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[Breakfast terrace view. Hire cars have red number plates.]
I didn't have much of an opportunity to research Cyprus before I arrived. Nicosia, the host city of the conference I just attended, is divided between Greek and Turkish Cyprus. The hotel I booked - and all I did was select the cheapest one on the conference accommodation list because it’s close to the venue - is only a couple of blocks from the Green Zone, the UN policed buffer that separates the two halves of the island. It is clear to see as soon as you go around the side of the hotel. Many shops are boarded up (though the flats above them are still occupied), their gates rusted and facades crumbling.
[Crumbling gracefully.]
[Crumbling less gracefully.]
A few stalwart businesses keep their doors open.
[Bold claim: “Cyprus: Irresistible for 9000 years”]
Just a couple of blocks away are shiny new high rise buildings and attractive public spaces. You could, as a tourist, choose never to stray from the wide boulevards and safe pavements.
[Eleftheria Square by day.]
[Walking below Eleftheria Square at night.]
Google maps certainly didn't believe I should do that, taking me on a different path to the conference venue every day, past an entirely new set of cats.
[Noble guardian.]
There are cats *everywhere*. Food and water are left out for them on the street corners and in vacant lots. They are even more prevalent at night.
[The Gang.]
I must have spoken to 15 different people after arriving before I encountered a Nicosian Cypriot. The first Cypriot I met was giving a talk in the firzt session I attended who of course lives in London, not Cyprus. He recommended the meze restaurant (see below). The food here is incredible. I've tried something new every day.
Georgian food.
[All of these bean paste / beetroot things are nice, but the ones in the middle are fried aubergine wrapped around walnut paste and I could have eaten about thirty of those alone and been very happy.]
Meze.
[This was about a quarter of the way through the meal, and they kept bringing dishes. Far too much food for two people, although PhD student and I made a heroic effort. Those little fried courgette strips on the far right were my undoing.]
[Dessert.]
“Healthy eating” restaurant.
[This may look heavy / oily but it was not. The pastry was delicate and crisp and the feta inside was like a little fluffy cloud. Amazing.]
Even the breakfast at my otherwise average hotel was delicious.
[The little roll covered in sesame seeds has a sort of olive pate in it which is *chef's kiss*. I had one every morning.]
In summary, 10/10, would come back to Cyprus to Eat All The Things.
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On the other hand, visiting Alderley Edge and having one or two courses with one glass of wine tripped the expenses demon, which I only fended off by mentioning that my menu choices were limited because I have to have gluten-free food.
Sign me up for a conference in Cyprus I say. (Also I recommend Malta for this.)
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My father served there and I know he loved it even though it was a war zone at the time.
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I'm fairly sure my uncle was there during National Service, now you remind me, which would have been during the Emergency. Oh, and now I'm thinking of it, some else I know, senior MoD Civil Servant, did a tour as the civilian head of the Sovereign Bases Areas back around the Millennium.
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And... cats!
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The food looks delicious, definitely worth going back for!
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Never been to Cyprus, but a Greek-Cypriot friend did have a few of us over for dinner once, and the food was incredible.
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Love the cats, and omg, the food! Phkali! (man, I miss having easy access to Georgian food!) -- but everything on all the plates looks glorious!
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The cats are a mix of domesticated and semi-wild. Most are friendly to humans. There are almost double the number of cats as people on the island.