Would like some advice from EXPATS who moved to TRNC

gemini39 · Post by **gemini39** » Thu 20 Sep 2012 5:50 pm

Anna Nirvanna

How much is petrol ? You must be close to the wells

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Thu 20 Sep 2012 6:41 pm

Hi Gemini39. Firstly Marbrook (that's arabic for congratulations/well done) - you the first post that has broken the century mark. Your my post 101 I posted item 100 but as this was a thread started by me I don't count.

Petrol is cheap here - I can fill my scooter from empty for about 7EGP (that's about 0.70GBP). My hubby thinks my tank is about 6-7 litres and a tank does me a month as Dahab is small and I only use scooter for getting about and shopping around the town.

Unfortunately Dahab is in South Sinai which is arid desert & mountains - everything has to be trucked to us from Cairo about 900 kilometers away, so we are subject to shortages, even petrol. Just after Mubarak's fall all petrol destined for us was bought up and dumped in the desert creating a petrol lake. This was done to create problems for the new emerging govt. and had that effect as there were massive queue's and fighting broke out at our 1 petrol station and it got really nasty .

gemini39 · Post by **gemini39** » Thu 20 Sep 2012 10:16 pm

I notice u started off page 2 of this thread

Who will bare all if it reaches page 3 ?

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Fri 21 Sep 2012 10:48 am

AAArgh bear the thought Not a pretty site if that ends up being me - huge 'chuck-ups' will ensue

gemini39 · Post by **gemini39** » Fri 21 Sep 2012 11:34 am

I say to my partner gravity stinks

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Fri 21 Sep 2012 12:48 pm

That's why I chose NORTH Cyprus - might make 'the bits' look better

Rambling Rose · Post by **Rambling Rose** » Fri 21 Sep 2012 8:41 pm

Gemini 39: I sent you a PM correcting the contact's email address but I dont really understand the Private Message system here and am not sure if it went! If you are still interested, the address I gave was correct, except that I put .com and it should be .net. Sorry about that, aint life complicated!

Rambling Rose · Post by **Rambling Rose** » Fri 21 Sep 2012 9:31 pm

Anne:I realised you were referring to Egyptians , but, call me old fashioned if you like (I suppose I am) but I was brought up(long before political correctness was invented) to believe that typecasting races and offending them was rude and ill bred , and your comments "portly, sweaty and ..what was it? ... "dodgy"? came close enough to some people's stereotype of anyone South West of the Isle of Wight to touch a nerve. I have seen too much distress caused in various races by this type of attitude, and belief it lies behind a lot of the problems of the world.

However it was really messages 87 and 89 was really what upset me and reminded me of the distress I and other innocent people were caused by the visious witch hunts on Cyprus 44.

I actually agree a year's rent is advance is very onorous and it would take a very, very attractive property to persuade me to tie money up that way. However, the decent reaction is to worry about the behaviour of the expat community that caused someone who 10 or 15 years ago woudnt even have asked for a deposit to go to such lengths. And I am sorry to say it is a trend, the friendly welcoming attitude of the Cypriots is being eroded by Brits who will not accept another culture and castigate Cypriots (let alone shooting the messenger) for taking steps to protect themselves against exploitation. This harms most of all the well intentioned. Brits who respect their hosts and I dont wish to be associated with a Board where this type of view is expressed..

Anyway you are obviously savvy enough to look at several options and make your own decisions on what constitutes value for money. If you do decide to come I hope you will be very happy and settle down well... If I can do anything to help, or you would like to get in contact , just send me a PM (hoping I manage to suss them out!)

Iyi geceler

Rambling Rose · Post by **Rambling Rose** » Fri 21 Sep 2012 10:00 pm

Anne: Changing the subject slightyly, but not really going off topic , have you read a book called "letters from Egypt" by Lucie Duff Gordon. ?

Purely coincidentally , I was loaned it by a friend who strongly recommended it, and I am finding it fascinating although it is not normally my sort of thing. . The storyof a lady in the mid nineteenth century , who went alone to Egypt for her health ("consumption" as they called it in those days) and her absorption into the local way of life. She doesnt approve of her fellow expats and at one stage realises she is spending money unnecessarily becase locals expect her to have the same standards as other expats. One quote rang a bell: "The English have raised a mirage of false wants andextravagance which servants"..... (those were the days) ...... "of the country, of course, some from interest and others from mere ignorance, do their best to catch up."

I imagine Egypt has changed a lot since then, but you will find the attitude mirrored here in the villas, cars, supermarket etc. Plus sa change , plus est sa meme chose.

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Fri 21 Sep 2012 10:49 pm

Hi RamblingRose, nice to hear from you again. I was going to send you a PM, (if I can work out how to start one). I have been up to my eyes with this and that the last couple of days. Plus I got bitten by an ant, which unfortunately I seem to have a particularly nasty reaction to & ended up covered in a seriously unpleasant allergic skin reaction. Luckily I kept the prescriptive medicines packets my GP gave me last year for the same thing so went to chemist & re-bought them. It's only today the serious itch and welted rash is disappearing, thank goodness.

I was not actually referring to the normal Egyptians who are far from portly, but are actually extremely slim and very nice people. I was actually referring to the actual dodgy lawyers that, unfortunately are a serious problem here and prey on foreigners of every nation. They are particularly easy to I.D. because they actually do look how I described them. They make loads of money and obviously enjoy the excesses of life to the detriment of the one's they have cheated etc.

As I have stated before on many occasions I appreciate everyone's views on this Expat site. It is an open forum where all are allowed to freely express their views and I will always take their 'posts' on face value and gleen from the data anything that will help me. I truly value the experiences you Kibkom expats have gone through over the years of actually living the life day to day. I may be savve (maybe ) but I am as susceptible as anyone else for getting cheated, overcharged, sold a 'dud', whatever you want to call it. If the experiences of this forum can help a fellow Expat then you should all be very proud of yourselves.

I have a view that if I live in a country I was not born in but have been allowed permission to reside in, then I am a guest of that country whether I stay for 1 year or 10 years. I always respect the local community and their culture and try to learn their ways. I hope I am fortunate enough to experience the Turkish Cypriot way of life, as I am sure I will enjoy it tremendously, so fingers crossed it will happen in the not to distant future. Once I am there, you can be sure I will never look down on the local community, after all I want their way of life or I would not have moved to reside there .

Thank you for your continuing offer of help and I will always cherish any help you and anyone else on Kibkom so kindly give to me and all being well I will be one of you Expat's and happy without any nasty hitches along the way .

OOh Just about to send this when I saw you beat me to it and sent me another message - the book sounds fascinating and I will try to get hold of a copy - if I can't then when I do get over to TRNC I will beg to borrow it from you (I;m a quick reader . So now I will press the send button & go to bed. Good night to you and speak soon

Post by **Soner** » Sat 22 Sep 2012 9:54 am

I have not been able to find time to read posts on the kibkom forum for the past week, as been dealing with the backend issues plus other work.
This topic has really taken off, interesting, I think it is the longest thread to date.
For those that are new, Kibkom People are known as "Kibkomers".
Sorry for going off thread....

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Sat 22 Sep 2012 12:55 pm

Hi Soner - I hope the 'catch up' reading on this thread with my attempts of humour has made you 'chuckle once or twice. Although it is a boring unpleasant life here and I have only 1 friend in this place at least getting involved in this thread has lifted my spirits and given me something to look forward to & be involved in each day - it may be grim here but at least with a sense of humour it becomes tolerable.

Another good thing about this thread is that with the wealth of knowledge now entombed within it's length are questions and answers and good advice for other people who are considering moving to TRNC.

Finally what does 'Kibkom' actually translate/mean?. And I wanna be a Kibkomer --please

Marions · Post by **Marions** » Sat 22 Sep 2012 5:49 pm

You ARE a kibkomer because yuou are a member of the forum. And if you are a really good girl I can give you the T shirt. |Just tell me your size and I will keep one for you specially! As to what Kibkom means, only S~oner can answer that one, cos he is the boss!

And maybe you should have two t shirts as a prize for the longest thread so far on Kibkom. No one else has run up anything like it, so I reckon a huge chunk of you is already over here!!!!!

Post by **Soner** » Sat 22 Sep 2012 5:59 pm

Kibkom is a short name for "Kibris Komunikasyon" ( Cyprus Communications ) This was a catchy name I thought up for the business directory and guess it also works well for the forum too.

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Sat 22 Sep 2012 7:20 pm

Soner: Cheers and well done - definitely a catchy name. I have decided I don't want to learn arabic (what's the point) I will try to learn Turkish Cypriot - do they run classes for expats over there

Marion: thanks m'dear - nice to be part of such a lovely group of people with sooo many kind words. Now I definitely will have to come over to get my size 'M' T-shirt which I will wear with pride

Keithcaley · Post by **Keithcaley** » Sat 22 Sep 2012 11:30 pm

annanirvanna wrote:...I will try to learn Turkish Cypriot...

It's more like Cypriot Turkish, as I understand it ...(i.e. - poorly ) - they tend to 'bend' Turkish a bit into their own 'flavour...

Post by **Soner** » Sun 23 Sep 2012 5:46 am

Annanirvanna, let me introduce you to Turkteacher: http://www.kibkom.com/forum/en/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3219

Keithcaley, we make the language up as we go along. A good example was when I was with a group of TC's and a friend TC from USA said that he loved how TC's were able to easily create new words, I looked at him a bit puzzled then a TC colleague that was sitting on a concrete step got up and rubbed his backside saying "Guttum Tash Oldu" ("My Backside has turned to stone") - ofcourse meaning that his backside was hurting from sitting on concrete. My friend started to laugh and immediatly pointed out this "bend" in the Turkish language.

Again sorry if off track.....moderators ban me if you like

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Sun 23 Sep 2012 10:12 am

Good morning Kibkomers - thanks Keithcaley & Soner. Do they bend it like Beckham .

Sonor thanks for the Turkteacher link & I will definitely go into it once I done my daily chores here. Is it a fairly easy language to learn and is there any group/study groups over there that 'students' can get together.

One thing I like about the locals here is the fact they praise me for speaking Arabic saying "Oh you speak Arabic very well"l when actually it's atrocious I think. A mix of Arabic words and English words thrown in (when I don't know the equivalent Arabic) . But it is obvious they are grateful that I am trying to integrate. I smile back & say Ana hena sita sana (I've been here 6 years) nous nous (only 50/50) shweia shweia (slowly slowly).

kaiserphil · Post by **kaiserphil** » Sun 23 Sep 2012 11:55 am

Yes, you will find Turkish quite good to learn, certainly easier than German.
Until recently, we had some Turks here in Bavaria running, strangely enough, a Chinese takeaway. They were really chuffed when I spoke Turkish, and always sat me down with a glass of chay while I waited.
People DO appreciate it if you try, no matter how bad your grasp of the language.
Some national traits make me chuckle though. We went to a place in our nearby town described as a Turkish bistro/restaurant.
"What do you have to eat?"
Shrug - "we don't do food".

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Sun 23 Sep 2012 1:15 pm

HaHa were the staff and any regulars there extremely thin. What were they selling then?. I miss chai - used to drink loads of it every day when I was in Goa.

My hubby's trying to learn German on an internet program - he gets freelance work from a German dive center here & they promised to give him a contract & get him work permissions if he learns to speak it fluently. It's a bit of a struggle but he's been sticking at it. Hopefully he can chuck that language away & learn Turkish instead . Any language has got to be better than trying to get your tongue around Arabic words . Some of it is very difficult to pronounce as you have to use the back of your throat to make the sounds, (bit like clearing your throat), which is alien to us English.

kaiserphil · Post by **kaiserphil** » Sun 23 Sep 2012 2:13 pm

Anna, have a look at this - I think it is very funny!

http://usa.usembassy.de/classroom/Mark% ... chuere.pdf

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Sun 23 Sep 2012 3:04 pm

Kaisaphil - I've downloaded it (looks interesting). Little bit of bedtime reading - hope I don't get belly-ache from laughing or I'll be awake all night. Will get back to you with my critique - Cheers for that

kaiserphil · Post by **kaiserphil** » Sun 23 Sep 2012 6:20 pm

Happy reading Anna!

teg17 · Post by **teg17** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 8:47 am

Interesting thread you have posted and as someone in a similar situation to yours I can sympathize with difficult decisions that need to be made. I am presently back in the UK after having spent 35 years in South Africa. Have been touring Europe for the last year and a half looking for somewhere to settle and having been to Cyprus (albeit the southern part) on many occasions, I am now considering the TRNC and will be making an exploratory trip in November to consider the possibilities, it has been of great interest to read the various comments posted by existing residents who after all have the best first hand knowledge. Good luck with your decisions.
Regards
Trevor

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 12:23 pm

Hi Ted - many thanks for your kind words. Yes, such a quandary making these decisions as I cannot afford to mess up again, (Egypt ended up being a huge mistake). Small world, my husband was adopted from the UK as a baby and lived in Lusaka until he was 5 and then he moved to Cape Town until he was 13, when he returned back to the UK.

Yes, the expats on Kibkom are a really lovely group of people who show so much kindness and a willing hand to those who need help and support - YOU GUYS ROCK

Keep in touch and let me know how your fact finding trip goes in TRNC - I am still very drawn to this region and am also hoping to do a recce trip soon. But niggling in the back of my mind is all the bureaucratic red tape, the continuing moving of 'the goal posts' and also the nasty tricks the outside world still impose of residents in TRNC e.g. such as UK banks refusing to send over renewal cards etc. Life is a struggle without 3rd parties making life difficult for the expats who have decided to settle in the North - I really hope that things are simplified for them very soon for both over & under 60's. Having lived where I am now I am totally fed up with banging my head against stupid rules, double standards etc., and I am already stressed out to the max. - so I don't want my next and hopefully final move to bring similar problems as I don't feel I will cope very well

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 12:25 pm

Sorry Trevor, called you Ted AArgh - that shows how stressed I am - been up since 3.30am as could not sleep and my brain is dead. The

teg17 · Post by **teg17** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 12:51 pm

Annanirvanna, Cyprus is a jewel in the med. and the reason I left South Africa is because of the increasing bureaucratic bungling, increasing crime levels and general apathy, apart from that a beautiful country with troublesome times ahead I think. What concerns me on this forum having scrolled through the various threads posted from its inception is the similar pattern of discontent and suspicion of the authorities motives etc. Having dealt with this in SA I can imagine what to expect and don't particularly relish the thought, so on reflection will definitely rent before committing.

gemini39 · Post by **gemini39** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 12:54 pm

Hi A/N
But if you dont move to TRNC have u got any other option , where else have u in mind

TRNC still seems to have the edge on property purchase or rental compared to anywhere in Europe

And euros dont have the edge on T/lira

Dont forget the weather

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 2:06 pm

Hi Gemini39 - TRNC is still #1 on my list, but have also considered South Cyprus. But as you say the property is expensive and I don't like the Euro problems and the possible implications of that. The plus in the south is possible diving work for the hubby and no need for work permits + free medical care as I get SRP + SRP annual cost of living increases & Christmas bonus, so those + = extra income & savings on expenditure.

Have also had expats in Canaries & South Portugal also contact me stating 1000UKp/m is do-able expenditure , but again Euro problems!!

I have definitely not shelved TRNC and when I get wound up by the daily stupid problems I have here I just go onto Kibkom and look at the photo gallery, but that just makes me want to find a Tardis so I can beam myself over lock stock & barrel.

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 2:06 pm

Hi Gemini39 - TRNC is still #1 on my list, but have also considered South Cyprus. But as you say the property is expensive and I don't like the Euro problems and the possible implications of that. The plus in the south is possible diving work for the hubby and no need for work permits + free medical care as I get SRP + SRP annual cost of living increases & Christmas bonus, so those + = extra income & savings on expenditure.

Have also had expats in Canaries & South Portugal also contact me stating 1000UKp/m is do-able expenditure , but again Euro problems!!

I have definitely not shelved TRNC and when I get wound up by the daily stupid problems I have here I just go onto Kibkom and look at the photo gallery, but that just makes me want to find a Tardis so I can beam myself over lock stock & barrel.

gemini39 · Post by **gemini39** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 2:24 pm

Hi A/N U have got to go for the recce trip , maybe twice, and then you will feel for the country or not

ACTION NOW

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 2:31 pm

True, ready steady ACTION - I'll post when I have recce dates.

Rambling Rose · Post by **Rambling Rose** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 5:14 pm

Anne: Gemini is right, this is a place you either love or hate, and you won't really know until you try!

Sometimes when I get frustrated I have to think of the alternative! One of the reasons I took early retirement and moved abroad to a non EU country was that in my work I was constantly being strangled by the red tape from Brussels to the extent that from having a career I enjoyed I was at the stage of dreading going into work in the mornings.. And imho that red tape was stiffling all sensible initiative in many areas of life. I have heard simular stories from people from other EU nations. Even now my own major problems spring from England, and/or are caused by the British or the EU.

You also have to bear in mind that although we criticise the way things are done here - WE CAN!
Some places we couldn't.

And , although sadly it is increasing, we still have a low crime rate - particularly violent crime. Although I can now rarely drive at night (because of large vehicles with undimmed halogen headlights) I can still walk down my village street on my own without qualms.

It so depends on what is important to you. If expensive consumer goods and "keeping up with the Jones's is an issue dont come here on a low budget. And remember the financial problems are global - apart from the medical issues we probably do as well if not better than many other places. I also have a friend in the UK who is going to have to "go private" for optical treatment because the delays in the NHS are leaving her with major problems.

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 7:01 pm

Cheers for the pep talk RamblingRose, it's exactly what I needed, especially today when I finally blew my top BIG time with a plumbers shop (long story) . As regards to all my niggling worries, the best way is to get over and meet up with some of you lovely jubbly KibKomers and have a nice in-depth chat over a nice cup of TRNC coffee etc.

Have been on EgyptAir web site looking at prices from either Sharm-el-Sheikh or Cairo to Larnaca. Apparently the flight time is 12 -14 hours!!! NO WAY that cannot be right as it's only 4 hrs from London to Sharm. I will have to speak to the diving guy here who does frequent flights from Dahab to Larnaca and find out how he does it as 12hrs is a serious roundabout route especially when I ticked direct route & those times popped up.

I am really down in the doldrums at the moment, so as I said above will get over as soon as possible. At least if I was living over there I would prefer to have a moan about the problems you guys & gals have, than moan and bang my head over the continuing problems I have here - a change of moan subject is an uplifting thought

teg17 · Post by **teg17** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 7:11 pm

Don't feel to down, I have major problems moving funds around from South Africa, a headache I could do without, its not a simple world unfortunately.
Trevor

Philoz · Post by **Philoz** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 9:01 pm

Anna-try sourcing flights to Istanbul rather than to lanrnaca -from there get a cheapo flight to Ercan - it will save you lots in taxi fares-taxi return from here to larnaca is £100.
Istanbul is a major hub with huge flight availability.
You can pick up flights from there to Ercan for as little as £20 each way.

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Mon 01 Oct 2012 10:33 pm

Cheers guys:-

Trevor, hope you get your funding sorted out & your right seems that the "powers-to-be" love to put obstacles in our path as often as possible. I have savings in my Egyptian account and still deciding whether to move them, (if I do get to reside in TRNC), or keep them where they are & use debit card & Swift pmnts. The savings here get me 13.5% so that's an excellent return and I don't get taxed on the interest as the TRNC banks do @ 10%. Plus my pensions are paid over here too in stirling and the UKP is high XE (actually 10/1 at present). But if there's a problem with my bank or the economy crashes in Egypt due to the continuing civil unrest it's a long distance to get things sorted out.

Philoz, thanks for that option I will certainly do a Google search tomorrow & see what's what. I'll let you know the outcome on a post. Would the passport stamps cause a problem for me at a later date with any unsympathetic countries, due to their stupid hostility towards anything TRNC?.

kaiserphil · Post by **kaiserphil** » Tue 02 Oct 2012 6:02 am

Anna, when you go through immigration at Ercan airport you can get a small white paper at the kiosk as you go through, on which you enter a few simple details (I think name, nationality and passport number). The immigration officer (unless things have changed since I left) will stamp that rather than your passport.

Deniz1 · Post by **Deniz1** » Tue 02 Oct 2012 6:05 am

You are right Phil.

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Tue 02 Oct 2012 1:37 pm

Thanks for that snippet of info. It is so nice that the immigration people do something to help by providing a piece of paper to help us with the stamping issue because of the grief by other countries who would react adversely to such a stamp.

I think they do the same at Israeli immigration due to the stamp provoking a huge problem for the p/port holder by the Arabic immigration/checkpoint guards.

Rambling Rose · Post by **Rambling Rose** » Tue 02 Oct 2012 3:23 pm

The white slip only applies to visitors (tourists). Once you live here and get a residence permit your passport will be stamped. As far as I know the only countries which would object to a TRNC stamp are Greece and South Cyprus, and there is would be only verbal harrassment if that, It would however be interesting to hear from anyone who has contrary experience.

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Tue 02 Oct 2012 4:05 pm

Cheers for that R/R, - the only reason I am querying this is because there is a possible chance for my hubby to get work next year and that may be in the South, so obviously his passport will be scrutinized.

Can anyone advise where I would get the bus from if I chose to fly into Larnaca, as I do not know where I will be going once I land. Is there a website I can visit which would give me times that bus's departed to TRNC (and prices)?. Then where would it be best for me to start my recce Kyrenia or Girne?.

I'll have to be re-named 'her with a thousand questions'

Marions · Post by **Marions** » Tue 02 Oct 2012 4:12 pm

Oops, Kyrenia and Girne are the same place! On greek name and one Turkish one. So start in either! (sorry - naughty!).

You have an option at the airport of getting a taxi (cost £100 return - £50 one way. Or there is a bus point just outside the arrivals. that would take you to Nicosia, and you would then have to cross the border for onwaqrd travel. Of course if you twisted my arm I could meet you at the border and take you on to wherever you are going - unless it was in the middle of the night!

Have you thought of going by boat to Limassol? Another thought!

annanirvanna · Post by **annanirvanna** » Tue 02 Oct 2012 7:24 pm

Hi Marion - Who's the muppet then, ME!! - I now have a map of Cyprus on my desktop, so no more 'foot in mouth' whoopsies.

I will have a look at the ferry options (good thinking batwoman . I have looked at flights from here to both Larnaca & Ersal (via Istanbul). Larnaca option is cheaper and if lucky I can get a no stop direct flight that takes about 1.30 - 2 hours. The Istanbul option is more expensive and most go via Beirut with mega hours stop over, so will probably be ruling that option out (Beirut is certainly NOT on my visiting list). I shall do some more research over the next day or two to find the best options.

Thanks very much for the offer of a pickup, you are definitely a warm kind hearted person - depending on how I proceed and my arrival time I may accept your most gracious offer. What is the time scale from the checkpoint to Girne/Kyrenia?.

Rambling Rose · Post by **Rambling Rose** » Tue 02 Oct 2012 8:43 pm

Anne : You should know that all the towns and villages in the North now have Turkish names, which in most cases are what appear on signposts. Nicosia is the "English" name , The Greeks call it Lefkosia and the Turks Lefkoşa (pronounced Lefkosha ) When you are definitely coming remind us and I will send a list of towns, unless someone more technically literate can direct you to a suitable website.

Marions · Post by **Marions** » Tue 02 Oct 2012 9:25 pm

From checkpoint to Kyrenia not long at all - 45 minutes top whack, but more likely 30, but then depends where in Kyrenia - whether central or out at one of the coastal resorts or other villages. But no problem - as I said, not as long as it is mdidle of the night!

flying to Ercan is bound to be more expensive and lengthy. when I used to come from Australia at first I had tofly over Cyprus to Istanbul, change planes and then come back. More money, more time and a heck f a lot more aggro. if you can comde to larnaca it is easier - at least for a rekkie!

Keep in touch.

iancrumpy · Post by **iancrumpy** » Tue 02 Oct 2012 10:44 pm

Rambling Rose wrote:Anne : You should know that all the towns and villages in the North now have Turkish names, which in most cases are what appear on signposts. Nicosia is the "English" name , The Greeks call it Lefkosia and the Turks Lefkoşa (pronounced Lefkosha) When you are definitely coming remind us and I will send a list of towns, unless someone more technically literate can direct you to a suitable website.

Hi Rambling Rose and others interested in place names,

Here's a link to a Wikipedia list of places in Cyprus:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ci ... _in_Cyprus
Unfortunately, as with most web-sites in English about Cyprus, it's from a GC perspective (note "Turkish invasion" in the first paragraph) and thus most of the villages in the north (or at least the Turkish versions of them) are not included

Probably more useful would be this web page from the Turkish Wikipedia (ie. Vikipedi)
Don't be put off by the Turkish, just scroll down and you'll be able to see a long list of place names with first the Turkish name and then, where appropriate, the Greek name. In any case, here's the link:
http://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuzey_K%C4 ... in_listesi

By the way, Rambling Rose, I think it is only for the big towns/cities of Famagusta, Kyrenia, Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos that there are three versions ... and for those you should see the first link above. I think that for all the other towns and villages in Cyprus the English version is the same as the Greek version. I hope that helps.

Regards,
Ian

Post by **Soner** » Wed 03 Oct 2012 6:53 am

RamblingRose, with regards to the stamping of white paper, I am a citizen with British Passport and a Kimlik, when I enter or leave the TRNC I have the choice as to use my Kimlik, have my passport stamped or use the White Paper provided to be stamped. I believe the choice is actually yours.

This thread is still going on and now making me want to move out here.

annanirvanna, glad to hear that you found the Kibkom Photo Gallery useful. What great photos Kibkomers have posted for the World to see!

Rambling Rose · Post by **Rambling Rose** » Wed 03 Oct 2012 10:15 am

Yes, Soner, but that is coming in and out of the country. I was warning Anne about them stamping your passport for temporary residence. You dont need it as a citizen and for some reason they dont stamp mine as a permanent resident, but as far as I know they still stamp temporary resident's passports.

Yes , you should move out here - come in the water is lovely and your country needs you! Seriously it does not bi-linguists who are able to appreciate both the point of view of the Turkish Cypriots, but also have experience of the wider world.

Rambling Rose · Post by **Rambling Rose** » Wed 03 Oct 2012 10:57 am

Thanks Ian, I rather thought you might come up with something!

I think you are right about only major cities having English place names. The other "English" names are transliterations of the Greek alphabet - although it is often easy to translate as so many are called by Saint's name.

The joker in the pack is "Bellapaix" (read "Bitter Lemons") which is a corruption of a French name

The translation and reason behind the Turkish names is often fascinating. For instance my village "Ozanköy" means the "Village of the Poet" (not Poets or Poet's PLEASE) or possibly Bard or Minstrel and was called after Osman Türkay who wrote in (rather complicated) English and has a street named after him.

What about Famagusta though? They say the Greek name was "Mağusa" but I thought that was j the original Turkish name, and the Greek was something like "Famagusta" (meaning something to do with sand).. The "Gazi" was added in honour of a fighter pilot who was killed in l974. Do you have info on this, Ian?

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