Istanbul art biennal

While I spend very little time online and my backlog builds up, I can at least offer you an Asia Times-article on the ongoing art biennal in Istanbul... and I promise to return as soon as I am properly reconnected!

Cyprus and the EU

The relationship between north Cyprus and the EU is a complicated one and infects also EU-Turkey relations, as you well know. I won't go into detail here, but to sort it out more, I recommend reading a recent ICG-report on the situation.

But we did see a few instances of EU money going into preserving cultural heritage sites in the area - the top picture is from Nicosia and the 2 lower ones from Famagusta (ironically, the lighting system for the Venetian palace that the lower sign declares didn't seem to work...). I was happy to see that, as I was very saddened by my own feeling of isolation from the splendid cultural and historical sights there - which I beforehand really didn't know about and enjoyed immensely during the visit. They are also to my opinion a truly European heritage for all of us to share.

Church-shell

This old Greek church stood a few blocks away from the centre square an must have been impressive in it's heyday - it certainly was as a ruin! It was one of two Famagusta churches to St George -whose position is strong all over the eastern Mediterranean, actually. Can you see the remains on the walls of frescoes?

More Famagusta

The whole district surrounding the square in central old Famagusta was awash with sights such as these below - churches, palaces, statues and other magnificent ruins.