An interesting experience conveys the report of Pampos Vassilas to "Phileleftheros", who met in Protaras Mr. Antonis Grigoriou, the captain who through his coastal cruises in the area of Protaras, informs tourists about the occupied city of Famagusta.
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"But is it true? We had never heard of such things on earth. "We did not know this was happening in Cyprus." For Zenia and Olga from Moscow, this year's short vacation in Protaras will be rather unforgettable, not only for the sun, the sea, the Cypriot food and the trip to the Troodos mountains. Together with their two young children last Saturday afternoon, they experienced a coastal cruise of about two hours in the area of Protaras. Which includes a tour of the area of occupied Agios Memnon, from which you can clearly see the beaches and the occupied city of Famagusta, the ghost town.
Every year during their holidays in Cyprus and the areas of Ayia Napa and Protaras, thousands of tourists have the experience of Zenia and Olga. They are informed about the history of a city that has been occupied and closed to its inhabitants for 45 years. And they are trying to figure out, through the explanations of Captain Gregory and the other boat owners who make these coastal tours, how such things can happen in the world in the 21st century.
It was around 2 pm on Saturday that we met on the small waterfront of Protaras, with Mr. Antonis Grigoriou. Also known as Captain Grecory, who was one of the first to dare to visit the outskirts of occupied Famagusta, transporting tourists for entertainment, but also information about history, the drama of a city in the Mediterranean, Famagusta. He started these small voyages, in 1983. When the Turks, in the sight of boats like Mr. Antonis, threw flares in the sky and mobilized rioters, to intimidate them.
Mr. Antonis and I, therefore, made the two-hour journey he has been making every summer for 36 years, saying about the same words to tourists. Only the years of occupation of Famagusta from nine in 1983, increased to 45 in 2019. And yet, with pain in the soul as he is the same refugee from Agios Memnon, he talks about favorite soils that walked a small child and still can not to walk again.
Departures and information
Sailing from the center of Protaras and following a path to the north, that is, to occupied Famagusta, we passed the beach of Kapparis and in less than a kilometer, Mr. Antonis picked up the microphone. I will
There were 80-100 tourists on the boat, enjoying the view of the beaches of beautiful Protaras. It was the moment of information about the closed city of Famagusta, which is done by these boats to tourists. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Antonis Grigoriou and my friends call me Captain Grecory. I am the owner and the driver of the boat with which you chose today to get to know the beautiful beaches of Protaras, but also the sea of the area ". (His words are translated by crew members into English and Russian). He continues: "To your left on the hill you see an outpost of United Nations peacekeepers. They are there for the protection and security of the area, as the city you see west in the background has been occupied for 45 years by the Turkish army, which invaded the island in the summer of 1974 and remains on its north side. This city is called Famagusta and it is not possible for these legal residents to go there. And we are also not allowed to continue our course in this direction. We will stay here for a few more minutes to see from afar this occupied city, Famagusta and then we will head southeast, where we will reach to see, but also to swim in its blue waters, the famous Cape Greco and the caves. of. The captain and the crew of our boat wish you a good trip ".
We got so close but so far
The information does not leave tourists on board indifferent. A few words, but enough to pass the message, points out Mr. Antonis himself. Photos from mobile phones and cameras will transport images from the "ghost town" of the Mediterranean to their countries. "A city whose inhabitants have 45 years to go home." A city where tourist boats approach from a distance, under the auspices of the United Nations and then move away. A city called Famagusta. Agios Memnon Beach, Golden Sun area, beaches and Famagusta town. "We came so close but it was so far away", have to say in their homelands thousands of tourists who every year make this small cruise on the outskirts of the enslaved city of Famagusta.
Source: Philenews/Pambos Vasilas