MIXED FEELINGS



                          MY LIFE IS A WONDERFUL TRIP



Every time I come to this island, I have these mixed feelings . I love walking around Larnaca and spot old buildings, shops, see older people who remind me of those years when I was a teenager. I don't feel more than 18 when in Cyprus believe it or not!

There are times when I lose all sense of reality and run back to my childhood days.

They were happy, joyful, and interesting days – us not being rich – but lived like rich.



I remember traveling a lot –inland most of the time, through the narrow hard to be driven roads up on the mountains. We used to travel long hours to get to a destination that we now need just a couple of hours.

Life was peaceful, and almost every weekend we were out. Even in the afternoons of weekdays most of the time we were out in the fields. Picking snails on a rainy day, wild asparagus ,or mushrooms, having long walks in the fields, were some of the activities we had those days .. We grew up learning to love nature, plants and animals. My life –a wonderful trip!!!



If I were asked to change something in my life, I would strongly answer "No, I would never change anything, but for the war in 1974".



WORST MOMENTS- Injustice.



Unfortunately, since July 1974 a significant part of the island’s cultural heritage is under Turkish occupation and as a result acquaintance with it is impossible.  



The worst moments of my life were in July 1974 when the Turks invaded Cyprus. I was on the island then, and I clearly remember the threat and us running in the rifle pits to be saved!

The long watches of the nights without sleep, hoping that parachutists won’t be dropped in our city or the neighborhoods .

Dark nights and days when there was no sleep at all, fear and despair for this injustice.

We had Turkish friends and we were also worried about them.

Our Turkish friends on the other side were now, experiencing the same threat. Hard times that I just don’t wish to comment on, and try not to remember.