Cyprus-Forum.com

[bill cobbett]

Oh and I am reminded of a failed attempt to cross in to the Occupied Areas a few weeks ago. This would have been my first attempt at the Ledra crossing.

Many will share my feelings about crossing, whether to cross or not in the first place, whether or not to spend any money there, whether or not to endure the police/military state there etc. etc. We all search our consciences for the answers to these questions. I had been searching my conscience all afternoon and had decided to go.

Anyway. Drove to Nic. Dumped the hire-car, Cy fashion, on the pavement just outside the walls (there was a yellow no-parking line on the road, but not on the pavement) and started off up Ledra, thinking yep I'm going, for better or worse I am going, perhaps to try a local northern beer or even a "tr" coffee.

I started off at a pretty good pace but found myself going slower and slower. Needed a bit of Dutch courage. Stopped for a beer or two and set off again and the voices of doubt in my head started again. Got to within a few yards of the "border", all the while the foul flags of invasion and occupaton had been getting larger and larger and do you know if it weren't for the flags, I would have crossed, but I didn't. I turned back for home. Why am I such a prisoner to my conscience?

To many people their principles are their most prized possessions.

Yep F. These are all that's left to us.

[GAVCARoCOM]

As I've stated, I'd never dream of crossing into an illegally occupied territory but once whilst returning from a restaurant down a certain road near to Pyla that a friend of mine says leads into the occupied territory we were stopped and subjected to a very invasive search by police officers, and not very politely either.

that should be the sba police

as you know sba(uk) police works on pyla border. sba police is horrible and everyone dont like sba .also did you past yourself or just passing what your friend said.

[Feisty]

Indeed yes.
I once had a discussion with my (muslim) husband about religion and why I wasn't particularly religious. My answer was that, as a human being, if I could go through my life being good to people and not doing them any harm, that was all the religion I needed.
I try to live by that principle.

[roseandchan]

we had a bad experience last week, which is why i asked the other forum members. we were in the car crossing at metehan. our tc friend was with us. when we had our documents checked the gc customs office went off on one. he started on our tc friend because his kimlik card is old and tatty. hubby asked him if we should pull aside so that we could talk about it as our friend has crossed with us many times before without problem.then he started shouting at us. when he final explained what he was p----ed off about ,it was the age of kimlik. he did let us in but on checking the date on the kimlik it didn't actually have one on it. so how did he know it was not valid? we were upset as our friend is turkish cypriot and cyprus is his country. why should he be treated so bad.

[tessintrnc]

I go back and forth mainly through Ledra (walking), smiling officials on both sides, never had a problem. Sometimes the GC officials don't even look at the passport!
Tess

[roseandchan]

ledra a ccouple of weeks back, we saw a tramp sleeping in the un part. we spoke to gc customs who could not believe it. neither side apparently can police the un part. maybe it would be a good place to start a tax free business.

[emassroua]

I was in Nicosia early june for several Days & went to the other side on foot using ledra street ... it was so easy just The Turkish Side Fill a smal form & typed .. & say go... but I don't know what & the pepoles goes there .. Nothing is important in that side .... is there anything special for in that part , my next visit ??

[DT.]

we had a bad experience last week, which is why i asked the other forum members. we were in the car crossing at metehan. our tc friend was with us. when we had our documents checked the gc customs office went off on one. he started on our tc friend because his kimlik card is old and tatty. hubby asked him if we should pull aside so that we could talk about it as our friend has crossed with us many times before without problem.then he started shouting at us. when he final explained what he was p----ed off about ,it was the age of kimlik. he did let us in but on checking the date on the kimlik it didn't actually have one on it. so how did he know it was not valid? we were upset as our friend is turkish cypriot and cyprus is his country. why should he be treated so bad.

sorry, whats a kimlik?

[roseandchan]

trnc i.d. card.

[humanist]

from north to south and south to north, how were your experiences? which crossing did you use? did you drive or cross on foot?did it take a long time to cross? were customs officers polite? did you experience any racism?do you feel safe on the other side?should more crossings be opened?would like to hear what other members feel.

Nearly a year ago I visited Cyprus and I crossed from the free areas of the RoC to the occupied areas. I used the crossing near the Ledra Palace the now UN quarters, (forgot the name now). I crossed over about 5 times. I have to say I was intrigued to see part of my country that I had not had access too since 1974. I crossed over and although a little anxious I walked through the old Lefkosia town and had a real time visiting the markets (fruit and veg). walked the back streets to some poorer areas. The customs officers were fine with me, except the fat bitch that was sitting in the booth just before you cross over to the free areas. Once I crossed over and wasn't sure where I was to goI stopped at the booth on the other side and chatted to a GC police officer was impressed that I travelled all the way from Australia and wanted to see my country.

Second time I crossed I tried to go and see the occupied Lefkosia town centre got lost, got anxious by the number of Turkish flags and statutes that I left in a bit of hurry, no problems at the crossings. Third time I crossed over with a friend from Canada no problems, but trying to get directions was impossible, but the locals showed outmost sincerety and willingness to help. We sat at a park cafe for a beer and took in the atmosphere and people new I was a GC because the owner spoke to me in Greek, very few words that he knew. Fourth time I crossed over with my parents in their 60"s we were meeting a TC friend who escorted us to Apostolos Andreas. That was the first time my parents crossed over. And the young man that was sitting in the booth spke t my mum in English and said "this is your first time I see" have a good day. We then asked a few question in relation to a TC friend who lives in Austra;ia and has never been to the occupied areas. The staff were helpful and polite. We travelled to Apostolos Andreas and back to Xeros via Kyrenia. Now Kyrenia freaked me out. I couldn't wait to get out and fast we did. Oly problem we got reaped off by five CY pounds for the car hire in the occupied area. Nice TC family though "halali".


and here I am alive to tell the story.