Nicosia, Cyprus

 I took the earliest bus from Paphos to Nicosia，to escape from the beach noise, small hostel, and mosquitoes. As usual, I dropped my bags in the new hostel, did some research to route my one-day excursion of both the Greek and Turkish sides of Nicosia, the world's last divided capital.  The Green Line, also known as the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus, is a demilitarized zone that separates the northern part of the Island, which Turkish Cypriots control, from the southern region, which Greek Cypriots control.

The Old City is surrounded by a star-shaped city wall whose moat has been converted into a pleasant park. I wondering around the Old City for special buildings and monuments under shades despite of the hot sun. Leventis Municipal Museum has good exhibits of the city’s history. Ledra Observatory Museum has an observatory to see both sides of the city. Selimiye Mosque (St. Sophia Cathedral), a fortress-like cathedral-cum-mosque was built in 1228 and survived a number of earthquakes, yet is under renovation. Atatürk Square, the heart of the walled city, boasts the Venetian Column. The Great Inn (Büyük Han) has been transformed into a market place with restaurants.  

Unfortunately, the Turkish side keeps up the prices as the Greek side, regardless of the falling value of lira. I had a late kabob lunch at the Turkish side, which price was twice of the regular prices in other town of northern Cyprus.