Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

This morning I made my usual visit, but would advise anyone not needing to go, to avoid it for the time being. Firstly, access towards the Army Camp and through the new housing complex, is not currently available since there is a trench across the track. Secondly, the track up to the cemetery has deep ruts and gulleys caused by the water rushing from the mountain and is quite difficult to negotiate in places, particularly when nearing the cemetery. Then there is a deep mud slide at the foot of the slope -- folks will know where I mean -- and, since it's very narrow there, the only way is through the mud, hoping you get out the other side!
If you reach the cemetery, it is a sorry sight, with seven graves substantially sunk -- this could be disturbing for some relatives and friends. The cemetery committee will soon have things right once the ground is workable, but at present it is very wet up there and best avoided.

thanks for sharing that as I am sure that seeing such must cause pain to those who are going to have a chat with loved ones in their final resting place. that is one of the reasons |I am not keen on tha tplace. I know with time it will improve, but for now, it must be traumatic to try to get there. It is very tough on the cemetery committee as well, as they are volunteers and do their best but that storm the other night ruined a lot of things for a lot of people. Thanks that our of the 'pain' of your trip this morning, you are helping others to avoid the same 'pain'.

Yes, my thanks too, for the warning.

I planted a tree there in memory of loved ones because I was unable to visit their graves in England regularly and I hoped I might be able to contribute other shrubs etc. over the years. Fortunately I had a friend with me, or I would unable to find the place, let alone manage to plant the tree single handed, and I was so disappointed (when it was too late and I had spent rather a lot of money on the tree) to find that it was virtually unaccessibly for me with a small elderly saloon car, and in fact I have only been able to visit once when another friend was kind enough to take me.

Of course the recent storms were rather exceptional, but as a long term subscriber to the Cemetary I do hope , for my sake and that of others who may wish to pay respects to "absent friends" that the problems of access will not take too long to be resolved.

Has anyone else managed to get up to the cemetery,I do believe from someone who did make it,that my husband's is one of the graves that has sunk (I believe about 18 inches)I think I will have to wait a little longer to see what is going to happen ,before I venture up there.

Here is an update to help reassure everyone that all is being done that can be done.
The current situation as at today, Tuesday,as relayed to me by the Cemetery Committee:

a. The trench that Dog Walker referred to has gone - now filled in and that is no problem, but
b. It is NOT advised to try to go up the pathway unless in a 4 wheel drive. The path is still bad as Dog Walker found it, but it is hoped that it will be repaired (levelled out) by the Belediye by the week-end.
c. the Cemetery itself - the committee is working hard to repair damage and put everything to rights, again by the week-end.

Personally I think the committee do a fabulous job. They are volunteers, unpaid and take all they do very seriously, very caringly and with a great dedication.

Hope this helps some folk to know when and how to get up to visit their loved ones' graves.

I agree absolutely with Marion -- the Cemetery Committee and the workers do an exceptional job, but, like us, have no control over the weather as the latest downpours have shown. I'm pleased to hear that the trench near the new housing has been filled, it makes such a difference not having to go to the traffic lights to turn. I do wish the Cemetery Committee good luck with their endeavours and some more good weather to dry the place out, they also have to navigate the track obstacles --I'd like to offer to help, but my days with barrow loads of soil are, I think, in the past.

I don't know how much it costs for tarmac here, but would it be an idea to raise some funds to get the road done. I've only had to use it a couple of times but it is quite a challenge even without the downpour damage and is the last thing grieving families need to contend with, and funerals have to happen (unfortunately) all year round, not just in good weather.

A friend went up to the cemetery today and confirms that work is being carried out on the road,but a four wheel drive is essential.Whilst my husband's grave has sunk at one end,all the ornament are still there. I expected them to be washed down onto the by-pass.!!
Many thanks to all the cemetery committee for their hard work.I do agree that the road should be tarmaced, maybe when the houses nearer the cemetery itself are finished this may happen.

Zarafet, you need to talk to the cemetery committee re the tarmac. everyone knows it is a ned, but ne story I think heard i that the beleddiye willdo it whenthe muslim cemetery is finished (or some such). Of course I guess if anyon wantedto pay out for the road, that wuld be great, but I dread to think what it would cost However, I repeat that the cemetery committee are the ones to tell the full story on this. It is a concern to many people an now thathe winter is coming, it will be a terrible challenge for a lot of people, many of whom will feel they cannot visit their lovedones who are buried there.

nd yes, it is still ver much a 4 wheel drive that is needed, and even when the belediye have fibished, I still don't like taking my car upthere.

I would like to sincerely thank the Cemetery Committee and those who have worked so hard this week, to restore Green Hill Cemetery and the track up to it. Anyone who didn't see it just after the storms might wonder what this is all about, but a tremendous amount of work has been done, and is greatly appreciated by me, and I'm sure, the many others who visit. Thank you also for the water supply to the lower part of the cemetery, a great help for all of us down that end. Looking at the recently dug pile of soil, and down into the depths from whence it came, it does look surprisingly dry, so presumably the water course runs somewhere through the middle section. Anyway, thanks again to you all, the track was no problem and the cemetery looks great.

Thank you Dog Walker for the news about the cemetery. It was good to read the news and my friend and I will venture up there this week.Many thanks also to the committee for all the hard work they have obviously done to restore it to some normality.