Cyprus Do village or Town rivalries exist in Cyprus?

Medman · advanced member

My dad originates from Lefkara, Southern Cyprus. On a trip to the island a few years ago, my mates grandad asked me where my mum was from. I replied Agios Ioannis/Aydin near Paphos/Baf. The old man told me that this wasn't a bad place to come from. However when I told him that Daddy-kins was from Lefkara he wasn't as complimentary. Basically he stated that people from this village were the so called Jews of Cyprus, in that they were tight with money. He went on that if an olive pip fell in to the ground in Lefkara, the Lefkaritis would be on their hands and knees digging until they found it. When I told my dad this he wasn't too impressed. He asked where the old man was from and when I said Nicosia, he said "Let's not go there, people from Nicosia.." well let me put it one way, there sexuality was called in to question. I find this all so amusing and wind up my parents about who came from the best village. I was lucky enough to visit both villages and they both have there plus and minus points like all settlements.

Any views to add? I know Larnakans are not great fans of people from Limassol and vice versa. My mother has told me to steer clear of women from Mora, near Famagusta- bad Karma! Does Mother know best.

Laughing

iceman · lecturer

There used to be a great rivalry between Limassol and Nicosia before 1974...Although this was limited to football games,i do remember some serious clashes long before hooliganism surfaced in Europe.. Laughing

bill cobbett · lecturer

The above is a hideous attempt at propaganda and division because it's a well known and universally accepted fact of CY life that the Occupied Villages of Occupied Kyrenia District are/were home/roots to the most beautiful women, the most handsome men (er...so I am told), the most intelligent and generous people, matched only by the former good people of the Occupied Karpas. Those of Limassol and Larnaca Districts and that other District over near Crete ...well, just shite in every respect, including sadly those people of the other community.

(All the above is of course all in my humble and exceptionally impartial opinion) Laughing

bill cobbett · lecturer

oops! sorry, - forgot to add my fair condemnation of any feature of any town or village in Nicosia District (Occupied Part or Otherwise Part).

pantheman · lecturer

Oracle · vip

Not only is there friendly rivalry about which village is best ... there are intra-village rivalries.

My dad always told me he owned the field which grew the best and biggest stripy watermelons; and now I hear some other whipper-snapper neighbouring farmer is claiming this accolade for his field Rolling Eyes

But all in all, Paphites are the fruit of the Cypriot Earth Cool

humanist · professor

I am nowhere the Karpasia area. But last years visit to my beautiful country that is under rutheless Turkish occupation I found that part of the island ny far athe most beautiful and serene. May be there's athanks to the Turks for keeping it as it was. But how about the honourable enclaved GC's who withstood the Turkish vandalism and remained there as the keepers of our country.

Zorba · lecturer

According to the local graffiti,St Nicholas(Limassol) is better than Trachoni (Limassol) Smile

And ,apparently they come from Texas Confused

Tim Drayton · lecturer

I am informed by people in Limassol that everybody from Paphos has a screw lose. Whether this has to do with intertown rivalry, or is just an objective statement of fact, is not for me to comment.

humanist · professor

From what I remember Lemesos always had a perception of itself as being more cosmopolitan. Perhaps it was.

Personally I really liked Larnaca when I was there on holidays in 07. Not sure really why.