Famagusta / Varosha - Cyprus

Went on a Jeep Safari today to Famagusta and the ghost town of Varosha. The town being under the control of the UN since the Turkish invaded the north of the island on Monday 15 July 1974 the ruling military  in Greece staged a coup in Cyprus with the collaboration of its supporters in order to achieve immediate Enosis (union with Greece). Makarios, whose aim was to achieve Enosis in the long term, was overthrown.
There is a kind of no mans land across the north east of the island from Kerynia to Famagusta.
You will need to take your passport and require a temporary visa which will get stamped in and out. On the south side this is patrolled by British forces who have 3 bases on the island. This being part of the deal after being under British rule since the Ottoman Empire,was handed back to Republic of Cyprus in 16 August 1960.

There are empty houses,hotels,shops etc and all fenced off with wire and empty oil drums along with no entry,photo and so on. You can clearly see the devastation of what was once the richest city in the med. I once saw tv programe that showed the original Nicosia airport and apart from vandals and being deserted it lies the same as the day of the invasion. Another landmark is a crane on one the waterfront hotels which we are told was finished on the day of the event where time has really stood still.

While relations between the two parts of the country have improved there is still a division of opions some wanting total independance from mainland altogether.

All that aside if you get a chance to go then do. I am told you can see some of it from top of the Debenhams store but I cannot verify that. The view from the many boat trips are somewhat distant due to the exclusion zone and you need some strong binoculars.