At about twenty past ten a siren begins. Not fire engine or ambulance style but penetrating and continuous. Seems to be for a long time - maybe actually two minutes.
This also happened the day before yesterday but then we knew it was commemorating Rauf Denktaş, first president of the TRNC, who died at the time of the siren on January 13, 2012. Turns out the siren today is in honour of Dr Fazıl Küçük, first Vice President of the Republic of Cyprus in the few years between independence and division. He died on January 15, 1984.
Another warm and sunny start today with coffee on the patio. And like yesterday the warmth remains but it clouds over about noon and the mountain temporarily disappears in mist.
The Cyprus Mail provides the bizarre story of the day. A Greek Cypriot cab driver has appeared in court in the North for having crossed from the South with two Nepalese women in the trunk of his taxi. The women - who were also arrested - were apparently planning to fly out of Ercan airport and had paid the driver €200 to be taken across the border. Leaving everything unanswered. Why did they wish to leave from the North? Why could they not cross the border openly? Why, if they wished to leave the island, were they unable to leave from an airport in the South? Questions that will probably never be answered.
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