Larnaca, Larnaca, CyprusLeft Limassol on Wednesday, drove across to Larnaca, about an hours drive. We were not too sure what to expect in Larnaca. It's quite a large city on the southern coast of the island. Quite a popular seaside resort with locals and international tourists alike. Nice beach promenade with lots of cafes bars and restaurants.
Interesting fortification down one end of the beach called, appropriately, Medieval Castle of Larnaca which dates back to the 12th century. Nice view of the city from the top of the walls.
Larnaca is a good spot to do a day trip to Nicosia, capital of Cyprus. Not sure if you are aware, but Cyprus is a divided country. After decades of political turmoil, Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 to pursue annexation of Cyprus into Turkey. This led to Greek control in the south, Turkish control in the north. And Nicosia sits astride the border. You even have to go through a border checkpoint to get to the other side of the city (just like Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin).
As you pass through the checkpoint, you are immediately immersed in narrow streets filled with market stalls. A cacophony of voices exhort you to buy their goods or eat in their cafes. Julie was able to get a bit of retail therapy in during our visit. Got talking to a local coffee vendor on the Turkish side. He was a Turkish Cypriot, married to a Greek Cypriot, living on the Greek side, working on the Turkish side. Complicated. He didn't have many good things to say about the Greek army or Turkish army or the British or the UN. They are all "Mafia" according to him. Maybe one day Cyprus will be one again.
It would have been good to do some more exploring of the Turkish partition of Cyprus but time won't permit it. We have to head back to Paphos to fly out to our next destination, Thessaloniki in Greece.
2025-05-23