Nicosia - Cyprus

 Europe-Cyprus-Nicosia Back in Cyprus again always feel the mix of cultures. Started in Paphos and then by car to Nicosia. 

Visited the old Post office in Nicosia. It is no longer the main post office . Still an old important building . 

Cyprus and Greece and British Sovereign Base Area of Cyprus

Europe-Cyprus British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri & Dhekelia-Akrotiri  The Sovereign Base of Akrotriri is in fact a British Overseas Territory . I hired a car in Cyprus and stopped here as I travelled around the Island. Not a lot to see. 

There was a Cyrus mail box in Atrotiri. So posted this postcard here. This card also got a  second Irish Postmark, for some reason. Unusual. 

Europe-Greece-Thessaloniki One of the biggest cities in Greece. A lot to see around here. Very interesting. 

The Post office here had a poor selection of stamps. 

Cyprus

Europe-Cyprus-Limassol  Spend an enjoyable two days here with friends. Very nice beach front . 

Posted in Limassol but I see was cancelled at the Nicosia Sorting centre. 

Europe-Cyprus-Troodos  I could not find a card showing Troodos. This is in the Mountains and has a number of World Heritage Site Monasteries. Beautiful inside with lots of icons. So here you see a map of Cyprus . 

Posted in Troodos . 

Spain and Cyprus

Europe-Spain-Santiago de Compstela  Santiago is in Galicia , north Spain. The Cathedral is so interesting. Inside and out. There is a tremendous atmosphere around the town with quite a spiritual feeling. Very picturesque. The Old town is a World Heritage Site. 

A clear Santiago postmark. 

Europe-Cyprus-Pafos  A very old town from the Neolithic period. Very historical but yet yet nice to see in a modern sense. A World Heritage Site. 

Even thought this postcard is posted in Pafos, I see the postmark has Nicosia sorting Centre as the Postmark. 

Europe

Europe-France-Nice  A very upmarket part of France. Walking along the beach-front and  looking in the windows of the boutiques. 

I note that the stamp on the right has RF on it instead of France. RF=Republic of France. 

Europe-Czech Republic-Prague  I had been to the Czech Republic many years ago and  have spend most of the time outside Prague. So  I had a day to spare and got the chance to visit the Castle. So really I have not seen much, more to see in future. One of the Great cities in Europe. The Historic centre of  Prague is a World Heritage Site. 

Posted at the Airport as I departed. 

Europe-Cyprus-Lefkosia  Known to most as Nicosia. A enjoyable city to visit. Also interesting going up to the  border with Turkish Cyprus. 

Posted at the General Post Office. In fact at the side you can visit the sorting office. The stamp on the left side is the 1c tax stamp that is obligatory when posting all mail. 

Europe-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus-Lefkosa   Lefkosa spelt different on the Turkish side. A great visit here and well worth going to. A more Middle East flavour on this side of the border. Enjoyed the city and less crowed then the other side. Crossing the border the Turkish side normally stamp a piece of paper. But I asked would they stamp my passport and no problem. At one stage the Republic of Cyprus would not let you enter if you had a Turkish Cyprus entry in your passport. 

Visited the Philatelic bureau which is on the 2nd floor of the old Post office. I am sure it has been the same post office for many many years. 

Europe-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus-Lefkosa   Also Nicosia on the Turkish side. I seen this old postcard from the 1970s and could not resist it. The bottom left shows the main square and shows the Post office. 

All these postcards are hand stamped.