MEMORIES OF  A HOLIDAY IN northern Cyprus

    Spring weather and Spring flowers.

    Craggy five fingered limestone mountains topped with Crusader castles

    Vast open plains covered with bright yellow flowers

    Brilliant azure sea and golden sands (but no turtles)

    Ruins of Castles, Walled cities, Harbours, Basilicas, Temples, Amphitheatres and Churches built in

    turn by Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Venetians and Ottomans.

    Museums of Archaeological artefacts, icons and the 2^nd oldest recovered shipwreck

    The aftermath of the Greek/Turkish conflict – the divirsive Green Line, ruined villages, churches 

`    and a ghost town.

    The presence of  Turkish troops, Heroic statues and Nationalistic flags.

    Old ruined churches and new mosques

    Modern developments of Business premises, Universities, Hotels and Casinos

    Ugly new concrete village complexes along the coast

    200 steps of St.Hilarion castle and the view from the top

    Birdsong & flowers in St Barnabas’ Monastery

    Rainwater gushing down in Kyrenia Harbour

    Kebabs, fresh fish, kofte and baklava. Pink grapefruit from Guzelyurt

    Zekiye’s village, Hisarkoy, with fields full of wild flowers, orchids, fennel and artichokes.

    Olives and bread fresh from the clay oven baked by her mother and aunts.

    We will not forget our friendly guide Onur with his encyclopaedic knowledge, his humour and 

    his skill in presenting information on everything.

    Also the companionship of our U3A group, the new friends we made and noisy games of UNO after 

    our evening meal.

    Thanks to Fred for planning a marvellous holiday and to ‘the Discovery Collection’for organising it.

   Don Farthing