24.02.26

Not the best plan to do a wine tasting at 10.00 a.m., but hadn’t been able book Sunday, or Monday as a public holiday. Healthy samples too … J stepped up.

We leaned more about the July ’25 fire. Our host pointed out where the fire was halted on the perimeter of the village. Her family lost vineyard buildings and 2/3 of their vines. The Cypriot government only financially assisted if 3/4 lost. Some EU money, but 7 years before the vineyards are productive.  This small family vineyard supplied wine for charcuterie producers, wine paste coated almonds (same as seen in Georgia) and a delicious grape and sesame marmalade.  Unfortunately the small jars were over 100ml so we couldn’t buy any to bring home.

A drive over the mountains to Nicosia. We did a self guided walking tour in the Greek side.  Nothing special, but pleasant enough.

Then off through the vehicle crossing for us. Supper easy and quick. I was asked at the Greek side, if we had visited the occupied terrotory before? A reminder that Turkey is the only country to recognise Northern Cyprus.   We bought Tr insurance for the car €35. No customs checks … mindful of our wine confiscation from Georgia to Turkey, we had decanted 1.5 litres of gin into our drinking water bottles!

Northern Cyprus does not feel like Turkey. Half the hoardings along the motorway advertised whiskey, campari and raki. We looked hard to find a lady in a head scarf. And the supermarket had a full aisle of booze. 

Had bought an esim, which was so rubbish we couldn’t navigate to our accommodation. We ended up connecting to a hotel and screen shotting the map. Stressful. So unpacked … including un-decanting the gin … cheers.