Yesterday on our trip to the divided capital we saw the Turkish Flag Hollywood-sign-style in the northern mountain range which gave a visual to how divided this island really is. Today we packed our passports and crossed the green line, or the buffer zone which separates the north and south, Turkish and Greek, the occupied. On the way there we learned about the more recent history of Cyprus and how it remains one of the few independent republics. It’s is a strange situation to understand and it’s important to know how relevant this history is. Cyprus recently adopted the euro in 2008 and had only been an official member of the European Union since 2004. This only increased its political ties to europe opposed to the Middle East and Asia.
To cross the border we waited on the bus and turned in our passports as a Turkish military escort boarded the bus to stay with us the entire time. The area was unlike anything I’ve seen before and very different from other parts of the island. They even spoke another language on this parts, signs were written in Turkish, Greek, English, and a some Arabic.
We visited the walled city of Famagusta mosque, we weren’t allowed pictures of many parts of the city but were allowed to enter the mosque after taking off our shoes.
In the past 50 years a once busting city destined for financial success and bound to bring in tourists was ended in 1974. We saw live evidence of how Famagusta was given to nature and now a 21st century modern ghost town. The buildings were condemned with signs warning imminent collapse and the roads was now impossible to get through. We learned that if you want to destroy something that’s going well all you have to do is start a civil war! – In 1974 everyone in Famagusta was told to leave and their town and lives were taken over. Massive buildings along the beaches that would be amazing tourist attractions today sit completely empty and untouched. It was amazing to see the power the Turkish had to invade this area of the land and take control. When we were leaving a few Cypriot Greeks approached us to let us know that the land all should belong to them. This just showed how modern day this issue really was and how the control is still debated as well as how passionate people are about it.
We returned to the Greek side of the island and while we were still in that region we visited fig tree bay beach. We spent about 2.5 hours there and swam in the Mediterranean Sea. It was a lot rockier and saltier than any beaches in America but so much cleared and scenic.
