Cyprus: North & South

We have now been in Southern Cyprus (Greek side) for about 30 hours. We have yet to traverse into the Northern (Turkish side) part of the Island. The map included in our Cyprus book however, really won’t help guide us in the North. See below.

Greek Cypriot Map

The Turkish Cypriot map is a mirror image of the above, so I plan to cut and paste them together — for a complete map of the island. It’s a powerful, statement. Despite several years of tranquility, it seems the remnants of war remain. In the neighborhood we are staying, one block from the Southern side of the border, there are numerous vacant buildings. Stunning architecture. Some Cypriots have mentioned that the owners of these buildings may be Turkish Cypriots who live in the North, but abandoned their homes either in 1974 or 1983 (I am not sure).

I am only beginning to understand the political and social situation here in Cyprus. I am trying to collect “facts”, here are a few I have jotted down:

Turkish tourists can not enter Southern Cyprus directly. They must enter through another country. Ie: fly to London then to Southern Cyprus. They can of course go to Northern Cyprus with ease. So if a Turkish student is in college in Northern Cyprus, they can not visit Southern Cyprus, even if they live five minutes from the border.
It is difficult to find a Northern Cypriot paper in Southern Cyrpus, and vice versa.
Is Cypriot coffee Turkish or Greek?
Turkey has encouraged emigration to Northern Cyprus. Speculation is that the immigrants are poor and less secular. Since the increase in Turkish population more Minarets/Mosques have appeared.
The history from both North and South are extremely
TV & Newspapers are thriving in Cyprus! (amazing right)
There is a town in Southern Cyprus that has Turkish and Greeks! It is called Pyla.
In Southern Cyprus you will find McDonalds, Starbucks, Guess — in Northern Cyprus you won’t find any of those stores. Recently they made an agreement with Coca Cola or Pepsi I believe, but most products produced by a country in the UN are not shipped to Northern Cyprus.

Tonight we met the Cypriot artists and curators. They are an international group of Greek & Turkish Cypriots, Italian, French, South African. It is really a dynamic, insightful group of amazing women artists and writers. I can’t wait to tell you more about everyone.