Cyprus-Forum.com

[74LB]

Zan

......And those that can't be bothered and think you are talking about an insecticide.......

[74LB]

Hello,everyone...and thanks for all your interest in my story.
I am still away from my computer,but I will do my best to write the next instalment later on today. Just to remind you that we have still not come to the end of my first day in Cyprus...So,pace yourselves...
Cheers for now.

Blimey, you had taken us back in time so well that I'd forgot about your actual visit.......and we are still on day 1 ! Good thing you didn't stay a month then

Can I ask a question regarding your TCB.........I don't think you have said who s/he is except that s/he can translate Greek......is this a forum member, or would you rather not say ?

As previoulsy acknowledged, this is a great read.

[kafenes]

Hello,everyone...and thanks for all your interest in my story.
I am still away from my computer,but I will do my best to write the next instalment later on today. Just to remind you that we have still not come to the end of my first day in Cyprus...So,pace yourselves...
Cheers for now.

Blimey, you had taken us back in time so well that I'd forgot about your actual visit.......and we are still on day 1 ! Good thing you didn't stay a month then

Can I ask a question regarding your TCB.........I don't think you have said who s/he is except that s/he can translate Greek......is this a forum member, or would you rather not say ?

As previoulsy acknowledged, this is a great read.

According to Bir, his TCB drives like mad while smoking and talking on the mobile phone. I wonder who could that be.

[humanist]

Zany

There could have also been a reluctance to open that sort of debate as reference to EOKA would have been made as well.....We could not have that now could we????

Gee Zan your beginning to sounds lie a broken record I know the old bit stand true but the record :) You will be more helpful trying to bring all of your people together than attempts to separate them. Come on mate get with the program the world is full of war and violence don't ad to the fuel.

[humanist]

Hey Birk, thanks for the mention....... man I just went back to that plush hotel, ah what an experience.

[74LB]

Hello,everyone...and thanks for all your interest in my story.
I am still away from my computer,but I will do my best to write the next instalment later on today. Just to remind you that we have still not come to the end of my first day in Cyprus...So,pace yourselves...
Cheers for now.

Blimey, you had taken us back in time so well that I'd forgot about your actual visit.......and we are still on day 1 ! Good thing you didn't stay a month then

Can I ask a question regarding your TCB.........I don't think you have said who s/he is except that s/he can translate Greek......is this a forum member, or would you rather not say ?

As previoulsy acknowledged, this is a great read.

According to Bir, his TCB drives like mad while smoking and talking on the mobile phone. I wonder who could that be.

Come to think of it, Birkibrisli previously said

...... I was accompanied by 3 True Cypriots (One of Armenian,two of GC background) ........

So say no more

[BirKibrisli]

Back to real time now...We have just left Captain's Table,full on a seafood feast...Headed for Limassol to find my old school...Let me tell you something now I am dying to get off my chest...I think all Cypriot drivers have a death-wish...There is no other explanation...Why else would you be driving compulsively 40-50-60kms over the speed limit,smoking and talking on your mobiles at the same time??? Now I don't want you to think I have a lot of phobias...When I am swimming I panic about sharks. When I am in the air I worry continuously about plane crashes. And when I am on the road,I am sure it will be my last voyage. Apart from that I am quite normal.

Driving towards Limassol on the highway,I was not ready to die yet. I had just returned home for the first time since 1969. And hadn't even visited my village yet. But I was very brave. My TCB (True Cypriot Brother!) must've thought I was very tired and emotional after the journey from Greece,and after what we had just been through. Because I had my eyes closed tightly,and my right foot kept twitching. It was an involuntary attempt to slow the car down by remote muscle action.

By some miracle we reached Limassol in one piece,and I was soon standing in from of my old school. There was the courtyard we assembled every monday morning to sing the Turkish national anthem,and to shout out "Turkum,Dogruyum,Calishkanim..." (I am Turkish,I am Honest,I am hardworking...) There was my classroom where I sat with my sister and became a school spectacle...There was the tackshop where I bought my 'tahinli bitta' (Bourek with tahini)...The place was used as a high school still,so nothing much had changed. We tried to take pictures but it was getting dark. We decided to leave that and come back another day during daylight. I didn't want to and we never did...

I was getting really tired by now. And we had a long way to go to Paphos.
And we had made arangements to meet Andreas(humanist) and his mate Jim from Canada in the evening at the hotel where kafenes sung...So I closed my eyes again and predended to go to sleep. But my mind was on something else. I knew that soon we would come to the road leading to the Fateful Village. And I knew that all those terrible events I described to you earlier would come back flooding my mind...

(to be continued...)

Our actual visit to the Fateful Village took place on Wednesday,the 5th day of the trip. We were on our way to Nicosia for a two-day journey which took us to Famagusta and Ayia Napa as well. I was 12 when I was last here,so I remember it well...

It took us no time to find the house I lived in,and across from there, the House of Horrors stood defying time and memory. It looked in good nick.
We found out why a little later. The corner shop and the House next door was turned into one big taverna/restaurant complex. In comparison, the house I lived in looked neglected and sad. We found out later that it was rented to someone who normally lived in London.

While my TCB got busy taking pictures I tried to compose myself. My head felt heavy,and my heart fluttered gently. I could feel my palms get cold and sweaty. Just then a man dresses in what looked like 'battle fatiques' came running towards us. He was waving his arms around exitedly,asking something or other in Cypriot Greek. A feeling of gloom snuggled up to me. Did I make a big mistake coming here? Was I face to face with a bad spirit from times past? He came right up to me and stood about one metre away. I had no idea what he was talking about. I turned and looked at my TCB who seemed a bit uncomfortable. The two of them exchanged a few words and the man looked physically deflated. He looked at me and at the House of horrors across the road. And switched to speaking good English:
"Do you know what happened in that house?",he said enthusiastically.

I froze. Even my TCB didn't know the hanging story at that point. Who was this man? And how did he know? My mind slowed to a tortoise pace.
"W.w.what?" I stuttered. "What do you mean?"
"Someone was killed there!" he said triumphantly. "Got his balls shot to pieces by the local Turkish Cypriot mafia boss.He was a GC but it had nothing to do with the Cyprus problem.It was purely mafia business..."
I swallowed hard and let out a deep sigh.
"Yes," I found myself saying, "it does look a bit haunted!" I was trying to look reasonably shocked. So at least two people died in that House of horrors...

Then the man told us he was the Muhktar of the village.His mother was an English woman and father a GC who had lived in England for a long time. He had made an official submission to the Government asking for funds to repair the mosque and the Turkish cemetery. He was sick of waiting and the work had started anyway. He thought we were government officials coming at last to investigate his submission. He invited us to his office nearby and offered us cold drinks from a fridge in the corner. The cold orange juice burnt delightfully as it went down the hatch...

We got back into the car as soon as it was polite to do so,and headed for the school. The building was still used as a school so it was well looked after. We told one of the teachers who came out to investigate why we were there. She was very pleasant about it and made us welcome. I looked around,saw Father's old office,and the two classrooms. After a brief conversation with another teacher we took some pictures and took off in the car,passing by the mosque which was under repairs. And headed again,after 44 years, for the bright lights of Nicosia...

(to be continued...)

[humanist]

Bir I am sorry, but I had to laugh at the man being the muhktar, I thought you were fried for a moment but it all turned out okay. Hope you enjoyed the beer

[denizaksulu]

Bir I am sorry, but I had to laugh at the man being the muhktar, I thought you were fried for a moment but it all turned out okay. Hope you enjoyed the beer

Hunanist, G'day

Its a contrast to when I visited my home in Anglissidhes after my prolonged absece.

I was greeted by a group of Greek speaking Sri Lankans. They, I was told were 'carers' for old folk. The couple were living in a 'cow-cart' garage. which I helped build. Well I only carried the cane for the roofers.
Then I was greeted by Sophia, and stuffed with karydaki and lemonade. It took her a while to recognise me. When she did she couldnt stop her tears. I was upset when she told me that her brother had died. I was fond of him as he always taught me greek (reading as well) and Turkish.

I often ask myself if people who have lived in mixed villages have a different view from people who never mixed. I wonder!

Reading BK thread is constantly bringing back memories of all sorts. I will make no more comments as I am beginning to feel that I am stealing BK's show/thread. (which is tooo easy to do)

Regards

[BirKibrisli]

Bir I am sorry, but I had to laugh at the man being the muhktar, I thought you were fried for a moment but it all turned out okay. Hope you enjoyed the beer

It was an orange juice ,Andreas...
But I enjoyed it very much...Keep reading I am coming to the day we spend together in Istinjo... Sometime this year I hope...