Break Pool & Snooker Hall, Kyrenia, North Cyprus

October 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Break Pool & Snooker Hall opened in January 2009 just behind the old Turkish quarter in Kyrenia, and is proving really popular as each time we have visited it’s been pretty busy.  Having said that, we haven’t actually had to wait for a table to become free.

Upon our first visit we were expecting to find some dark, dreary, dank and smoky men’s den of some kind, but were really pleased to find a modern, clean, bright and relaxed pool and snooker hall with men and women all playing.  Also another appealing factor is that it’s friendly and there is music playing all the time which is not intrusive at all (very refreshing!), and the toilet facilities were immaculate!

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Duty & Tax Free Shopping in North Cyprus

October 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A nice little treat for most of us are the cheap goodies we can buy coming in and out of North Cyprus!  Note that there are limitations on what you can bring in and what you can take out however, (taking out is more relevant for the country you are travelling back to!).

When arriving into Ercan airport which serves North Cyprus you are currently allowed to bring in: -

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Büyük Han, Lefkoşa, North Cyprus

October 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

One historical sight that you have to see when visiting North Cyprus is the wonderful and vibrant Büyük Han in Lefkoşa. It’s one the main attractions for tourists, but also has its own local community feel, with residents and tourists alike spending time soaking up its unique atmosphere.

The Büyük Han (or Great Inn), located within the city walls, was commissioned by the first Ottoman Pasha to Cyprus, Musafer, in 1752, shortly after the Ottoman occupation of Cyprus. It was a familiar sight for travelling tradesman, as these types of Hans (Inns) were common in Turkey, especially in Anatolia. They were also known as ‘caravanserai’ which literally means a centre where people would commune. Apparently this Han is similar in design to only two others in the whole of Turkey, and is often compared with the Kosa (or cocoon) Han in Bursa.

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Number 14 Restaurant, Turkish Quarter, North Cyprus

June 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Being invited out to dinner these days is quite a treat so it was a happy chappy who agreed to try out the new a la carte Number 14 restaurant in Kyrenia, located within the old the Turkish Quarter.  The local grapevine has been buzzing with good reviews of a lovely evening out in smart surroundings with a mouth-watering menu on offer.  Time to try it ourselves, being suckers for posh nosh in North Cyprus!

It would be rather pointless to offer directions to the venue, but if you know other landmarks such as Miss Knottleys or the Taekwondo gym then you will find it.  It’s actually located at the home of proprietors Cliff and Kay Hughes-Morgan and the property is called Yazade House.  It might be therefore advisable to give them a call on the number at the end of this article if you are unsure! [Read more...]

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Malpas 5 Star Hotel, North Cyprus

June 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Malpas 5 star hotel has been a wonderful addition to the recent surge of top class luxury hotel opening in North Cyprus, and after a few years in the making it opened its doors to guests in 2007. 

The Malpas is finished to the highest standards and it has utilised modern technology in an effort to create an eco-friendly facility particularly with regards to its plumbing and re-use of water, (a small but significant step in the right direction).  The hotel can offer both residents and non-residents a wealth of amenities and attractions too, and it has proved a welcome compliment to the range and location of hotels across the northern third of the island. [Read more...]

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Vouni, North Cyprus

June 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Another major site to see in North Cyprus is the ruin of Vouni which is closely linked to the nearby ruins of Soli on the west coast of the island.  Yes, there are many ruins in North Cyprus – which is why, for those of us who love history in any shape or form, it’s a great place to visit!

You may be best advised to visit the two sites on the same day, as Vouni’s sole reason for being built in the first place was to spy on the daily goings on in the city of Soli.  Its location is actually one of its main features, sitting atop a lone plateau with a sheer 250 metre drop to the sea with nothing else around it, leaving you wondering about the amount of time and effort it must have taken to build it in such a remote but commanding place!  [Read more...]

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Red Crescent in North Cyprus

June 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The International Federation of the Red Crescent and the Red Cross Societies (IFRC) were originally formed in 1919 and now have around 186 national societies worldwide.  The IFRC is overseen by the International Federation of the Red Cross (ICRC) which has authority under international humanitarian law to protect the life and dignity of the victims of international and internal armed conflicts.

Most of us would recognise the Red Cross symbol as the international humanitarian organisation, but the Red Crescent became a symbol used by the Ottoman Empire during the Turkish-Prussian war from 1876 to 1878 as it did not want to offend its Muslim soldiers.  It became an officially recognised symbol in 1929 and now 33 of the 186 national societies use this symbol due to their mainly Muslim populations. [Read more...]

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North Cyprus – Friends of the Karpaz

June 8, 2012 By 1 Comment

Started in 2004, the North Cyprus Friends of Karpaz Association is comprised of local residents and other interested parties who wish to protect the much coveted Karpaz region in North Cyprus.  For many years now the area has been a valuable home to the traditional rural way of Cypriot life as well as the islands most ecologically diverse landscape.  Friends of Karpaz will do its best to keep it just that way.

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The Ruins of Soli, North Cyprus

June 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When visiting or indeed living in Northern Cyprus, there is so much to see in the way of historical sites, and there are some sites which are an absolute must see.  In this article we will detail the delights of Soli, a fascinating site in terms of world history.

Soli is located to the far west of North Cyprus beyond Güzelyurt, it’s just past the village of Gemikonağı along the coastal road.  There is a sign for Soli just after Gemikonağı that indicates that you should turn left, but for some reason the sign’s not particularly big so look out for it carefully as people have been known to completely miss it!  From the turning follow the road up and you will come to the site located on the lowland slopes where there is ample parking and a ticket office, (cost of a ticket at time of writing is 7ytl), where you will be given literature about the site. [Read more...]

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Ramazan in North Cyprus

May 25, 2012 By 2 Comments

No, not an incorrect spelling of Ramadan which is the term most of us will recognise!  Unfortunately we have not really been given an explanation of why it’s called Ramazan in North Cyprus – it just is!  The month of fasting for all practising Muslims who choose to follow this religious event will culminate in family gatherings, visiting the graves of love ones past and generally having a few days holiday to get the body and mind back to its previous state. [Read more...]

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