The focus this month was to focus on the IBRG CYBEX-24 expedition in September/October 2024. The aim of CYBEX-24 was to visit as many POI’s along the buffer zone as possible within a 6 day visit, recognising that there would be POI’s left over for another trip. We focused on the buffer zone from the outside in Nicosia, visited exclaves, hunted for SBA markers and visited the highest and most north easternmost point on the island. In addition we visited 4 border crossings and the ghost city of Varosha. A fast moving fun filled trip.

New Pages

15 new pages this year on border POI’s in Cyprus. Please click on the images below to access full reports with maps, analysis and photos.

• A report on the walk along the southern edge of the buffer zone in Nicosia, with fences, barricades, block roads and glimpses on the inaccessible buffer zone. Discovering the Yellow Car and Blue Tractor for the first time. UN and Greek Cypriot bases against the backdrop of TRNC and Turkish flags. Details here.
• A walk along the northern edge of the buffer zone in Nicosia with a particular focus on the wide western section. Details here.
• A report on the central crossing point on Ledra Street. It was amazing to contrast this with my last time here in 2001. Such a contrast when walking across. Details here
• A report on the Ledra Palace Crossing Point, with its famous hotel and long walk between checkpoints and across the buffer zone.
• A report on the Astromerits – Zodhia Border Crossing, maps and photos of both sides and the UN buffer zone. Details here
• A report on the Limnitis – Kato Pyrgos Border Crossing, maps and photos of both sides and the UN buffer zone. Details here
• A report on the visit to the TRNC pene exclave of Kokkina. A journey along E704 viewing the Turkish military base, UN OP’s, TRNC and RoC bases and blocked access roads. A fascinating place. Details here.
• A report on the visit to Mount Olympus the highest point in Cyprus. The summit is capped by a NATO monitoring station and closed to the public. Details here
• A report on the borders of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, the British Overseas Territories on the island of Cyprus which record the border markers in several places. Details here  
• A report on the Pergamos border checkpoint which is interesting as it is a SBA/UK border with the north, maps and photos of both sides. Details here
• A report on Pyle one of only four villages located within the United Nations Buffer Zone. The village is special in the respect that it is the only settlement in Cyprus still inhabited by both its original Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot inhabitants. Details here
• A report on Pergamos a Turkish Cypriot village almost surrounded by the British Sovereign Base Area (SBA) at Dhekelia. A divided mosque, checkpoints between the village and the TRNC, blocked streets, and a divided sports field. Details here.
• A report on Xylotomous one of the four enclaves surrounded by the Eastern Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Several border markers were observed. Details here.
• Dhekelia Power Station is located in a divided exclave (by a SBA road), many border markers on the edges of the exclave. Details here.
• CYUKUNe is an administrative tripoint where the Republic of Cyprus, the SBA(e) and UN Buffer Zone meet. Details here.

Updated Pages

4 updated pages reflecting my recent visit to Cyprus. Please click on the images below to access full reports with maps, analysis and photos.

• 1) Additional links and photos added to the IBRG page details here.
• 2) Additional links and photos added to the Oddities and Extremities page, with the highest and most NE point of Cyprus added. Details here.
• Additional links and photos added to the Enclaves and Exclaves page Details here.
• Update to the Cyprus country page with new photos, reports and links to individual POI’s. Details here.