The City I love (which one?)

People in Cyprus see me as AngloCypriot. This couldn’t be further from the facts. Although I speak and behave English, my looks and my home are in Cyprus. I never would have seen myself as AngloCypriot. I don’t dress like the, I don’t have any friends who are AngloCypriot and I don’t think like them (London ghetto meets 1950s Cyprus). I am a very modern person who either feels English or Cypriot. Yet, you are indirectly defined by how you are regarded. So, to the many Cypriots I seem to be AngloCypriot. When they tell me this, I can console myself with the fact that they have a limited world view, haven’t travelled and see only what they want to see.

But even more worrying is the constant squabbling between Limassol and Nicosia. On one hand I have the bombers and on the other I have the snobs, who bicker like children over who has the nicest city. Guys – get over yourselves. This is Cyprus – it’s the same thing and yet they are behaving like they are two countries at war. You think the Cyprus problem was bad, the Limassol/Nicosia one is even worse and even more ridiculous. People from both cities are slagging each other off as if they are bidding for the Olympics. This isn’t NYC and LA people. We are talking about a small European capital with traffic problems and a coastal town that owns its existence to foreign investment. But the way they moan about each other sounds like they aren’t cities with streets paved with gold. GIVE ME A BREAK.

Maybe I notice it more because I am from Limassol and live in Nicosia and seem to be the centre of the debate with people expecting me to join a side or at least get a reaction. I’ll admit I like both cities for different reasons. Nicosia is our nation’s capital and has great clubs. It is for me a wholly Cypriot city. Limassol is more affluent with beach life, albeit with violence. I am not choosing between the two just seeing them for what they are. But damn do people go on about it. And I’d really wish you’d stop.

Now. This part is not meant to offend anyone, and for this I will be impartial. For some reason Nicosians dislike to see that Limassol is doing well and cannot resist to add into the conversation how much they hate Limassol. Why? It’s still in the same country. They talk about how amazing Nicosia is and yet, the first opportunity the get, they run to Larnaca’s beaches. For me personally Protara is an extension of Nicosia.

On the other hand (which is pointing the middle finger) Lemesians (as I call them) insist that Limassol not only should be the capital of Cyprus but the centre of the world. Okaaaay…Whatevverrr! I know it’s more developed than the rest of the island but damn are some people trashy there! I know that LMS has done well, but that’s because of the Russians and Arabs and because of the beach, not because Lemesians decided to radically alter the image of the second-city. Maybe Lemesians feel smug that LMS looks nicer than Nicosia – but that’s not reason to knock Nicosia down. Nicosia, with some planning and investment could easily be the best city in Cyprus. Yet due to mismanagement, no tram or bus system and the division which divides the city means it falls behind.

Instead of bitching about each other, just admit that each one offers different things and are great in their own way. LMS has a great beach front that will get better but nothing can compare the feeling of walking in Nicosia. You feel that it’s the capital and the nightlife is great. Cyprus is a tiny place in the world – it’s a great thing to be able to say how diverse our island it; we have the city-life, the beach-life, the mountains, the resorts, etc. The only other place in such a small space is Tel Aviv/Jerusalem… if you go there, you’ll understand what I mean.

So get over yourselves and your ego and stop going on about how much you hate each other’s city. Understand that diversity is a good thing. Support each others’ development and realise that together we are stronger. And stop telling me about it because I’m from Limassol/live in Nicosia. I really don’t care what you think. If you intend on pointing out where I’m from/where I live I will gladly point out the cave in the village where you came from… and where you should return to sooner than later.

Oh… and one more thing – if you don’t like Nicosia/Limassol, then don’t go there. Don’t drive up/down for an afternoon, have your frappe and then bitch about it to your friends and to people of that city. It’s really annoying – and by bitching, it just shows that you went to the bad part of town and don’t know that particular city well. I on the other hand love both cities so I go wherever I want. Maybe it’s because, like some of you said, I’m AngloCypriot/English/Martian/whatever and I enjoy Cyprus as it is without feeling the need to bitch about the good places in order to make them look bad.

Now… let’s talk about the Israel/Palestine conflict…