@ Nikitas & Paphits
A total misconception that all those who cross to the occupied do it for the casinos and the whores.
I personally don't know anybody who crosses for that.
just to give you an idea:
I know a lady who does her hairdressing there. (half price)
Another family who do their dental there.(1/3 of the price)
A teacher who teaches Greek to the members of a TC labor Union
A specialist mechanic who repairs expensive agricultural machinery (John Dheere) because the TCs import them from Turkey and have no service.
Another one for the Caterpillars and so on.
A company that makes Greenhouses.
A cousin of mine crosses just for coffee at Constantia-Famagusta 300m from his house, just for childhood memories
I cross when i need label clothing e.g Lacostes cost 60-100 Euros in the free areas, same thing in the occupied 10-12 Euros ORIGINAL.
My son has a sport car, each tire Michellin costs 160 Euros in the free areas (wow I never imagined those sport tires would be so expensive) he changed them in the occupied at half price.
My son's friends (a company of about 30) cross all the time to buy tobaco (old holbrough something) costs half price.They buy huge quantities and deliver to each other. Cigaretes there are also cheaper.
My son and his friend like diving and fishing in deep sea. There are times they want to do it at Pyrgos Tylliria area. It would take them 4 hours to go from Nicosia to Pyrgos via Paphos. Crossing through the occupied is only 40 minutes away.
Of course the first time we all crossed was to visit our occupied properties.
I never crossed to visit churches, but many religious people do so.
Others cross because they got this hobby of experiencing the taste of all restaurants.
It always bothered me the fact that they were issuing a 3 day VISA. The removal of that shitty paper is not only symbolic, it is essential as well. Now you cross because you are a Cypriot.You do not cross to another country that would issue you a visa. You just cross to another area of your own country, that although illegal still has an administration. Showing IDs is important because like it or not we enter this administration which although illegal, it can still trace you if something goes wrong, if you need medical care,or in case of an emergency etc. Besides if there were no ID requirement all settlers would be able to cross as well.
