Showing posts with label Cyprus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cyprus. Show all posts

November 15 – Proclamation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Posted on November 15, 2016


The island of Cyprus has been the home of humans since the Stone Age – since way before there was a Greece or a Turkey. However, in historic times he was settled /conquered / occupied by many different groups, including Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Arabs, French, Venetians, and Ottoman Turks.

Then it was administered and then annexed by Britain.

Cyprus was granted independence in 1960. Trouble soon started between the majority Greek-speaking Cypriots and the Turkish-speaking Cypriots. For years sporadic violence broke out between the factions. When Greece and then Turkey got involved by sending over armies, things came to a boiling point.

On this date in 1983, Northern Cyprus declared its independence under the name Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

So far, no other nation in the world has accepted Northern Cyprus as a legitimate nation except Turkey. However, even though Northern Cyprus isn't officially independent, the island is divided, and the northern portion is being ruled by a different government.

Here are some places to learn about in Northern Cyprus:

  • The port city of Kyrenia used to be about half Greek/Christian and about half Turkish/Muslim, but when Turkey invaded, the Greek Cypriots fled or were kicked out. Now Turkish Cypriots, settlers from Turkey, and British expats live in the city.

    It's considered the tourist capital of Northern Cyprus, and there are many hotels and a lively nightlife. Three universities are located there, and the city hosts an annual culture and arts festival.

  • Salamis is an ancient Greek city-state. There are plenty of ancient ruins to discover there!

  •  The beaches of Northern Cyprus are said to be quieter than those in Cyprus.

  • Of course there are bound to many many lovely mosques in Northern Cyprus. This one is in Nicosia, the capital city that is divided by a U.N. Buffer Zone. 

Speaking of the Buffer Zone, check it out:

Note that the sign says "No Photos Allowed."
Well, someone's been taking photos:



This is the abandoned airport (above) and an underground parking lot (below).








Also on this date:









































Sichi-Go-San (Seven-five-three) in Japan








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April 1 – Greek Cypriot Day in Cyprus

Posted on April 1, 2015



Cyprus is a nation divided. The Republic of Cyprus, according to Cyprus itself and every country in the world other than Turkey, rules the entire island of Cyprus. However, ever since Cyprus's independence from Britain in 1960, there has always been strife between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. For eleven years the “strife” became violence, and when Greek Cypriots grabbed control of the government in 1974, Turkey responded by invading the island.

Since that 1974 war, the northern part of the island of Cyprus has been the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (according to itself and Turkey), or illegally occupied by Turkish armed forces (according to everyone else in the world).

The Republic of Cyprus (the Greek-majority part) is major tourist spot with gorgeous beaches, modern facilities, high incomes, and a strong human rights record. However, the division of the nation is a painful reminder that people cannot move as freely throughout the island as they might wish.

Today is the celebration of this date in 1955 when Greek Cypriots first started a struggle against the British in their efforts to achieve independence. Apparently some Greek Cypriots celebrate the day by going to special church services or school programs that focus on the history of the day.

As you can see from this map, Cyprus is closer to
Turkey than it is to the Greek islands, such as Crete.

Here are some things Cyprus can be proud of:


  • Aphrodite Beach, on which Aphrodite was supposed to have been born by rising from the foam...and whose rocks reportedly make pillars of foam that islanders claim look like Aphrodite rising up again.






  • Paphos, including the Tombs of the Kings and Roman mosaics.



  • Wild sheep, the national symbol – BUT they were once considered vermin and were hunted almost to extinction!



  • Halloumi, a cheese made from goat and/or sheep's milk.





  • A wishing tree that is adorned with handkerchiefs, ribbons, and votive rags – all tied onto branches in the hopes that people would have good luck, illnesses would be cured, people lost at sea would return, and so forth.

  • The wreck of the Zenobia, rated one of the world's best wreck diving sites.




Also on this date:














Mathematician Sophie Germain's birthday










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October 1 – Three-Way National Day!

Posted on October 1, 2014


Three nations are celebrating their national days today. In alphabetical order, they are: China, Cyprus, and Tuvalu.

Which of these nations matches up to each statement?

  1. Picture 1
    It is the fourth smallest nation, by area, and it is the third smallest nation, by population.
  2. Its railroad network is second in the world, only exceeded by the U.S.
  3. It used to be known as the Ellice Islands.
  4. It is an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea.
  5. It is the world's most populous nation.
  6. On this date in 1960, it became independent of the United Kingdom.
  7. On this date in 1978, it became independent of the United Kingdom.
  8. It is home to some of the oldest water wells in the world.
  9. Its first inhabitants were Polynesians.
  10. Picture 2
    People here paint buildings with white paint made from burning dead coral and mixing the ash with water.
  11. The northern part of the nation has been illegally occupied by Turkish forces since 1974.
  12. The cuisine of this nation is based on coconut and fish.
  13. The Communist Party has ruled the nation since this date in 1949.
  14. This nation is home to one of the world's earliest civilizations and today has the second largest economy in the world (the U.S. is the largest).
  15. Many people of this nation are of Greek ancestry, and one of the official languages is Greek.
  16. Picture 3
    Cricket, ano (a local version of volleyball—but played with two balls at once), football, and rugby are popular sports in this nation.
  17. This nation is made up of three reef islands and six atolls (which are rings of coral reef surrounding lagoons). The islands are very low-lying and are in danger of being swallowed up if global warming causes the sea level to rise.
  18. This nation is dominated by the Troodos Mountains and the Kyrenia Range, and the highest point is Mount Olympus.
  19. Picture 4
    This nation's cuisine is very diverse, so it is hard to make generalizations about it. We can say that its staple food is rice and that the nation's cuisine—or offshoots of its cuisine—has become known and popular all over the world.
  20. This nation suffers from a shortage of water, even though it has 107 dams storing water in reservoirs. Water desalinization plants are being built to deal with recents years of drought.
  21. This nation is the second largest in the word (when measuring just land).
  22. There are no longer working railroads in this nation.
  23. Picture 5
    There is only one airport and only one hospital in the entire nation.
  24. There are almost 300 living languages spoken in this country.
  25. There are no railroads at all in the entire nation.
  26. This nation has bragging rights in many different sports, but some of the most traditional sports include dragon boat racing, wrestling, and horse racing.
  27. Most of the population are members of the Greek Orthodox Church, but there is a substantial Muslim minority.
  28. Picture 6
    This nation hosted a recent Olympics.
  29. This nation's cuisine centers on seafood, olive oil, cucumbers, and tomatoes, along with marinated meat and pickled vegetables.
  30. This nation is famous for having severe air pollution problems.

ANSWERS:

  • The following items are true of Tuvalu: 1,3, 7, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17, 23, 25. Pictures 2 and 6.
  • The following items are true of Cyprus: 4, 6, 8, 11, 15, 18, 20, 22, 27, 29. Pictures 3 and 5.
  • The following items are true of China: 2, 5, 13, 14, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 30. Pictures 1 and 4.


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October 28, 2012 - Ohi Day in Cyprus and Greece

World War II was an awful time to be a European. Hitler famously ruled Germany, and Benito Mussolini ruled Italy; the two made a pact with Japan that made them allies (nations acting together in a war) called the Axis powers. Hitler had already taken over Austria and had attacked and occupied Czechoslovakia, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, and even France. The Axis powers were at war with Britain.

On this date in 1940, Mussolini gave an ultimatum to Greece: Allow Axis forces to enter Greek territory and occupy certain strategic locations, or else.

That's what an ultimatum is: an “or else.”

And of course, in this case, the “or else” means “we will attack you, we will kill your people and burn your buildings, we will occupy you you, we will take over your country.”

The Greek ruler, Ioannis Metaxas, is widely believed to have answered the ultimatum by simply saying, “No,” but he really said, “Then it is war.” And sure enough, Italian troops attacked just about an hour later. Greek people took to the streets yelling the Greek word for “No!” – which is spelled “ohi” (or "oxi" or “ochi”) in the English alphabet.

During the war, Greece's brave refusal to cooperate with the Axis powers was celebrated in Greece and Cyprus and in Greek communities around the world. 

Ohi Day became a public holiday after the war was over. It is commonly celebrated with parades and exhibitions.

Also on this date:

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