Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

After spending sun-soaked days on the western Greek side of Cyprus, we made our way by car across the border and into a different world. Turkish occupied Cyprus is a flashback to the 1970s, when a war ravaged the island. Driving across the demilitarized zone near Famagusta, we were very conscious of the UN troops and armed soldiers. Yet, as our trip continued, we passed through bucolic pastures dotted with sheep, ancient Roman ruins, and tiny villages where Greek and Turkish Cypriots lived in relative harmony?arguing perhaps over the proper term for specialty ?Turkish? or ?Cypriot? coffee. After all of this contrast, we arrived finally at Golden Beach, the most pristine on the island?at the tip of the narrow Karpaz peninsula. The coast here is wild, the waves warm but strong, and unlike the developed parts of the island, no beach chairs in sight?a welcome and peaceful surprise.