! Must be insane to leave when so many expats decide to lock, stock & barrel to north these days. Hope the South will not investigate and take action, hahaha

Take care and speak soon...

Safe and sound in North Cyprus

2007-06-16T10:33:00.000+02:00

Oklana’s forum posting about the abduction of Madeleine McCann does raise the important issue of child safety abroad, and how we here in the TRNC are so lucky to live in a child-friendly society. Indeed we are lucky, and as a result, perhaps we can be a little complacent.

Let’s put this into perspective, however, for a moment. I lived in London for years, and there are certain basic safety precautions that are totally second-nature. I always park in a well-lit spot at night if I’m on my own, lock doors even if just popping out for a moment, make sure I have my mobile phone with me when going out, never leave a drink unattended in a bar, that kind of thing. Nothing drastic, just a basic, built-in awareness that stays with me wherever I go.

And the sad thing is that some holidaymakers leave that second sense for security at home with the cat. I’m not talking about youngsters, I mean the respectable parents and professions who suddenly think they are indestructible and untouchable the moment they step onto foreign soil. They’ll do the daftest things, from not wearing crash helmets on motorbikes to getting so damn drunk they can’t tell friend from lamp post by 9pm. Why should a foreign country be any safer than home? On the other hand, why should it be more dangerous? (Unless it’s been invaded by the US recently, of course…) A little common sense will get you a long way, whether in North Cyprus or anywhere else. Just make sure you teach your kids that common sense, and don’t leave them vulnerable in situations they cannot control, wherever you are in the world.

Armed with common sense and that built-in security awareness, you can do what everyone should do in North Cyprus – relax, enjoy the sunshine, and welcome the unexpected joys of a society where 99% of the people are genuinely pleased to see you, from a proffered cup of Turkish coffee to a bunch of flowers sold at the roadside.

Home, Sweet Home

2007-06-11T13:47:00.000+02:00

Recently my husband and I had to fly back to Wales. We had a house to sell and a few business clients to see, so we were gone for 2 weeks. We knew that it was not going to be an easy trip so were not very keen to go anyway; after all, packing up a house full of memories was always going to be pretty emotional (not mention stressful). The fact that our tenant of the last 12 months had left the place in rather a mess was something we could have done without, so by the time we drove the 3 hours from Gatwick in dense fog and saw the state of the place, we found ourselves wanting to come straight back. But...

Once we got the house sorted and caught up on a little sleep, we felt better and actually enjoyed catching up with parents, dear friends, church and of course being able to get our weekly groceries over the internet! It was great to watch TV with no subtitles, to flush the loo with abondon, not have keep the candles handy - the list goes on. After spending a very civilized day shopping for clothes in Cardiff and much happy time in Asda browsing the new Katie Price range of lingerie and swimwear, I started to slip into a coma of commercial contentment, with the words ringing in my head "you can't get this in Cyprus...this is so much better than shopping for clothes in Cyprus...oh, I miss this product or that product...so good to see drivers following the road markings..."

I shudder to think now how shallow I had become! That's not the real me at all. I was awakened from my stupor as I sat in a jam on the M25 a week after we got back. I had driven to Essex for a meeting, and as the rain lashed the windscreen, the smog burned my eyes and the radio news made me gasp in disbelief at the state of the UK, I realised a few things:

1. That in fact I am happy to go daily to the market to buy oddly shaped peppers and potatoes that still have the dirt on them.
2. That I am never more content than when I am driving along the road from Girne to Catalkoy, with the sea on my left and those beautiful mountains on my right (even though I'm not sure what they guy in front of me will do next) because that's where my home is and my own little family is waiting there for me.
3. That while TRNC has its own set of frustrations and complications, the good here far outweighs the bad. I feel safe here when outside my house at night. Policital correctness has not yet marred our interactions with one another. I can say hello to a small child and no-one minds, in fact the parents love it! I have flowers in December. So what if the traffic lights at the Bellapais junction aren't all that efficient - at least there's no congestion charge or traffic jams that really make travelling unpleasant. I can live with power cuts - they stop us gawking at the TV and make us talk to one another or take exercise or do something much more fruitful than just sitting there!

Forgive me Cyprus, I forgot your charms too easily. I forgot how lucky I am to be here - some people never get this kind of life. I love this place - it really is a piece of Earth touched by Heaven. It really is my home, sweet home.

Power Cuts in North Cyprus

2007-06-08T15:11:00.000+02:00

One of the facts of life in North Cyprus is the power cuts we all experience from time to time. To anyone new to living here, the idea of suddenly being without electricity for hours fills them with horror. How can they possibly survive? Will the kids die of Playstation deprivation over a three hour black-out? Or will they actually have to start up a generator – panic!

I love the range of responses on the Cyprus44 on power cuts issue – they show that we North Cyprus residents are a stoic lot! First of all, we are practical – get a generator big enough to supply what you need. Then, view the power cuts as a sign of what we actually love about living in North Cyprus! As Garythegeezer puts it; “The fact that (North Cyprus) is 20 years behind the rest of Europe is fine by me, lower crime levels, lower cost of living, the friendliness of the people etc more than make up for an occasional power cut or the mains being turned off.” B&BLondon echoes that theme: “Those of us who love TRNC are happy to have found a more relaxed and peaceful lifestyle.”

OK, power cuts are a pain, but though a lifetime spent holidaying in Europe, you learn that it’s just part of Mediterranean life. Like the time a car hit the power pole outside our Athens hotel and we were escorted to our rooms by staff carrying candles. Or the Tuscan tower top floor apartment that lost not only power, but also its water supply (the pump was electric) every time there was a thunderstorm – and it was a very wet week. Or the Spanish apartment where local development workmen not only cut through the supply cables one morning with a massive trench worthy of a WWI battlefield, but also stranded our hire car in the car park on the non-road side of said trench, so we had to drive across the garden to get out...

Last time we were in darkness here in TRNC, Smug Sister in London was gloating; “Ah, you see that’s what happens when you leave civilization.” Then her power supply was out for four hours, and she was nearly driven mad with the burglar alarm system bleeping its indignation from its back-up battery, every other house alarm in the street blaring away, and the resulting trauma of having to reset every digital device from microwave clock to fax timer in the whole house once the power came back on. I should have said; “Get a generator and get over it” but I value my life, even down a phone line...

Kyrenia Bypass Road Progress

2007-05-26T17:07:00.000+02:00

Anyone who has been stuck in traffic around Kyrenia (Girne) knows that it’s not just the M25 in the UK that can turn into a virtual car park at the slightest snarl-up. As one who spent far too many years gazing at tail-lights as a UK commuter, I’ve been following the progress of the Kyrenia / Girne bypass with interest.

Or rather, the non-progress. The new road is due to start at the mosque on the Girne roundabout and end near Karsiysaka, but what happens in between? Not a lot in places, it appears.

You can drive on the first part (although the link to the main Lefkosa road is far from ready), and up to the GAU (university exit). Then the road comes to a roaring halt, because it appears not all the compulsory purchase orders have been completed, so building can’t start on the second part yet.

However, those who have taken the part of the road actually open at time of writing say that the Cami to GAU road shaves ten minutes off the journey, and that’s without traffic. So, I look forward to the day when the journey from Ercan to any property near Kyrenia doesn’t involve time for a detailed examination of the contents of the car in front!

One success story for the bypass is that the section at Zeytinlik runs through a field of mature olive trees. Thanks to the efforts of the Olive Tree Project and the Kyrenia Council, twenty-one mature olive trees were successfully relocated to parks and the village itself, while others found new safe plots in gardens as far afield as Catalkoy. It’s good to see these gnarled giants respected and protected, when so many have been lost to the bulldozers over the years.

Interestingly, estate agents are already tipping the Karsiyaka area as the new property hotspot on the strength of this new bypass and other road improvements in the area. So perhaps it won’t be a road to nowhere for very long...

Phew what a scorcher!

2007-05-10T17:49:00.000+02:00

When I left the grey skies of London for the sunnier climes of North Cyprus, I never thought I’d be so glad to see rain – in May! Officially, temperatures in our recent mini-heat wave reached 40.5 degrees centigrade. That’s summer temperatures as far as I’m concerned, and I for one was just not ready for that much heat this early.

Not that we are alone in this, of course. Smug Sister in London (SSiL) sent gloating pictures of the family enjoying an Easter barbeque in sunshine and shorts and a hint of red sunburn on their lily-white arms. I sent one back his week of me flopped in the shade looking decidedly roasted at the edges!

The papers say it’s been the hottest May for 66 years, and strangely I take comfort in that fact. Amidst all the hue and cry about global warming, this is proof that these kinds of temperatures have happened before, and not so long ago in the overall scheme of things. However, the flip side is that temperatures in the coming months could be up to 2 degrees above the seasonal norm, so it looks like a long, hot summer ahead.

Do I care? Not much! Every year I acclimatise to the heat better, and remember that you simply can’t rush around like a mad dog in the midday sun, even is you are an Englishwoman. Like a more sensible Cypriot hound, I seek out the shade, cool off in the pool, and treat myself to some air-conditioning when the going gets too tough. (Who else makes more trips to air-conditioned shops and banks when it’s hot? Just me? Oh well.)

If only the hot and flustered midsummer tourists would realise the same thing, and calm down a little! I’m sure they would enjoy North Cyprus even more if they respected the midday heat and chilled out more, although the sales of aftersun lotion might drop somewhat...

Yes I have met President Talat!

2007-04-29T15:36:00.000+02:00

I did not expect it but it worked! I have sent an email to the presidential office last Monday, and professional as they are, his secretary called me next day to arrange a meeting with the President on last Friday, 27 April. 2007 at 11.30.
President Mehmet Ali Talat welcomed me into his office with a warm handshake, he listened to me chatting away for one full hour and found particular interest in what I was representing.
This meeting was supposed to be an interview of a journalist from the President of the TRNC.
It turned out that it was not an interview but a very friendly meeting.
Mehmet Ali Talat proved to be a very good listener. Not only when I told him about Tassos Papadopoullos and what a crook the Greek Leader is, but gave particular attention when I described the reasons why I left the South and came to the North to live as a journalist a University teacher and a news Presenter amongst my brothers the Turkish Cypriots!
He paid particular attention when it came to my personal problems and story, since I am a divorced father of 4 daughters who live in the South, but I think he was impressed by the fact that I am just about the 2nd Greek Cypriot that came to the North to live and work!
I appreciate the President's interest in my person that even through this forum and through my daily column PENPOINT in the Cyprus Times, all I could do, is say "Thanks mr President".

Cyprus44 North Nicosia opened

2007-04-29T14:32:00.000+02:00

After 2 months of hard work, North Nicosia section is now alive:
http://www.cyprus44.com/nicosia

You can read about 20 sights in Nicosia, including the city walls, the Great Inn, St Sophia Cathedral, Bandabulya (marketplace), Arabahmet district and more.

We have information on the history of Nicosia including Ottoman rule.

Also, a summary of Nicosia Master Plan sponsored by UNDP.

Last but not least, a list of established restaurants and bars in North Nicosia.

Nicosia Photo Gallery has some unique shots!

With these new additions, we have reached almost 600 pages of information and 142 quality photographs - live statisics.

Enjoy travellers!

Buying Property in North Cyprus and The Power of TV

2007-04-19T22:28:00.000+02:00

You can’t turn on UK tv these days without having a choice of at least two property makeover/renovate/make a fortune programmes on at any one time. The Channel 4 programme “Selling Houses Abroad” which featured the perils of buying off-plan in North Cyprus, was just another in many ways.

I’ve watched enough of these to know that for every tatty property that’s polished and strewn with scatter cushions and sold by smiling participants, there are another three for whom the whole process of investing in property went totally pear-shaped. In the light of some of the ‘doom and gloom’ examples, the North Cyprus edition of “Selling Houses Abroad” was reasonably realistic!

Let’s note the title here, “Selling Houses Abroad”. Not buying, but selling. Quote: “In this popular series property expert Andrew Winter goes on an international rescue mission across Europe to help Brits who are having major problems selling their foreign properties.” It’s about people who want to get out of their current property deals, often because they made such a hash of the buying in the first place! They don’t bill it as a ‘rescue mission’ for nothing!

In the series, we’ve seen Hungarian skiing resorts with electrics so bad they fall out of the wall, a developer sold land in Croatia by someone who didn’t own it, and, worse of all, the poor people who have bought elegant apartments in Marbella, Spain. They really are in deep trouble, as the whole town planning department has been arrested for corruption. Now it transpires that these spanking new apartments have no residential licences. Whole developments sit empty, because it is illegal to live there, and might even have to be demolished. And all this in one of the most expensive and established resorts in Spain.

So, the message is loud and clear; “Caveat emptor – buyer beware”, and just as importantly, “Seller beware”. Anyone who invests in property ANYWHERE without doing proper research is likely to come unstuck. That’s why I love forums such as the one here at Cyprus44: you get real life stories from real buyers, not the ‘edit for effect’ pictures of tv programmes.

Sultanman said: “Programmes like that either show the extremes of good or bad in what they are covering. There will always be problems with house purchase whatever country you are buying in … My experience so far with our purchase in N Cyprus hasn't been as straightforward as initially thought, but on the whole, with help and advice from all parties, (it) has been a rewarding experience.”

Keen Buyer said: “I think if a lot of research is done as to which estate agents are the best, which lawyer, what type of deeds etc. then I don't think the risk is any greater than any other emerging country, i.e problems in Croatia, Montenegro etc, even in Spain.”

Why not join in the debate at the Cyprus44 forum:
http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/show-message.asp?messageID=180

Anything to Declare?

2007-04-11T12:26:00.000+02:00

The recent posting on Cyprus 44 Forums on border crossings does show that crossing times have improved recently; just look at the number of posters who had no problems at all! As they all say, just don’t take any property details or paperwork across. That single piece of knowledge can save you all sorts of hassle.

Not that needing insider knowledge is anything new when travelling! It’s the quirks and customs that make travelling to other countries so much fun, but they can also trip you up when it comes to the customs checkpoint. I didn’t know that chewing gum was illegal in Singapore, and only found my faithful ‘anti-popping ears’ packet in my handbag AFTER we had landed. I had to swiftly dispose of it hidden inside a banana skin in a rubbish bin on Orchard Road, just in case...
In Egypt, two giggling conscripts in Aswan airport watched with glee as I emptied all my watercolour pencils (in tins, of course) from my rucksack all over their table; they really didn’t care much, they were just bored!

Not to mention the grilling I got from Israeli airline officials at Tel Aviv over exactly which sight-seeing trips my travelling companion and I had gone on; it boiled down to the problem that she was from the Midlands and called a coach a bus. In Israel, a coach is a private tour, a bus is public transport. Our stories, told to separate officers, therefore didn’t tally, and until I realised the problem, we were going nowhere, slowly. By the way, if you ever do travel to Israel independently, keep all your receipts, especially for travel – it proves where you have been (yes, really, and copy them to all members of your party.)

Of course, all that was as nothing compared to the current hassle of getting anything vaguely liquid through security at a UK airport. Everything has to be in a little plastic bag, on top of your handbag, which is already stuffed into your hand luggage, so there is precious little room for anything anyway. Nothing escapes the plastic bag, not even lip gloss and lipstick. High heeled boots have to be X-rayed, (without you in them, of course) and water bottles can only be taken through if empty. That’s totally empty. I battled with the security chaps over this recently, and won only because I opened the cap and shook it hard to prove it. I am so cheesed off with being charged exorbitant prices the other side of security for something I can get for free from water fountains.)

Oh, and if you’re travelling from Jersey in the Channel Islands, take your own plastic bag, or they will even charge you 10p for it!

Kathy

112 Ball

2007-04-01T17:18:00.001+02:00

Saturday 31st March was the date of the long awaited 112 Emergency Fund Ball at the Mercure Hotel in Kervanseray.

We arrived by taxi at 7pm under the canopy of this beautiful hotel with its breath taking views - staff in abundance to open doors and give directions. When we entered the open plan foyer we were amazed by the space and oppulance of the place, walk to the far end where a terrace overlooks the three pools one of Olympic size.

We were shown downstairs to a large reception area where a fruit cocktail was served in an area dotted with an abundance of settees and pedastools bearing crudities to accompany the drink. From the reception we walked through to a bar in the centre of yet another vast room. The drinks were complimentary, whilst we chatted and drank we were serenaded by Alex Emu Acilis a concert violinist of exceptional talent. The mood was set for a luxurious evening of good company, food and entertainment with the arrival of canapes. Just after 8pm we went to the gigantic dining room where approximately 600 guests were seated at round tables of various sizes. The starters of Artichoke hearts with balsamic vinigarette were waiting on the tables, this was followed by Sol au vent with shrimps then a seasonal salad with sweet basil sauce. The main meal was Chicken with mushroom sauce garnished with mixed vegetables, potatoes and rice and finally a mouthwatering Chocolate and hazelnut parfait, all courses were accompanied by local red and white wine and water.

The meal took three hours during which time we were entertained by Ovidiu and Mimi - pan pipes and vocals, then Dawn took the stage she had a superb voice, followed by Anna who did not seem at her best maybe it was because we were close to the speakers. The Cabaret Group from South Cyprus gave a professional act of song and dance getting the guests to their feet singing and dancing the night away. The final act was a local couple - Ebru and Hakan a vocalist and keyboard duo who performed local songs to an enthusiastic audience. Part way through the evening the sirens blared and a cake festooned with candles was wheeled in for Terry Carter who spearhead the 112 service and his wife to celebrate their forthcoming 40th Wedding anniversary and to say a big thank-you to them for their huge help.

We ate, we drank, we talked, laughed and danced through the night in beautiful surroundings. The ladies wore their posh frocks and looked stunning and the men polished up very well. Thanks were given to all that helped in running of the 112 service and all volunteers that organised the event were applauded - all evening there was a tombola with a top prize of a large fridge from Arcelik. Companies of all sizes and individuals generously donated cash and prizes culminating in a grand proft of £8k, which will be spent on buying life saving equipment for the Accident and Emergency Services in the TRNC.

If you were unable to attend the Ball there will be another fund raising in July for 1000 guests in the form of an open air event and in October a smaller event - a Classical concert in Bellapais Abbey.

I would personally like to thank all those involved for such a fantastic evening, what a feat so professionally organised put together with flair. The hotel staff were at all times polite and attentative whilst under great pressure which helped the evening flow.
Thank-you ALL

St Hilarion Castle Glowing in the Dark

2007-03-31T17:20:00.000+02:00

Fire in the mountains? Nope! It's the St Hilarion Castle lightened up by the government to promote its existance for tourism!
That's what the newspaper said the day after I took this.

They don't lit it everyday though and in the last two weeks, I don't remember seeing it lit once.

What do you guys think?

Also, if anyone captured a better shot (with a better camera on a tripod), please send it to me. I would like to put it on St Hilarion's page, with credits of course. :)

Police ease property checks?

2007-03-24T14:55:00.000+02:00

Are they admitting something here?

By Fanos Droushiotis

Police in the south were ordered to ease investigations and prosecutions in the North regarding properties.

It was reported that the top legal chief in Cyprus has instructed police to investigate “sparingly” claims of exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties in the north. Greek Cypriot Attorney-general Petros Clerides sent a letter to the police force and legal services, telling them to pursue such cases only “in very special circumstances chosen using strict criteria”. It was also reported that the force had received such instructions from the legal chief. The police officer responsible then relayed these instructions to the House Refugee Committee. Clerides, however, was unavailable for comment. The decision to ease off cases of Greek Cypriot property exploitation comes as a surprise, given the general push among policy-makers and politicians for Greek Cypriots to seek legal remedies against occupants of their land either locally or in the European Court of Human Rights.

The Greek Cypriot newspaper Politis claims the sudden about-turn has come about as a result of the thousands of applications made by Greek Cypriot refuges to the European Court, which resulted in the inundated court seeking ways to legitimate the Compensation Commission in the north. This, plus the result of the Orams’ case in the UK, which went their way, has led the Greek Cypriot Attorney-general to limit the number of prosecutions in Greek Cypriot courts. In the last two years, 22 Greek Cypriot land owners have made charges against illegal exploitation of their lands in the north. From those, only one has resulted in a criminal prosecution against a Turkish Cypriot architect, while two cases of illegal construction in Klepini are still under investigation by the police. The remainder have been filed, under the instructions of the Attorney-general, said the paper. According to Politis, Clerides said it was a serious matter of public interest that dictated limiting the launch of criminal proceedings to very specific cases, using strict criteria that could be applied equally in all cases. The police now await further instruction from the Attorney-general on how to deal with evidence and documents found relating to the exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties, either at crossing points or other legal points of entry to the island, the paper added.

Doesnt it sound like there is something strange about the entire order and the method by which the Greek Cypriot Administration is dealing with the matter, or are they admitting things here?

Direct flights fiasco by Cyprus Paradise

2007-03-22T14:32:00.000+02:00

I've been following with interest a thread on the forums, which covered the story of "Misleading adverts for holidays in North Cyprus". Now, this is the tale of Cyprus Paradise's UK adverts for "direct flights to North Cyprus", which actually land in Larnaca. The only direct part of it was that the company would then bus you "direct" to North Cyprus! One of the regular posters on the forum objected to the advert, and reported it to the ASA (Advertising Standards Agency), who investigated his claim.

The ASA reported; "After consideration by the ASA of complaints received, the following companies and organisations agreed to amend or withdraw advertising without the need for a formal investigation: The Paradise Found Travel Company Ltd t/a Cyprus Paradise National press Holidays and travel."

Which means in effect the company backed down, and indeed the latest Sunday Times adverts for any firm selling holidays in North Cyprus using Larnaca flights (as reported by Smug Sister in London) now state "Direct flights to Cyprus." That's people power in action, and I'm all for it.

What amazed me about the whole affair was the vitriol poured against Jerry, the poster who reported the advert. Fellow posters said he was a "little busybody", and that's the polite version. Yet he had an absolute legitimate complaint; the flights are not direct to North Cyprus, they land in Larnaca. It's like saying that flying to Manchester and catching a coach to Scotland constitutes "direct flights to Glasgow!"

However, the good news is that the controversy has brought out a rash of adverts for holidays to North Cyprus, all of which are selling hard the beauty and tranquillity that we already know and love. Good news, I hear you cry? More holidays are good news? Yes, I think they are, because they raise the profile and awareness of North Cyprus in the UK. Saves me having to do it all the time anyway!

Check out recent Pegasus flights from Standsted to Ercan non-direct via Istanbul!

Kathy

North Cyprus Gardening Club

2007-03-19T19:39:00.000+02:00

The North Cyprus Gardening club is the brainchild of Alex at the Five Fingers Restaurant in Ozankoy. There was a large gathering of both 'professional' and amateur gardeners all eager to learn. Alex wanted to form the club without being formal without a committee just a group of people who could swap ideas barter or sell plants and enjoy a once a month get together with guest speakers, question and answer forum, trips to local garden centres etc and at the end of the year a flower/vegetable show. You never know the Chelsea Flower Show could branch out in the TRNC.

To become a member you are required to fill in a form obtainable from Alex asking for contact details and any gardening expertise or equipment you are willing to hire out, this will go on a database and if a member wants any help Alex will be able to point them in the right direction if there is a member who can help. Ozzie from Ardic Garden Centre situated behind the Coca Cola factory at Catalkoy is offering a discount on anything purchased from him to any member and Alex is talking to a pot supplier in the region and a centre the other side of Kyrenia.

Patricia Jordan author of several gardening books including 'The Cyprus Garden' gave a talk entitled 'March Wind and April Showers' with beautiful photographs illustrating the blooms you can expect to see this Spring. The first examples were of plants and bushes in general, the second on fruit trees, the third on plants in borders and finally annuals. Even I learnt some useful tips and I haven't started on my garden (builder has not put the boundaries in yet) any volunteers to help me?

We were told to put a wreath of herbs and flowers on the front door on 1st May until 24th June when it has to be burnt, a very old tradition to promote good health and fertility. We learnt that if you put wet kitchen paper in a saucer under a terracotta pot it causes humidity very good for growing African Violets, put a stocking in the bottom of pots before adding soil this will stop ants from nesting in the pots and so it went on. There were questions from the floor and Patricia had answers for most.

It was generally agreed that this would be a popular club and everyone was looking forward to the next meeting date to be advised.

Anyone interested should ring Alex or Libby on 0533 845 8278 for more details.

New Monarch and Pegasus Flights to Cyprus

2007-03-16T10:38:00.000+02:00

Now, we all love a bargain, and we especially love a flight bargain. The Brits are already in love with low-cost fares, and the new Monarch cheap flights to Larnaca from Luton, and Flyglobespan’s similar service from Stansted, are just the latest in the ever-growing of budget flights. Or are they?

In fact, this no-frill flight is the longest low-cost route in or out of the UK, according to Simon Calder writing in Condé Naste Traveller magazine. (No, of course I don’t buy it - Smug Sister in London aka the SSiL reads it over morning coffee and emails me the best bits.) Cyprus is one of only three new no-frills destinations launched this year, so to have two new Cyprus budget flights to choose from by the end of the month (Monarch starts on 23 March, Flyglobespan a few days later) is quite remarkable.

What will this mean for us here in North Cyprus? Well, for a start, it will mean a lot more trips to the airport (or at least, the border) for mugs like me whose relatives see a cheap flight to Cyprus, and assume that they can stay for a week at a moment’s notice! OK, more seriously, it will increase the number of people visiting North Cyprus – but only if they know about it. So, keep spreading the word, and let’s get the kind of tourist that appreciate what we have here – space, scenery, history and friendly people.

Talking of spreading the word, SSiL has just got the latest brochure from Pegasus flights to North Cyprus. She said the prices are very reasonable and online booking is available, but there is still a stop-over in Istanbul.

Surely it’s only a matter of time before time direct flights come to Northern Cyprus, and maybe even a budget carrier as well. I watch the skies with interest.

Kathy