North Cyprus
North Cyprus, or to give it its full title, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, is a small country measuring 120 miles wide and only 15 miles from its northern coastline to the southern border. Cyprus lies ticked under the west coast of Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean, and the island has always been a meeting point for traders from earliest times. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and Northern Cyprus lies directly 70km south of the Turkish mainland. Nicosia is the capital of both South and North Cyprus and they are divided here by what is known as 'the green line', which runs through the City separating the Turks from the Greeks. Nicosia is a cosmopolitan town steeped in history, with some imposing and interesting old buildings interspersed with modern buildings and office blocks. The 100 mile long Kyrenia or Girne mountain range which runs almost parallel to the Northern coastline in TRNC is actually the southernmost mountain range of the Alpine-Himalaya chain in the Eastern Mediterranean. The mountains are formed from great masses of limestone and they tower over Northern Cyprus and provide the most incredible backdrop to the rest of the island. They are also home to Northern Cyprus' famous trio of castles, Kantara (the romantic one), St. Hilarion (the fairy tale one) and Buffavento (the best kept secret). South of this mountain range, and across which you will drive if you travel from Ercan airport to Girne for example, is the Mesaoria plain. It actually stretches the whole length of the middle of TRNC from Guzelyurt to Famagusta with Nicosia (Lefkosa) sat slap bang in the middle! This is where much of the grain from the island is harvested. In the winter and spring it is rich with wild flowers and wild life, in the summer the areas which aren't irrigated are desert like. Driving across the plain in summer you will most definitely need your air-conditioning as it gets incredibly hot. Famagusta on the east coast was once a busy port and a centre of commerce with some good hotels along the beachfront, which are now mainly derelict. Much of the ancient city walls still remain intact, as do two of the original city gates, together with the imposing citadel known as 'Othello's Tower', rumored to be where Shakespeare gained his inspiration for Othello.