Moving to Cyprus

Summary: A few tips to consider if you're thinking of moving to Cyprus.

The practicalities of relocating to Cyprus discussed.

A few tips to consider if you’re thinking of moving to Cyprus.

So you’ve been thinking about living abroad?  And you’ve decided that living in Cyprus is your dream?  Well now you need to think about some of the practicalities of moving to the island.  Hopefully this short guide will answer any open questions you have about the North/South divide!

Cypriots - Greek and Turkish - are some of the friendliest most accommodating people you will ever meet.  And before 1974 they lived side by side on their beautiful island. 

If you were to spend time talking to these people you might get the feeling that if Greece and Turkey were to leave Cyprus to its own devices, the Cypriots would resolve any disputes and once again live harmoniously side by side.

If you are considering moving to Cyprus you may be wondering about the practical differences between the North and the South, about the legality of any move to the North and about the possibility of a fresh outbreak of violence between both sides.

As the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has suffered worldwide sanctions against it and is still not legally recognised by any country other than Turkey it is definitely the economically poorer side of the island. 

However, you will be struck by the level of infrastructure and sophistication if you visit the North and by how fast it is developing. 

Furthermore, legal and political stability in the TRNC is strong and their worldwide position benefited greatly following their ‘yes’ vote in the 2004 resolution talks.  If you are thinking about making Cyprus your new home, take time and visit both sides of the island before you make a decision about whether you want to move to Cyprus North or Cyprus South!

Cypriots in general are astute people and will always make the most of any opportunities afforded to them and all situations available to them.  Therefore, do not be surprised to find decent infrastructure, supermarkets with international produce and many estate agents offering beautiful new villas for sale to all the expatriates who are settling both in the Greek Republic of Cyprus AND in TRNC!

The threat of a fresh outbreak of violent conflict between the opposing sides feels unlikely when you visit either side of the island.  The UN control the Green Line buffer zone between both sides, the British military retain a presence on the island and the UN want reunification to go ahead. 

Furthermore, the Turkish who are regarded as militarily stronger than Greece want reunification and entry into Europe.

If Cyprus for you means moving to the South of the island then you will see that the South has always benefited from free trade, a widely publicised tourist industry, and global acceptance of its presence, making the South of the island more developed, more industrialised and maybe more cultivated. 

Shelter Offshore recommend Lawrence Durrell’s ‘Bitter Lemons of Cyprus’ to anyone interested in Cyprus.  It blends the story of beginning a new life in this beautiful country with an account of the island’s conflict’s beginnings. It is a narrative that retains political relevance to this day: -

Bitter Lemons of Cyprus

Lawrence Durrell

Durrell is a hard-up writer looking for Mediterranean peace and a stunning old house - Cyprus obliges.

But circumstances and Durrell’s poetic genius ensure that the book is far more than a glib chronicle of hilarious events and eccentric neighbours. These exist in plenty, and Durrell writes about them with zest and great wit, but slowly he gets drawn into the unfolding tragedy of Cyprus’s battle for self-determination.

Click here to order a copy directly from Amazon!

This will open a new browser window - if you have a pop up blocker you will need to hold down the control key and then click the link!

SHARE: del.icio.us   Digg   Facebook   Google   Mixx   NewsVine   StumbleUpon   Technorati   YahooMyWeb