Well we had a flat there for 9 years and just completed on a new villa. We like the country very much and it's only not recognised by the rest of Europe because Greece won't allow it. The EU has given the North a large sum of money in the last few years for new roads and sewage systems.

Healthcare is also very good if you go to the main Nicosia hospitals and crime rates are low. Yes regulations aren't their best, but the Turks always have been rather laid back. It certainly isn't a horrible place like you describe it.

I don't mean to be rude, but you clearly come from a stupidly rich family ( or making it all up ) and from experience 99.99% seem to be oblivious to the plain lives going on around them, walk out of the parts that the foreigners invest in and away from the tourist traps and you'll see it isn't nice place at all. You should google buying property there and look at the FCO page on this, that land was once owned by a Greek or Cypriot, all it takes is for a resolution and they'll take it straight back or it'll get confiscated, be safer buying in Crimea.

The UK doesn't even recognise them and never ever will, anyone out there will of course tell any lie to get some sort of payment and investment from anyone, and be assured that should anything go wrong with any property you buy out there you will have lost it all and no one anywhere in the world will come to your aid, I'd rather invest in Egypt than Northern Cyprus.

No you're not being rude, just giving your opinion. I wouldn't say I come from a rich family, my dad worked hard all his life and has money yes, but my mum has been very ill all her life and we have to rely on the financial support from my father. Anyway, the land is owned by Turkey now, we have the Tuekish title deeds for the new house proving that it is, we wouldn't be buying anywhere otherwise!

It's all stabilised now, the insecurity is in the past and most have moved on. It's a perfectly normal country now, just because it's not recognised by Europe doesn't necessarily indicate that its illegitimate. Don't you think something would've been done by now?

Oh and FYI, the Turks let the Greeks come into the North, but only Turkish Cypriots and Brits are allowed into the South, a bit OTT perhaps?

Anyway I'm only 15 so I'm not saying I'm an expert, but my dad certainly isn't stupid and he wouldn't have been going there for over 30 years if it was an unstable county with war imminent.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster imo Turkish deeds aren't worth a penny outside of the colony / enclave.

Of course they have to let people in from anywhere, they'd all have no money and starve to death without outside investment, being they aren't recognised their passports are not valid for travel into other nations that's all that is, anyone on a regular turk passport just needs the visa due to no Schengen agreement but they have to travel to Ankara to get it.

No different to someone in Bodrum getting the ferry to Kos, takes 45mins but they have to drive for 8hrs north to get the paperwork, but a Greek or anyone else just hops over and pays £10, different now slightly, if you leave the port town you need the ESTA thing as of last summer but easy enough.

I saw that Australian Border program once, He flew from NCYP to Sydney via Istanbul, got all the way there but as Oz don't recognise the passport he got sent back lol

The North gets good income from Tourism. You'd be surprised at how many people know about the North. We know lots of expats that have moved there from the UK and are not going back.

It's all rather complicated, we have a piece of paper that they stamp when we cross the border instead of them stamping our passports, if the Greeks saw the stamps they may well not let us into the country.

Still it doesn't out me off going there, I can't wait to see my new holiday home. :)

I don't think Northern Cyprus is as bad as some people make it out to be, on the whole. Every place/city/country has it's 'ghetto' areas. Admittedly, I have never visited Cyprus, let alone the Northern part. My opinion is purely based on word of mouth from someone who used to live there.

However, I have a feeling that Northern Cyprus is still underdeveloped compared to the 'rich' parts of Turkey - i.e. Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Bodrum - the main cities and tourist destinations.

@Chris - I will also be visiting Turkey this summer - can't beat cheap seaside holidays! The lira has also weakened considerably!

It's a lovely little island, I wouldn't continue going if it wasn't! yes there are some more tired areas, but where I go in Kyrenia (Girne) is the wealthiest part of the North and its changing quickly. Most buildings there are less than 15 years old.

Turkey should be lovely, hope you have a nice time. :)

Bus drivers (sorry if you are one)

Truck drivers (sorry if you are one)

Had bad experiences this week can't you tell lol

Hand Car Wash Air Fresheners, be warned people........................I innocently thought that an air freshener had not past it's best so hung it from my cigarette lighter, I didn't realise that it was lying against my dashboard. The results are, I now have a patch of peeling/melted plastic on my dashboard, looks horrid when I am trying very hard to get this car to look ace, 3 steps forward 2 steps back :(

Wind in my face...

Reveals my receding hairline badly!

Also hate holding doors for people that don't say thank you!

I don't want to de-rail this thread (only just read through it today) but MattDRX you've got a lot to say about Northern Cyprus but seem to forget about what kicked things off (Greek military junta and there attempt to enosis Cyprus with Greece).

My father is Cypriot (Turkish Cypriot born in Girne before the 1974 coup d'état) and the Northern side of the island is nothing like you describe. The issues of property on taken land applies both ways (Larna airport built on Turkish Cypriot land) and you do need to be careful if you buy land/property if you don't hold the Cypriot title pre 1974 (of which both of my father's properties were built/on pre-1974 Cypriot titled land).

Still, if you want to look to place blame on someone/body about the current split of the island, go back to the failure of the British administration of the island and the inter-communal fighting from 1963 lasting 11 years and affected more Turkish Cypriots than Greek.

To keep this thread on track...

I (still) hate the fact that my ST stereo is cracking after it's been in for repairs. Going back into the garage again soon for another attempt to fix it.

Current:

http://youtu.be/skyz4XgDcPs

Before:

http://youtu.be/GFqANhzhKJY

Thanks for sharing your view Zico, I love Kyrenia/Girne, it's a lovely place. :)

I used to go every year when I was younger for the summer holidays and, back in the day ~15 years ago, the Northern side was much less developed and rural but this wasn't a problem (unless you like your creature comforts and expected modern hotels etc.). It was quiet and scenic and you could relax without all the partying and drunkenness that some of the Southern side of the island has attracted.

When I last visited the new town in Girne is very modern now and has it's own life that some tourists want. The old town is still there and the harbour has not massively changed. I had to laugh at the imitation Pizza Hut/Burger King fast food places that had opened up. I still prefer to eat a proper kebab (not the crap you may get in UK Kebab shops) or the lahmacun pizza (just can't get good one outside of Cyprus though :().

Yep I go at least once a year in the summer, I try and go as often as I can. Our apartment was very close to the centre of Girne, but the new villa is on the outskirts of Ozankoy. :)

I love Cyprus, it's a home away from home for me now, I've been going since a baby.

Sorry about taking the thread off topic!

I don't like threads going off topic....

To keep this thread on track...

I (still) hate the fact that my ST stereo is cracking after it's been in for repairs. Going back into the garage again soon for another attempt to fix it.

Wow that's shocking, I'd like to know what they actually did to it if anything. This is what warranties are for though, so hopefully it'll be fixed or replaced next time.

Can't remember exactly what the mechanic said that they did the first time it went in. Checked wiring, reset the stereo/system, checked the aerial, re-tightened, checked for any moisture/condensation. The first time they had it in, the mechanic called me Friday morning to say it was done, I asked if they could double check (wash/get it wet) before I came down to collect it. Within 15 min's they had called back to say it was still making noises even before they had moved it to wash it.

Not sure what more they can/need to do when it goes back in (hopefully Wednesday when they can get me a courtesy car). I guess if the initial problem came from water ingress, they may have to replace the stereo or wiring etc. if there is any lasting damage.

The car is just over a month old :(.

In addition to the stereo issues, I didn't get the locking nut from the original dealership (nowhere to be found when I had got back home) and they only just sent me replacement alloy nuts to swap out. Further still, Ford Finance hadn't sorted the settlement out for my Zetec and I was still paying it :(.

Last, but probably not least, a letter turned up Friday from Ford Finance saying that I had requested to pay my ST3 finance by cheque?!?! No I did not!!! Another letter turned up today confirming that I had cancelled my Zetec direct debit (this I did do). My bank has confirmed the ST3 direct debit is still active/open so payment can be taken.

Things I don't like: My sister finding out the husband of her 3 children under 3 has been having an affair for a year.. Oh, she found out by a 'suggested friend' link on Facebook! F'ing coward won't answer me!

That I'd diabolical. People like that seriously fluff me off!

Need to borrow Clive malligator... Need to go "Bunney" hunting..

Cheating is vile, 1000x more so when young children are involved.

That's awful. I found out my neighbour was a bigamist the other week and it was all over the papers, unfortunately it seems that cheating is common nowadays. :(

If your not happy then say so and do one.

That is irritating to those involved,byt it's a damned site less painful than spreading your love wand wherever you can.

I hate cheaters, not sure if that has come across. As Steve said, a darned site worse when small people are involved.

Indeed. My neighbour made up a web of lies! It's amazing at what an extent people will go to cover their tracks. He was also found out on Facebook.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3041696/Wife-discovered-cheating-husband-s-secret-second-family-tagged-Facebook-doing-Ice-Bucket-Challenge.html

Obliviously some just like the feeling of having more than one at a time...feel very sorry for your sister and the kids. :(

I detest cheaters! (I'll leave that there - personal experience and internet rants...)

I did have an interesting chat with a few Omani sailors once. The topic of multiple wives cropped up (as it does).

I nearly wet myself laughing when one guy turned round and said "WHAT? MORE THAN ONE WIFE? Oohhh no!! It's bad enough with just one!! What would I want a second for?"

British chap I was with replied "Because you can?"

"Yeah - but it's hard enough pleasing just the one wife, never mind anymore!!"

Love the Omani sailors - real nice bunch of guys