A Mediterranean Treasure

 

Paphos Harbour Castle

 
    If you've ever visited the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, it's hard to believe that hostilities took place there. Unless you visit Nicosia, the island's largest city which still bears some scars of the heavy fighting there, it's unlikely that you would notice that this warm and friendly land has had its problems.

    Nicosia is the whole of the island's capital, however it is split into two zones. The south being governed by the Republic of Cyprus whilst the north is known to Turkey and only Turkey, as the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

    A buffer zone patrolled by a UN Peacekeeping Force maintains peace and security in the region, amongst the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, through a ceasefire that was agreed forty years ago this month.

 

Theoskepasti Church, Paphos

    When I think about some of the conflicts that are taking place today, I hope that like the governments in Cyprus and Turkey they will allow their people to have normality reinstated in their lives soon, whilst talks take place.
 

Paphos Harbour

        There is so much to see and to enjoy in this country. With its colourful history, architecture and succulent food to sample, it's a pure Mediterranean treasure.