Thursday 21 March 2013

Cyprus, part 3. Street life in Limassol and Nicosia

Standing in the mountains surrounded by peace  *  The church at Ormodos  *  Speaking to the locals
  *  Sitting in bed reading, with a sea view at the end of each chapter  *  Falling asleep to the sound of waves lapping outside  *  Eating lunch in a pavement cafe  *  Having the hotel pool all to myself  *

Those were my highlights.
But these pictures only tell half the story, the half which pleases my eyes. They don't tell you about the overwhelming amount of building that is going on everywhere, they don't show the signs in Russian, Chinese and Arabic which tell you who is buying up all the land and hoping to profit from the Cyprus of the future.
The people were lovely, gently friendly with a nice sense of humour, always willing to help, but I felt I was missing something all the time. I didn't feel I quite found the real Cyprus, whatever that is. It eluded me. I wonder if it is getting lost in all this 'progress'. 
In ten year's time, I feel it will all be swanky new holiday homes and hotels owned by foreigners. There doesn't seem to be any concern for conserving the old. I worry that the locals will wake up one day and find themselves dispossessed, their culture and heritage vanished.



















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11 comments:

me said...

Your vacation sounds like bliss and your photos are beautiful. I can't help but feel saddened by the thought of not preserving the original culture, though. It's very sad how that happens.

mispapelicos said...

It looks a bit like Spain 20 years ago.
How fabulous to be able to wonder through the streets, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Thank you so much for sharing.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Vix said...

That makes me very sad and echoes how I was feeling in North Goa back in January. I hate it when countries start to lose their identities in the name of progress. My friend's just been round for coffee after a month there and was saying the same.
I want to kick myself for being so ambivalent in my Russian lessons at school thinking "it's behind the Iron Curtain, there's no chance I'll ever even meet a Russian" and now it's more widely spoken in the touristy parts of Goa than British!
The doorway and terrace are utterly gorgeous and I love seeing the produce all piled up like that! xxx

Sandra Martinez said...

Hi dear!! You have a lovely blog :)
Nice post, i really like your photos!!
Take a look at;
http://peaceinmyshoes.blogspot.com.es

Frocktasia said...

Unfortunately this seems to be a worldwide trend, the systematic ironing out the creases of a richly textured tapestry to make way for more corporate blandness and homogeneity than you can shake a dead stick at. Some people call it progress I choose to call it cultural annihilation. I love the feeling of being somewhere very different from what I am used to and when I go abroad I don't want to eat egg & chips from a Brit owned greasy spoon. I want to get a true feel & flavour of the local people, their traditions, language, food and lifestyle.
I hope they will wake up before their towns and villages are taken over by foreigners or at the very least that the foreigners respect the cultural heritage and take steps maintain it...xXx

Miss Simmonds Says said...

one of my biggest hates are greedy property developers, they destroy nature, history and culture wherever they go. such a shame about Cypress, maybe the locals will try and save some history before it's all wiped away. But what you did capture is beautiful in it's rundowness. so glad you had a great time and escaped the cold here xx

mispapelicos said...

Most places are disappearing and taking over by big chains. I hate that, arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

MILEX said...

you are such an interesting person

Ofelia said...

Ah the price of progress! Sometimes means to loose a cultural way to gain a capital way. Hopefully, as is often the case somebody in this generation will rise and protect part of their history before like you put it it all becomes vacation spaces for foreigners!
Great post.

Olivia said...

Love the vibrant colours. It is very sad to think that the unspoiled charm that you have captured may soon be replaced. There has been so much about Cyprus on the news recently and I have really warmed to the place and people. Thanks for being our roving reporter! xx

Unknown said...

I was really interested to read these post's as my husband and I are taking our honeymoon to Cyprus in May and I am watching the news with growing concern to the bank situation etc. It's so sad for everyone involved. thank you for sharing the photo's and your view point, dee xx