Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I can't be the only one, picked my lad up from Larnaca Saturday, ok going South but cars backed up to past the racecourse, decided to go back Pilah, no problems there. Went again today, another family member, same again but longer que,back to first set of lights, again went Pilah back, long que there also. When at the checkpoint, was accused of being a taxi! Seem to think taxi was an excuse, maybe a work to rule or some other reason.. All cars TC,Brit and ROC being stopped and long time going through. Any more ideas.

You do not mention whether you were subject to a search but my guess is that was the reason for such long delays, especially as this occurred concurrently at two separate crossing points.

Could well be due to the present currency crises and TC Customs believe they are going to lose revenue due to people shopping in the south.

tt.

No search was done, and only document checks being carried out.

I think the borders are so busy because GCs are coming here to shop & buy petrol due to the weakness of the Lira
Of course it is also peak holiday time with people travelling via Larnaca

I agree with ozankoys (msg 4) , when I experienced this the other day, I assumed that it was all of the GC buying Petrol, as reported in the Press...

All these issues are avoided if you fly to our airport; Ercan!

Well not all of the issues. I have only done it once but had to queue to get out at Customs at Istanbul then queue just as long if not longer to come back in to get our plane onwards to the UK. Much prefer to fly into and out of Larnaca even with having to cross the border but I take your point and each to their own really.

I would agree with the above. In a similar situation our TA flight from LHR was delayed by 1 hour (no explanation given), with the delay and the queues at IST we missed our connecting flight to Ercan. Hung about IST for 5 hours - not always the most convenient way to travel!

Welldigger wrote:All these issues are avoided if you fly to our airport; Ercan!

And how would that help me if I want to pop over the border to see my pal in Engomi? - or do some shopping at AlphaMega? Eh? Eh?

They had designated the left hand lane for TC vehicles and the Right hand lane for GC vehicles at Metahan last week. It wasn't working as the sign for this was almost at the TC booths. It wasn't working again yesterday with queues tailing up the road on the GC side and lots of GC shoppers crossing over to the TC side to go shopping.

Keithcaley wrote:

Welldigger wrote:All these issues are avoided if you fly to our airport; Ercan!

And how would that help me if I want to pop over the border to see my pal in Engomi? - or do some shopping at AlphaMega? Eh? Eh?

Haha, don’t go! Only joking Keith, but you know I’m an advocate for TRNC in every way. That includes not providing GC with a highly valued TL by flying and shopping there.

Welldigger wrote:

Keithcaley wrote:

Welldigger wrote:All these issues are avoided if you fly to our airport; Ercan!

And how would that help me if I want to pop over the border to see my pal in Engomi? - or do some shopping at AlphaMega? Eh? Eh?

Haha, don’t go! Only joking Keith, but you know I’m an advocate for TRNC in every way. That includes not providing GC with a highly valued TL by flying and shopping there.

I know - I was just having a dig...

Dig! Get it?

How are you giving the GCs valued TL as you cant use it over there it has to be Euros.

Deniz1 wrote:How are you giving the GCs valued TL as you cant use it over there it has to be Euros.

It was a joke, about the value of the TL at the moment....
Besides, if you live in the north, and spend your money in the south, regardless of which currency, it is giving money to the GC!

And how would that help me if I want to pop over the border to see my pal in Engomi? - or do some shopping at AlphaMega? Eh? Eh? [/quote]
Haha, don’t go! Only joking Keith, but you know I’m an advocate for TRNC in every way. That includes not providing GC with a highly valued TL by flying and shopping there.[/quote]

I know - I was just having a dig...

Dig! Get it?[/quote]

Yes Keith, I got it, very droll, nice one.

In fact, the queues from the Greek side coming over here have been going on since June. We collected our family from Larnaca on June 16th and queued from the racecourse. Whenever we have been over since, still nearly always the same. So not all to do with Lira

Sorry to disagree with you Heaven, but it has only recently been time consuming to get back across from the Greek side. I think you will find they are buying cheaper petrol and doing shopping over here as it is much cheaper for them at the moment. I pop over most weeks to meet friends, visit the post office and potter around the shops and it has only been the last couple of weeks that I have had to queue up the road to the Coca Cola factory.

Is it worthwhile going to other border crossings? Or are they too far away? What are the options. Went to Metehan yesterday but couldn't get tax as their office was closed for a holiday? So had to return and queue forever.

Depends on where you're going; for the east Larnaca, Ayia Napa, Protaras etc, then Beyarmudu or Black Knight are the best. If Pathos then possibly Guzelyurt and then south through the Troodos. Limassol generally speaking has to be Metehan though Guzelyurt is an option.

GC bank holiday yesterday.