As we say hello to you in this first issue, I am calling out to you from a jasmine-scented summer evening in Cyprus, where the flowers bloom generously every evening from April until the end of October…
Jasmine, the indispensable flower of Cyprus gardens… With its simple and pure beauty, as well as its humble demeanour, jasmine has been a part of every home’s garden for years, enduring the summer heat and continuing its life as part of the home for decades… Who knows what the jasmines in all our gardens have witnessed…
Jasmine is one of the beautiful memories of our childhood. Every evening, before they bloomed individually on their branches, they were carefully and eagerly gathered, strung together with a sewing needle to make balls or necklaces, or arranged like a fan on a palm branch, waiting to open in the evening and spread their sweet scent… Do any of you remember the jasmine flowers that were carried in trays to summer cinemas for sale?
The jasmine left on the branches fills our gardens, balconies, and seeps through our windows and shutters all night long with its pleasant scent, becoming the companion of our sleep and dreams until morning, sometimes even with a sprig left on our pillows…
Cyprus is beautiful in every season, no doubt about it… But the jasmine-scented summer evenings are something else entirely in our Cyprus… Those who are far from our beautiful island feel this even more keenly, longing for it because…
Just as every season in our Cyprus is beautiful, every corner is uniquely beautiful…
In the west, Lefka, with its Yafa oranges, pomegranates, centuries-old date palms, and walnut trees create a lush green paradise… The ruins of Soli and Vuni are a separate cultural heritage of the region. Yeşilırmak is a paradise of strawberries, Verigo grapes, and of course, as winter approaches, with the fields of Kolakas… Gaziveren and Güzelyurt is the source of all citrus fruits…
Nicosia, with its walls, inner-wall inns, bathhouses, Selimiye Mosque, and Bandabuliya, is a separate cultural heritage site; walking through its streets feels like suddenly going back 50 years in history…
Famagusta is another city steeped in history, with its walls, castle, Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Namık Kemal Prison, Maraş, Salamis Ruins, Othello Castle, and many other corners… Of course, the stunning coastline stretching toward the Boğaz, İskele, and Karpaz, with its deep blue sea and sparkling beaches… And here, lined with magnificent hotels, a coastal city that exudes the essence of Cyprus awaits you…
Kyrenia, is the jewel of Cyprus… As well as its magnificent nature, it is just as cheerful and lively with its cafes, restaurants, colourful entertainment centres, and luxury hotels. Although there are some infrastructure problems with the growing city, efforts to solve them are gaining momentum. Kyrenia, with its historical structures such as St. Hilarion Castle in the Beşparmak Mountains, Bellapais Monastery, and further away on the Esentepe hills, Buffavento Castle and Alev Kayası, is a mountain and sea town overlooking the sea from every point of a green mountain range, embracing the sea with its Ancient Harbour and magnificent bays…
As I write these lines in the first issue of our magazine, I am sipping my coffee on one of the tiny balconies of the Cyprus House, one of the most famous places in the Ancient Harbour of Kyrenia for years. I am filled with joy at being reunited with you my friends, and at welcoming one of Cyprus’ jasmine-scented evenings accompanied by an incredible sunset…
Cyprus awaits you with its long summers stretching from April to the end of October. September is especially beautiful in Cyprus… The scorching heat has subsided, the sea is still warm, and you can still experience the full essence of summer on this jewel of the Mediterranean… That is our island…
I have no doubt that you won’t want to enter winter without spending a few days on this beautiful island before summer ends… At Cyprus House, you can taste the flavours of Cyprus you’ve been longing for, while enjoying this beautiful view, and say, “I’m so glad I came, I’m so glad I’m here.” Hellim böreği, pirohu, bulgur köftesi, bumbar, magarina bulli, mulihiya, and kelftiko are just a few of the many Cypriot delicacies you can savour here…
As the sun sets, watching the orange glow of the sunset from Cyprus House, you can also see the lights of the cafes and restaurants in the Ancient Harbour begin to flicker on, transforming the harbour into a lively scene. While enjoying a Cypriot meal you’ve been craving for dinner here, you can watch people strolling along the harbour, yachts and tour boats returning to the harbour, and listen to the music starting up in the harbour cafes, making your evening unforgettable…
If you’re ready to embrace jasmine-scented evenings, we welcome you to our Cyprus…
With our warmest regards…
