The coastal town of Girne (Greek: Kyrenia) in the Turkish Republic on Northern Cyprus (TRNC) slows down from it’s usual bustling pace during the extremely hot afternoon hours of the Cypriot summer. The harbor is a 5 minute (~7 TL) cab ride from the main harbor where ferries from Turkey shuttle people back and forth from twice a day. Sure, it’s only a 20 minute walk but with temperatures well in the upper 30s Celsius (+100F) in the summer and bags in tow, it’s an attractive option.
The cost of eating around the harbor is very expensive and you’ll find more authentic food for a fourth of the price two blocks up toward the main circle. For a real deal there are several places serving “menemen” (Turkish omelets) with ayran (yogurt drink) and bread for 2 TL. There is one good budget-friendly option right near the harbor though and that’s the inexpensive Cyprus Dorms hostel. It’s a bit spartan with quirky staff but in a great location – just don’t count on the free wi-fi though. Fortunately there’s a reliable and free connection at Kemer Cafe right up the street where I met this guy. They also serve up a large Turkish breakfast for less than 10 TL.
You can see more of my pictures from Girne in North Cyprus, which I’ll be writing more about in the coming weeks.
I am trying to email you for permission to use a photo. I used the email link under the Get in Touch with Me section on your About Me page. The email attempt failed. How should I get in touch with you to request permission to use a photo? I work in a middle school library and would like to use one of the photos in your blog for a sign in our library.
Amy
Hi Amy, I got your email and just replied back 🙂 Thanks for getting in touch!
The price of eating at any harbour is expensive, which is such shame. I find if you go a block or two away you find the locals eating what was caught that day.
Yeah, you really do pay for the view…
What exactly is a ‘Turkish breakfast’? When I went there 10 years ago we’d eat olives, feta cheese, and soft boiled eggs. I thought it was so strange at that time…but then again it was the first country I had ever traveled to!
While it varies, generally there is, like you mention, feta cheese, ‘kasar’ cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, runny eggs, watery cherry jam, honey, bread, sometimes ‘sucuk (spicy beef sausage), and *lots* of tea 🙂 In North Cyprus they also eat a cheese unique to the island called ‘hellim’. It’s often grilled or fried:
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=hellim+peyniri&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1440&bih=688
Breakfast and dinner I’d say are the biggest meals of the day and always full of variety. From time to time Turks also have an expanded version of the traditional breakfast at dinner.
I must admit to my complete lack of knowledge about this area of the world. I want very much to visit Turkey but don’t understand anything about Cyprus and the Turkish Republic on Northern Cyprus; sounds like the island is divided?? Have you ever written about this and if so, would love it if you’d direct me to that article so I can educate myself. Thanks!
Hi Barbara,
I’ve been working on a post about the complex political situation there and it’s a fairly controversial past. Essentially Turkey, in response to a Greece-backed coup d’etat attempt sent thousands of troops to the north in 1974 to protect the Turkish-Cypriot population there. (Though there are some who would disagree about their motivations.) The Greeks fled south and the Turks went north where Turkish troops remain to this day. (Both sides are separated by a UN buffer zone.)
The north declared independence in 1983 but remains unrecognized internationally, except by Turkey. The TRNC is completely reliant on the Turkey for economic support since international trade and commerce is severely restricted.
The closest attempt to reunify the island was in 2004 via referendum, however the south voted against reunification. A permanent solution now seems further away than ever. Cyprus has been the center of a very unique relationship between all of the parties involved and the EU, of which the south is a member.
Sorry for the long comment but hope this helps a bit. I want to delve into the feelings of the Cypriot Turks towards Turkey and hope to have a post about it soon.
Thanks for clarifying TRNC!
My best crack at a complicated history, thanks Jen!