Nicosia (Lefkosia)

There is a new Shopping Centre in Nicosia, Cyprus called the Shacolas Emporium Park, which has just recently opened. I visited there in December for Christmas presents. What Does It Have To Offer? There are two floors. On the top floor there is a multiplex cinema, which shows the latest films. There is, also, all kinds of eating places, such as, Macdonalds, Chinese, Greek food and a Sandwich area. There are, also, a couple of coffee shops. There are few shops on the top floor. There is a shop called Public, which is similar to Borders (in the UK). This shop is very big and caters for books, dvds, the latest computer games and music. All books, ...  Read the complete review

The Saray Hotel is rather unprepossessing from the outside. Clad in a dingy grey on which its name is emblazoned in orangey-red lettering, it might have looked trendy when it was built around 1960, but not since. Just eight storeys high, it doesn't even seem very tall. Still, we had been told that it was the place from which to obtain the best view of Nicosia (or Lefkosa, as the Turks prefer to call it), so we paid our YTL4 (£1.50) each to go up to the rooftop terrace. Since this fee also entitles you to a drink at the bar, it's not bad value. And the view lived up to its billing, which perhaps only emphasises how few tall buildings there are on the northern, ...  Read the complete review

Can you tell that I am yearning? I haven't had a holiday in so long I'm dwelling on past adventures for an inordinate amount of time. I want to get on a plane, I want to go somewhere hot, somewhere interesting and exotic, somewhere new to explore. But all I'm getting this year is five days in Torquay, although I'm really looking forward to it, (I have jigsaw at the ready, as it is law that you must do a jigsaw when staying in a caravan) This time last year I was still brown(ish) and flush from a wonderful two weeks in Cyprus, the highlight of those two weeks was, for me anyway, a visit to Nicosia. Roughly in the centre of the ...  Read the complete review

The capital city of Cyprus, Nicosia, is one of the places that brings home to you the futility of politics. I recently went to a wedding in a church near to a friend's family home. The church is on the Greek occupied side, the home is falling into disrepair following the division of the island in 1974. At the end of Ledra Street (just walk as far as you can) you can go up to the viewpoint and look through the barricades to the Turkish occupied side. One of the best views of the city is obtained from the Woolworths cafe. It is on the 6th floor of the shop. You can actually cross to the Turkish side of the city although most Cypriots will not ...  Read the complete review

Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus is the only Capital City to be divided as in 1974 the Turks invaded this beautiful Island and took over the northern part. The cypriots cannot go in freedom all around their own Island. Going to Nicosia, now known by its Greek name of Lefkosia is a city in Cyprus not to be missed off your places to go and see. You can be walking along the main shopping Street which is Ledra Street with shops on both sides, no cars and suddenly there in front of you is a wall with soldiers on guard. Go up the steps and look over the wall. This is the greenline of Cyprus - the divided city. You can go no further along Ledra ...  Read the complete review