What is Cyprus like?

Answer 1

Cyprus is a Middle Eastern island, and it's geography is very similar to that of Israel or Lebanon, with pale rocky hillsides covered in scrubby bushes interspursed with woodlands of spruce, pine and olive trees. Much of it is flat plain, which is used for agriculture and covered with vegetable fields, or groves for growing lemons, Oranges and olives and avocadoes. However, there are two main mountain ranges- the Troodos in the South, which is thickly forested with both evergreen and deciduous trees and scattered with several villages, and the Penedactylos range in the North, which is far more craggy and steep-sided, without much in the way of woodland. The Cypriot coast has some beautiful bays and beaches, many of which are unspoilt but others of which are fast being developed as tourist resorts. For most of the year it is a hot country, in Summer unbearably so, with temperatures normally reaching over 42 degrees Centigrade, although during the Winter months it is cooler, and in early Spring can even be quite chilly at night.

Cyprus is a divided island following the Turkish invasion of 1974; the North is controlled by the Turks and the South by the Greeks, with a UN-administered demarcation line seperating the two sides. Although the North has declared itself to be an independent Republic for nearly 30 years now, it is not recognised as such by any nation other than Turkey itself (which created it in the first place). The reason for the Turkish invasion was a military coup by extreme right-wing military officers who wanted to either expel or exterminate the island's Turkish population, so Turkey stepped in to protect the Turkish Cypriot people.

The main cities of Cyprus are the capital Nicosia (which is in the centre of the island and itself split between the two sides, with the Greek sector much more over-developed than the Turkish one), the Southern coastal cities of Limassol, Paphos (on the South Eastern tip) and Larnaca, and Famagusta, which is on the Eastern coast and just within the Turkish half (the Turks call it 'Girne'). The cities are linked by an artery of long, Californian-style highways that traverse the plains and hillsides. Limassol is the main coastal port for the island and receives most of it's shipping traffic, and is an ugly city, with a vast suburban sprawl of concrete apartment blocks and gross hillside villas. Paphos is a tourist centre and is little better, tending to cater for the lowest type of tourist and with it's centre a riot of kitsche replica Greek bars, amusement arcades and shopping malls. Larnaca is a far nicer place to stay.

Although the island is rapidly being overdeveloped with blockhouse-style tourist villages, massive office blocks and new roadways, large parts of it still remain unspoilt, and it is by no means totally ruined. Some lovely old buildings from the period of Ottoman and British rule still remain in Nicosia and Larnaca, and in more rural locations. Cyprus still retains many relics of it's British Colonial past, not only buildings but old British letter-boxes (now painted yellow) and some beautiful 1950s classic cars!

Both halves of the island are fully developed countries, with the Greek sector having a fully-functioning democracy (although some corruption is endemic within the Government). The North is poorer than the South, being dependent largely on Turkey for financial subsidy, although there is little real poverty, and although it relies heavily on a military presence for it's security, there is a measure of democracy in electing Presidential candidates (although the level of choice is limited to ones that the military approve of!) There continues to be resentment between Greek and Turk, but this rarely reaches the level of open violence or hostility, and there is little chance of the war starting up again. The 'status quo' is likely to remain as it is for the foreseeable future, and it is a very safe place for outsiders to visit.

It is possible for visitors to the South to cross over to the North to visit, although they have to show their passports at checkpoints and are not allowed to stay in the North for longer than 3 days. If they do, they cannot re-enter the South overland, but must fly to Turkey, then Greece, and back to Southern Cyprus again.

The main industries of Cyprus are tourism, agriculture, and the service sector such as banking and retail. It exports agricultural produce, small goods and textiles, whilst importing oil, electrical goods, heavy machinery and cars.

The crime rate in Cyprus is very low, far lower than in the West, and felonies such as rape, murder or violent mugging are extremely rare. When such things DO occur, they are normally perpetrated by non-Cypriots living on the island, such as Somali's or British expatriates.

The population is made up mostly of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, although in the cities there are also a number of Philippino's and Sri Lankans who work as domestic helpers, cleaners and labourers. There are also a number of Cypriot Armenians, descendants of the Armenians who fled the Turkish genocide of the early 1920s. Other nationalities who live there in significant numbers include British, Lebanese, Somalians and mainland Greeks and Turks.

Answer 2

Having one or two children is normal. Traditionally, adult children stayed with their parents until they got married.