Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts. Select Month. While Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities shared a long history up to , they are divided by culture , language and above all religion.
After its accession to the EU , Cypriot standards of living in the south shot up. At the same time, north Cyprus had the air of a land left behind, compounded after the turn of the millennium by economic problems imported from mainland Turkey.
However, the Cypriots are nothing if not resilient, and a more optimistic outlook has been noticeable in the last few years. Cypriot society revolves around family life , and it is still common for families to eat together, either at home or in a restaurant, especially on Sundays. It is quite common, at the beach or at picnic areas, to see several cars disgorge extended families, including the elderly, teenagers and children, who proceed to set up barbecues, play music on portable sound systems, and settle in for the day.
There is widespread respect for the elderly , consideration for pregnant women , and indulgence towards children. It is quite common for Cypriots who have only just met strangers to invite them into their homes for a drink always accompanied by a little something to eat or even for a full meal. Sometimes this hospitality and genuine interest in others can seem a trifle intrusive to outsiders β expect to be cross-examined about your family relationships, your profession, even the details of your income.
Cypriots are also lively conversationalists. What may to an outsider sound like a furious argument might well be a perfectly amicable conversation.
