Today we traveled to the Turkish-occupied region of Cyprus to visit the city of Famagusta. In order to do so, we had to cross through the green line which divides the Republic of Cyprus from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The first things we saw as we crossed the border into Turkish territory were abandoned buildings enclosed by barbed wire and fences lined with posted military signs. This was quite the contrast to all the other bustling cities we have visited in Cyprus so far. We eventually began to see inhabited buildings and people roaming the streets. Things started to get a little too crowded and we ended up in a couple traffic jams. Although our journey through the streets of this region was a little tumultuous, we finally reached Famagusta. The first thing we saw was the Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque, a historic piece of Gothic architecture. 

We learned that it was originally built as a Catholic cathedral dedicated to St. Stephen. The church was converted into an Islamic mosque once Cyprus was overtaken by the Ottoman Empire. Once I was inside this was a little more evident as I was able to see some of the stained glass windows that are commonly found in Christian churches. Because the Islamic religion does not allow for icons, most of the previous aspects of the church were covered up. 

After visiting the Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque, we were able to go into Varosha: an abandoned village in Cyprus that was overtaken in 1974 when Turkey invaded northern Cyprus.  Walking through Varosha was a weird experience. It felt like I was walking through a post-apocalyptic city. We passed by decrepit businesses and hotels that all had posted signs warning of building collapses. Once we reached the edge of the city, by the water, we were able to see the long stretch of abandoned buildings that once lined the coast and remnants of what once was.