‘They speak English, drive on the left and even have chippies': Britain's enduring legacy in Cyprus
Britain's legacy in Cyprus was evident as soon as I turned out of the airport. The busy road was lined with signs urging 'Drive on the Left!'
'We're part of the EU, so people think we drive on the right here. You wouldn't believe the number of accidents on the road from the airport – we call it death row,' Giorgos at the car hire company told me.
A British protectorate from 1878 to 1914, occupied from 1914 to 1925 and finally a Crown Colony, Britain relinquished control over Cyprus in 1960. As a condition of the handover, however, they kept two Sovereign Base areas: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Covering roughly three per cent of the island, they are among the 14 surviving British Overseas Territories, alongside the likes of Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands and (for now) the British Indian Ocean Territory.
'They are in our country but they have their own laws, their own schools – they even have their own police force, reporting to the UK's Ministry of Defence,' Cypriot friend Vassiliki explained to me the following day as we drove past miles of barbed-wire fence separating us from Akrotiri, with its golden beaches and salt flats flecked with pink flamingos.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful seaside town crowned one of the best in Europe for major feature
The small market town of Lymington in Hampshire has been named as one of the best in Europe - and it's perfect for foodies looking for the best seafood in the continent This small British seaside town has been awarded as one of the best in Europe thanks to it's delicacies. During the summer the market town of Lymington comes alive as it holds the annual Seafood Festival showcasing the best of the English south coast. Nestled in the south east of England, Lymington in Hampshire has earned it's spot on the map when it comes to foodie hotspots. For three sunny July days, Lymington is abuzz with bustling street food vendors, live music, and entertainment Named on the global travel site Big 7 Travel, Lymington was included in the Top 25 Best Summer Food Festivals in Europe, providing inspiration for foodie travellers who want to enjoy some of the best local food cuisines. Lymington was also crowned by Which? as one of the UK's top seaside towns to visit, boasting awe-inspiring sea views of the Needles in the Isle of Wight and picturesque Georgian properties. Although it lacks a beach, it compensates with a nature reserve, a hidden lagoon, and a seawater bathing spot, reports Surrey Live. So instead of jetting off in the hope of some good food, Lymington is the perfect destination. The boutique festival is crammed full of epic street food and pretty much every fishy delight to sample across the three days. Visitors can graze their way around 80 different food stalls, with seafood at the forefront of each vendor from locally sourced garlicky prawns to zingy fish tacos, as well as meat, vegetarian and vegan options too. There is also the Chefs Stage which hosts the very best local chefs showcasing local seafood and local produce from the region all while visitors can learn their secrets and tricks in the kitchen. For those who enjoy cooking, the Cookery School invites guests to brush up on their skills, as the local chefs put on masterclasses. Once you're full up, you can make the most of being by the seaside and seeing some of the nearby beaches as here are lots close by. The closest sandy beaches to Lymington include Lepe Beach, Highcliffe Beach, Steamer Point Beach, Friars Cliff Beach and Avon Beach. Other close beaches that are shingle beaches include Milford on Sea and Barton on Sea. To get there, Lymington has its own railway station. Mainline trains link London Waterloo to nearby Brockenhurst, there's then a short journey by train or bus to Lymington. Regular bus services with Bluestar connect Lymington from Bournemouth and Southampton. There is a regular ferry service from the Isle of Wight offered by Wightlink ferries. The festival will run this year from, July 11 to July 13, 2025.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Chilling last CCTV sighting of Brit before he vanished from holiday Airbnb
Denis Kopanev, 33, was wearing a dark-coloured baseball cap, a white shirt, and a matching beige jacket and trousers when he left his holiday let in Rio de Janeiro on Monday A British tourist who mysteriously vanished from his Airbnb while on holiday in Brazil was last seen leaving the property on CCTV. Denis Kopanev left his accommodation on Monday and hasn't been seen or heard from since. CCTV cameras filmed him leaving the home wearing beige jacket and trousers, a dark baseball cap, and a white shirt. He also appeared to carry a small bag. The last-known footage of the holidaymaker has been since shared on social media by Brazil media. The 33-year-old, who is Russian with British citizenship, was staying at a condominium in the trendy neighbourhood of Gávea in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Friends and family members have not heard from him since Monday. Denis, who works as a financial analyst in London, was supposed to travel to São Paulo the following day to meet an American friend. They were then planning to travel together to Fernando de Noronha, a volcanic archipelago about 215 miles off Brazil's north-eastern coast. The last location on his phone was at the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon near his accommodation in Rio. Denis never checked out of the property and his passport and belongings were left in the room. His disappearance was registered at the police station on Wednesday. According to his best friend Benone Moura, Denis loved Brazil and visited the country often, including as recently as six months ago. The friend said he never travelled without letting his friends and family know beforehand. Moura said he last spoke with him at around 5pm on Sunday. Family members contacted the British Embassy and filed a report, but have yet to receive any news. The case is being investigated by the Rio de Janeiro Whereabouts Discovery Unit (DDPA). Denis isn't the first Brit to go missing in Brazil in recent months. Journalist Charlotte Alice Peet, 32, was missing for four months, before she was found in a São Paulo hostel, when it was reported that she had admitted she didn't want to be in contact with her family, and the case was then closed by the local authorities. She is said to have told a pal she was in São Paulo on February 8, and planning to go to Rio de Janeiro, before her family stopped hearing from her, and quickly reported her missing. She was located by authorities using data from her phone.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I stayed at the English beach holiday park following its £15million makeover with a massive waterpark and soft-play
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 'WOW, this is the best house ever,' scream my two kids. While their reactions slightly rile me — having just decorated both their bedrooms back home — I can see where they are coming from. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Enjoying a stroll along the beach Credit: Supplied 4 We had buckets of fun at Splash Waterpark, only 50 yards or so from our lodge Credit: Supplied For starters, our eight-man Platinum lodge at Unity Beach in Somerset has a hot tub — and it comes complete with undisturbed views of Brean's windswept coastline and a clear sky at night. Everything inside is sleek and stylish, with a statement electric fireplace in the centre and Scandi-style wooden furniture that makes the place look more like a fancy prize draw house than a holiday park lodge. I was staying there with my partner Bianca and two little ones, Frank, six, and Pearl, four. The fun-packed resort has recently been redeveloped as part of a £15million 'Comes Alive in 25' campaign and was reopened only last month, backed by The One Show host Alex Jones. The presenter said: 'There's a misconception that British seaside parks are outdated. Unity Beach proves that's no longer true.' I can't argue with her. Even though there was so much to do at the 240-acre resort, we could easily have spent a few hours relaxing in our new home. As well as a decking area with hot tub, it included a spacious lounge with a giant TV (as well as televisions in every bedroom), a fully-fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, plus two more twin rooms. The lodges are really close to most of the activities and restaurants, too. These include the new Wonky Donkey, which serves brekkie and pub grub such as scampi, lasagne and burgers, and the Sports Cafe, where kids can play arcade favourites and cutting-edge VR games in between bites of pizza, while adults watch live sport on the large screens. Top Seashore Holiday Parks for Family Fun There's also the revamped Pavilion Theatre, where guests can tuck into wings, loaded fries and kid-sized lighter bites all while watching live game shows and tribute acts. And with a proper kitchen in our lodge, we could always mix it up with a takeaway from the on-site chippy or Chinese. Then there's the retro-decorated RJ's, which offers American diner-style classics such as pizzas, wings and build-your-own burgers. And with a proper kitchen in our lodge, we could always mix it up with a takeaway from the on-site chippy or Chinese. When we weren't sampling all the food, we had buckets of fun at Splash Waterpark, only 50 yards or so from our lodge. It costs extra to visit (from £3.25pp) but it's well worth it, with a kids' pool, play areas and plenty of slides. Ninja Zone The pre-booked 90-minute pool sessions were just enough for our two, although bigger kids, who can go on all the flumes, might want to stay longer. Despite tearing around the pool for an hour and a half, Frank and Pearl couldn't wait to go straight to Brean Play indoor soft play afterwards. If one thing's guaranteed to tire them out, it's soft play. The area includes the Ninja Zone, with a challenging obstacle course for older kids, and a state-of-the-art ball court with an interactive screen that lets kids play all manner of games. If that's not enough, there's also the Brean Theme Park, which was again just yards from our lodge. And I could see why our kids were so desperate to go. The park has a great mix of rides for kids of all ages as well as adults. Thankfully, Bianca was happy to take Frank on the scarier rollercoasters while I made sure Pearl was OK on the carousels. You'll have to pay extra for entry, but Unity guests get discounted wristbands meaning it won't end up costing a fortune. Unity is not all about the kids, though. Adults can have their fair share of fun at the 18-hole golf course. Whatever you end up doing, there's a good chance you'll finish your day in the hot tub, soaking up all the memories. Or they might want to try their hand at new must-play sport padel, with Unity being home to Somerset's only two courts. We barely had enough time to try everything within the resort, let alone to venture out. 4 The fun-packed resort has recently been redeveloped as part of a £15million 'Comes Alive in 25' campaign backed by The One Show host Alex Jones, above at Unity Beach Credit: Supplied 4 The nearby Bream Theme Park was is winner for kids Credit: Supplied But for those keen to explore the area, Weston-super-Mare, Burnham pier and Cheddar Gorge are all nearby. However, try to make it back in time for the evening entertainment, which includes discos and parties for the little ones, games shows and entertainers. Whatever you end up doing, there's a good chance you'll finish your day in the hot tub, soaking up all the memories. And you'll certainly be grateful for those comfy beds, too.
