The ghost city of Cyprus

Once a tourist destination rivalling Spain's Marbella and Majorca, this southern part of the ancient port city of Famagusta has been a virtual ghost town since 1974.

About 15,000 largely Greek Cypriot inhabitants fled after Turkish troops invaded the island - an attack launched in response to a coup attempt by Greek nationalists aiming to adjoin the island to Greece.

Turkish forces occupied Varosha, but then withdrew, putting up a ring of barbed wire and barricades around it. For 32 years, it has stood empty, save for the odd Turkish guard post, group of sunbathing officers and stray cat.

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Turkey's Anti-Americanism

The American reaction to these outrageous pogroms reflect the misguided support for Turkey over the period of many decades. In additon, Turkey invaded Cyprus during the summer of 1974 under the guise of upholding the accords which established the independence of Cyprus in 1959 and occupied thirty seven percent of Cyprus.

Over 200,000 Greek Cypriots were ethnically cleansed as many young girls were raped by Turkish soldiers. To date, over 1,600 Greek Cypriots remain missing. The Turkish invasions of Cyprus have been presiding over the Islamicization of the island. Greek Orthodox Monasteries dating to the Byzantine era are either being converted into Mosques or destroyed. In April 2004, there was a referendum held in the free and occupied parts of Cyprus. The citizens of the free parts of Cyprus voted against the United Nations plan that would have in effect sealed the Turkish occupation and denies native Cypriots such basic rights as freedom of movement.

The American news media failed to distinguish between the Republic of Cyprus which is the legal authority over the whole of Cyprus but which controls only sixty three percent of the island Republic, and the occupied parts of Cyprus which remain under the control of the Turkish military. Greek Cypriots voting in free Cyprus were blamed while "Turkish Cypriots" were praised for allegedly accepting the U.N. Plan.

The reality is that the referendum in the Republic of Cyprus was conducted in a free atmosphere while the referendum in the occupied territories took place under the auspices of 30,000 Turkish soldiers and with the participation of 100,000 Turkish settlers from Anatolia who have no Cypriot origins. The Plan of U.N. Secretary General Annan for Cyprus was intended to legitimize the Turkish occupation, but the Greek majority of Cyprus apparently irritated Annan and his supporters by practicing democracy.

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Books > A personal view of Beirut

In Abraham Firestone March's book, "To Beirut and Back: An American In The Middle East," published in May, the former Dover resident writes of his time as a naive but aggressive businessman in a place, time and culture that intrigued, irritated and sometimes terrified him: Lebanon and the Middle East during the 1970s.The book includes his family's travels through Canada, Greece, Germany and finally to Lebanon. While there, he was robbed and kidnapped during a civil war. He left the country in 1974 because of financial trouble but returned a year later.

March's story starts with his excitement, determination and admiration for the beauty of his surroundings. But fear of the unknown was also an underlying emotion. With Lebanon now in the crossfire of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah fighters, March, now living in Germany, agreed to a question-and-answer session via e-mail.

Read the interview at > A personal view of Beirut

Sea coral designs branch into home furnishings

In some cultures, coral has been revered since early civilization. For the ancient Greeks, it was a symbol of rebirth based on the myth of the beheading of Medusa, when her gushing blood is said to have changed into coral on contact with the sea. The Chinese consider it a symbol of social status and wealth, and look to it for protection, happiness and even eternity. Coral is considered an amulet for a blissful marriage and for preventing fever, smallpox and failed pregnancy.

Myths, symbols and superstitions aside, there are other reasons to love coral's linear patterns and characteristic hues as well as its shapes. At its most vivid end of the orange-red spectrum, the color is electric, especially in neutral spaces. But it also may co-exist in startling combinations with other brights, such as cobalt blue or lime green.

Coral's organic roots, of course, are savored as design elements based in nature. The intrinsic twisting, branching form is intriguing, whether it is expressed in an all-over pattern or small sprays. Veining on white is almost startling, while some coral networks are more like tendrils on a vine.

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Greeks at home on Aquidneck Island

This is the second of an eight-part series looking at various ethnic groups that helped build Aquidneck Island's past and will help shape its future. June's installment focused on the Hispanic community. Today: the Greek community.

Peter and Harry Kyriakides remember the day they first laid eyes on Johnny's Atlantic Beach Club. As they drove into the parking lot of the restaurant on Purgatory Road in Middletown, they knew this was it - the place that would change it all. But they also knew that would not happen without hard work, something for which the brothers and their Greek ancestors are known. Today, nearly 30 years later, the beach club has shortened its name, but not its reputation. It's known as a place to get a high-quality meal or socialize with friends over a Red Sox game in the bar. The brothers also run several successful hotels in the area and are planning a major renovation to one of them.

But that's not the thing of which they are most proud. Rather, the Kyriakides say they're happy they've been accepted into the community and feel like they've made a positive change as a part of Aquidneck Island.

Read more at > TRACING OUR ROOTS: Greeks at home on Aquidneck Island

Mexican vacation turns into horror among 'The Ruins'

Scott Smith's latest novel, "The Ruins," really grows on you.

When two couples head to Cancun, Mexico, to celebrate graduating from college with a three-week vacation, they're looking forward to nothing but lazy days on the beach. On a snorkeling outing to Cozumel one day, they meet Mathias, a friendly German tourist who winds up hanging out with the Americans on the beach at the end of each day. A few days later they are joined by a trio of young Greek men also on vacation. The Greeks don't speak or understand English - but that's not a necessary skill for drinking buddies to bond.

Mathias confides in his new American friends - Jeff, Amy, Eric and Stacy - that his younger brother, Heinrich, is missing. Heinrich had met a girl on the beach and told Mathias he wanted to join her at the archeological dig where she was working a few small towns away. He told Mathias if things went well, he might not be back in time for their return flight.

But yes, please go on and read the rest of this book review at > Mexican vacation turns into horror among 'The Ruins'

Collector's Corner: Collectible Perfume Bottles

Scented oils and resins, and the vessels which held them, have existed since the dawn of history. The Mesopotamians and Egyptians, like the Greeks and Romans who followed, burned incense during religious and civic ceremonies, and anointed their bodies with perfumed oils, ointments, and cosmetics. And of course, it was necessary to create special containers for those products.

Egyptian tombs have yielded containers made of pottery and alabaster, while archaeological excavations throughout the Mediterranean region have unearthed ceramic and glass containers made by the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans. Venetian and Murano glass makers made what are considered some of the most exquisite perfume bottles in the 16th and 17th centuries A.D., while the British mastered enamel and porcelain in the 18th.

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