OLIVE FESTIVAL ZEYTINLIK: meet the locals on the village square..!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
08/10/2011 21:46

With our Turkish friend Mustafa Öcal and his Cypriot Turkish wife Nilgun, living in Haarlem, Holland, but holidaying in Nilgun's birth village Zeytinlik, we had another fine evening during the "10th Olive Festival" in the old village. The olive season is celebrated every year with this festival and many things there has something to do with olives...

Tomorrow, Sunday, is the last day of the event and you are welcome (from 3 pm) for the start of a very interesting programme with olive tree planting, a variety of children activities, a food competition with olives and olive oil, folk dancing, a blues concert and finally around 9 pm a concert by famous "Gripin". Entry is free.

You won't regret a visit - the number and variety of home made sweets is dazzling! Other food also available.

Here's a rough photo impression (I didn't have the time to work on the pics with Photoshop):

▶ [ http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/111007_10e_Zeyinlik_olive_festival_web/index.html ].

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
08/10/2011 21:54

By the way: Zeytinlik ("Olive village") is also known as Temblos or Templos - during the Lusignan dynasty 1191-1489 it belonged to the Knights Templar. However the location of old Zeytinlik was not as near to Girne as the current village. Old remains of the original Temblos/Templos village may still be found on a location on the other side of the bypass. Including some huge, old stones with Templar signs still on them. They were probably used as borderstones.

vonny


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 476

Message Posted:
08/10/2011 22:03

i was there last night and i think the olive festival has to be the best one in cyprus,great entertainment,i really enjoyed the dancers,and singers. The band last night,Arda Gunduz,was fantastic,last year we went every night, but couldnt go as much this year as been busy but i will pop over again tomorrow night for the last.well done to zeytinlik,anyone that hasnt been should really go

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
08/10/2011 23:10

Looking forward to Serdar Tuksal playing tomorrow night - anyone who was at the Bex Marshall amphitheatre gig will know how good he and his band are - definitely not one to be missed!

LooseBoots



Joined: 08/02/2009
Posts: 1258

Message Posted:
08/10/2011 23:19

Oh susief will you actually be there...............;-)

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
08/10/2011 23:27

Haha, yes I will definitely be there, sorry to have missed you tonight!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
09/10/2011 08:14

Don't miss the event - today is the last day of the "10th Zeytinlik Olive Festival"..!

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
09/10/2011 10:24

DC, I live on the other side of the BP in Zeytinlik, could you give a landmark perhaps to the old village and the stones please? Maybe a link to one of your maps with location? Thank you.

dave12


Joined: 11/05/2010
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
09/10/2011 10:38

thinking of going tonight. i believe there is a large car park- if so can anyone tell me where it is. we will be approaching from alsancak.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
09/10/2011 12:53

@ msg 8, MrsSnakes: I don't want this place more known than I described it, because often in TRNC such directions attract the attention of people with wrong intentions. Of course I do not point at you at all in this case and I'm prepared to email you more info - but I can't see your email address. If you email me at mcf.trnc@gmail.com (the email address of the "Medieval Cyprus Fellowship", MCF) I'll reply this week.



@ msg 9, dave12: There are indeed several car parks in use during this event. Coming from Alsancak you will be stopped on all roads leading to the village and its square. Local people will give you information were to park.



P.S. If you are on the village square and get hungry: walk the road to the west and find a place to eat lovely bread, salade and şeftali. Great food! Enjoy your visit!

▶ [ http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/111007_10e_Zeyinlik_olive_festival_web/index.html ].

passionflower


Joined: 20/09/2011
Posts: 168

Message Posted:
09/10/2011 13:01

message 8 do please tell more where when what time ? please ?

bigOz


Joined: 29/09/2010
Posts: 1244

Message Posted:
09/10/2011 13:03

I go to Zeytinlik Festivali every year and am finding it more and more annoying that everything is grossly overcharged! Festivals used to be a lot of fun in Cyprus with the local produce sold cheaply direct from the producers who avoid the rent of a proper shop on the high street. Instead, the olives and olive oil is cheaper in some supermarkets!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
09/10/2011 13:16

@ msg 12, bigOz: (...) with the local produce sold cheaply direct from the producers who avoid the rent of a proper shop on the high street. (...)

▶ The stall holders, bigOz, now hire their stall from Girne Belediye. I know it used to be different, but things tend to change - even in Zeytinlik...

With the help of local friends we bought excellent olives and did definitely not pay too much (certainly not when compared with the Wednesday market in Girne!).

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/10/2011 09:18

We had a BBQ far away and couldn't make it to Zeytinlik. Did any reader of this thread visit the last day of the 10th Olive Festival? What was it like?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/10/2011 12:55

@ msg 14: Nobody..?!