What brought YOU to the TRNC?

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 10:56

This board has 8000 members, assuming half of you actually reside in Cyprus that that leaves 4000 permanent residents and begs one obvious question. HOW DID YOU END UP HERE? It is something that has intrigued me since my first visit in ’05.

Did you chance upon it on an unplanned holiday? Did you (like me) hear tales of it from a pre war emigrant that spiked your imagination?

I am hoping the cost of living while having a bearing is not the main factor as there are plenty cheaper places still left to live.

Some of you may have been based in the south through work, and decided to come back years later.What of the children of long term residents? Do they stay.. or is the TRNC a predominantly ageing society?

I would be grateful if you would take the time to provide YOUR answer as it may unveil some interesting demographics. If it merely dispels the popular myth that expats are pensioners with more than a liking for cheap drink it will serve a purpose ;-)



Koroglu

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 11:12

I'm a pensioner with more than a liking for cheap drink! I am NOT a myth!!!

Came here for the sun as well.

Geoff

Famagusta City

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 11:30

I had enjoyed holidays in Turkey for about 20 years.Cam here about 10years ago and toured the island,loved it especially Lapta side.Bought a holiday home 9 years ago,and retired here Oct 2008.Well have since taken a part-time job,with Valentine's Removals helping people come or leave this island.

I have a Moldovan/Ukrainian and Cypriot neighbour,all lovely friends.I do not know location of nearest Brit.

There is 1 donum of land,lots of lemon trees,a vegetable plot,loads of lovely flowers,bushes that I have planted.

And now the fruit trees are flowering.

I just love it here.And the mountain behind reminds me of the land of my fathers,Wales.

I will be here for ages,Inshallah

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 12:12

Getting some good feedback here guys, come on lets hear more like the last two posts....

mamachina


Joined: 22/11/2008
Posts: 730

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 12:26

Husband came out in the '50's for R and R from the Canal zone and always wanted to come back. So we eventually did and decided this would be a good a place as any to move to. We've done a fair amount of travelling and found lots of great places to retire to, but all had something on the 'con' side - distance from family, weather iffish, language, political climate, drive on wrong side and for a coastal property sometimes just tooooo expensive etc etc. So we ended up here - like previous poster, view of sea in morning and the mountains behind, lift my spirits even when a bit down! And its still better than UK!!

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 13:23

Are the majority of you tucked the coast side of the mountains?

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 15:01

A MAN!! Now i am living here and he has buggered off. But i am very happy to be here its the best place for me.

Grinderman


Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 33

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 15:13

Best place to get away from Culpability Brown's Britain.

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 15:14

Dis-satisfaction with the UK then?

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 15:48

Airoplane.................

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 16:35

No, I am halfway up the mountain near Baspinar, living amongst the Cypriots, which is lovely.

parkview



Joined: 12/03/2009
Posts: 1123

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 16:41

15 years ago I was engaged to a cypriot, we were together 6 years. We are not together anymore and I returned to the UK but my heart was always here and I always said I would return, coming back year in year out on holiday. To cut a long story short I met my partner in UK and we came out on holiday together, he too fell in love with North Cyprus. We bought a villa as a holiday home and I became pregnant and we both decided UK was not the place to bring her up so we ended up moving here full time. They say once you drink the water here you will always return, its the kind of country you either love or hate and I love it, even with all the ups and downs.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 16:44

Train from home to airport, plane to Holland, train and taxi to camp site bicycle through Germany till the rain beat us, train to airport in Germany, plane to Antalaya, bus to Alanya, ferry to Girne, white truck to home - that's how we got here!



Why, both on pensions only, no capital or property anywhere else in the world. No relations to worry about. Life span here is on average 10 years better/more than in UK, weather much kinder on older bones, people so happy and friendly once you get past the "Turkish Mean Man" stare and get to know them, when deceision was made this place was 30 years behind the rest of the world and fit in perfectly with what we always wanted. Pace of life is peaceful instead of dog eat dog, you can do anything you want to - all you have to do is try!!!!



Main reason - get off the aircraft first thing on a May/June/July and let the spicey smell of the Med Island hit you in the nose - you are sold and will never want to leave!

jacktheladett


Joined: 01/07/2008
Posts: 528

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 16:57

There are a lot of ex. army / ex UN tour UK soldiers here and my husband is one of them. They used to come over this side for there R & R, and he always remembered how well he was treated, compared to the indifference of other side.

As soon as I came over the mountain and saw Kyrenia and the coast down below I just knew it was where I wanted to be.

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 17:07

Sense of wellbeing is an important factor it seems.....

nikki


Joined: 12/07/2009
Posts: 28

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 17:13

The lovely fresh artichokes! ;)

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 17:29

I heard the black eyed beans from Louroujina are superb....

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
22/03/2010 18:45

Not many replies fromm 8000 members all with their own story....

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 14:44

I came here,because I was born here.

Pixie


Joined: 18/03/2009
Posts: 489

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 15:10

we came here to be with my parents who retired here, and also because they were born here...

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 15:21

A jet airplane brought me to TRNC!



Richard

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 15:48

Back in 1996 my brother-in-law worked with someone who had been to NC so we thought we would give it a go. Came for 2 weeks in July and stayed in a beautiful villa (now Patina restaurant). Absolutely loved the laid-back lifestyle, the people, the food, the scenery etc and came back again in 1998. Visited regularly after that and then decided to buy a holiday home. Moved here permanently in 2007 and cannot imagine ever leaving.

gillybean


Joined: 22/10/2007
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 18:40

Saw a advert in mail on sunday for cyprus paradise had two weeks, never looked back, bought a home in beautiful ozankoy, cant wait to retire and live the dream.

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 18:44

Who has been out here pre '74?

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 18:47

Msg 24

The well educated ones if they haven't died!



Richard

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 18:54

Perhaps they are still holed up in the Dome Hotel Brinsley....drinking G&T's ;-)

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 18:57

1965 - UN Nicosia (work) - 1969/1972 - Episkopi/Akrotiri (work) - 1975 Kingsfield (work) - 1979 Kingsfield (work) - 1980 Episkopi/Dhekalia (work) - 1996/1999 Episkopi on holidays - 2001/Now!



Don't look back!!!!!

daisy dukes


Joined: 06/09/2008
Posts: 3815

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 19:08

pure bad luck!



DD

cyprusgiant


Joined: 08/07/2009
Posts: 467

Message Posted:
23/03/2010 19:29

We came on holiday visiting my sister & brother-in-law in 2005. With early retirement looming, sold up and moved out here in 2007. Obviously enjoy the weather (where else can you breakfast on the patio nearly every day taking in the stunning views), but really enjoy the laid back relaxed style of life. If you want there is plenty to do (both recreation & jobs around the house), or if you want you can chill. Best decision that both my wife and I made.

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
24/03/2010 08:02

Came on holiday in July 2004 went back to the UK and talked about buying a holiday home. Hubby decided he wanted to sell his share of the business. Put the house on the market 10th September sold on the 12th to a cash buyer (lottery winner). Came back in October bought our villa and moved permanently in the December.



Hubby plays golf, but me, no chance to retire, although unpaid work.



Would I change anything. Not a chance. Get up in the morning and the first think I see is a beautiful unobstructed view of the Mediterranean and those beautiful colour changing mountains.



Fresh fruit and veg to die for (when in season) and mostly lovely people.



Chris

lilyross


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
24/03/2010 09:29

came on a last minute christmas break ,the weather was awful ! but some how fell in love with the place started loooking at property to pass the time .....and the rest is history !am in UK for a visit and cant wait to get back home . living mountain side Karsiyaka

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 16:09

This post started off well and we got some really good stories. We need some more contributions guys. Dont be shy!

jimchris09


Joined: 13/02/2009
Posts: 547

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 16:33

Visited Southside in 1990 & 92....not too bothered with Pahos, Larnaca etc!



Came to TRNC in 1999...stayed in house in Bellapais for a month....loved it!



Afterummingandahhing for a number of years and considering other places such as S Africa and New Zealand came here "just to look" again in 2008 and bought within 2 months!



Still working in Middle East but each time we come here I find it haredr and harder to leave.



Been working overseas since 1976 so don't have a great attachment to UK anymore!

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 16:39

Nice story, a proper "old school" wanderer....

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 16:46

Came on holiday about sixteen years ago, fell in love with the place, kept coming back then decided in 2004 to buy ready for retirement. Moved over permanently last year, love it and will be here to stay.

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 16:48

What abount geography? are you mostly all west of Girne?

exmouthfire



Joined: 16/01/2010
Posts: 24

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 19:44

Came south in 2003 and looked over the wall! saw the flag in the mountains and decided "now there's a challenge".

Now its like a drug, have to come back every year for a fix of peace, tranquility and people that want you to be here.

Once you have read the history and the Genocide Files there's no going back to the other side of the line.

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
25/03/2010 20:06

As a member of the British forces was sent here on Boxing Day 1963 when the fighting broke out and returned to UK when the UN took over.

In 1991 some friends were coming on holiday to the south and my wife and I came with them.

Thought I would like to see the areas I operated in and came back the next year to the north and came every year after that and then bought our property in 2002 and returned to live here in 2003

The friends,Cypriot and Brits, the sunshine and laid back attitude make this a gret place to live.

Seen the worst of it and now living in the best of it.

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 11:37

Was anyone here when it all kicked off?

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 13:05

we came "beacuse it was cheap" - blinkered into believing it was "real Cyprus" but with a 50% discount...



How wrong could we have been....





Now are homes are probably forth 50% of what we paid for them...





How i wished i'd have kistened to mmmmmm.....

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 14:08

50% less? surely they will recover?

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 14:27

I suppose it depends on why you bought your property in the first place, as an investment or as a home in a country that you love, there are plenty of places where houses are cheap, but do you want to live there.

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 14:38

And how long ago you bought it.....

paddywack


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 959

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 14:56

Is it a Brit thing,whenever people buy property they have one eye on the profit, does`nt anyone buy because, they want to live there.

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 14:58

Yeah its the "new" version of the british empire.... ;-)

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 16:04

Most prolific property owners in the world !

koroglu83


Joined: 02/03/2010
Posts: 46

Message Posted:
26/03/2010 16:10

Yet never short of a negative outlook ;-)