Daily News of Life and times in North Cyprus goes around the world
By Engin Dervişağa…….
By popular demand I am delighted together with my colleague Qossay Eleyan to broadcast again a short English and Arabic language programme on “Discovering North Cyprus” about the Bedestan (St. Nicholas Church), which is one of the main cultural heritage sites located within the northern part of the walled city of Lefkosa (Nicosia).
By Margaret Sheard ……
Congratulations to Jarra Brown and the Esentepe Mayor, Cemal Erdoĝan, together with the cooperation of local restaurant owner, Senol, for organising a wonderful night of traditional Cypriot food and entertainment at the new Beach Restaurant in Esentepe on Saturday 8th July.
There were around 250 people who turned up to enjoy the night on the large terrace overlooking the sea. The evening was warm and with the gentle lapping of the sea on the beach it was a brilliant setting for the event. There was music playing as people were arriving and this was followed by live Cypriot music played by Costa Tsadiotis which really got the feet tapping. He really made the bouzouki sing and later in the evening he played with the instrument behind his head and also played it with a bottle, a tumbler, a plate and a shoe running up and down the frets.
We shared a table with Issy Hassan, his partner Debbie Knapp and sons Sugar Ata Hassan and Sayan Hassan – together with their friend Sol Akay, so it was a nice mixed group of young and not so young.
There was a fixed menu which started with 5 mezes and a basket of bread, a huge plate of chips, then a choice of chicken or lamb chops and melon to finish. The staff worked really hard, which with the number of people present was quite a daunting task but they continued to smile and do a wonderful job of keeping everyone happy with food and drinks.
During the evening a circle of fire appeared on the dance floor area, which was quite a surprise and later a bonfire was lit on the beach. This was 
all very effective and added to the atmosphere of the evening.
We were also treated to a fairly long session by belly dancer 
Alina and everyone enjoyed that immensely. She was very good and mingled amongst the tables as is normal with this type of entertainment.
The live music then continued, and people danced and there was clapping and singing to the rousing tunes being played by Costa.
We didn’t stay to the end but I believe the event continued well into the early hours.
Jarra Brown was keen to introduce a traditional event of Cypriot cuisine and entertainment and it was certainly a great success. It is intended to hold a Cypriot night every week during the summer months which should attract holidaymakers as well as the locals and residents who want to enjoy traditional Cypriot culture and entertainment.
By Margaret Sheard …..
There is a great event to look forward to on Saturday 16th September at the Girne Amphitheatre – the Beatlemania show which will be in aid of the Civil Emergency Services Volunteers (CESV).
Doors will be open at 6pm and there will be wine, beer and snacks provided by the Girne Belediye from 6.30pm. The entertainment will start at approximately 7pm with the support band Acoustic 4 and they will be playing a range of classics from the 1960s-1990s.
The Beatlemania 2 hour show will follow at approximately 8.45pm, when you can enjoy the best of the world’s favourite group of all time. The show will include 3 costume changes to reflect the evolution of the Beatles era from Moptops to Sergeant Pepper to White Album (check this out by clicking here).
Ticket price – 70TL or £15 for adults / 45TL or £10 for children under 12 years of age. Tickets will be available from mid-August from the following outlets:
Blakes Lounge Bar and Bistro – Alsancak
Best Seller Bookshop – Alsancak
DVD shop – Catalkoy
Georges Cafe & Bar – Girne
Plus an outlet in the Esentepe/Yeni Erenkoy area to be confirmed
This major event will be sponsored by Creditwest Bank, and the beneficiary will once again be the Civil Emergency Services Volunteers (CESV/112).
By Margaret Sheard …..
Many people will know Jarra Brown and be aware of the publication of his book “46 Miles”. After being very busy with the promotion of his book, Jarra now has time on his hands and he has joined SSAFA as a volunteer and has also been looking at the social scene and is aware of the limited Cypriot Taverna style entertainment.
So with the Esentepe Belediyesi Restaurant, Jarra has spoken with a local restaurant proprietor and suggested an evening of local cuisine and entertainment and arrangements have been made for this to be held on Saturday 8th July starting at 7pm and it is intended that this will then become a weekly event through the summer months.
Enjoy a Taverna Atmosphere at the Beach Restaurant of Esentepe.
There will be a menu of Mezes, Chicken Chops or Lamb Chops for 30TL per person. If you just want to go along to have a drink and enjoy the entertainment you will be very welcome, where there is a fully licensed bar at competitive prices.
The entertainment starts at 9pm when there will be Traditional Folk Dancing, Live Turkish Music, and a Belly Dancer, followed by more Turkish music.
From Midnight onwards there will be a Beach party disco, bop till you drop, for the young and young at heart.
Transport free of charge collection and drop off in the municipality area and surrounding area.
For reservations for transport and bookings for food please ring Senol on 0542 8519929
You can also contact Jarra Brown on 0533 883 3445.
We hope you will like the pictures supplied by Jarra Brown and will support the event which has the potential to be a great night with an amazing ambience created by the location and yourselves.
by Jonathan Christie…….
“The darkest nights produce the brightest stars.” In Cyprus, the sun feels warmer, the air is crisp almost alive! The water is clear and salty. At night the full moon is magnificent, and when the moon hides, the heaven’s open up! Gazing upon the stars has a strange effect of people, it really takes you on a journey to the beginning of time and across the universe by bringing you into yourself.
A perfect phrase if I ever heard one, “Come to yourself” I believe it’s the Turkish equivalent of Calm down, but it seems to have a much deeper meaning. In Cyprus I really have come to myself in the sense that I am more comfortable being myself and sharing that with friends and loved ones. Here, we tend to move away from planning a life, from the “rat race” and start doing something maybe lost to us in our busy life, we tend to live life.
I was fortunate enough one night to take a trip to the Karpaz peninsula, the panhandle of Cyprus. We got a bungalow at a beautiful restaurant/holiday retreat ‘Burhans place’ on Golden Bay Beach. Far away from any city or town lights and after the sunset we were gifted with a clear night sky, we could look into infinity, and speculate on the wonders of life, its magnitude and triviality.
You could see the glowing Milky Way strewn across the night sky, all those billions of stars, bright enough to gently light the sea and give and amazing backdrop to a wonderful adventure. One of those moments that leave you awestruck, a memory that will grace your imagination through the rest of your life.
The stillness is what brings you to yourself, in the distance you can hear the Mediterranean swaying with the current, occasionally the bray of a wild donkey, Letting your mind wander and taking in all of what you are. These are the moments when you can really learn a lot about yourself, what I learned, is that no matter how busy the world gets, if I take a breath and come to myself, things become simpler, and easier to accomplish.
This is one of many experiences to be had in northern Cyprus, just one night gaining some silly form of self-enlightenment. Not to say that every day brings such amazing opportunities, but every day is a surprise. The ancient ruins which make you feel too young, the open heavens which make you feel too small, and the vibrant life that makes you feel alive. All these leaving you not with a sense of purpose or meaning, but rather a sense of reflection, and possibly, gratitude.
Time lapse of Earth spinning through Space
