buyukkonuk - I despair!!!!

[mrsgee]

Well, it clearly must be us, but every time we go to Buyukkonuk it is shut!!! I am not joking, we have gone twice on Tuesdays in the past couple of months, when there was evidently meant to be a market.....NOT!!!, and Today when it was meant to be Eco day.....nothing happening......I really do wish that these villages could get their advertising right.....driving for and hour and a half for the Eco Day which was advertised on several tourism sites, only to find it is not on....does not bode well. Does ANYONE have any accurate idea as to when these elusive markets, and Eco days actually take place? Not that we will be bothering to go again in the near future.......what amazes me also is that you only find out about events like this.....after the event has happened....it brings to mind....'are you local?'...............no, well clear off then.....sorry rant over, after a long and tiring journey for nothing.

[waddo]

I know the feeling but keep trying "apparently" it is well worth it but we have never managed to catch it open either! C2D can be a mine of information about when something has happened but sadly not about when it is going to happen - maybe they should waste their time and journey by visiting places that are shut, then they could report that - lol.

[mrsgee]

Yep Waddo, it is soooo frustrating...I even checked on various tourism websites and they gave the date 15th May...oh well, we carried on up towards Dipkarpaz, then back to Bogaz for a nice lunch so all was not wasted....but don't think we will bother again, it is obviously a secret....lol

[Groucho]

The cancellation of the event was announced weeks ago.

[mrsgee]

Really, well thanks for that Groucho, I never saw it....I will search for it and see, but it doesn't alter the fact that folks who are not on here....didn't get to find out. Regards

[mrsgee]

Right, just done a search, can't find anything about it being cancelled but maybe I have the spelling wrong....do you have the link Groucho?

[Fesenjan123]

I saw the cancellation notice in Cyprus today. However they said the October Eco Day will still go Ahead.

[mrsgee]

Thanks Fesenjan, we get C2D but never saw it, but were back in UK for a couple of weeks in April.....probably our misfortune that it was published then.......just soooo annoyed, also with the fact that the Tuesday Markets were not there on the 2 occasions we went....hey ho, never mind.....

[suehowlittle]

We have called in on our way to other places and the place has always been closed, We will definitely not go again.

[mrsgee]

Glad its not just us suehowlittle...lol

[Marions]

Must confess I am a little sad that any cancellation notice wa s not put on here. I for one don'tbuy newspapers - read just about everything on line, and it is particularly sad that notices seem to go in Cyprus Today only when there are other media sources. Maybe it was in The Star or Observer or other forums, but I do agree it is infuriating that one goes to things to find they are not there! I learneda long time ago to check and double check as things are inclined to be changed!

With the number of members we hav,e it does seem a change that the Forum is not used more. Oh and of course, Facebook is a terrific social media, but I don't think there was anything on there either.

Incidentlaly, does anyone know WHY it was cancelled??? What did Cyprus Today say?

[Groucho]

I believe it was cancelled because they feared their support at the previous event for the victims of the terrorist attack in Turkey the day before might make them a target for extremists...

At the previous ECO day they handed out black ribbons to signify their opposition to the terrorists and in sympathy with the victims and then felt that maybe they would bring hell upon themselves... they may have been warned off....

[frontalman]

I went to Eastbourne once, it was closed too.

[terry2366]

You were lucky the day I went it was open. Never again will try Bognor next time.

[kaiserphil]

You were lucky the day I went it was open. Never again will try Bognor next time.

I shouldn't, that's even worse.

As George V is alleged to have said "Bugger Bognor"!

Actually, I don't think Eastbourne is all that bad.

[Deniz1]

Went once never again all that way was a waste of time. Never seen so many flies round the food stalls 2 of my party were ill after.

[Fesenjan123]

I have been to the Eco days several times and throughly enjoyed them. Definitely one of the better festivals. However, things seem to have changed dramatically since Lois and Ishmael Cemal stepped back from the organisation. This couple have worked tirelessly to educate people to respect the environment and to encourage the village ladies to revive their old skills so they can teach others and also sell their wonderful handicrafts to earn pin money for themselves. Lois wanted the women to have some independence and be aware of their capabilities. Lois and Ishmael transformed Buyukkonuk with their vision. The Eco Days, under their leadership, were a boon to the local economy and provided both entertainment and education to thousands of visitors. So many buses from the South attended these days too.
There was a disused quarry at the back of the village and Ishmael was instrumental in persuading the authorities to relandscape it, planting thousands of trees. Everything this couple did was with the environment in mind.
Lo and behold, despite there being at least 17 quarries here, the powers that be decided they were going to reopen the now landscaped quarry behind the village. It was the final straw after all the years of work put in by Lois and Ishmael, everything they had campaigned and worked for just brushed away by the short sightedness of the authorities. He announced that he was no longer able to continue his role. He was absolutely devastated.
Now it seems that without their knowledge and leadership, the future of these Eco Days is in question. So sad.
As for the Tuesday market, I did go once but to be honest there was not much going on at all.

[frontalman]

I agree with Fesenjan, we went a couple of years ago - very little on the eco side, lots of stalls selling bread, food and honey, etc, kids half-heartedly performing traditional dancing to tape being played from car radio, restaurant selling overpriced meals seemingly begrudgingly - just felt it was a long drive for not much in return. I would suggest going there on a normal weekday and having a coffee with the locals, then take the drive through Yedikonuk and Mehmetcik to Balalan. There's a nice nature trail you can stop at on the way. The scenery is beautiful. The coffee shop in Balalan is most welcoming. Then you can drive back along the coast road. There is a secret underground tomb near one of the beaches on the way back along that road, which I might be inclined to disclose if the wind's blowing in the right direction!!!!

[Marions]

Come on, do tell - I need a little of the unkinown!

As to Buyukkonuk - we went to the first ever fairs and they were terrific. Well organise,d full and pulsating with Cypriot life, friendliness, etc, etc. But things change - even I have changed!) and as the pop song says 'Nothing ever stays the same.' I also know that lois and Cemal hav e put boundless energy and caring into that place, but.........progress and money and power and greed take over, as seems to be the case here.

Now that Alan can harldy wlak, we have not been over much, but we do keep in touch with Lois and Cemal when we can. Haven't asked her about this cancelled day. She might well know, and of cours,e maybe it should not go in print!!!!

But comeon - that cave! Where!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[frontalman]

I'll pm you Marian. It's easy enough to find but it's not a cave, it's a tomb carved into the rock. You'll need a torch and tread carefully as there may be bats inside. there are two chambers with two or three stone resting places for the dead in each. There is a rock staircase leading down into the tomb but you can only find it if you walk right up to it. It can't be seen until you are right on top of it.

[Marions]

Thank you. I don't mind bats - maybe I have an affinity to things batty, but I must confess I don't like them getting tangled in my hair! Can';t wait to go. Thanks so much for thi sinfo - so were you a tour guide in a former life???? Whatever - thanks for sharing the knowledge. You are a 'star'

[frontalman]

No. never a tour guide, I just like to get out and about!

[woodspeckie]

Is the nature trail signposted? We too like to get out and about so we are always interested in anything different to explore.