CyprusVista

Since 1974, the map of Cyprus has been dominated by the division of the island by the UN Green Line, marking the border between south Cyprus and Northern Cyprus. However, it should actually been the Green Lines, plural. Thanks to historical anomalies, there is a tiny pocket of North Cyprus territory tucked  inside south Cyprus, at Kokkina.

Kokkina lies on the west coast of Cyprus, along the main coastal road from Polis to Kato Pyrgos. Kato Pyrgos is the last major town in south Cyprus before the border, on the edge of the wide sweep of Morphou Bay. The closest border point  is at Limnitis, a small village near the ancient palace at Vouni, and yesterday it became a political hot-spot for all the wrong reasons.

Last July, South Cyprus had allowed around 1000 Turkish Cypriots to visit Kokkina for an annual event commemorating the bombing of villages in the area during the troubles of 1964. Kokkina is now a military zone, as the original residents were all evacuated to the Yenierenköy in the Karpas peninsula in North Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots visitors were allowed into south Cyprus at the Limnitis border point, which is not officially open for border crossings.

However, when a group of pilgrims from Kato Pyrgos wanted to use the crossing to celebrate Mass at the Christian Orthodox church at the monastery of of Saint Mamas, (Agios Mamas) at Güzelyurt (Morphou), the authorities in North Cyprus decided not to give permission for the group to cross at Limnitis. The Mass was to celebrate the Saint’s day, in a beautiful church that shines with Byzantine art, embellished with gold leaf.

Crossing the border at Limnitis saves literally hours of travel via the normal open border route, which involves driving to Nicosia, back down to Peristerona, through pretty tortuous mountain roads to the coast, and round Pomos Point, to end up less than 15 kms west of where you started!

Sadly, such a decision comes just before the start of the UN-organised head to head talks between President Christofias of south Cyprus and  North Cyprus leader Mehmet Ali Talat. The two leaders had already met in March and stated that “The issue of the opening of the Limnitis crossing and other crossings is also on the agenda for the coming meetings of their advisers.”

However, the North Cyprus authorities still do not regard Limnitis as a a crossing point - yet.  Let’s hope it stays high on everyone’s agenda, for the benefit of residents on both sides.

Golden frescoes at the church of St Mamas. Photo by Ai@ce at flickr.com

Popularity: 69% [?]

If you haven’t booked your summer holiday in Cyprus yet, there are plenty of companies trying to tempt you with last minute bargains. So, with so much Cyprus holiday accommodation on offer, which offers you the best deal, hotel or villa?

A Cyprus hotel holiday seems to have it all; comfortable bedrooms, hotel restaurants, breakfast provided, pool, bars, sunshine - what more could you want? If you want to just chill out in the sunshine, forget the UK grey summer skies, and let someone else do the cooking, cleaning and drink mixing, Cyprus hotels are ideal! You can grab the best deals through late booking sites such as lastminute, holidayhypermarket and goingplaces. For cheap prices for 4 and 5 star North Cyprus hotels, try the new site kyreniahotels.co.uk.

However, if you crave peace and quiet, and don’t want to share your mealtimes and swimming pool with lots of other people, a Cyprus villa holiday is the answer. In your own private villa, you can be king (or queen) of all you survey. No set times for breakfast in a busy restaurant; if you want to sleep in and enjoy a leisurely brunch on your villa terrace, you can! No rush for the sunloungers by the pool; they are all yours (unless your kids get there first, of course.)

You can shop in local markets for fresh produce that’s still dusty from the fields, and cook fresh fish or sizzling kebabs on your own barbecue. Or, you can simply stroll down to the local restaurant or taverna for a taste of real Cypriot cuisine, without even breaking a sweat!

You can either choose a villa holiday in Cyprus that is packaged with a flight, or build your own from cheap flights available to Cyprus during the summer, plus villa rental and car hire. You can often save money by creating your own holiday, as you can depart on the days that are convenient for you, at more sociable flights times, and from your local airports. So, you can save on fuel costs driving to the airport, airport parking charges, overnight accommodation (some package flights leave very early) and avoid those horribly crowded changeover days too!

The REAL bargains at the moment are North Cyprus villa holidays. The Turkish Lira is currently weak against the UK pound, and prices in Northern Cyprus are around a third lower than in south Cyprus. Not only does your money go further, but rental costs are usually priced by the day, so you can create your ideal holiday without being confined to a whole week’s booking.

Cheap flights are available into Larnaca airport in the south, and Pegasus Airlines offer scheduled flights at very reasonable prices into Ercan airport in North Cyprus, five days a week. The best North Cyprus villa rental site we’ve found is Amy Villas - small, but with a good range and great value prices!

Holiday villa in Alsancak, North Cyprus: picture courtesy of Amy Villas

Popularity: 40% [?]

If you’re a UK holiday-maker looking for a Mediterranean break this year, and you need to keep costs down, North Cyprus is the place for you!

The UK Times Money section recently tipped the Turkish Lira as one of the top five currencies that are a ‘good buy’ at present - and North Cyprus uses the Turkish Lira, not the Euro.

What’s more, prices in North Cyprus are up to a third cheaper than their equivalents in the south, so almost everything you buy costs you less, from a beer to a bus ride. Hotel rates are exceedingly reasonable, and many hotels offer half board as standard, saving you the cost of lunch as well!

North Cyprus has some of the best beaches on the island, where you can relax on golden sands lapped by the warm Mediterranean Sea. Not that you have to sacrifice your creature comforts to find them either; hotels such as the Acapulco Resort Hotel have their own beaches right next to the hotel itself. Just stroll down to the sands, and snooze away the morning on a sun lounger, shaded by a parasol, before indulging in a midday beer or snack. As a hotel guest, you won’t have to pay a beach entry charge either - perfect!

For the best value meals in North Cyprus, you cannot beat a meze. This tasty mix of dishes is a cross between a buffet and Spnaish tapas, and twice as filling when served with a Turkish Cypriot favourite, a kebab! Actually, it’s often more like three or four kebabs, grilled to perfection over a charcoal fire and served piping hot when it’s ready to eat, and not a moment before. Niazi’s Restaurant in Kyrenia have been serving this ‘full kebab’ menu in Cyprus since 1974, and it’s always packed with locals and tourists enjoying sish and doner kebabs.

Beer lovers will also love North Cyprus, and not just because of the low prices. Efes beer is the 8th best selling beer in Europe, and it’s easy to taste why! This golden Pilsner-type beer is smooth and refreshing, and at only 5% alcohol, it’s an ideal cool drink for a hot summer’s day in Cyprus.

So, why not make your money go further this summer - in North Cyprus.

Popularity: 36% [?]