Caravanserai

This is the Ottoman caravanserai in Lefkosa/Nicosia in Northern Turkey. It was my favourite place today. The caravans stopped here to rest and feed the camels and sell their goods. Part of the silk route with provisions for men and beasts alike.

Nicosia is the divided capital of Cyprus with approx a third in Northern Cyprus and two thirds in Southern, Greek side. It is divided vymthemGreen alone which we could have crossed had we so wished with our passport.

We also visited The Cathedral of St.Sophia now the Selimiye  mosque, painted completely white inside with just a few Islamic decorations but very obviously a former gothic church building.
The old city is enclosed in walls built by the Venetians and we had a pleasant drink sitting in a cafe in its narrow streets.  
We returned to the caravanserai to explore the upper cloisters full of antiques and crafts. You may have noticed the yarn
bombing. It has been done in the name of peace by Greek and Turkish Cypriot women who still hope that after over 40 years this country can be reunited (extra)

It has been wall to wall sunshine today and on our return we crossed the mountains to the north coast of the island to visit a little chapel museum with miniatures of many of N Cyprus' major historic buildings including this Caravanserai.

Dinner beckons and we've just purchased a two day all inclusive drinks package so we'd better go and get some value out of it!