brass anvil

Not sure what it would have been like to be posted to Cyprus during the trouble, especially back in the 60s, but it is a beautiful country although, like a lot of countries in around there, their cities are a bit....rough. Infrastructure is shoddy, and looks it, services not very good etc. Mind you, that was in the 70s when my parents and I vacationed there one Christmas. We stayed in Kyrenia, on the north shore, and it was a pleasant little port town. The area in around the harbour was very picturesque and very "Greek." Up above the town was an old Crusader castle, St. Hilarion's. Not much left of it, really, and I'm guessing it is probably off limits now due to safety issues. Even in the 70s it was "iffy" (I of course, being a brave (read: mindless) 16 year old, scampered all over it, freaking poor mom out!).

Also travelled over the Troodos Mountains into Nicosia and then down to the south shore (Limassol, Paphos, etc.).

We were there for two weeks and I loved it....Roman ruins, Greek Orthodox monasteries, Turkish shrines. Fantastic.

On the contrary Stephen, it is open, but rough and ready, yes indeed.

A truly beautiful country and the view from St Johns Tower is absolutely breathtaking. We liked it so much that 9 years ago we bought a place just outside Kyrenia, on the road to Bellapais.

Funny how we've gone from a brass anvil to the Besparmak mountains ! !

I think that it's now called the Four Finger Mountains, Brum. The amount of quarrying that has gone on in recent years has accounted for one of the "fingers".

Local knowledge.

Well done that man !

Quote :

A truly beautiful country and the view from St Johns Tower is absolutely breathtaking. We liked it so much that 9 years ago we bought a place just outside Kyrenia, on the road to Bellapais.

We've fancied doing that for years, but we are worried about all this talk of repossessions and the land going back to the Greeks mate.

MALTA - that is where I want to settle - absolute bliss!

Jim, I suppose that it all seems a bit daunting but if you do your homework then there shouldn't be a problem. A lot of people, unfortunately, got their fingers burnt when a few Cowboys appeared on the scene, if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is.

I would agree with you there Martin, if we hadn't bought in Cyprus then we would have gone for Malta, a lovely place.

Yeah, when I went there, on holiday, I was so surprised. Climate very similar to Cyprus, lots to see, affordable properties and it is part of europe which means decent healthcare etc...

I was surprised to see Valetta has a RBL branch, in hindsight with the naval presence we had there, not a surprise really.

The food was good, cheap and plentiful and boy, £45 via easyjet each way....

Yes, but "The Gut" had gone!

I thought Malta was expensive? Mostly because a great proportion of the food has to be imported.

We are off there next year, My daughter in Law is 1/4 malteser and wan't to show off our new grand daughter to the distant family.

I'm looking forward to it,

is the Gut really gone? shame, that's the only part I ever saw in a weekend stop over once.

All gone Jim, been replaced by M & S.

ah well, my memory is distinctly hazy anyway, not sure why

Not sure why my arse... lol