[ DO IT! ] More places to visit than you think..!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
27/10/2010 14:00

"The monastery of Melandryna has preserved a medieval church standing by itself in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by buildings. It has a nave roofed with a pointed barrel vault, a small arcaded belfry whose pointed opening is crowned by a pediment and on the interior walls some remains of paintings in the Italian Gothic style."

Yes, but that was true in 1896... The truth today is saddening and quite different...

The full illustrated story (text, detailed pictures and location maps) here: http://is.gd/gctxf

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
27/10/2010 14:03

Some fourty years ago "History-and-Castlemania" grabbed me when I first saw and set foot in the Belgian Castle of Bouillon (left), where the famous Duke Godfrey of Bouillon started his Crusade in 1096. Luckily the national Dutch paper I used to work for as a journalist, "Het Parool" in Amsterdam, made me travel all over the world hence I had the chance to visit medieval castles everywhere, though of course mainly in Europe and the Levant. Later, after an enthousiastic start with a website called "All About All Crusades", I had to admit that a lifetime is far too short to study all the Crusades in depth... - time made me decide to make the medieval history of Cyprus my specialty.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
27/10/2010 14:06

I have always intended to share with you, interested reader, my visits to historic places often hidden deep in valleys in the forests or high in the mountains. Because there's still so much more to find and see in Northern Cyprus than St Hilarion Castle!

If you have any questions about medieval Cyprus I'll be pleased (to try) to answer them here or in a private email. Ask your questions via this email address please: mcf.trnc@gmail.com . Website [ http:www.allcrusades.com ]. Hans Doeleman, journalist/cartographer.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
27/10/2010 14:19

Website [ http:www.allcrusades.com ] should read Website [ http://www.allcrusades.com ].

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
27/10/2010 15:09

Site updated: ruined houses of unidentified village near Panaya Melandryna Monastery: http://is.gd/gctxf

Rottolover



Joined: 21/06/2009
Posts: 519

Message Posted:
27/10/2010 17:07

Hey Hans,



I appreciate your interest, and particularly your urge to share it. There's nothing quite like some ancient history to make a place more interesting, as well as encouraging its residents and visitors to become more culturally aware.



Is there any chance you would be contemplating a small (preferably illustrated) guide book detailing all these historic attractions? I'd certainly buy one.

Glasbury


Joined: 13/08/2010
Posts: 268

Message Posted:
27/10/2010 17:17

I think that's a really good idea and would welcome such a guide. Love visiting sites like this when over.

gooligan


Joined: 30/01/2007
Posts: 1591

Message Posted:
27/10/2010 17:21

Another bit of local info,if you turn left at the row of houses instead of right to the monastery this track takes you to Esentepe marina,you would not believe how many expats don't know where it is.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
27/10/2010 18:16

RE msg 6, Rottolover: (...) Is there any chance you would be contemplating a small (preferably illustrated) guide book detailing all these historic attractions? I'd certainly buy one. (...)

=> Contemplating? Yes. But I'm also a realist - I'm already glad when a thread like this attracts about 100 views (from 10.000 members!)... All info is on my website and is free to print; it's just not feasable to have it all in real print also. It would be very expensive to print circa 100-200 copies! You don't think I'd sell more than 200 copies, do you?

Marisa


Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 545

Message Posted:
27/10/2010 18:32

Thank you Hans for your useful web-site and for your knowledge.



All my Russain friends know about you and Allcrusades.