I was open minded about it as well!

Rodzilla


Joined: 22/10/2009
Posts: 31

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 13:46

I really have been very open minded about the whole political situation in Cyprus and really used to take with a pinch of salt all of the stories about cars getting scratched when visiting the other side and genral rudness from the residents. But on Monday I really experianced genral bad treatment from the South Side.



I flew in to Larnaca because there flight times suited me the best and was the best deal money wise, got to the border greeted the guard who was very plesent and helpfull. I went out with My Girlfriend and met her friends for the first time and the topic of the diversion come up and I must say all they had to say was that they had no prblems with the greeks and wish they could all get along.



My return home on Monday differant story the greek border guard accussed me using the south side for cheap flights and when the waitress at Larnaca airport heard me on the phone to my girlfriend she blatantlly ignored me even though there were 3 f***ing people at the bar.

Rodzilla


Joined: 22/10/2009
Posts: 31

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 13:50

CONT



Then on the EasyJet flight found out that I was sharing it with Apoel Nicosia supporters one who decided to strike up conversation with me only to then proceed to move away from me and tell all his friends that my girlfriend was Turkish and I was dirty, Classy :(



I know that these are only a few examples but honestlly have always found the Turks quite welcoming and on my first visit south all I see was the border and the airport and to be treated bad at both really did them no favours.



Rant Over phew.

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 13:54

Rodzilla



I go to the South a lot and very rarely have I had problems with the border guards, on the whole they are normally very polite. If anything, I find the TC guards much worse when coming back, miserable, surly just to mention a couple of traits. I wouldn't worry about the waitress at Larnaca, in my experience, rudeness and ignorance seems to be a bit of a Cypriot trait when it comes to waitresses, checkout staff etc. Go to Carrefoure in the South or Lemar in the North, their attitudes tend to be the same and they all have faces like 'smacked arses'.



And before anyone accuses me of being pro South, I am anything but. I used to live in the South but now live in the North. I just speak as I find.



Regards



Paul

Rodzilla


Joined: 22/10/2009
Posts: 31

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 14:56

Guess its just luck of the draw then ?!

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 15:04

We have been south many times and had no problems, the gc lady waitress in Debenhams Nicosia could not be nicer, she speaks english and is a joy to be served by, she is usually on the till and at times hasn't even charged me when I have gone back for more taramasalata, a truly lovely lady.

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 15:57

I go over to the South quite a lot and have always found them to very helpful and friendly. I always leave my car to be cleaned(inside and out) while I am shopping and in fact last time, the guy that runs the car cleaning place was talking about Lapta where his family used to live, in a very friendly way. The girls in the supermarkets I find are much friendlier than the ones in the North, and yes, I am more likey to get a smile out of the guards on the Southside than on the Northside. I have been here almost 4 years, and I have noticed that the staff in the shops here are not nearly so friendly as they used to be. Maybe they are getting fed up with the English.

Stella

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 16:01

I find the checkout staff at Lemar the most surly, ignorant and rude and the same for Tempo at catalkoy, however the staff in Supreme are a pure joy, always friendly and smiling and very helpful. That is why I shop there.

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 17:39

I used to work in a supermarket, doing checkout work occasionally. Believe me it is hardly surprising checkout staff are so miserable sometimes when they are treated like they are by bad mannered and rude customers!

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 17:46

How about when someone stays in a hotel for the night and goes up to their room only to find they have had money stolen. They then call the police, who come and ask details. When told that person lived in Girne they said "No such place" Well alright Kyrenia then - again told "No such place" Sorry we can`t help you.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 18:05

OMG thats terrible, I assume the hotel was on the occupied greek side.

TinLondon


Joined: 20/07/2009
Posts: 171

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 18:28

I agree with message 4... I think both sides have their fair share of bad apples and it really is the luck of the draw... My trips to TRNC are always via Larnaca, simply because I too have been a victim of bad service from the North and their airlines. However, I think you can travel the world and you will hear and see similar stories, the Canadians and Americans, French and English and we even have a north and south divide in the UK, ok.... not to the extent we see in Cyprus, but it's there! If it's that bad then people will vote with their feet and eventually the bad apples will be found and squashed!

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 18:30

I have travelled through Larnaca twice and had no problems, but usually use ercan cos I support the North, I have to say though the staff at the airport are miserable and the planes are rubbish ..all of them.

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 20:12

Dee, yes it was on the Greek side in Limassol.

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 20:49

TinLondon. There is a North/South divide at the Pia Bella when we stay Christmas & New Year.

sporty


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 685

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 21:42

i had an ex-girlfriend that used to work at tescos in the uk,she was a miserable old b!tch too!! lol.

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
09/12/2009 22:19

Its the same the world over, London is full of miserable Greeks as well.............

HNComputers


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 472

Message Posted:
12/12/2009 19:29

That's terrible!! We visit the south alot and have only come across a mistreatment once, that was when the football team of Nicosia had a match and there was lots of supporters who spotted our car numberplate at the traffic lights...we were sworn at in turkish and greek, also spat at too.....



Other than that, no problems and we now know to check if there is a football match before we make plans to cross the borders!



As for the guards...they were probably just having a bad day :-S Me being a TC i have no problem whatsoever with greek cypriots

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
13/12/2009 15:50

HI....I travel north and south quite a bit....best not to mention you are from the north when in the south..then all will be fine.



I aways hire a car from larnaca airport...never had any problems when it is left anywhere in the north.



( at the border, am always just waved through )

joanie1


Joined: 25/07/2008
Posts: 164

Message Posted:
13/12/2009 18:42

Do any of you ever think that staff at checkouts, airports etc are human beings with their own problems too. Like the rest of us they are not robots - it really does not matter whether or not they are Greek, Turkish, English, Irish, Scottish, Russian etc. When I first came here I found the staff in Lemar very miserable and grumpy - then brain engaged gear - thought - why - are they well paid and well treated by their employer/manager - don't know. I decided that instead of muttering to myself about their miserable attitude I would give them a big smile and in my rather pathetic basic Turkish ask how they were - thank them politely - and you know what - I got big smiles back - I find it is now a pleasure to go shopping. I remember once asking a nice lady on the checkout in Sainsburys in Banbury was the worse part of her job the bleeping of the till and she confessed - no - just some customers!!



Just remember - the girl on the till could be your daughter!! Make the effort.

Rodzilla


Joined: 22/10/2009
Posts: 31

Message Posted:
14/12/2009 14:44

I understand what your saying I used to work in retail myself and I've had the misfortune to be feeling really grumpy during a days work, and i've seen how miserable the staff in Lemar can be. But not once have i ever been ignored compleatley even the most miserable, grumpy sour faced assistant has had the decency to serve me. This girl looked up saw me, heard me talking turkish. then when i looked her directly in the eye to be servered turned away and took 20 min to wash one glass. I wouldnt have mentioned it if she had been miserable but she was laughing and joking with the other 2 men at the bar.

jacktheladett


Joined: 01/07/2008
Posts: 528

Message Posted:
14/12/2009 15:44

I've seen in both Starlings on the west side, the girls look at you initially with a sour face, (I use say hello, but it doesn't really make much difference) serve you, say the price, don't look at you again, no please or thank you, and put the change down, not in your hand. If your still packing up and their is a Turkish person behind you it's completely different, all smiles, and a big chat.



I'm not the only one to have noticed this. Now go to Ileli's and I'm greeted with, hello canim, how are you? and a nice chat follows, great little place.



Shop staff in the south have always been very helpful, although generally slow, when a friend of mine had her purse nicked in Zara they were very good.