TRNC Customs Post at Metahan

[PapaBravo]

Be aware, a friend came through Metahan today and said that The TRNC Customs were having a purge and checking all cars.

[tomsteel]

Heightened security = more checks.

[mikelapta]

Attacks in Ankara,activity in Berlin and Brussels....................................sounds like all Europe is on alert

[Yenidunya2]

"Turkish Customs" ???? Don't think so.
Assume you don't live here with a heading like that.

[PapaBravo]

OK yenidunya

"Turkish Customs" ???? Don't think so. Assume you don't live here with a heading like that.

So I made a mistake and meant TRNC Customs. So sorry, but I have made a mental note to continue to strive to achieve the perfection that you are blessed with. I do live here, as it happens, and was trying to be helpful.

Not sure if your post added anything to the thread.

[tomsteel]

I think the TCs get a tad twitchy being labelled as Turks and particularly so by expats. It is also so convenient to label citizens of the RoC as Greeks when they are, in fact, Cypriots. It is just an expat trait, similar to using the term 'residency' when we are of 'visitor' status and insisting the crossing is at Pyla when it is actually at Beyarmadu, some 3 kms away. It's just our way.

[PapaBravo]

Thanks Tomsteel, I accept your point. However, I was not using a convenient label, but made a simple mistake, which I have now edited.

[tomsteel]

PB, I have no doubt it was a genuine mistake and you have so indicated that fact. I merely highlighted, as my very friendly TC neighbour points out, they are not Turks. Hence the poster (msg 4) got twitchy. Anyway, thanks for letting us know of the checks/inconvenience. It reminded me of the border crossing between Spain/Gibraltar at La Linea when I worked there and we could queue for up to 5 hours to move 100 metres. Take care.

[sophie]

tomsteel, that takes me back. Not only did we wait for hour upon hour, there were long benches and we had to empty absolutely everything out of our cases in searing heat and this was just to have a holiday!!

[tomsteel]

Hi Sophie, I had a 3 x weekly crossing trip. My vernacular Spanish improved over that year! Whilst I never had suitcases, it was still bonnet, boot, car and briefcase search every time. 'Mas tranquila' became a real struggle in the heat, petrol fumes and generaleral disorganization. Hey ho, we've all moved on.

[ifonly]

W went over tonight at about 5.45 and were checked at the GC point - they were checking everyone. GC Customs officials had high vis jackets on - they had torches and were very thorough. The GC hire car in front of was checked - they looked inside the car - even lifted the floor pan up to see into the space where the spare wheel is. They then checked us - opened all of the doors (we were in a van) and shone their torches inside, asked to look inside the bag i had on the front seat and also looked inside the glove compartment. They then moved onto the car behind.
On the way back at 8.30 ish there were lots of checks by the TC officials - and there were a lot of officials there . When i stopped at Customs (as i was importing dogs - legally ! ) there were quite a few people who had been stopped and were obviously "in trouble" and were being issued notices and fines. One family had been there over an hour and a half trying to sort something out.
Maybe it is heightened security everywhere now - its not a problem if you have nothing to hide or have nothing on you that you shouldn't . It just takes a little longer to get through.

[Marions]

Heard through the grapevine today that threats had been made and warnings similar to those given ot Ankara about bombings were given. So maybe that is why the border was tightened.

[Deniz1]

At the end of the day its just to keep us all safe hopefully.

[Soner]

Just to add my tuppence worth, I am Cypriot and have no issues for calling the boarder Turkish, or being called Turkish. I also call the GC borders Greek Borders.

[Cally]

Tomsteel, what memories you have brought back, we lived in/on Gibraltar but would see the queues. Whilst there '68-'70 that border closed as well so the only way in was via the ferry. Our weekly trip or drive out was round the rock one way one week & the other way the other week.

My late son was born there so very happy memories, did call in on a Christmas med cruise a few years ago & lovely to drive past where we lived, Naval & RAF quarters, the equivalent of social housing now.

Thanks for the memories

[tomsteel]

Ahh, North Front! My 1st experience of Gib was '71. 2nd time was '85-'87 when the weekly commute was on the cards. In '71 we could only get off The Rock via the Tangiers ferry, so I visited Morocco a few times. Much has changed there now with reclamation and handover of MOD facilities.

[PapaBravo]

Just to add my tuppence worth, I am Cypriot and have no issues for calling the boarder Turkish, or being called Turkish. I also call the GC borders Greek Borders.

Thank you Soner.

[tomsteel]

That's as maybe, but my TC neighbour bristles whenever he's referred to as Turkish. Mind you, he fought in the conflict here and has remained in the TRNC ever since, being relocated from Polis. I have another TC family friend(s) living in Beyarmadu and they also insist they are not Turks. Each to their own I guess.