[UN] Our visit to the Buffer Zone in walled Nicosia - fascinating!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 10:41

My Dutch friend and colleague, Bo de Visser, and I were guests yesterday of the UN Press Office (Cyprus). We were offered an unforgettable tour through the Buffer Zone in walled Nicosia, accompanied by a Slowak captain and a British captain. I'll upload some pics here later today and a complete photobook will be available on Facebook shortly.

If you want to view the complete photobook on Facebook you have to become a friend of my page there (it's free). Use this email address if you want to join Facebook and are looking for my page: hans@reisjournaal.nl

This is a good opportunity to thank the British contingent in Sector 2 for the fabulous hospitality! Great!

Karanfil


Joined: 28/03/2009
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 11:05

Wow Hans that must have been really interesting. I'll look forward to seeing the photos.

johndp


Joined: 08/09/2009
Posts: 497

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 11:11

Would love to have part of that Hans as I spent some time there in the past, look forward to the pics

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 11:42

I should have added that you can join Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 13:05

BUFFER ZONE (1) : Where houses are crying bitter tears in silence...

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/DSC_2998_72.jpg

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 13:19

BUFFER ZONE (2) : They don't make 'em like this anymore, do they..? Still in the showroom, a 1974 model Toyota...

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/DSC_3079_72.jpg



And only 37 kilometres on the counter...

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/DSC_3079_92.jpg



More pics will follow.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 13:22

Sorry, wrong link in msg 6. This one must work.



http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/DSC_3092_72.jpg

hilda


Joined: 10/09/2009
Posts: 80

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 13:33

Dutch,its all lDutch to me,have i the correct website,Sail Amsterdam 2010

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 13:50

RE msg 8, hilda: I started on Facebook this morning and have just decided that I will write my messages in Dutch and English.

You'll find my page here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001722570733

This newby is sorry for giving wrong information above...

The pics are not yet uploaded to Facebook - I'll let you all know where to find them when the photobook is ready.

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 14:08

Is it possible to view without joining Facebook? I am not a member and do no want to be one.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 14:12

An exclusive view at the Selemiye Mosque in Turkish Nicosia - from an abandoned house in the Buffer Zone...

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/DSC_3057_72.jpg



More pics will follow.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 14:15

RE msg 10, Dusterbruce: (...) Is it possible to view without joining Facebook? I am not a member and do no want to be one. (...)

=> Not at the moment, sorry. But when my friend and I are ready with all preparations (360 degrees photos included!) I'll upload another photobook to one of my sites. I'll let you know here.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 14:40

BUFFER ZONE (4) : 1974 - and the TV sets were switched off for ever...

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/DSC_3080_72.jpg

lulubell


Joined: 18/11/2008
Posts: 595

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 14:49

Thank you Hans for sharing this with us, it is so amazing to be able to see these things.

Suffolk



Joined: 31/08/2008
Posts: 222

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 16:03

Really interesting photographs Hans, it must have been facinating tour.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 16:22

FACEBOOK MEMBERS can now view Part 1 of the photobook "A visit to the UN Buffer Zone (Green Line) in Walled Nicosia" here: http://nl-nl.facebook.com/people/Hans-Doeleman/100001722570733 (No captions yet, but most pics do not need much explanation).

If there are former British soldiers who once served there and who would like to have one or more pics as a souvenir - email me at mcf.trnc@gmail.com . For such people the pics are free courtesy of my friend Bo de Visser ( http://www.prorama.nl ).

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 16:25

wow hans what a tour, photos that give us an insight. thank you x

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 17:05

BUFFER ZONE (5) : 1974 - Billboard inside the abandoned hunting shop. Amazing how 36 years didn't touch the quality!

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/DSC_3053_72.jpg

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 17:21

Now uploaded a 360 degrees picture (movie) on Facebook: zoom in, zoom out and look around you in the Buffer Zone...

FACEBOOK MEMBERS, click this URL: http://nl-nl.facebook.com/people/Hans-Doeleman/100001722570733

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 17:28

Well done Hans, absolutely fascinating though not on facebook so can't see all the pictures. I shouldn't have fallen out with you otherwise I might have begged a trip with you!



Richard

PeeCee


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 133

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 17:29

Wonderful insight into this troubled land. Many thanks. Sent a request to you via facebook

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 17:58

RE msg 20, Brinsley: (...) Well done Hans, absolutely fascinating though not on facebook so can't see all the pictures. I shouldn't have fallen out with you otherwise I might have begged a trip with you! (...)

=> Well, then why wouldn't we stop mutual hostile behaviour here and now?

P.S. You may accompany my friend and me next time, when we visit Varosha (Marash). I won't tell the Turkish Army that you really are a Greek Cypriot in NZ disguise...

marcosthechef



Joined: 30/11/2009
Posts: 646

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 18:07

Thanks Hans Fasinating stuff, cant wait to see the rest of the pics,

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 18:12

Probably of interest for older (and why not also younger) British who have memories of the abandoned Nicosia International Airport: a full photographic report (2009) by the journalists Bo de Visser and Hans Doeleman (on invitation of the Unficyp Press Office). Scary pictures from the past (1974)...

FACEBOOK MEMBERS, click this URL: http://nl-nl.facebook.com/people/Hans-Doeleman/100001722570733

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 18:23

Msg 22, Hans

The olive branch and dove bird is now released! I await the invite to Varosha though which passport I show is a matter of conjecture however, rest assure, no Greek blood in myself though there might very well be some other dodgy blood from an unknown tribe from the bush pumping around in my veins!



Richard

cyprusairsoft



Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 2066

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 18:35

time it was all bulldozed and move on

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 19:49

I only now realised that not all members of this board may know the location of the Buffer Zone ("Green Line") in Walled Nicosia. Here's a map - we started our UN tour at the Flatro bastion in East Nicosia:

http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/PG-walled_Nicosia_72.jpg

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 20:08

And here's the last picture in this thread: http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/DSC_3105_72.jpg



All other pics are on Facebook:

FACEBOOK MEMBERS, click this URL: http://nl-nl.facebook.com/people/Hans-Doeleman/100001722570733

or join here: http://www.facebook.com

Glasbury


Joined: 13/08/2010
Posts: 268

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 20:22

Amazing pictures - the ones of Nicosia Airport are very eerie. The tour must have been very interesting.

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 21:51

Brilliant...looking forward to seeing more pictures

littlejohn


Joined: 09/03/2009
Posts: 316

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 03:34

As usual Hans you offer something interesting to the forum .

My first reaction on my walk across the line was the unfairness of the situation where the greek side is reasonably well kept whilst the Turkish side is run down despite them doing their best to improve things.

And all the while the greeks were the perpetrators and we ( the rest of the world) turn a blind eye and allow the embargoes and the unfairness to continue - and the expats grumble about litter!!!

CyprusChill


Joined: 08/05/2009
Posts: 666

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 05:22

I was 11 then.

And still a head full of the good bad and ugly.

Historical pictures. Thankyou.

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 07:58

Hubby and I had a look at your pics on facebook this morning Hans before he left for the golf. As you know he has played golf on the UN course but has never been inside the airport so was fascinated.



Well done to both of you and say hello to Bo for me.



Chris

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 09:05

RE msg 33, nurseawful: (...) Well done to both of you and say hello to Bo for me. (...)

=> Done, Chris! And Bo says hello to you two also! He still remembers when we had this very special Scottish food - well, you know what it is called...

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 10:28

There will be another photobook "Buffer Zone" (number two - six in total, we now estimate) on Facebook today (if we can avoid the Efes on time...).

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 10:31

Brill, many thanks.

Geoff

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 13:56

Hans. I log on to facebook and get your home page but can't find a way to see the pictures, can you help please.

ricky


Joined: 26/01/2009
Posts: 294

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 17:34

Hello,

is the oldtimer Toyota Celica for sale?

RachB



Joined: 07/05/2010
Posts: 75

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 18:18

These are so interesting Hans, I have requested your friendship on Facebook so that I can see more.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 19:32

Hans what an amazing set of photo's.

sloan



Joined: 24/02/2009
Posts: 808

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 19:38

Fantastic photos, Hans. I do envy your ability to get into all these interesting places. I thought it was virtually impossible to visit Varosha .... but I expect it is like everything else .... it is not what you know, it is who you know! You must tell me your secret next time we meet!

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 19:42

Fascinating photos, but very sad that this situation remains after all this time.

poochops


Joined: 09/03/2008
Posts: 64

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 22:59

Thanks for adding me Hans,fascinating photos. Looking forward to seeing more



cheers

Si

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 23:16

Hans those pictures are fantastic...especially Nicosia airport - many thanks....

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 00:26

I am very pleased to have pleased so many people with the pics you have appreciated - and not one nasty word in this thread! Thanks all - it is my pleasure!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 00:31

RE msg 37, Woodspecky: (...) Hans. I log on to facebook and get your home page but can't find a way to see the pictures, can you help please. (...)

=> A bit late now (for me...) , Woodspecky, but I'll try to guide you tomorrow. OK?

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 00:32

Hans they are truly amazing and given us all lots to think about. I thank you and Bo for sharing these. After speaking with you both tonight about your experiences, you both said it was so emotional, I can understand why as you probably have made us feel emotional. I cant imagine to see the homes just left. I told you write the book. Hans and Bo thank you so much xx

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 00:36

Re message 45 those pictures are fantastic - I just wish I could have been there too......

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 02:14

Re: Msg 1,



Fascinating indeed ...and poignant...



Will be waiting to see them all on your site as I don't do Facebook either.



Hartelijk dank.



Clarissa

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 13:43

A way to view the Facebook photobooks "A visit to the UN Buffer Zone in walled Nicosia" for NON-Facebook members - have a look in this thread also: http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/46871.asp

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 15:10

Hans, thanks for this and all the subsequent pictures. I last did that walk wearing a Blue Beret in the early 1970s when things were extremely tense. It certainly is an experience which brings home the futility of taking up arms and the division makes forgiveness the harder as the last 40 years has shown. At that time access was only available to those who had a duty to be there. If the rules for access are now more accommodating I have no hesitation in recommending that everybody should try and follow your lead and gain a real feel for the sadness of the current situation. Indeed, perhaps it should be compulsary for all residents ! Again, thanks

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 20:24

1x back to the top.

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 20:36

Dutch,

Another informative and interesting thread, great pictures.

It would be interesting to know what the soldiers thought's were on the Buffer Zone??

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 20:50

Piggy in the Middle