Anatolian Sky – Northern Cyprus Twin Centre – Part One

The Bag and the Bench

As October temperatures fall in the UK it was time to let Anatolian Sky whisk us away on a mythical winged creature to a place still in the upper 20s C.  Alright it was actually a 737 operated by Pegasus Airlines but let’s use a little imagination here. Flying via Istanbul (just 40 mins on the ground there) we headed for Northern Cyprus nestled in the Mediterranean Sea.

Rocks Hotel Our twin-centre holiday began in Kyrenia (Girne) on the Northern coast and our encounter with Turkish Cypriot hospitality was initially based at Rocks Hotel and Casino.  Rocks enjoys a great position a gentle ten minute stroll away from the old harbour and on the edge of the town centre.  The hotel oozes class from the moment we walked into reception (the Rocks Rolls Royce outside sets the scene too).  We had a very comfortable, spacious and well equipped King sized room, with most things we’d need for our stay (safe etc.) plus a small balcony and sea view.  Just across the road was their private sea front area, with a pool and bar set in a large decked area.  There were plenty of loungers and beach towels provided, plus steps on the decking led to the sea and a floating platform.  To read more detail about our stay at The Rocks CLICK HERE.

Old Harbour The focal point of the town is the old harbour, now the place for a large selection of restaurants, bars and cafes.  The attractive stone buildings that house the restaurants or are the backdrop to the open air seating on the harbour side, were once warehouses for the black gold (Carob) that was pivotal to past prosperity.  Now it’s gentle and relaxed atmosphere is the home of a prospering tourist industry.  Although we were staying half board at Rocks and were able to enjoy their sumptuous buffet morning and night, with a half litre of beer a miserly £1:50 we felt obliged to relax and watch the world go by at a harbour side establishment.  Purely to support the local economy you understand.

The North Cyprus Tourism Office (NCTO) is at the west side of the harbour and is a great source of free booklets, town map and helpful advice.  The town map guided us to over a dozen places of interest, but we also just wandered around the small lanes behind the old warehouses soaking up the atmosphere. The NCTO also have a very useful website that was great for planning this holiday.

Castle To get to grips with the rich history of the region, we had no further to go than the end of the harbour to the honey coloured Kyrenia Castle.  The castle was probably built as far back as the 7th century BC to protect the town from Arab raids, but it’s our very own Richard the Lionheart that provides the first historical reference to the castle when he captured it back in 1191.  It was a real treat to walk in the sunshine along the ramparts between the four towers, soaking in the history of the castle, but also enjoying the excellent views of the fishing boats and gulets bobbing gently in the harbour.  Within the castles walls we encountered the Chapel of St George and various exhibitions, including a recovered shipwreck dating back to 300 BC.  We even learnt about a tortured mistress in the dungeons (does a little shiver at this point).

Bellapais Abbey A 15 min (about £5) taxi ride away is Bellapais, a small but interesting village set on a hillside offering sweeping views of the coastline below.  The village gets its name from the French for Abbey of Peace (kind of) and it’s the Abbey that is the main attraction.  Built around the 12th to 14th centuries by Augustinian Monks, much of it remains intact and it takes little imagination to realise how magnificent a building this was in its heyday.  The Gothic arches of the cloisters and the vaulted ceilings of the church and refectory are most impressive.  Stairs lead up to the roof for those vertigo inducing views of the coastline below (there’s railings don’t worry) and the whole thing is set in a pretty garden of flowers and cypress trees.  Across the road you can see one of the trees vying for the “Tree of Idleness” title of Lawrence Durrell fame and anyone here in September can visit his house where he created “Bitter Lemons of Cyprus”.  Bag Chillin' 50m from the tree is the refurbished historic mill.  While we were having a cooling drink and ice cream (it was hot at The Abbey) the owner introduced us to the various olive oil and flour milling equipment in his restaurant.  All free (except the drinks and ice cream).

Our brief and pleasant visit to Kyrenia left us wanting more, with so many things to do close by.  More history is available at St. Hilarion Castle, there are many great beaches to explore, with turtle watching possible at certain times of the year and boat trips to be taken.  For the more active there are trails to be hiked, dives to … well dive and paragliding.  It is said that the 100 year old paraglider who made the Guinness Book of Records did it here.  Should all that activity fail to press your buttons, then you can just join Silver Travel bag on a harbourside bench shooting the breeze (see photo).

Related articles

239 people found this helpful
18117

Share Article:

Steve Aldridge

Award-winning travel writer

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the quintessential British coach holiday….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.