A Matter of Choice

Just before Christmas we had a visit from Aaron's Mum and his two nephews, I love having visitors as not only is it lovely to see people again after so long it makes us much more likely to do 'tourist stuff'.  For some time now I've been meaning to visit the Famagusta view point and mini zoo in Kapparis, just down the road from us. I went with Leo and a friend of mine a couple of years ago but he was a little bit young to appreciate it.  It is situated at the end of Kapparis, as far as you can go along the coastline towards the closed of city of Famagusta. It's a fascinating, yet sad, when you remember the reason it exists. As a trip out it's not too expensive (€4 for adults, €1 or children) and has more to keep the kids entertained than the other viewpoints you can visit. There is a small museum with information and displays about the invasion of 1974 and the effects it had on the island. Photos of Famagusta and Varosha prior to 1974 when it was the isl...

We live on the east coast of Cyprus, in Derynia almost on the  Green line  which divides the Republic of Cyprus (South) from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. I don't wish to enter into the politics of the island, the invasion in 1974 is still very recent to most Cypriots and I don't know enough about it to be able to get involved in any kind of debate. (You can read more about it  here , should you wish to know more) Our apartment overlooks  Varosha , the 'Ghost town' of Cyprus, I've had many a walk with the little dude around the village since arriving here, not so much now - it's just too hot to go out walking with him strapped into his buggy now. Here are some photos from my springtime walks - note the lovely greenery, long gone now with the arrival of the hot summer. One of the UN checkpoints, as far as you can go in Derynia. 75% of the village is in the buffer zone.  Looking into the buffer zone, note the b...