This trip to Cyprus for in the making for over a year. I had intentions going last year, in 2006, just before joining the Cyprus Forum. I was discouraged from making that trip, and after 42 years of not going to Cyprus, I gave up on the idea, ever returning again. However, having spent a year on the Forum, I gained a new momentum to make the trip, so earlier this year, I asked the Forum members, to advice me on various questions, that were a concern to me. This started a long negative debate between myself and VP mostly, as to why I would visit the RoC at all, since my new country now was called "TRNC". I was warned of all the negatives and even sent bad wishes for my trip to Cyprus, which was to start, in mid April. Needless to say, I had a lot on my mind, as the days came closer and closer. Finally, the time of truth was here, and there was no turning back.
The day of departure did not start well. Our connecting train had broken down somewhere, so we had to divert to Zurich, before going to Zurich airport. Got there in time to check in, and while at the gate, I realised, I did not have the house keys with me. Upon calling my girlfriends mother to go and check if the keys were on the front door, and sure enough, they were. After connecting in Frankfurt to Larnaca, it was the longest 3 1/2 flight I ever had. I was practicing in my mind, how I would react to each possible incident with the airport officials, if they started giving me shit. Mrfromng had one time wrote, that he was not treated with respect, so I was prepared to get into a verbal match, with anyone, that were to flex their "official muscle". At long last, the plane had landed in the early hours of 2 AM. Coming down the stairs from the plain and actually stepping on Cypriot ground was an emotional experienced, that I kept to my self, from others. After 43 years of absence, I was once again home. Then the bus brought us to the terminal. As we walked to the immigration, I was greeted with a quite "hello" by the officer. My passport ( British) was checked and given back without an incident. It felt like a little anti climax really, but was glad to get through there, without any problems, because, according to Zan and VP, I had plenty of problems, that was waiting for me, as long as, I was going to be in the Roc.
Next we went to get our rental car, so after locating the Agent, paper work was done and with a map and instructions on how to get to our Hotel in Larnaca, which was only 6 kilometers away, we were on the way. It was almost 3 AM, and soon we run into a police check point. We were directed to pull to the side and stop. Now for sure, VP will prevail with his prediction on TC's being mishandled by GC's, so I thought. I stepped out of the car and was approached by 2 police officers. I gave them my drivers license, and when asked where I was from, I said, Switzerland, to try and conceal my identity. At that very moment, it was time to test VP's predictions, so I told the officer, that I was actually, a Cypriot, and that we had just landed, and was on our way to the hotel. With my "Turkish" name being very evident on my drivers licence, I expected some "power play" from them, but again not to be. He told me they were checking for drunk drivers and was allowed to go, with fresh directions from them, to our hotel.
Once at the hotel, I had my girlfriend fill in the registration card, since the hotels were all booked under her name, to once again, to conceal my identity. But I was asked to show my passport also, so much for that smart idea. Once again, no problems. We were told where to park, and was wished good night, which was about 3.30 AM. I immediately got on the hotels coin operated computer, to cancel the second rental car that I booked with the same rental company, under my girlfriends name, to be picked up, that afternoon. Once again, I was concerned what these GC might do, to anyone with a Turkish sounding name. I was afraid, they might just say, "sorry Mr. Kikapu, but we cannot find your reservation". Therefore, we made a back up reservation, so that, we would not be charged, an arm and a leg, for a on the spot car rental charges. If you called me a paranoid before going to Cyprus and soon after we landed there, I would say, that you were correct. This was all due to statesment made by some of our partitionist members, on the forum.
To be continued.....