A Weekend In Istanbul!

The Transcontinental City of Istanbul has its own aura and charm that perfectly reflects the past glory of the city. Spanning land areas of both continents of Europe and Asia, Istanbul has its commercial and historic centre on the European side while most of the population lives on the Asian side. Once you step on the soil of this place that had been the epicenter of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman Empire you could see the time standing still hanging in the atmosphere. Breathing the air of the place that was once the bone of contention between powers that dominated the world.

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The world’s last divided capital. Episode 3: The Green Line

Today, my steps will wonder through the more gloomy side of Nicosia… It’s the Green Line, the fortified and militarized area that is under UN control and which divides Nicosia in two. Although tension is long gone in most of Cyprus, in this area you can still feel it in the air… even though you do not see fully equipped soldiers, but merely remains – bombed houses, walls with bullet holes, barricades, barbed wire… read more…

The world’s last divided capital. Episode 2: Northern Nicosia.

For many years, the border between the Turkish Cypriots and Greeks was tightly closed… From one side to the other, only high officials and UN troops were passing by. Then, a passing point was opened, the famous checkpoint called Ledra Palace, next to what it used to be the coolest hotel of united Nicosia. After that, foreigners were allowed to cross on the other  side, but only by foot and provided they returned by 6 P.M. If they arrived late, The Republic of Cyprus did not accept them anymore in Southern Nicosia.

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The world’s last divided capital. Episode 1: Southern Nicosia

The geo-economic situation after WW2 led to the emergence of some strange, distorted, artificial “capital cities” divided between rival countries with militarized borders and frightening walls, passing by straight through the core of some dwellings that are hundred or maybe thousand years old: Berlin was divided between East and West, so was Jerusalem and starting with 1974, Nicosia was split in two: Lefkosia and Lefkosa! The heart of the town was severed by a barbwire border defended by UN troops.

Berlin unified by choice, Jerusalem by force, so that it remained only one divided capital – welcome to Nicosia, the capital of the ”two countries” called Cyprus. read more…

Hiring a Car to Reach the Most Paradisiacal Spots in Turkey

The moment you step off the plane and into Turkey’s Mediterranean heat, you can get a sense for how desert-like Dalaman can be…but only if you have some wheels to get about the regioncan you reach its surrounding oases.

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