My sister moved to Cyprus 30 years ago and in a way it’s the place I find very familiar and almost like a home ..not home but a home. My nephews were raised here and over the years I’ve probably been here 10 or more times and usually for extended visits. When it’s sunny it’s quite beautiful but this week it rained and I found it a bit gloomy.

It’s really a cultural mix between the various factions that have controlled it or invested in it fir many centuries. Here you’ll find a strong Greek influence. Many people fly the a Greek flag instead of the Cypriot one . It once had a sizable Turkish population until the civil war and Turkish invasion and the splitting of the north into a Turkish servant state. In the 80s it became a sort of Russian playground where lots of Russians banked their offshore cash and due to the numerous British bases and it’s history as a member of the commonwealth their is a string British influence. Finally it’s proximity to the Middle East also exerts a strong influence. When I first came here I wasn’t a fan but over the years meeting so many Cypriots and seeing the non touristy part of the island I’ve really come around and feel very comfortable here.