36 20.5 N 33 19.9 E

GIRNE Commercial Harbour

After our return from Cappadocia we spent the next two days exploring the area and decided to take a contract here for the rest of the year.

This means after the end of the EMYR we will go back to Alanya and Jacky will fly home for August. The marina is well appointed and the town

is a short dolmus journey or a 20 minute walk away. Antalya airport which has Easy jet and BA flights to Gatwick is a 50 Euro taxi ride.

We had another Rally Dinner beside the swimming pool on Sunday 23rd of May which was followed by dancing and the usual flag ceremony and presentation

of memento to the various officials from the town.

The following morning the local live aboard community organized some fun water sport events which each group was asked to enter. Our yellow team fared well

with Jacky featuring in the ladies doubles assisted by Alida from an Italian boat being placed second despite an awful dinghy with plastic oars that bent if too much

pressure was applied! Rob took part in the coxless fours also placing second. The final raft building and race needed extra help so Jacky took to the water with Rosemary

from Halcyon Days (boat from Oz.) and swam along pushing the raft - again a second place was achieved! Overall the team finished joint second behind the orange group

who had resorted to very dubious tactics to achieve there victories! But great fun was had by all!

Later we set off for our overnight trip to North Cyprus.

On arrival after a fairly uneventful motor sail we anchored off the harbour entrance to await our call in to dock. Jacky took the chance to swim as it was a lovely morning

and the sea temperature showed 26 degrees. Lucky she did as she spotted a large white plastic bag wrapped around the prop. Rob then entered the water and removed it;

we think this may have been the reason the prop was not performing as it should while maneuvering slowly!

We were eventually called in to moor up around 1400 and duly dropped our stern anchor and edged the bow into the raft of boats already moored stern-to on the jetty.

The whole operation was well organized and a masterpiece of planning though rather reliant on no wind or swell entering the harbour!

We were actually in the commercial ferry port and the terminal building was our exit to the town. Later that day we had a rather splendid 'Reception' as guests of the Governor

of Northern Cyprus (although in the event he didn't come and his deputy made the speeches.) This was held at the castle which sits on the waters edge overlooking the old harbour

a magical setting and we were able to walk around the ramparts admiring the view before enjoying a splendid buffet meal with plenty of wine and beer.

We did one of the organized Tours which took us to see the northern part of the island with a visit to the ruins at Salamis some of which date to the 11th Century BC. We then went on

to visit Famagusta as well as the Church and Monastery of St Barnabas (now used as a museum). We were recommended by locals to try a restaurant set a bit out of the main

'eating' area and decided to give it a try so caught a taxi to it (even the driver had trouble finding it!) along with two other couples from our group. It was called A14 and the setting was around a small pool

with tables under the trees and in small courtyards, the food was brilliant - it made a nice change not to be having meze.

Our final event in Girne was the rally 'Pirate Party' which was great fun as everyone dressed up and we paraded through the old town to the Dome hotel for a lovely supper and dancing;

we also had a splendid belly-dancer to entertain us. We are looking forward to re-visiting this island later in the year.