Get away to Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle provides a spectacular backdrop for the city's Hogmanay fireworks display. Photo by Visit Britain

PLACES / HOLIDAYS

By Aliye Arif

Dramatic natural scenery, towering castles and heritage alongside a throbbing social scene make the Scottish capital the second most popular tourist destination in Britain after London. Situated in Lothian on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh is the second most populous city in Scotland after Glasgow.

Sightseeing and Landmarks

Recently voted top UK Heritage Attraction in the British Travel Awards, Edinburgh Castle stands tall and proud overlooking the city and dominating the skyline. Battles and sieges were fought over it and royalty lived within its walls, including Mary Queen of Scots in the 1500s. Contained within are the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, the famous 15th century gun Mons Meg and the National War Museum of Scotland. Guided tours are provided by castle stewards daily and whilst there are many cobbles and steps, a courtesy vehicle can take visitors with a disability to the top of the castle.

One of the most popular Edinburgh landmarks is Arthur's Seat. Popular with walkers, this hill fort is situated within Holyrood Park and is said to be 2,000-years-old. An oasis of calm in the city centre, you can enjoy the park’s rich natural and archaeological heritage – walks, wildlife, volcanic geology and unparalleled vistas of the city from its many vantage points. St. Giles Cathedral is another must-see. Its distinctive crown steeple is another prominent feature of the city skyline.

Food and Drink

A trip to Scotland isn't complete without trying haggis, a traditional Scottish sausage made from a sheep's stomach stuffed with diced sheep's liver, lungs and heart, oatmeal, onion, suet and seasoning. Just think of it as the Scottish alternative to şeftali kebab. Scotland is also famous for its crumbly shortbread, so don't forget to bring back a tin of biscuits for the family.

 

Haggis: the Scottish alternative to şeftali kebab. Photo by Natalie Pecht

Malt whisky is Scotland's national drink and Edinburgh does not fall short of celebrating this. Visit WHISKI Bar, the multi-award winning bar and diner on the Royal Mile serving fresh Scottish food using the best local produce and over 300 malt whisky varieties to choose from.

Whisky - Scotland's national drink. Photo by Visit Britain

Fun fact: Scotch whisky must be made in a manner specified by law – you can't pass off any old whisky as Scottish!

Hogmanay

If there’s one thing the Scots do better than most, it is to put on a grand New Year’s Eve party – or Hogmanay as it is locally known. Highlighted as one of the ‘Top 100 things to do before you die’ and the only festival to appear in the ‘Discovery Channel – Top 25 World Travel Experiences’, Edinburgh's Hogmanay is one of the world’s greatest New Year celebrations.

Things get underway on 30 December with the spectacular Torchlight Procession. Join thousands of torch carriers as they create a river of fire from the historic Royal Mile to the son et lumiére and fireworks finale on Calton Hill.

On Hogmanay itself, the action moves to Princes Street in the city centre beneath the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Around 80,000 revellers pay £20 to party their way into the New Year with top DJs, giant screens, outdoor bars and, of course, the world-famous Edinburgh Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks on the castle ramparts.

Nearby is another ticketed event, the Concert in the Gardens, which this year is being headlined by Lily Allen, who will be joined by many other special live music guests. For a more traditional Scottish Hogmanay, get yourself to the Edinburgh Keilidh, which boasts a massive outdoor dancefloor, bar and food village. Newcomers to ceilidh can learn the moves from the professional ceilidh caller and bring in 2015 with spectacular views of the Midnight Fireworks.

 

The Loony Dook dippers on New Year's Day

And if you need something to clear your head the morning after, why not take part in the (literally) breathtaking Loony Dook, the annual splash in the River Forth at South Queensferry. Don some fancy dress and join the Dookers Parade through the High Street before taking the plunge in the freezing Forth with the iconic Forth Bridges as a backdrop.

Edinburgh Festival 2015

For some forward planning, make your trip to the Scottish capital next summer to coincide with the Edinburgh Festival – the largest arts festival in the world – which takes place every August for three weeks. Both the main festival and the Fringe are showcases for the performing arts, particularly theatre and comedy, helping to establish the careers of many writers and performers. Whether you’re a seasoned visitor or this is your first experience of the festival, there is always a fair bit of planning required to make the most of what’s on offer as there are thousands of shows in more than 250 venues. The Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe will next run from 07-31 August 2015.

Shopping

Go shopping for tartan

The city centre is the ideal place to start a shopping trip. Jenners is a quirky department store located on Princes Street, selling everything from international designer brands to locally crafted Scottish products. The Royal Mile is in the heart of the Old Town, which is full of pretty buildings, some dating back to medieval times. You’ll find great gifts shops, from fun souvenirs to top-quality cashmere and tartan, whisky and delicious handmade fudge. If you are after bargains, the Livingston Designer Outlet is worth the 30 minutes trek from Edinburgh, where you can pick up designer brands with massive discounts.

Tour and Explore

What better way to see this fantastic city than from the top of a tour bus? City Sightseeing provides hop-on hop-off bus tours, with numerous stops located conveniently around the city at various landmarks and shopping destinations, so you can jump on and off the bus at your leisure.  This one is sure to be a hit with the kids and will give you plenty of photo opportunities. Cameras at the ready! Prices are around £14 for adults and £6 for children.

Accommodation

Edinburgh has its pick of welcoming B&Bs, 5-star hotels, self-catering flats, farmhouses, cottages and even castles to stay in, so you'll definitely find something to suit your budget and preference. The official Visit Scotland site runs a 'Taste Our Best' scheme, so you can not only find an accredited place to stay in, but also find those which serve great food cooked onsite and made from ingredients sourced locally.

 

The Witchery Hotel in the heart of the city

More information:

www.visitscotland.com  

www.edinburghshogmanay.org

www.eif.co.uk 

www.edfringe.com

Ships, Clocks and Stars exhibition at the National Maritime Museum

PLACES / ENTS & LEISURE

By Muhsin Mustafa

The largest museum of its kind in the world, the National Maritime Museum  in Greenwich is currently hosting the Ships, Clocks and Stars exhibition, which celebrates the 300th anniversary of the Longitude Act. It documents one of the world’s greatest challenges – to understand and calculate longitude simply, which is crucial in maritime navigation.

This exhibition explores the rivalries and inventions of the great scientists of the 17th and 18th centuries – Galileo, Isaac Newton and John Harrison – whose work still influences our lives through satellite navigation, mobile phones and international time zones.

By being able to determine a ship’s position at sea, Britain was able to dominate the world’s oceans, beating Spain, France and Holland in the process.

A major highlight is the display of John Harrison’s legendary clocks. His invention overcame the problems usually experienced with normal clocks, which failed to work on long voyages. You can enjoy these masterpieces, in perfect working order, and see how they evolved over time.

The museum has other activities ideal for the family, such as the Nelson, Navy and Nation exhibition. Or try the Great Map, a virtual world travel and treasure hunt: use a tablet to navigate your ship and collect treasures and crew all over the world.

The museum has a restaurant overlooking Greenwich Park. Or have a picnic outdoors. Admission to the museum is free, although there is a charge for the Ships, Clocks & Stars Exhibition, which runs until 4 January 2015. However, this also includes entry to the Royal Observatory.

www.rmg.co.uk

Turkish Cypriot billionaire to give talk on higher education in British Parliament next week

Dr Suat Günsel - one of the world's most successful educational entrepreneurs

NEWS/TRNC          

One of the world's most successful educational entrepreneurs will address a select meeting in the House of Lords on December 1st, at the invitation of Lord Sharkey. In an address titled ‘Higher Education in the Life of the TRNC’, Dr Suat Günsel, Founding Chancellor of Near East University, northern Cyprus, will tell prominent academics and politicians about the social and economic benefits generated by the country’s growing university sector, along with the challenges faced by NEU since its launch in 1988 and his plans for the future.

Lord Sharkey, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the TRNC Group, gained first-hand insights about NEU when he visited the campus in Lefkoşa last November to give a lecture. Like many, he was surprised by the scale and quality of the university, and how its students continue to compete with the leading higher education facilities in the world.

Earlier this year, NEU staff and student engineers designed and built a solar-powered car good enough to take part in South Africa's 2014 SASOL Solar Challenge (pictured right), winning the contest's Adventure section and coming 8^th overall against an international field. The university’s Engineering Faculty has also produced a wheelchair capable of responding to the thought-waves of severely disabled patients, while its IT specialists are working with Harvard on developing the next generation of super-computers. 

During his visit to London, Dr Günsel is expected to extend the NEU's international academic links to the UK by signing protocols with British universities and higher education providers keen to collaborate with Cyprus’ largest university.

Near East University campus in Lefkoşa- with 25,000 students, it is Cyprus' largest university

NEU has 25,000 students – a 14% increase on 2013 student numbers – and with two thirds originating from 90 countries, the NEU community is one of the most diverse on the island. The university houses 16 Faculties and 105 academic departments, and also boasts superb facilities, many of which are unmatched anywhere else in the island – or in most of its larger and more prosperous neighbours.

NEU students in the library & laboratory

Students benefit from 24-hour access to a library consisting of 500,000 printed volumes and over 1.5 million electronic journals, 4 amphitheatres and a 350-seat theatre. NEU also has an Olympic-sized  swimming pool; a 500-tonne vessel used for oceanographic surveys and marine archaeology; a state-of-the-art $150m hospital whose facilities serve 40 separate departments and attract leading surgeons from the region; a computer facility large enough contribute to CERN research programmes and, most recently, a brand-new Veterinary and Animal Welfare Centre costing $25 million.

State-of-the-art facilities at Near East Hospital

One of nine universities in North Cyprus, NEU was built by Dr Günsel from scratch, using profits from his property empire and other business interests. It offers affordable higher education, as well as a generous system of bursaries and scholarships to attract the brightest minds from the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, Africa and Central and South Asia. It is a full member of the International Association of Universities, and the European University Association. Collectively, NEU and its related services, including the hospital and Near East Bank, are North Cyprus’ largest private tax payer and employer.

About Dr. Suat Günsel

Dr. Suat Günsel is an educational entrepreneur, who was born in 1952 in Beşiktepe, near Paphos, in southern Cyprus to a family of humble means. His father was a shepherd who was keen for his children to be educated. Günsel graduated in Physics from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara before proceeding to a PhD in Educational Psychology. In 1978, he founded a private school to prepare students for university entrance, which has subsequently grown into one of North Cyprus’ top private secondary schools. Using his wealth from this and property, in 1988 he established Near East University. Today the university is Cyprus’ largest, created entirely through his vision and investment. His unique model of sustainability for the university has enabled Near East to become a recognised and respected brand, not just in education but also in banking, medical treatment, energy and more. With diverse revenue streams, Near East University has been able to keep student fees affordable and accessible to a broad range of students in the region. He has been given multiple awards for his services to education. He is married with three children.

After Jack Straw urges ‘acceptance of division’, the TRNC Chief Negotiator joins LSE panel to debate “Can Cyprus be solved?”

From L-R: Ergün Olgun, Dr James Kerr-Lindsay, Jack Straw

NEWS/UK        

Ergün Olgun, the new Turkish Cypriot Negotiator is in London for meetings with a variety of British officials, including Minister for Europe David Lidington. During his stay, he will also take part in the LSE launch of event of Dr. James Ker-Lindsay's book, Resolving Cyprus: New Approaches to Conflict Resolution on Thursday, 27 November, where panellists will seek to answer the question ‘Can Cyprus be solved?’

The debate is highly topical, given comments made by the former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to the Anadolu Press Agency in London on Tuesday that, “the international community should accept the reality that there is division and that you have partition. And then these two rather small nations would be able to develop their own relationship and I think it would be a cleaner system".

Dr. James Ker-Lindsay, a highly respected expert on the Cyprus Problem and a Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics, is hosting a roundtable discussion themed around his new book Resolving Cyprus with some of the writers who contributed to it. They include Emel Akcalı, Robert Holland, Klearchos Kyriakides, Neophytos Loizides, Robert McDonald, Zenon Stavrinides, Birte Vogel and Ergün Olgun.

The event is free to attend and there are no advance tickets; entry is on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Date: Thursday 27 November 2014

Time: 18.30-20.00

Venue: CLM.2.02, 2nd Floor, Clement House, LSE, 99 Aldwych, London WC2B 4JF

Those wishing to buy the book can buy it for a third of the recommended retail price if you order online before 1^st December 2014. To order online, go to www.ibtauris.com/resolving-cyprus

and enter the discount code CYPRUS14 when prompted.  

RELATED ARTICLES:

Ergün Olgun is the new Turkish Cypriot negotiator, 11 October 2014

Turkish Cypriot chief negotiator Kudret Özersay to brief the public during UK visit next week, 3 June 2014

Didier Drogba and Lionel Messi battle it out in new Turkish Airlines advert

NEWS/TURKEY           

Two global football stars feature in the latest advertisement by Turkish Airlines. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi are shown battling it out to reach far flung corners of the globe first as part of a campaign called Widen Your World.

The light-hearted one minute broadcast has chalked up over 34 million views since its release last week. Kicking off in Istanbul, Drogba is seen increasingly frustrated as he travels from one exotic location to the next to sample different cultures and cuisines only to find the Argentinean star’s beaten him to it, with Messi’s photo already adorning the walls of the restaurants. 

Under the strapline, “We fly to more flavours than any other airline”, the footballers travel to Nepal, Japan, Siberia, and the Saharan desert. See the Drogba vs Messi clip here and visit the #epicfood website to win a globe-trotting prize to all five destinations – enter by 18 December for a chance to win.  

New Turkish ambassador presents his credentials to the Queen

NEWS/UK

Abdurrahman Bilgiç, the Turkish ambassador to London, presented his credentials to the British monarch at Buckingham Palace last week. The ceremony took place on 12 November, and was attended by the Ambassador’s wife and younger daughter, along with other officials from the Turkish embassy.

In keeping with tradition, the Ambassador and his wife, Esra Bilgiç were collected from their London residence by a State landau from the Royal Mews and were then escorted to the Palace by the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps. Once there, Ambassador Bilgiç had a 20-minute audience with Queen Elizabeth II during which time he presented her his Letters of Credence. 

During the brief ceremony, the Queen stated the importance of the relationship between Britain and Turkey, and of her visits to Turkey. She also wished the Ambassador success in his new post. Bilgiç replied that he would, “work towards growing the relationship especially in the realms of politics, the economy and culture.”

Following the audience, the Ambassador and his wife returned to their residence again in the Queen’s horse-drawn carriage. They then threw a reception for representatives of other foreign missions in London, where Alistair Harrison from the British Foreign Office gave a short speech.

About Ambassador Bilgiç
Ambassador Bilgiç was born in 1963 in Adıyaman, in southeast Turkey. He studied International Relations at Ankara University before entering the Foreign Service in 1986 – a year after graduating. He has served in the Turkish embassies in Tripoli and Canberra, and in the Turkish Consulate in Deventer. He was Director-General for Press and Information of the Prime Ministry between 2003 and 2005. He became the Consul-General in Munich between 2005 and 2007.

He was promoted to the rank of Ambassador in 2011, serving in Tokyo for a short time. On 1 July 2014 he became the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Ambassador Bilgiç is married with two children.

Related articles:

New Turkish ambassador to London congratulates SoloTürk for stunning air display at RIAT 2014, 27 July 2014

Turkey’s London ambassador Ünal Çeviköz withdrawn as part of global diplomatic reshuffle, 10 January 2014

Cypriot filmmakers receive awards from the first Golden Island International Film Festival

Director Ahmet Albakri with his prize for Best Documentary at GIIFF 2014

CULTURE / FILM

Borderless! and Brink were among the winning films announced at the Closing Gala of the very first Golden Island InternationalFilm Festival (GIIFF), which took place last Thursday. The filmmakers were presented their prizes of €2,000 each by Creditwest Bank, the Festival’s main sponsor, at Le Chateau Lambousa in Girne. The Festival closed with the screening of the winning films along with a film created by young British and Cypriot filmmakers who worked together as part of the Erasmus Plus project during the Festival.

Following selection by jury, the directors of the Best Documentary (Borderless!, directed by Ahmet Albakri), and Best Short Film (Brink, directed by Fardad Mottarjemi Khodadad and Kürşat Sekmen), along with the two Best Newcomers (Arınç Arısoy for Evolution and Sholeh Zahraei and Kamil Saldun for The Olive Tree at The Border) were each presented their prize by Creditwest Bank’s CEO Dr. Süleyman Erol and Executive Vice-President Mazher Zaheer. The awards followed a competition for shorts and documentaries in the Cyprus strand of GIIFF 2014, reflecting the Festival’s commitment to supporting local filmmakers.

Dr. Süleyman Erol and Mazher Zaheer (both on far left) with GIIFF 2014 winners

In her speech, GIIFF director Yeşim Güzelpınar recalled comments made to her by Oscar award-winning producer and director Peter Fudakowski, who attended GIIFF 2014 for the screening of his latest film Secret Sharer. Fudakowski said:  “Cyprus deserves to be recognised with its beautiful landscape, cultural heritage, and potential for economic growth and tourism.”

Güzelpınar continued, “When we decided to set up the festival we set certain targets. We wanted to open the doors for Northern Cyprus to the worldwide film industry, bring some great films to audiences here, provide [ethnic] minorities with screenings from their homeland, and to play a role in inspiring Cypriot directors…to produce new quality work and attract the attention of international film festivals.”

Over 65 features, documentaries and shorts were screened in eight venues across North Cyprus and the UN Buffer Zone, along with director-led Q & A’s throughout the week-long inaugural Golden Island International Film Festival, which closed on 13 November.  Among the films selected for this year’s GIIFF programme were several that have been put forward for the 2015 Oscar Academy Awards, including Nihat Seven’s Uzun Yol (Long Road), nominated by BAFTA, with documentary Plot for Peace another contender for next year’s Oscars.

 

Yeşim Güzelpınar (c) with two jurors from GIIFF 2014

The Closing Gala also screened the collaborative works of young Cypriot and Film Beyond Borders/ Erasmus Plus project participants, where they shot, edited and presented a 20-minute film they had made in Cyprus. The initiative was funded by Erasmus Plus, which enabled 25 people from Britain to travel to North Cyprus to take part in the project and to gain valuable work experience as volunteers at GIIFF.

GIIFF is backed by a number of partners including the Independent Film Trust, Raindance Film Festival, Detmold International Short Film Festival, Datça International Short Film Festival, the University of East Anglia (Film Dept), the Home for Co-operation (Cyprus), Movies that Matter, the Turkish Cypriot Community Association (UK), and Youth Power (Cyprus). Along Creditwest Bank, the festival was sponsored by Girne American University and North Cyprus Turkcell, with additional support from the likes of Kibris Media Group, BRT and Pegasus Airlines.

Güzelpınar ended by acknowledging the teething problems at the inaugural festival and thanked the Festival’s sponsors, organising team and filmmakers for their efforts: “During our first year we experienced many amazing things, but also some difficulties and problems. As the GIIFF team, we have learnt from our experience and we will work on creating an even better Festival for next year. We firmly believe that through cinema, you can realise your dreams.”

RELATED ARTICLES: 

First Golden Island International Film Festival gets underway with screening of Fish, 6 November 2014

Filmmakers invited to UK launch of new international film festival in Cyprus, 7 July 2014

Tamer Hassan helps launch new Cyprus film festival, 29 May 2014

Tickets now on sale for this year's T-VINE Christmas bash

Hakbrayne - the world's first Paul Daniels & Debbie McGee tribute act, live at T-VINE Christmas Party

CULTURE / VARIETY SHOW

After a glittering debut at last year’s T-VINE Christmas Party, hosts Eray & Koray are back to oversee more festive fun and a superb line-up of live music, comedy, and dancing. Cyprus Garden – Turkish London’s most popular nightspot – will again host our annual cabaret-style dinner and dance, which takes place on Sunday 21 December. 

Turkish pop princess Peri Aziz

Performers this year include Turkish Pop princess Peri Aziz. Formerly of chart-topping group Babutsa, Peri will be singing covers of Turkey’s biggest hits that are guaranteed to get diners on their feet. Keeping them on the dance floor will be Ali Köse, whose sensational singing powered him to the quarter-finals of O Ses Türkiye (The Voice). He promises a night of uplifting British and American Soul and Pop, blending familiar tracks such as Pharell’s Happy with his own songs.

In life, when you get to a certain age, there aren't many surprises left so why not take a chance? Destiny awaits you! Following their epic Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut, Hakbrayne – the world’s first Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee tribute act – are inviting T-VINE guests into their motor home of mystery for a totally psychedelic, bonkers, immersive comedy theatrical experience.

And that’s not all! A T-VINE Christmas wouldn’t be complete without some bellydancing; the delightful Melisa Yavaş returns with her hip-thrusting, sword-twirling show. Our thigh-stomping finale is courtesy of DJ Elliot Patterson whose party classics will keep you dancing late into the night.

Eray & Koray return as hosts

Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7.30, and anyone aged 16 or over is welcome. 

There is a set menu comprising of 12 hot and cold meze dishes, a roast Christmas Turkey dinner with all the trimmings (vegetarian option also available - please advise at time of booking), and mince pie with custard.

Tickets are priced £35 for both the variety show and dinner – drinks are not included. 

If you’re quick, pick up an Early Bird Ticket at just £29 (offer lasts until 7 December or until allocated quota sells out). There are also discounts for group bookings of 10 and over - get in touch with us for this. 

Tickets on sale via our online shop: 
T-VINE.com or Facebook.com/TVINEmedia 
Or from Cyprus Garden – call 07738 410 870 to book your place. 

Turkish and Greek Cypriots join forces to save Greek Orthodox monastery

Work commences to save historic Apostalas Andreas monastry in Karpaz. Photo: Clarissa Bell

NEWS/TRNC

By John Oakes

As Greek Cypriots boycott the UN Talks in protest at "provocative" Turkish naval action, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) begins to rescue Apostolas Andreas, a decaying Greek Orthodox monastery on the TRNC's Karpaz panhandle, which is venerated by both communities.

The €6.23 million refurbishment will be overseen by the bi-communal Technical Committee on Joint Heritage, also set up by the UN. Significantly, it will be jointly financed by Evkaf, the Muslim charitable trust in the north, and the Greek Orthodox Church in the south.

Archbishop Chrysostomos

Apostolas Andreas is one of several UNDP projects in the north, and possibly the most significant to date: previous attempts to restore the sacred site have been sabotaged by the Greek Cypriot Archbishop Chrysostomos’ refusals to co-operate. In 2010, the Archbishop told reporters, “I would rather see the monastery collapse than Evkaf undertaking its coordination.”

According to REUTERS, "On a remote outcrop in divided Cyprus, Greeks and Turks have put aside decades of enmity to restore their shared cultural heritage, battered by war and neglect."

"Over the next 16 months, Greek and Turkish Cypriots will be working to restore the Apostolas Andreas monastery, said to be built on the very spot where the saint's boat ran aground during a missionary journey to Rome."

A spring now flows there, and St Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland, whose flag bears his cross.

Amazingly, Cypriots from both main communities have been making their pilgrimage to Apostolas Andreas for centuries. The Greek Orthodox faithful bring "tamata" to the shrine – wax statues offered up to reinforce prayers for the sick.  

But the shrine is also venerated by Turkish Cypriot Muslims. Says Ali Tuncay, joint head of the UN Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage: "Apostolas Andreas is very important to us. Many Turkish Cypriots come here to make a wish." 

Greek Orthodox pilgrims from the south have had access to Christian shrines in the north since the opening of the borders by former TRNC President Rauf Denktaş in April 2003. Tensions have arisen at major festival times – Christmas and Easter – when Greek Cypriot organisers failed to give basic tour details requested in advance by the TRNC Border Control.

 

Close-up of the monastry's sandstone bell tower, which has been weakened over the centuries through earthquakes. Photo by Clarissa Bell

The size and scope of the Apostolas Andreas project – very much the largest cultural initiative undertaken jointly by Greek and Turkish Cypriots so far – make it a trailblazer. Initially the two communities carried out joint visits throughout the island resulting in a list of over 2,300 cultural heritage sites, from which they chose 26 located in the north and 14 in the south that most required attention.

“At the beginning we only selected religious heritage sites,” said Ali Tuncay. “This project is a testament to what Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots can accomplish when working together. Apostolas Andreas isn’t just culturally important for Greek Cypriots. It’s equally important for Turkish Cypriots and the rest of the world,” he added.

Takis Hadjidemetriou, the Greek Cypriot head of the Technical Committee, told reporters that the project was only made possible through a “common struggle and mutual respect.”

“Through culture we can lay a sturdy foundation for the island’s future and show everyone what Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can accomplish,” he said.

The Committee is now carrying out work on secular sites, such as Famagusta’s perimeter walls, including the famous Othello Tower.

“This type of intervention can contribute even more to uniting people,” said Tuncay, noting that “for decades the protection of Cyprus’ cultural heritage was an issue of division, often used for propaganda reasons.”

He also stressed that restoration is bringing to light forgotten works and structures, such as a fresco discovered in a church of the Büyükkonuk/Kom Kebir village, and a water cistern in the Othello Tower.

 

The UK is among the countries financing the UNDP work in Cyprus.
Photo by Clarissa Bell

The Apostolas Andreas restoration is being overseen by architect and restoration expert Diomidis Miriantheas of Patra University. The UN has awarded the tender for restoring the monastery to Greek Cypriot company Fixico Constructions and Turkish Cypriot Yakup’s Company, Tel-Za Construction Ltd.

Nalân Burgess and her Rude Boys

Nalân Burgess as Yaz with co-star Jazzie Zonzolo in the BBC's Rude Boys

CULTURE / TELEVISION

A young Turkish Cypriot actress shines in a new comedy for the BBC. Nalân Burgess plays Yaz Yıldız, the cool younger sister of Bolts, one of four Rude Boys.

Described as “an East End version of The InBetweeners”, the comedy pilot for BBC3 homes in on the embarrassing antics of four friends from multi-ethnic backgrounds as they try to fit into the social circles around them that include both ‘bad boys’ and ‘hipsters’.

Rude Boys - a new multi-ethnic comedy pilot for the BBC

Directed by Ben Gosling-Fuller and produced by Sam Bryant, Rude Boys stars Jazzie Zonzolo (best known for his leading role in Anuvahood), who plays Jazzie and is also the principal writer of the show. The lines are thick, fast and funny. An exchange between Bolts (Amir El-Masry) and Sajid (Harman Singh) is typical of the banter between the boys:

"Your dad worked in a kebab shop."
"Yeah, cooking for terrorists." 

In an interview with NotListening, Nalân said: “I think the originality of Rude Boys gives a true representation of the ethnic mix in London. Every one of us in the cast are friends with people from multiple backgrounds, and it's not often you see that on TV.”

Yaz, Bolts and their on-screen father, played by Mem Ferda, represent a British Turkish Cypriot family. Yaz is the object of Jazzie’s affection and a party held in the Yıldız family home does not go to plan, deteriorating rapidly just as papa Yıldız walks in. The Turkish references may not be entirely accurate, but as the upcoming actress told T‑VINE: “It’s brilliant to see Turkish actors doing well, as well as Turkish roles being written.”

Mem Ferda plays Papa Yıldız in Rude Boys

Rude Boys received a good reception when it was first released in July, entering the Top 20 Most Popular shows on the BBC iPlayer in its first week. You can watch the 18-minute pilot online as part of the BBC’s Comedy Feeds section until June 2015. The more views and public support, the greater the chance the show could be commissioned by the BBC for a full series.

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About Nalân Burgess

Nalân comes from a creative background. She was born and raised in North London by a Turkish Cypriot mother – also an actress who recently appeared BBC’s Casualty and a soon-to-be-released film by Idris Elba – and a music teacher father who is English. Nalân studied English, Drama & Education Studies at Cambridge University, and has been acting professionally since she graduated in 2010. 

Now aged 25, she has built up her experience in theatre, both musicals and plays, as well as appearing in various short films and music videos. In the past year, she has appeared in two British feature films: He Who Dares and Essex Boys Retribution. Watch this space! We’re sure Nalân will continue on her path to acting stardom.