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Tourism on the Northern Side
Denisa Udroiu
Why to venture to the Northern side of Cyprus? |
Tourism is one of the main revenues in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and various tour operators offer journeys to both sides of the island, although the group is often based in the South and only offer day trips to the North. There can be the occasional hassle at the border, due to the suspicions from one side or the other, but those who take the chance to cross into the North say it is worth it.
From bird watching to water sports, archaeological sighting, folk shows, hunting, riding, turtle watching or paragliding, and places of cult, almost everybody can find something to be pleased with, and tour operator are willing to organise tailor-made visits, or target special interests groups.
A couple from the UK that I befriended took a day tour to the Peninsula Karpaz starting with a visit to a handicraft shop where they saw how the locally famous lace work is accomplished, followed by a hike along the trails, a stop at the beach for a chat with a fisherman and a dip in the sea, before finally enjoying a typical dinner and folk show in a local restaurant, and concluding with a trip to the casinos.
Our group took a three-hour ride in an old wooden boat along the coast that included a fresh buffet lunch and two stops to bathe in the clear waters or to try one of the numerous water sports available.
One of the nicest places and a must-see is the Monastery of Bellapais, a monument of Gothic art dating back to 1198, perched on top of the island. Beside the monastery are small shops and restaurants where people gather in the evening to gaze at the stars and whisper romantic words into each other's ears.
Girne (Kyrenia in Greek) is an old harbour that mixes its history with the old tales of pirates, as the castle was supposedly built to protect the city against them in the Middle Ages, but its history seems to go even further back to the Romans and Greeks, and was inter-twinned with the conquers of Genovese and later the Ottomans. The walls around the castle enclose St. George's Church, which as used by the Knights Templar and built in the 12th century. The whole area is situated by the harbour and is the departure point for wooden boat trips as well as a lovely destination for afternoon family strolls or cooling out on a terrace.
www.nothcyprusonline.com
www.cyprus44.com
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