Cyprus -152nd Country

Cyprus – 152nd Country. To see where I have been so far, check out my map as I count down the final 93 countries on the road to all 193 UN countries. Cyprus is my 152nd country.

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Cyprus is the third largest island in Europe located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. History dates back to the 10th century BC. Many empires over the centuries have made their impact on the island: the Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and the Ottoman Empire. In the late 19th century, the Brits took over, and the Cypriots gained their independence in 1960. In 1974, there was a coup, an invasion and a division when the Greeks, Turks, and Cypriots faced off against each other. The result was the birth of Northern Cyprus which is controlled by the Turks. Today Cyprus is a presidential republic with an economy powered by shipping, petroleum and banking.

I spent over a week renting a car and exploring this amazing island nation. Cyprus has several beach towns that dot the southern coast. There is a great mix of great history & culture, tasty Greek food, and agreeable weather. In addition, for geography nerds, there are actually three countries on this one island. After a war between Cyprus and Turkey, the northern part of Cyprus was cleaved off and became Northern Cyprus which is recognized as a sovereign nation by only one country in the world. I took a day trip to visit the north and visit the “ghost town” of Famagusta, a town destroyed and abandoned during the war. And take a look at Google Map, you might note at one point the map shows that you are driving on British soil, there is a Royal Air Force Base which is part of the British Overseas Territory. And another highlight is the capital of Nicosia, which is the only divided capital in the world.