We have just returned to home base after our weeklong excursion around the mediterranean. We visited Malta and Cyprus which was very interesting to hear from different people than last year as well as some of the same. One thing that really stuck with me during this trip was being able to go into no man’s land in the Turkish occupied side of Cyprus. What we saw resembled a scene from a zombie movie. The eeriness of the abandoned hotels, homes and stores made it very eye opening to what really happened here. Visiting Cyprus you can really conceptualize the conflict between the two states that occupy it but after visiting Famagusta I have an even greater idea. This was such an eye opening experience to me because seeing even how empty this one area of the green line is, it makes you wonder what the rest of it really looks like. It is heartbreaking walking to the end of the street and seeing beach chairs and tourist trap areas that line the coast but right behind them there are remnants of homes and peoples lives. It seems like there is no consideration for the great loss that has been experienced here because people are now able to rent scooters and bikes and ride down the street but you can’t drive here. People whose homes and businesses reside here can’t go back. It was very intense to walk through here and very upsetting to think of the future of it and the tourist center that it will become once again.
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