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RELAXATION IN NORTH CYPRUS
If you busy life has led you to cry:
‘hel is other people’ then perhaps North
Cyprus is heaven on earth.
There are many places in the Mediterranean
that can claim to be 'peaceful' but North
Cyprus is where you can share the peace and
relaxation with your partner, your friends
and your family without the rest of Europe
trying to muscle in on the act.
The loudest noise is the laughter and maybe
the chords of the traditional instruments
the locals like to play - and the evening
accompaniment of cicadas chirping as the sun
sets. The infamous Ayia Napa is a few miles
across the border to the South - but several
disco light years away in culture.
Relaxation in North Cyprus is in the sparkle
of the sea and the scent of the fruit and
wild flowers. An exhausting day on a lazy
beach may be rounded off with a late
afternoon walk around Bellapais, the Abbey
of Peace, and then a candlelit dinner at a
terrace restaurant or bar overlooking Girne
Harbour. For a bit of social excitement,
slump over a backgammon board like a local -
or buy one and take it home if you can't be
bothered with much while you are away.
Beaches are plentiful - from the sandy coves
to explore on the Northern coast, including
the idyllic Escape and Mermaid beaches to
the even quieter Acapulco and Lara beaches.
Gazimagusa Bay boasts a delightful expanse
of golden sands. But if you really want to
escape then the Karpaz Peninsula guarantees
seclusion.
Eating out is popular among local people and
the choice of cuisine reflects this. A
period of reflection is obligatory after a
meze meal - where up to 15 courses of meat
balls, kebabs, hellim cheese, yoghurt, and
other delicacies will render you immobile
for a while! Fish is fresh, of course, and
at its best cooked simply, washed down with
excellent wine, much of it locally provided
or from Turkey. After all this you'll
probably need a quick fix of Turkish coffee
to get you moving again.
Shopping is some people's idea of therapy
and North Cyprus offers a full course of
treatment. Surprisingly chic boutiques in
Girne and Lefkosa cater for Europe an
travellers - but the quality is much higher
than the prices.
The winding streets of the larger towns and
villages host a mix of local crafts and
foods - pottery and ceramics, oriental
objects d'art in silver, bronze, enamel and
onyx, Cyprus lace, embroidered linen and
leather goods. The morning markets offer an
exciting assault on the senses as well as
the best bargains and the freshest produce.
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