CYPRUS: NICOSIA
Welcome to Nicosia:
The Cypriot capital, home to 410,000 people.
No skyscrapers here, but plenty of authentic sites.
Wouldn't you buy apples from this old Cypriot woman?
Carpenters, blacksmiths, coachbuilders, painters, cobblers, glaziers, and many others...
Many craftsmen practice their art "the old-fashioned way" in small rustic workshops open to the streets.
(At least, that was still the case in 1996, when this photo was taken!)
How can one talk about Cyprus without mentioning the ongoing conflict that has left a deep scar for over 50 years?
We are referring here to the Cyprus issue, also known as the Cyprus conflict.
Pictured is the heart of Nicosia!
Indeed, the capital is divided in two by a green line, somewhat like Berlin in the past.
To the south: the free zone of Cyprus, where we are located.
To the north, hidden within these abandoned houses: the Turkish occupation army.
And in the middle, to prevent any incidents, watchtowers with UN peacekeepers stationed in a "United Nations Buffer Zone."
The mountain slopes above Nicosia are located in the occupied zone.
As a sign of provocation, the Turks painted their flag there, spanning over 1,640 feet (500 meters).
Since 1974, nearly 40% of the territory has been occupied, leading to the deportation of 200,000 civilians and thousands of missing persons in Turkish prisons.
With Cyprus holding little significance on the international stage, no one intervened!
On the eastern coast, an apocalyptic sight: Famagusta.
Once a famous seaside resort and the largest port in Cyprus before the Turkish invasion, this area is now a "ghost town"!
Time has stopped in this 4.3-mile (7-kilometer) "Buffer Zone" under UN control, where Cypriots can no longer enter.
A restaurant owner from Larnaca emotionally shared his "life before" with me...
...before the Turkish invasion, when he was a wealthy owner of several restaurants in Famagusta, which he had to abandon to flee.
To conclude:
Cyprus offers many attractions to its visitors: the hospitality and generosity of the Cypriot people, the sunshine, the beaches, the crystal-clear waters, and more.
But above all, a rich historical and mythological heritage—a true gift from the gods—that allows everyone to elevate their soul.
All photos of Nicosia © 1996 - 2013 by Richard Soberka