25th January Day in Nicosia

Our day started minus the coffee, as the electricity board were pretty much on the dot of 8.15am when they turned the power off. Unfortunately just before we'd got our act in gear to think about putting the kettle on, so it was juice this morning 😁.

We then spent a bit of time over working out our course of action before getting out of the door by 10. Taking the motorway route to the capital of Nicosia, was the most direct option. However, this still involves driving along the coast road to Larnaca before heading north. There are not many road options other than motorway, main road and unmade road and none seem to take what seems to be an obvious route.

Anyway, we got ourselves to the outskirts of the city and found ourselves a free car park - Ian managed to squeeze our little hire car into an almost non existent space. We then headed north into the walled city for a day of serious walking and exploring.

I would say from our day that Nicosia is full of all kinds of places of worship and it was getting to the stage that they all seem the same. It has a pedestrianised main modern shopping centre, quiet streets on the outskirts and all roads north basically end in oil drums topped with barbed wire. There are 2 check points you can walk through but we decided to give them a miss to avoid any complications.

Islamic Mosque

Down one of the small side streets

We popped into one of the tourist shops in the church area where we were greeted by a delightful elderly Greek man who couldn't do enough for us. Kept offering food and drink and 'special prices' 😀 We did come away with one of those Greek all seeing eyes as a pendant for my necklace so all parties were pleased that a purchase was made. Ian also felt that he'd got a bargain.

One of the many Greek Orthodox churches. Amazing to look inside as so much gold leaf decorating the altar, walls and ceilings.

Farmagusta Gate. Part of the original city wall.

Coming to one of the dead ends - Turkish occupied Cyprus ahead

Looking into the UN Buffer Zone
,

Looking across to the Turkish side

After trotting from one side of the city to another we decided we'd start heading to the car. I, however, thought we should see the Presidential palace that didn't seem too far away. So a slight detour to see a disappointing palace - not quite Buckingham Palace. 

More of a town hall, up a hill, hidden in the undergrowth, surrounded by barbed wire and behind a helipad! Certainly makes you appreciate the historic buildings that we have at home.

By the time we'd eventually seen everything and navigated back to the car, using the ancient form of paper map reading as my phone battery had died and we couldn't use it's GPS, it was getting dark. A fairly busy, for Cyprus, journey out of the city before the motorway journey back. 

The electrics were all back on so lovely to come in and get the kettle on for a much needed cuppa and feet up😃. I think it'll be a less energetic day tomorrow, especially as we've walked in excess of 21,000 steps today - don't tell Ian😅.