Alexia visited her occupied house in occupied Famagusta 43 years later.
On a trip to our occupied territories, Alexia shared this experience with the LIFO website, to which she sent a video and a letter.
Read Alexia's letter:
Dear friends, dear readers of LIFO, in 1974, the Fall of Famagusta, the city where I was born, in Cyprus, took place.
Famagusta was a city that was full of life, celebrations, music! Every corner and poet, painter, artist, musician!
Since 1974, this city, my city, seems to be sleeping. Much of it is enclosed in barbed wire and access is denied. All buildings: abandoned. Alone. Another part of Famagusta is inhabited by Turkish Cypriots but also by settlers from the depths of Anatolia.
My house is in the "free zone", so I was able to visit it. First in 2003 and then 5 more times. Measured on the fingers of one hand.
I stayed in Famagusta for one day. I had to return at night. I visited the ancient theater of Salamis, the Tower of Othello, the Venetian walls, the church of my parish, St. Catherine only from the outside, since there was no access. It is also enclosed in barbed wire. I went outside the Girls' High School where my mother attended. I walked on the most perfect sandy beach in the world, its sandy beach and I swam in the transparent, clear blue waters of its sea.
When I was little, there were wild lilies in the sand.
I miss Famagusta and every day I remember such a day - not that I ever forget it - like my parents, my childhood friends and the whole island.
I expect that soon we will all live there: the old legal residents.
With dances, with culture, Music and Joy.
Alexia
Source: Www.lifo.gr