Coffee at the Old Harbour

How many people realise they are sitting by the entrance to the old inner medieval harbour and the bricked up arched entrances can be seen in the high wall at the rear of where they are sitting.

Although we are in the middle of August, there seems to have been a change in the weather with the heat diminishing from time to time and a slight breeze developing although it can still be hot and humid. But then any change is a welcome relief to what has been a very hot summer.

I was walking round the Old Kyrenia Harbour and decided to stop for a coffee and chose the Chimera Restaurant which is the closest restaurant to the castle. As well as being able to sit and have a drink or a meal on the quayside you can also choose a shady table at the side of the restaurant. Not many people will realise they are sitting by the entrance to the old inner medieval harbour and the bricked up arched entrances can be seen in the high wall at the rear of where they are sitting.

How many people will also realise that most of the quayside was built during the British administration period on the rocky and sandy foreshore after they had taken over from the Ottomans. There was still a sandy beach close to where I am sitting favoured by the British military and their families, but this also has gone now.

Sipping my coffee I chatted to Bayram Olcay the head waiter who,having previously lived in Germany,has been in Cyprus for 6 years and speaks very good English which he has learned and puts to shame my limited Turkish learned in 8 years. He told me during this time he has seen a change in the number of tourists visiting the harbour and now with the British tourists there are also increasing numbers of Dutch tourists as well who come to enjoy good food and drink.

I gather during July of this year the heat tended to deter people from eating everywhere at lunchtimes but now with the change in the weather more people are coming at lunchtime and at night, most tables are taken throughout the week. I have often visited Chimera for a coffee or cooling drink but I have also dined there and will tell you more of this soon.