Cyprus-Forum.com

[cymart]

My wifes grandparents left Ayios Andronikos/Yesilkoy in the Karpas when the mass exodus of Greek-Cypriots from the village took place in 1976.About 20 others remained,of which only one elderly couple still survive.Because they had children in various countries from Canada to the U.K. they were not destitute and spent their final years in London,where they are now both buried.But leaving behind their house and land at an elderly age which had been in the family for generations was a tremendous emotional trauma for them and they never really got over it.
We still visit the house a couple of times per year and are on good terms with the family from Turkey who now live there.They have made some alterations and additions to it,including a ghastly aluminium door which does not fit the traditional architecture,but at least it is still used as a home and not a sheep-pen or abandoned ruin and that is some comfort.There were Turkish Cypriots in the village before 1974 and generally everyone got along well with Greek being the standard language there so we feel welcome and at ease whenever we go there.There is also one of the nicest restaurants in the area at Kadis on the main road where he makes excellent kleftico and chicken kebab and you can sit up in the tower and enjoy the view!His brother works in the south so there is no animosity and we just wish things could be how they used to be because this is a lovely area of Cyprus,very green and fragrant with a beautiful forest nearby.We would have no problem getting along with the people there if there is a solution and we are allowed to go back and perhaps build a house on some of the empty land the family owned in different areas around the village.The family also has a lot of agricultural land in Elysis,which is between Ayios Symeon and Korovia and this is very nice too but has no electricity or other supplies.

[denizaksulu]

My wifes grandparents left Ayios Andronikos/Yesilkoy in the Karpas when the mass exodus of Greek-Cypriots from the village took place in 1976.About 20 others remained,of which only one elderly couple still survive.Because they had children in various countries from Canada to the U.K. they were not destitute and spent their final years in London,where they are now both buried.But leaving behind their house and land at an elderly age which had been in the family for generations was a tremendous emotional trauma for them and they never really got over it.
We still visit the house a couple of times per year and are on good terms with the family from Turkey who now live there.They have made some alterations and additions to it,including a ghastly aluminium door which does not fit the traditional architecture,but at least it is still used as a home and not a sheep-pen or abandoned ruin and that is some comfort.There were Turkish Cypriots in the village before 1974 and generally everyone got along well with Greek being the standard language there so we feel welcome and at ease whenever we go there.There is also one of the nicest restaurants in the area at Kadis on the main road where he makes excellent kleftico and chicken kebab and you can sit up in the tower and enjoy the view!His brother works in the south so there is no animosity and we just wish things could be how they used to be because this is a lovely area of Cyprus,very green and fragrant with a beautiful forest nearby.We would have no problem getting along with the people there if there is a solution and we are allowed to go back and perhaps build a house on some of the empty land the family owned in different areas around the village.The family also has a lot of agricultural land in Elysis,which is between Ayios Symeon and Korovia and this is very nice too but has no electricity or other supplies.

I think it is good that forum members can relate their histories. Us Cypriots understand each others sufferings (one hopes). It always makes me think what if....things were different.

BTW, my uncles wife is from Ay.Androniko/Karpasia. Her brother was killed in the 1974, Famagusta bombardment.

[bill cobbett]

Hello Xorkani Cymart and Den.

My mother left Ag Andronikos for London in the early '50.

My late grandmother and a couple of aunts stayed for a few months after the 1974 eisvoli. Suffered very badly at the hands of the Turkish Army. I know an all too common story.

Agreed very attractive part of the Island.

[denizaksulu]

Hello Xorkani Cymart and Den.

My mother left Ag Andronikos for London in the early '50.

My late grandmother and a couple of aunts stayed for a few months after the 1974 eisvoli. Suffered very badly at the hands of the Turkish Army. I know an all too common story.

Agreed very attractive part of the Island.

I am sorry about what happened Bill. Whats is with the English name. I thought you were a foreigner.

Lets hope our children will never see a war.

[Oracle]

Hello Xorkani Cymart and Den.

My mother left Ag Andronikos for London in the early '50.

My late grandmother and a couple of aunts stayed for a few months after the 1974 eisvoli. Suffered very badly at the hands of the Turkish Army. I know an all too common story.

Agreed very attractive part of the Island.

Bill so sorry to hear of your personal experience, and your relatives' suffering with the Turkish Army ....

They must leave these shores and people, that they do not respect ....

[bill cobbett]

Thanks D and O.

Don't rate nationalities, patriotism etc terribly highly so I quite like being a foreigner in both GB and CY. Others of the Cypriot diaspora may feel the same way.

As to the suffering. It seems to go with the territory. I'm sure lots of members can give similar testimonies.

[cymart]

Bill, my father-in-law is very involved with the village association in London and he knows almost everyone from there,Turkish Cypriots included.On the whole they are a nice bunch but after the Turkish army arrived in august 1974,some of the Turkish Cypriot villagers who were with TMT etc. had a few scores to settle with some of the Greek-Cypriots there which started from 1963 and there were some quite nasty incidents!Luckily they were just a small handful and if you go up there now nothing is ever said about it any more.Despite it's remote location,Yesilkoy has become quite prosperous again and there are some smart new houses and villas there,mainly belonging to villagers who were in London etc. and have gone back to retire.Anyone who has a taste for Kolokassi and snails and mushrooms from the kafkalla forest will understand why!

[bill cobbett]

Bill, my father-in-law is very involved with the village association in London and he knows almost everyone from there,Turkish Cypriots included.On the whole they are a nice bunch but after the Turkish army arrived in august 1974,some of the Turkish Cypriot villagers who were with TMT etc. had a few scores to settle with some of the Greek-Cypriots there which started from 1963 and there were some quite nasty incidents!Luckily they were just a small handful and if you go up there now nothing is ever said about it any more.Despite it's remote location,Yesilkoy has become quite prosperous again and there are some smart new houses and villas there,mainly belonging to villagers who were in London etc. and have gone back to retire.Anyone who has a taste for Kolokassi and snails and mushrooms from the kafkalla forest will understand why!

Yes it was always described as a mixed village where people got on well.
I stopped there a couple of summers ago and would agree that it was pretty prosperous, lively and well populated.

Kolokassi and Snails? Yes agreed and tobacco was and may still be widely grown. Loads of water as well I hear.

[Nikitas]

Regarding terms of abuse, I had never heard the term "bellotourkos" until Denktash referred to it, and one other time in London a TC friend used the phrase "ides tourko nashi nou?" (have you ever seen an intelligent Turk). I do not think I hung around especially genteel people, it is just that these terms were not iused. And I have never heard the word Gavur spoken and do not know how it is pronounced, and I have lots of TC friends in London who were familiar enough to use abusive language.

Even during the invasion, in the news reels the people venting their anger never used these supposedly common terms. They swore like they normally do.

[Bananiot]

Figments of your imagination Nikitas. The other day, my next door neighbour came back from Smirni and told me how nice the place was and he finished his story with this "the dirty dogs took the best parts".