Beautiful Northern Cyprus

I would rather own little and see the world than own the world and see little of it.
— Alexander Sattler

Cyprus, south of Turkey, is the easternmost island in the Mediterranean, and the third largest after Sicily and Sardinia. The island has always been a melting pot of many cultures, and has been a significant crossroads for European, Asian and African influences, with a history that spans over 100 centuries. 

Bogaz Beach, situated on the southern edge of the Karpas Peninsula 

Bogaz Beach, situated on the southern edge of the Karpas Peninsula 

 

As children we travelled for almost a week from London to Cyprus, all six of us in a Volkswagen caravanette, camping along the way or sleeping in the van. There were no satnavs or Google maps back then! Dad just planned his route months in advance and used paper maps to plan out the entire trip. From Dover to Calais we journeyed by hovercraft (they are no longer in existence - the last hovercraft sailed 1st of October 2000). Over the choppy waters we went ...all hyper and excited as the journey had just began...through France and Germany, Austria and Bulgaria, then Yugoslavia, until we reached Turkey and then headed south. We boarded a boat across the turquoise Mediterranean to northern Cyprus. From 9 weeks of summer holidays from school, 2 were spent travelling and 4-6 weeks in Cyprus visiting grandparents, relatives - and the beach!! We kids felt like we had just died and gone to heaven as soon as we saw the beach and got a chance to dive in. We had no time to waste...we were not interested in being cooped up in some relative's house listening to gossip.

I was only 9 years old when we took that first big journey as a family. It was also the first time in 12 years that my parents went back to where they had left for London. It sure wasn’t London! It was relaxed and chilled out.....I could see the beauty even then. But now I am older and wiser, (LOL) I realise that my heritage is an amazing one from an amazing island, with great beauty, great food and great people; tucked away in the Mediterranean ocean.

 

Bogaz, a small fishing village, with a picturesque harbour from which the fishermen take their boats out every morning and return to sell their catch later in the day

Bogaz, a small fishing village, with a picturesque harbour from which the fishermen take their boats out every morning and return to sell their catch later in the day

Bogaz fishermen baskets and nets after the catch

Bogaz fishermen baskets and nets after the catch

On route to Topcukoy, seeing this amazing sunset over the fields

On route to Topcukoy, seeing this amazing sunset over the fields

Kemeralti Asevi Restaurant, based in the small village of Büyükkonuk specialising in home cooked dishes and traditional Turkish handmade pastas

Kemeralti Asevi Restaurant, based in the small village of Büyükkonuk specialising in home cooked dishes and traditional Turkish handmade pastas

Homemade traditional Turkish pasta  

Homemade traditional Turkish pasta  

Homemade traditional Turkish pasta

Homemade traditional Turkish pasta

One of my all time favourites - Turkish pasta with loads of grated hellim (Cypriot cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk) with mint in tomato sauce-simply yummy!

One of my all time favourites - Turkish pasta with loads of grated hellim (Cypriot cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk) with mint in tomato sauce-simply yummy!

Followed by the traditional shot of Turkish coffee

Followed by the traditional shot of Turkish coffee

Cyprus has many homemade cheeses in addition to a wide variety of cheeses imported from Turkey

Cyprus has many homemade cheeses in addition to a wide variety of cheeses imported from Turkey

Friday market where all the organic produce from local farms are sold 

Friday market where all the organic produce from local farms are sold 

Artichokes

Artichokes

Artichoke hearts with a little salt - a traditional Turkish appetiser 

Artichoke hearts with a little salt - a traditional Turkish appetiser 

Cypriot oranges fresh from the farms

Cypriot oranges fresh from the farms

Beautiful Turkish women

Beautiful Turkish women

Travelling to Turtle Beach

Travelling to Turtle Beach

Turtle Beach - famous for its nesting beach for both Loggerhead Turtles and Green Turtles. Loggerhead Turtles and Green Turtles travel thousands of miles to return to the beach where they were born and they then lay their eggs, which is between…

Turtle Beachfamous for its nesting beach for both Loggerhead Turtles and Green Turtles. Loggerhead Turtles and Green Turtles travel thousands of miles to return to the beach where they were born and they then lay their eggs, which is between 100 - 200. What an amazing fact :)

Unspoilt, uncrowded, beautiful stretches of sand as far as the eye can see, kissed with the currents of the beautiful Mediterranean sea

Unspoilt, uncrowded, beautiful stretches of sand as far as the eye can see, kissed with the currents of the beautiful Mediterranean sea

The never ending walk to the vast beach

The never ending walk to the vast beach

Man's best friend after a dip in the sea

Man's best friend after a dip in the sea

A stop at Hemingway's Restobar for a cold drink and some Turkish mezzes, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the harbour

A stop at Hemingway's Restobar for a cold drink and some Turkish mezzes, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the harbour

Harbour view

Harbour view

What better place to putt a golf ball, over looking the Mediterranean 

What better place to putt a golf ball, over looking the Mediterranean 

Melandra House in Agios Sergios, CyprusTurkish house restored brick by brick - now a museum for people to visit    

Melandra House in Agios Sergios, Cyprus

Turkish house restored brick by brick - now a museum for people to visit   

 

 Oven used for baking bread, Melandra  House

 Oven used for baking bread, Melandra  House

Entrance of a Turkish house with Turkish jasmine surrounding the doorway

Entrance of a Turkish house with Turkish jasmine surrounding the doorway

Girne (Kyrenia) noted for its historic harbour and castle, with its history dating back to the end of the Trojan War - 13th or 12th century BC.  We walked along the cobbled streets and ate delicious Turkish snacks washed down with a nice Turkis…

Girne (Kyrenia) noted for its historic harbour and castle, with its history dating back to the end of the Trojan War - 13th or 12th century BC.  We walked along the cobbled streets and ate delicious Turkish snacks washed down with a nice Turkish coffee

Girne (Kyrenia), cobbled streets, with shops and restaurants

Girne (Kyrenia), cobbled streets, with shops and restaurants

Salamis Bay Beach, just in front of Salamis Ruins.

Salamis Bay Beach, just in front of Salamis Ruins.

Salamis Ruins -  situated north of Famagusta at the base of the Karpas Peninsula - lie the remains of the city of Salamis, the capital of Cyprus as far back as 1100 BC. Salamis Ruins was an ancient Roman city, most of which is now underwat…

Salamis Ruins -  situated north of Famagusta at the base of the Karpas Peninsula - lie the remains of the city of Salamis, the capital of Cyprus as far back as 1100 BC. Salamis Ruins was an ancient Roman city, most of which is now underwater in the Mediterranean Sea.  I never ever tire of visiting this fantastic site and sitting peacefully wondering how life may have been back then.....

Salamis Ruins

Salamis Ruins

Salamis Ruins

Salamis Ruins

Salamis Ruins

Salamis Ruins

Salamis Ruins

Salamis Ruins

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The famous St Nicolas Cathedral, also known as the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque- 1298-1312 

The stained glass window in the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque

The stained glass window in the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque

Turkish pine tree

Turkish pine tree

On the plane flying back after an amazing time in beautiful Northern Cyprus heading towards Istanbul airport before venturing back home

On the plane flying back after an amazing time in beautiful Northern Cyprus heading towards Istanbul airport before venturing back home

Google Maps- Cyprus

Google Maps- Cyprus