Christmas in TRNC

Tommy


Joined: 24/04/2008
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
19/09/2008 17:00

Can anyone tell me what its like over Christmas in North Cyprus and are there any celebrations anywhere. Also whats the weather like?



Thanks

Perry


Joined: 27/01/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
19/09/2008 17:45

We went last year after Christmas and the weather was great - warm and sunny by day, but chilly at night. They do not really do Christmas, but big celebrations for New Year. Why not go out 27 or 28 Dec - best of both worlds..

limony777


Joined: 12/09/2008
Posts: 61

Message Posted:
19/09/2008 20:08

Yes the weather is lovely usually, (picturing santa oon the beach hehe) But there 'is' celebrations just not everywhere. You will find most expats organise functions/dinners at leading hotels here. I was once sat in a patisserie, fully decorated tree and all and was shocked to see santa walzing in giving out littlegifts from his sack. Generally everywhere is decorated with tree's etc, look into which hotels/restaurants are offering christmas lunch/dinner as alot do. There is also usually an organised church service christmas eve.



Hope that helps.

w26kay



Joined: 14/10/2007
Posts: 479

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 03:18

Now my kids are grown and reaching between mid 20's and 30's, I really don't "do" the Christmas thing anymore. I have no grandchildren as yet BTW (and maybe if I did things would be different) Therefore I have spent a lot of Christmases in TRNC.



In the early days there was nothing at all, Brill. great, fab - you don't want the santa's climbing up the hotel, and the commercialism that comes with it.



In the UK Christmas starts on 1st September (advertisments on TV, cards and other rubbish in the shops and proceeds with speed and hype up until 6pm 24/12 and then opens again on Boxing day for the sales. So, with all that hype, wouldn't you just want to jet off to a place where Christmas was just a little bit more contained?



So you have done the present exchanging stuff and want to jet off for a little piece of "Christmas free" heaven.



And what better place than TRNC?



Wrong........as the years go by I find even more evidence of "Christmas" in TRNC with trees lit up, Santas climbing up buildings, lights on islands and along dual carriageways (Nicosia to airport route) even more b****y lit up trees and Christmas objects with lights on. Multiplying every year to the point that as a person who cannot stand Christmas now (and thought they were quite safe from the Christmas crap) would want to scream....



I really don't want to see Santa in Kyrenia this year or lights or lit up trees, or indeed, anything that reminds me of what I got on that plane to escape from.



PS the weather is very good though.

Kay

KickingK


Joined: 14/09/2008
Posts: 90

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 05:06

We spend our Christmas every year in Cyprus. We love the freedom of being able to do our own thing, without worrying about who we are spending Christmas with back home!



More Christmas lights than back home, we usually join friends for Christmas festivities in a local restaurant or hotel. New Year is excellent at the Harbour with a huge fire work display, sat outside last year, a bit cold towards the end of the night, but the bar supplied large pashminahs to wrap ourselves in, so that we could enjoy the fireworks! Weather sunny, but cooler in the evenings.

Turbo


Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 833

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 06:45

I read that the Merit hotel put on an "unforgettable" Christmas for expats.

All inclusive, all you can eat and drink for two nights.



New years eve is fun, if you sit around the Kyrenia square(by that giant tv) in one of the outdoor cafes and watch the fireworks.

limony777


Joined: 12/09/2008
Posts: 61

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 07:45

Well to be fair alot of the decoration is actually orientated towards the new year, but yes it is more christmassy here than years before. But you do have an option, it is contained so its really up to you wether you'de like to be in the christmas scene or not as not EVERYWHERE is plastered like in england of course. Its really a choice of our own at the end of the day.



Warm wished to all (ho ho ho) :O)

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 09:34

Well Kay

My children are grown up and I also have 3 grandchildren, but I have always loved Christmas time and yes on the 1st of December my lights/tree/hanging santa over balcony still go up, you might have seen me in the Cyprus Today last year, I love to make the effort not just for my children, If you was to see the little ones that go pass by in cars,on school buses looking up and laughing, thats a joy on its own.

Well this year I will still do the same, even though it will be a sad time for me, as my family are moving to Thailand to live.

And yes New Year is lovely here, cold in the evening, but a great place to be.

Maybe I'm just a kid at heart but roll on Christmas.

Smithy

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 10:42

Better check the clowns in charge don't do another planned power cut on Christmas Day like before.

Tommy


Joined: 24/04/2008
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 11:16

Thank you everybody, sounds better than here. Will now have a look at flights and hope that they don,t cost more that 3 lots of Christmas put together!

KickingK


Joined: 14/09/2008
Posts: 90

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 12:40

Tommy



We have booked our flights with Pegasus for Xmas, cheapest we have purchased in the 5 yrs we have been visiting at that time of year. £173 inclusive of all taxes.

limony777


Joined: 12/09/2008
Posts: 61

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 13:32

thats very cheap kickingk. I personally love christmas with all the trimmings and bells on top!!!

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 18:47

At least here you don't get all the terrible christmas music in the shops from September onwards and all the adverts on TV. Also, if you go shopping in Kyrenia some of the shops give you presents when you buy things. Ok I admit one of my presents was a plastic wall clock with the name of the shop on it but hey, it's the thought that counts!!



We spent last christmas day having a picnic at the Gecitkoy reservoir and the weather was lovely.

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 19:23

I am offended by this offensive capitalistic and heathen thread.



I do not beleeeeeeeve it.

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
20/09/2008 19:44

nige



Be afraid!,... Be very afraid! ...The truth is out there:



http://www.witchology.com/contents/december/yule/index.php

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
21/09/2008 01:58

Pegasus is even cheaper in Jan/Feb £150 return from Stansted