To The North, To The North...

Returning to the North of Cyprus is always a treat for me. It's been a while I have visited there for the last time so I was fairly excited to cross the border again and wonder around the century old buildings.

On the top of that the taste of the real Turkish kebab is an absolute plus!

I just simply love the fact that once you pass the boarder on Ledras street, you immediately find yourself in a different world. The fast time traveling experience ever.

Whilst a few hundreds meters away everything is modernized, lead by machines and the demand of conveyor belt made merchandise products, here mainly handmade items are dominating the old market's stalls. Istanbul's big Bazar is one of top places to see on my bucket list but for now North Nicosia's had to do the magic.

Size wise it was a tiny bit of letdown the feeling was there. Colourful fabrics and lanterns, cushions and wooden table games and even a small and dusty book and vinyl store.

We still had time before lunch so we visited Büyük Han, Selimiye Camii and the Dervish Pasha Mansion which is now a small ethnographic museum.

Büyük Han the biggest caravanserai in Cyprus. The courtyard is home to a couple of cafes, including the ever-popular Sedirhan, and traditional craft workshops are housed in the small cells leading off the 1st-floor balcony that originally served as the inn’s sleeping areas.

Selimiye Camii, formerly St Sophia Cathedral is the most prominent landmark in Nicosia. We have managed to get there just before the praying hour so had the chance to walk in, after taking our shoes off. Despite my constant battle with the silk scarf that was supposed to cover my hair it was a pleasant visit. Mainly because of the carpet was super soft to walk on :) Jokes aside, the building was an interesting cross between a French Gothic church and a mosque.

As soon as you walk through the Gothic arches and gate the Islamic overlay will appear with whitewashed walls and columns. A handwritten poster welcomes the visitors, explaining what Islam is about and why it should not be confused with violence.

I'm a fan of big cathedrals because of their history and monumental structures, so I couldn't help it, I was trying to visualize how this place could have looked like as a Roman church with medieval decorations and hymn singing monks.

Behind the mosque on a little square surrounded by restaurant we found a fantastic little box, being used as a book sharing point.

What a brilliant idea!

We have turned right and found a funny looking house which is now giving home to an ethnographic museum but before it belonged to wealthy a Turkish Cypriot, Derviş Paşa, who published Cyprus’ first Turkish-language newspaper.

Strangely not a single person was around. The doors were open, it was quiet so we took the liberty and walked in to look around.

For a long time the mansion was neglected, and it fell into a state of some disrepair. However during the 80's it was gradually restored and opened for the public.

We did not have time to explore the further parts of Nicosia this day, even though there are many more things to see, however we will have a reason now to return one more time.

It was around 1 pm and the warm breeze brought us the smell of grilled meat so our stomachs only allowed us to have a few minutes wander around before sitting down for a big portion kebab.

Needles to say we had a great time in the city and looking forward to coming back.