This week in North Cyprus >5th -12th September 2005
CTA Flight delays cause misery .
This week saw a catalogue of disasters for travellers with Cyprus Turkish Airlines (CTA).
Problems started last Friday when a flight from Stansted was cancelled. The 34 passengers were put up in hotel before being transferred to Heathrow to join the 1.40pm flight to Ercan via Izmir . The passengers were then informed that this flight would be delayed originally until 8.30pm . It eventually left the UK at 11.29pm .
Meanwhile 190 passengers due to have taken the early morning flight to Heathrow spent 10 hours waiting at Ercan before being told that they would not be flying until the following afternoon as a replacement airplane was required. The disgruntled passengers were made to walk onto the tarmac to reclaim their luggage before spending an unscheduled overnight stay at the Salamis Bay Hotel near Famagusta .
Angry and exhausted passengers were furious at the lack of announcements in English resulting in them receiving no information.
It was only realised after the 'plane had finally touched down at Ercan, 8.00 am Sunday morning that the fast turn around required to allow the plane to leave Heathrow before the 11.30pm night flight curfew, had resulted in the passengers luggage being left behind. The Fly Air 'plane had disembarked, refuelled, cleaned and had boarded the new passengers in just 35 minutes.
After being misinformed several times, the passengers were finally re-united with their luggage at 10.50pm on Wednesday evening, three and a half days after arriving in North Cyprus .
A CTA statement apologised for the inconvenience to the passengers that had 'originated from the hectic summer traffic'. When questioned about the baggage delay CTA commercial director Mustafa Ebgü said the pressure on the time to leave Heathrow had come about because of delays to the Fly Air replacement 'plane in both Ankara and Izmir. He said CTA had laid on an additional flight especially to bring the luggage to Ercan.
TRNC car vandalised in the South
A lefkosa resident had an unpleasant shock when he returned to his car following a two-hour shopping trip in South Nicosia last weekend. Mustafa Aktaslar and his family had parked their car near the central Ledra Palace shopping area but returned to find the vehicle scratched and daubed with red paint.
Mr Aktaslar said, "My car was the only one in the car park with TRNC registration plates and it had been deliberately vandalised." Greek Cypriot police were called to the scene and took fingerprints; the family also reported the incident to the TRNC police on their return to the North. Mr Aktaslar said insurances companies on both sides were refusing to cover the damage, before adding, "We have crossed to the south several times before but this is the first time something like this has happened. This was clearly a deliberate act; my car was the only one around with TRNC plates".
Taximeter system comes into force.
As of Saturday 10 th September, all taxi drivers must switch on their meters, as a new system of charging comes into force. A statement from the TRNC Motor Vehicles Licensing Council has been issued stating that all meters must be installed and adjusted to current rates by the start of business. Those who fail to comply face prosecution, passengers are being urged to report offenders to the police.
The chairman of the United Taxi Drivers Association advised the following:
1. The driver must turn the meter on immediately
2. Meters should start at a fixed 3YTL during the day and 3.60YTL at night
3. On the upper left side of the meter's screen, a flashing figure '1' or '2' will appear for a short time. Passengers should look out for this when the meter is switched on. The figure '1' denotes the daytime hire rate valid between 6am and midnight . The figure '2' symbols the night rate applicable from midnight until 6am .
4. At the end of the journey the meter will display the total amount payable, however this may only be shown for a short time and passengers are urged to look as soon as their destination is reached.
5. There is no specific charge made for luggage at the moment although this may change.
6. Passengers should inform police immediately if a taxi driver does not abide by any of these basic rules.
New taxi charges are as below:
Daytime ( 6am to midnight )
Basic charge: 3.00YTL
For every 200 metres thereafter 0.20YTL
For every 30 seconds waiting time 0.05YTL
Nighttime ( midnight to 6am )
Basic charge 3.60YTL
For every 200 metres thereafter 0.24YTL
For every 30 seconds waiting time 0.06YTL
First ever TRNC 'Wakeboarding' competition takes place.
This Sunday 11 th September sees the first ever 'wakeboarding' competition to be held in North Cyprus . The event is being hosted by Big Tow Water sports, which are based at the Green Coast holiday village in Alsancak. The sponsored event begins at 10am and 20 entrants will take place including wake boarders from Larnaca and Limassol. Former UK wakeboarding champion and top coach Matt Crowhurst will be on hand to give tips and encouragement as well as wowing the crowd with a display. Big Tow Water sports is owned and run by Dave and Angie Winship who hope the competition will become an annual event. During the daylong event there will be a bouncy castle and quad bikes to keep the kids amused and from 6pm a barbeque. To finish off the evening there will be live music.
Third International North Cyprus Music Festival Opens.
Friday 09 th September saw the opening night of the 3 rd International North Cyprus Music Festival. The opening event took place at the historic Girne Castle where composer Carl Orffs 'Carmina Burana Oratorio' was performed by the Mersin State Opera and Ballet Chorus. The famous composer Ali Hoca conducted the performance.
Around three hundred artists and singers from many countries, including the United States , France , Russia , Spain , the Ukraine and Azerbaijan , as well as the TRNC will be performing at the international North Cyprus Music Festival that runs until October 16 th .
Among the artists performing will be the world famous Spanish Tenor Jose Carreras who will perform at the Salamis Antique Theatre on the 18 th September. Mr Carreras is regarded as one of the best Tenors in the world and has performed in the past as part of the 'Three Tenors'. Other performers include Fazil Say, an internationally renowned pianist from Turkey .
Other News
Imports into the TRNC rose by 48% during the first 6 months of this year, according to figures released by the Trade Department. Top of the list Turkey increased its market share of trade to the TRNC to 63% per cent of all imports, valued at $348 million. Other countries supplied $204 million worth of goods.
The Seismology Centre at Yeni Erenkoy on the Karpaz peninsula registered an earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale at 2.39am on Thursday 08 th September, centred some 25km away, off the coast at Ta slica.
TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat has sent a message of sympathy to George W Bush on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people, expressing his hopes that the hurricane hit southern regions of the United States should make a rapid recovery from last weeks disaster. A book of condolences for the people of the disaster region was also signed this week by Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and Turkish Ambassador Aydan Karahan.
North Cyprus weather forecast
The hot and sunny weather will continue through this week with temperatures reaching a maximum of 34-37C inland and 32-34C on the coast.
Last weeks maximum and minimum temperatures were as follows
|
MAXIMUM |
MINIMUM |
Lefko sa |
35.4C |
17.9C |
Ercan |
35.8C |
19.4C |
Gazi Magusa |
33.3C |
20.5C |
Girne |
34.2C |
20.5C |
Güzelyurt |
33.0C |
14.0C |
Exchange Rates (as of 03.09.05)
£ Sterling |
2.44YTL |
$ Dollar |
1.33YTL |
€ Euro |
1.65YTL |
£ Cyprus pounds |
2.95YTL |
Resources: Cyprus Today and Cyprus Times
Contact
Us 
You can contact
us with any question about Properties
for sale in North Cyprus or related
services. You can contact us directly
by phone, fax or email.
info@cyprusislandhomes.com
|
