Jeffbinin wrote:BTW, my question posted on Jules' video of Varosha, was what is the difference between Varosha and Ammochostas? No reply yet!
At the risk of getting something a little technically incorrect.
I live in Deryneia which is the closest coastal village to Varosha and Famagusta, in the Ammochostos or Famagusta administrative District of eastern Cyprus.
The main Admin districts in Cyprus being Pafos, Limassol, Nicosia, Larnaca and Ammochostos (for that read Famagusta - it very much depends on the views/sensitivities of the people talking about the subject) albeit Famagusta town is in fact north and across the green line.
Varosha is the area south of Famagusta Town and next to Deryneia. Varosha is located in or to the north of the green line and contains most of the old tourist Hotel strip of - Famagusta itself.
Varosha has pretty much been a ghost town since 1974, with the occupants being driven out. One, maybe two of the Hotels are reportedly used by the Turkish military as R&R centres for its forces, and rows of beach sunbeds etc can be seen on some drone filmage, There is NO public access into the area and all the drone flights and movies you may find on youtube these days run the risk of being shot down by someone or other.
The return of Varosha is a key element in any negotiations on the islands future. The coastal strip of land between Famagusta Port running south towards Deryneia and the Kapparis area of Paralimni probably the best beach fronts anywhere in Cyprus. The much reported but yet to open crossing point at Deryneia is literally 2km as the crow flies from my house.
That's my take on it!