Kyrenia (Girne)

FIRST OF ALL LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT KYRENIA (GIRNE) IS ON THE NORTH COAST OF CYPRUS IN THE 'OCCUPIED AREAS' OF THE TRNC (TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS) A REPUBLIC WHICH IS NOT RECOGNISED BY ANY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD ... FOR MORE INFORMATION TYPE 'THE CYPRUS PROBLEM' INTO YOUR BROWSER.
ANYWAY, JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN THE NORTH DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CAN'T VISIT. YOU CAN FLY INTO ERCAN AIRPORT IN THE NORTH (AND STAY ONLY IN THE NORTH) OR EITHER OF THE TWO AIRPORTS IN THE REPUBLIC AND TAKE A DAY TRIP ACROSS AS PART OF YOUR HOLIDAY ... HERE'S HOW ...
GO TO THE PAPHOS GATE AT THE LEDRA PALACE HOTEL (NOW UNFICYP HQ)IN NICOSIA AND SIGN OUT OF THE SOUTH AT THE GREEK CYPRIOT CHECK POINT, PASS THE UN CHECK POINT AND FILL IN VISA'S AT THE TURKISH CYPRIOT CHECK POINT (DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO STAMP YOUR PASSPORT OR YOU WON'T GET BACK!!). YOU'LL BE ON FOOT AS YOU CANNOT TAKE HIRE VEHICLES ACCROSS SO YOU WILL HAVE TO GET A TAXI TO KYRENIA, BUT IT'S WORTH HAVING A WANDER AROUND OCCUPIED NICOSIA FIRST!
THE JOURNEY NORTH IS NOT A LONG ONE BUT IT IS WORTH POINTING OUT THAT THE LONG, STRAIGHT ROAD THAT YOU TRAVEL WAS THE SIGHT OF SOME OF THE WORST BLOODSHED DURING THE CONFLICT IN 1974.
ANYWAY, YOU ARRIVE IN THE COASTAL TOWN OF KYRENIA AND FIND A BEAUTIFUL, UNSPOILT LITTLE HARBOUT TOWN/ FISHING VILLAGE DOMINATED BY A LARGE FORT ... THIS IS DEFINITELY WORTH A LOOK AS IT IS LITERALLY DRIPPING WITH HISTORY FROM THE BYZANTINE ERA, RICHARD THE LION HEARTS TIME AND SO MANY BYGONE ERAS.
I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU TOO MUCH, JUST GO AND TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELVES ... IT'S WORTH IT.
BY THE WAY, ON THE NORTH OF CYPRUS ANY CURRENCY IS WELCOMED THOUGH TURKISH LIRA, CYPRUS POUNDS, STERLING AND ESPECIALLY US DOLLARS ARE PREFERED.