Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios House

It's always fun to see how the other 1% lived, no matter what century. In Nicosia, Cyprus, you can head to the Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios House and check out how the rich businessman hung, way back in the 1700s.

The Big House, from the street.

Living area and alcove overlooking the street.

Hallway.

Bedroom details.

The coolest room in the house, the hangout space.

The Cyprus Pensioners

The town of Nicosia is full of pensioners, retired men, socializing their days away.

A little time for a sidewalk coffee.

Or a smoke at a cafe.

What's happening in this shop? Card playing.

Another cafe, a beer and a smoke.

Pensioner's lunch.

Mosques Of Nicosia

With Cyprus now divided - Greeks to the South, Turks in the North - many of the mosques on the Greek side have now been abandoned. In Nicosia, there's still a functioning Mosque on the Greek side as well as a large mosque in the Turkish half.

The main mosque in Greek Nicosia, Omeriye.

Inside.

Details.

Wandering to the Turkish side, the main place of worship is the Selimiye mosque. The present mosque was originally built as a gothic cathedral, started in 1209. Once the Ottomans took over, Saint Sophia became a mosque in 1570.

Mosque on the outside.

Plenty of Gothic touches still apparent on the inside.

Splashes of color.

The Wood Shops Of Nicosia, Cyprus

For some reason, many wood-working shops are crammed next to each other in a corner of Nicosia. If you don't like what one cabinet maker is doing, just pop into the next stall. How to tell them apart, as they trip into wood abstraction?

A Bright Morning In Nicosia

The Mediterranean sun has its own, unique hue and splashes it over Nicosia in Cyprus. As it's rising, the glow creeps into all sorts of spaces.

The United Nations Buffer Zone In Nicosia, Cyprus

If you're nostalgic for some Cold War-era barriers, head to the city of Nicosia, Cyprus and take a walk through its no man's land - the buffer zone between Greek Cyprus and the northern part of the Island occupied by the Turks.

Nicosia sits along the buffer zone and is a divided city, complete with barriers. No Berlin wall; mostly just a hodgepodge of barrels.

The buffer zone, no entry except for established crossing sites. And no life in whole neighborhoods, swallowed by the conflict.

Barriers marking the zone. Hastily placed, slowly augmented.

Life goes on along the line.

A delicate cafe abuts the zone. An instant dead end street.

Mural and grass to add a little class.

A business abutting the barrier. Reading by the barrels.

The sun setting and rust building, breaking down the barrels and signs of how long the barriers have been there.