Girne,Cyprus
Scott-Free’s blog
Steve & Chris
Fri 28 May 2010 07:59
35:20.534N
33.19.897E
The overnight
passage to Girne was boring, with the engine on all the way, but
uneventful. We arrived in Girne around lunchtime on Tuesday.
Mooring arrangements were interesting with a row of boats stern to the quay
and another row bows to in between their bows. Taking up the anchors
when we leave should prove to be even more interesting!
That evening we
attended a formal reception at the Castle.We were expecting the President of the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,but it turned out he was otherwise engaged
so we managed without him. The caterers had also been expecting
him,though, so the food was very good! We had the usual speeches and flag
ceremony, with one of the President's underlings reading out his
speech. It was a pleasant evening and we took a stroll down to the
old harbour before getting a taxi back to the boat.
The
flag ceremony at the Castle
On Wednesday
and Thursday we took the organised tours. On Wednesday we visited St
Hilarion's castle,which was quite a climb but worth it. 
From this window
inSt Hilarion's castle a golden-haired queen is said to have thrown
herself!
Lunch was in
Bellapais Abbey and then we went into the captial city of Cyprus,Nicosia. This
city is of course still divided by the 'green line', but it is possible now to
pass through from one side to the other by showing passports. We visited a
mosque which had been converted from a church,and it was very strange to see the
gothic arches inside a mosque!
On Thursday we went
to Famagusta on the East coast, where we saw an even more interesting church cum
mosque.
A church with a
minaret in Famagusta!
We visited the
ancient site of Salamis, where I tried out the ancient toilet
facilities...
...with lunch near
the beach and a swimming opportunity which most of us declined due to a
very strong onshore wind!
That evening we
attended the pirate party at a local hotel, after parading through the old
harbour in our costumes.
Four pirates and
Captain Morgan (the parrot!)
Dinner was excellent
and we were entertained by a belly dancer and the floor opened for
dancing. A good time was had by all, especially Captain Morgan who had so
much to drink he was slowly slipping under the table...
"Squawk..Pieces
of eight... hic!"