This 9.251 sq. km island is the third largest island in the northeastern basin of the Mediterranean. Sitting north of Egypt's Nile Delta, west of Syria and south of Turkey, the population of 754,800 is predominantly Greek. Today the capitol is Nicosia and the residents are Sunni Muslim with a hint of European influence. Under British rule until the 1960 when Britain released its control over the highly sought after colony, Cyprus has sustained countless conquerors over its 9000 year history. Let's start from the beginning.

As far back as I can research, Cyprus has been an important trading post between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The struggle to control the island has been ongoing since the Mycenaean's controlled it. Alexander the Great gained control from the Persians but not long before Ptolemy snatched it from Alexander's grasp. In 58 BC Rome took it over and upheld the island in security and peace until the 17th century when Rome engaged in bickering with Byzantine and some Islamic empires. The list continues in 1191 when Richard the Lionheart tried to conquer the island, the Cypriots however, made his attempt unsuccessful by killing his precious hawk. The Venetians in 1489 and the Ottoman who held control for 300 years before, ultimately, the British gained possession also controlled Cyprus. In 1950 the Cypriots grew tired of being pawns in a countries empire building and in an attempt to become independent guerrilla warfare broke out.

After ten years of fighting, Britain granted independence to Cyprus in 1960, however, civil conflict arouse between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots because of The Turkish Cypriots disagreed with the idea of forming a union with Greece known as enosis. By 1964 after a Greek, Archbishop Markarios was appointed president, violence arouse when strong strides toward enosis was discovered. In 1967, a puppet leader replaced Markarios, while the Turkish Cypriots invaded the third region of the island. The invasion resulted in 180,000 Greek Cypriots to flee from their homes and divided the island in six districts still known today as, the capitol Nicosia, Famagusta, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Kyrenia. Two of the six districts are still controlled by Turkish Cypriots due to an invasion by Turkish troops in 1974.

Out of the divided region, food is also different in most regions. The most famous in every village is the kafenio coffee shops, which are the most important place in each district. The kafenio coffee shops are the central place for communication, meeting with friends and playing the Greek version of backgammon called "Tavli'. Every kafenio shop in each district has its own unique way of making its coffee by the amount of sugar in each cup. Two things that are similar wherever you go in Cyprus is one, kafenio is always served with a glass of cold water and two, Cypriots believe they can read your future from the coffee drains therefore after drinking coffee they turn their cups upside down onto the saucer.

Meze is one of the most famous delicacies being included in 20-30 dishes and fish can be found in any restaurant on the island, don't be surprised if it isn't listed on the menu for the fish is whatever is caught that day. The best fish, Cypriot Trout, can be found in the mountains. One dish that holds some interesting history is a single celebrated dish called kleftiko. In the 19th century Cypriot freedom fighters lived in the mountains and had to prepare their stolen meat so it could not be seen or smelled. It was cleverly baked in closed earthenware pottery that they buried underground under ground thus consuming the meal undetected was a celebration.

Cyprus has Venetian walls, ancient churches, medieval buildings even a pedestrian shopping centre. The city itself has grown around the old walled city where luxurious hotels, restaurants, conference centers and modern wide streets give the capitol a cosmopolitan ambiance.