Place: Bespermark Sokak, Girne, Northern Cyprus at the Five Fingers Bungalow
Time: 14:43
The lack of Internet access is the reason for cramming all the days’ happenings into just one post, but I will try my best not to leave any valuable news out.
Wednesday the 25th April
On Wednesday the 25th of April, Craig and I used the time to laze about around the pool. Read a little, sleep a little and eat a little as possible as we were heading to Angelo and Dora that night…we knew that we had to save the space in our stomachs, as they would put on quite a spread.
Johan came to pick us up just before 7pm and took us to Angelo and Dora’s spot where they were already hard at work with the yummy Souvlaki. Andrie and Lito (their daughter and her husband) joined us. We were very exited to meet them as we have heard so much about them and weren’t surprised when we got along so well and enjoyed listening to their stories from the previous years. It felt like old friends reunited and we had a wonderful time laughing together.
Craig went outside to help the men with the Souvlaki and once he saw it said to me (and I quote) “Next to you, this is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen”. – never a man of few words. J
The lamb and chicken were on a rotisserie being seasoned and cooked to perfection, starting the grumble in our stomachs. The time had come to sit and enjoy but not only was there Souvlaki, Angelo had made my favourites, Sieftalies as well. One thing we did realize is that if you are invited into a Cypriots home (especially Angelo and Dora) you are a ‘bottomless pit’ and will eat everything (or at least have a spoonful). I have honestly never experienced Craig groaning from his full stomach as I did that night and just as an indication of how much we ate….Craig couldn’t eat again until 3pm the next day and he wasn’t even hungry then, he just knew that he had to have something.
Anyways, we were so touched by their incredible hospitality and found it very hard to say goodbye as they are such a pleasure to be around and we feel so blessed being able to spend time with these wonderful people, but we know that we will see them again at every possible chance in the future.
Thursday the 26th April
The time to move on had arrived and being the phenomenal people that they are, Johan and Maro Grobbelaar insisted that they would take us into the Northern (Turkish Occupied) area of Cyprus where we would try to get a ferry across to Turkey.
I can’t begin to explain the absolute blessing that the Grobbelaars have been to us on this trip. From lunches to outings to transporting, they have been at the forefront and have become such amazing friends, and we now regard them as our Cypriot family.
They picked us up at 9am and we left for Lefkosia where we would meet Maro’s close friend Yanoulla. She is a dynamic woman who travels these roads often and crosses the border regularly, so she knew the procedure and Girne relatively well.
We stopped in Lefkosia where Yanoulla spoiled us with a tea and coffee together with delish pastries before hitting the road yet again in the direction of Girne. Car packed, tummies full and off we went.
Yanoulla gave us a quick tour of the city and dropped us off at the Five Fingers Bungalows where we had arranged to stay for one night.
We all hate goodbyes, especially ones with such wonderful people, but promised that it was more of a ‘see you later’ as we waved them off.
Craig and I were exited about our little spot as it was in the ‘bundus’ and nowhere near the city. It has a slight Tuscan/Stellenbosch feel as it lies at the bottom of the Mountains with an ideal view of the sea. We dropped our bags, downed a quick cup of coffee and scampered to the city in search of a place to buy our ferry tickets.
We climbed onto the Caglas (the shuttle taking us through the village to the city) which drops us off at the harbor and its another case of the ‘blind leading the blind’ once we got there.
We find the only 2 companies which sell ferry tickets and our options are less than ideal. Either a 12pm ferry or 12am ferry. So after a talk and Doner Kebab, we feed our brains and eventually enquire about a flight to Turkey….long story short, we got a bargain. The flight to Adana costs us half the ferry ticket and saves us 7 hours. Feeling quite proud of ourselves, we head home to catch the sunset and for a much needed ‘good nights sleep’.
Friday the 27th April.
So much for a ‘good nights sleep’. Cats screeching, sheep ‘baaaaaaing’ and elderly people getting up to chat at 4am. Craig and I woke up feeling broken and a good breakfast was in order.
On the menu, fresh homemade cheese and olive bread, muesli, yoghurt, fruit, washed down with some tea and coffee. Feeling refueled, we head back into town to take care of some final details, and enjoy the day.
The northern island (which is a Turkish area) is completely different to the Southern area and feels as though I am already in Turkey. The economy, the language, people and flags are all Turkish and I have to keep reminding myself that I am still in Cyprus.
We are leaving at the crack of dawn to get to the airport on time tomorrow morning, exited to get to actual Turkey – too exiting J
We have had such a wonderful and very special time in Cyprus and exited to continue the trip and see Turkey at last. We have heard so many things about it and not sure what exactly to expect, but that’s how we prefer it - no expectations just learn and experience for ourselves.
We have found a hotel with Wi-Fi in Turkey so be sure to check in for news on the day’s events soon.
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