Turkey unveiled a `world first` this week to give North Cyprus the most precious gift of life-water.

Water from Alakopru Dam will be carried to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus(TRNC) in pipes placed under water.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the Dum , part of a project to carry potable and irrigation water from Turkey to the TRNC, took place in Anamur in the southern province of Mersin on Monday.

The ceremony was attented by TRNC President Dervis Eroglu, TRNC Prime Minister Irsen Kucuk, TRNC Agriculture Minister Zorlu Tore and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Water from the Alakopru Dam will be carried to the TRNC in pipes placed under water. Once completed 75 million cubic meters of water reach North cyprus’is shores per year under the project.

Pipes will be laid in the sea, 250 metres under water, and 2.83 square metres of water will flow through them per second.

İt is the biggest investment project of Turkey’s State Water Works and is due to be completed in 2014.

The Turkish prime minister said this week that the was a project of global scale.

Erdogan said construction of the dam was a remarkable project that would carry water to a very far destination with a method to be implemented in the world for the first time.

Erdogan said that carrying water from turkey to TRNC had been the dream of many government in the past, and the first step to achieve such goal had been taken with an agreement signed last july.

The dam will not only provide TRNC with water, but it would also generate electricity and would be used in the irrigation of the fields in Anamur region.

Pointing to TRNC’s importance for Turkey, Erdogan said:TRNC is not only a relative and brother, but it also has a unique place in our hearts. Despite all obstacles and embargoes, TRNC has managed to stand on its feet and made the world feeel its presence. We have supported TRNC’s glorious cause under all circumstances and will continue to do so”.

Erdogan also said the Alakopru Dam project showed the world that Turkish Cypriot were not and would never be left alone.

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The original plan of the town was laid out by the Lusignans,  but when the Venetians took over in 1489 they completely renovated the enclosing walls. They lowered the walls but increased the  thickness. Any tour of the fortifications should take into account the great heat of summer and the low parapets everywhere.

The Citadel , also known as Othello’s Tower , should be visited Four great cylindrical towers guard the comes of the Citadel. The carving over the entrance  is an impressive winged lion of St Mark. The great hall is a massive vaulted chamber.

Going clockwise, the Sea Gate and bastion, now a museum. Muskets and swords are displayd next to period dresses finished with fine embroidery.

Three bastions on the south wall lead to the Land Gate, the main entrance to the town.  It is part of the Ravelin.

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You’ve Let Birthplace Of Christianly Go To Ruin

Controversial cleric Archbishop Chrysostomos has blamed the Greek Cypriots for the failure to keep the birthplace of Christianity on the island well maintained.

He crossed the border to see firsthand the state of Apostolos Andreas Monastery, on the tip of the Karpaz peninsula, on Monday.

It was the first time a leader of the Greek Cypriot Orthodox Church had visited North Cyprus since July 20,1974

And Archbishop Chrysostomos, right, normally a bitter critic of Turkey and the TRNC  , was diplomatic in the extreme, talking of his desire to meet TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu  and also to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he visits Ankara next month.

While he said the main purpose of his trip was to press forward with the scheme to renovate and restore the historic monastery, Archbishop Chrysostomos changed his tune from heaping all the blame on Turkey and TRNC.

He said that “certainquarters in the South” were also responsible for the delays that have brought the monastery to the verge of collapse.

While a current restoration scheme is ready to start within weeks, previous initiatives to save the building have fallen through.

“it was through our own fault that Apostolos Andreas has not been maintained to this day,” he said.” I used to tell them , `look, the monastery must be maintained because in the end it will cave in.` So my conscience is easy, as I have done my duty to the fullest. “God willing, very soon we shall see the start of restoration work, something that is in the interests both of Turkey, as being a democratic country, and of the Turkish Cypriots in that they will show they have great love for these monuments.”

He added that Cyprus was “ a small state that is on friendly terms with Turkey, the European Union and Middle East because our region desires peace and we must all work to this goal”.

Archbishop Chrysostomos had written a letter to Mr Erdogan calling for work to begin as soon as possible . Mr Erdogan replied, saying he would do what he could.

It is the refusal of stallholders to move that is holding up the start of restoration work, agreed by both Cypriot leaders.

President Mehmet Ali Talat has personally gone to speak to the stallholders on several occasions recently.

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The Buyuk Han

The Buyuk Han (Great Inn) is a wonderful example of a medieval caravanserai which was built in 1572. Situated in the old quarter of Nicosia(Lefkosa-Lefkosia), it is frequented by tourists who have the opportunity to see a selection of hand made crafts and cultural items which are on display there.

The Han is unusual, as it actually has two entrances. It was built by the first Ottoman governor of Cyprus, Muzaffer Pasha. It is said that there is a large resemblance to the Han which is in Bursa,Turkey.

The Han has two floors, where the lower rooms were shops and storage rooms and areas to stable the visitors’horses. On the upper floor were the lodging areas of 68 rooms, often frequented by rich merchants. Each room had a fireplace and chimney.

The Han resembles a fortress on the outside,and in the days when Cyprus was a British Colony, the Buyuk Han was used as Nicosia Central Prison. You can see the rain spouts on the outside which are carved from stone,

The Buyuk Han has a huge courtyard with an Ottoman Mesjit with a fountain which was used for ablutions nearby in the centre. The Han was renovated in its original style and was opened to visitors in 2002.

There are cafes located around the sides of the lower floors where anything from a Turkish coffe to a three course meal is available . in one corner of the Buyuk Han is a small cafe which sells traditional puddings, the speciality being `sulu muhallebi`.

If you venture upstairs from one of the stone stairways , you will find an array of art galleries and craft shops. There are lace shawls and delicate handicrasfts on display,often with the women who make these items working on similar pieces. Another traditional handicraft which you can admire are the silk cocoon pictures.

At some of the handicraft shop you may even be able to try your hand at producing some of the pieces. There are many unusual and interesting Turkish Cypriot crafts on offer, and if you are visiting the island on holiday you will have an opportunity to take back some original souvenirs which can be found nowhere else.

From time to time , there are live music concerts at the Buyuk Han , particularly on Saturdays, Jazz concerts and classical music are often held at the Han. In addition, you may be lucky enough to witness a traditional wedding ceremony or folk dance shows.

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Vouni Palace

Once you leave the ruins at Soli turn left and stay on the coast road heading west until it passes the Fener bar and turns slightly inland. The road then climbs upwards and after a few steep bends you arrive at a clearing with a green bus stop on the right , where the road takes a sharp turn left. You have probably travelled about four miles from Soli  by now. A single tarmac road heads uphill to the right, behind the bus stop and although quite steep the road is lined by crash barriers and there are several passing places for the more nervous drivers. As you turn the bend to reach ancient site you are now 250 metres above sea level and can safely park in front of the large kiosk where tickets can be purchased. Winter hours are 10am-5pm and a very good handout is issued with the entry ticket, which gives a good explanation of the palace and its history.

It was built by the Persian King of the Neighbouring city of Marion to Watch over the city of Soli in 498 BC.

The 137 room royal palace was specifically built on this hilltop by the Phoenician pro-Persian king of the neighbouring city of Marion to watch over the pro-Greek city of Soli in498 BC after they defeated Soli in a five month siege. However, the Greek Army defeated the Persians in 449BC when it came under their rule and a further storey was added higher up hill. Later the inhabitants of Soli destroyed the palace by fire in 380BC and it was never rebuilt. The city was built on a sloping hill on three terraces. The upper terrace is at the highest point of the hill and houses the Athena Shrine dating back to the 5^th century BC.

These ruins lay next to a modern trig point and now there is also a small fire watch cabin on site , unsurprising given the staggering views that can be had from this vantage point, both south to the Troodos Mountains and westwards/eastwards to the coastline , although on the day that I visited it was too cloudy for long range photos.

The middle terrace housed the palace itself as well as religious structures, baths , a well, fountains and storage rooms and is in surprisingly good shape. The lower terrace that reaches the sea were the houses of the common people made with stone bases and mud tops. Excavations carried out on the lower terrace by the same Swedish team that excavated the ruins at Soli between 1927-1931, unearthed gold and silver bracelets, cups and hundreds of coins. There is a small outcrop of rock that is clearly visible in the sea to the west of the palace, named Petra tou Limniti, where traces of a Neolithic settlement have been found.

I have never been a keen history buff, but frankly the views alone are worth the visit and 30 minutes is ample time  to have a good wander around the well signed ruins.

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