your papers please
Going back and forth between the two sides of Nicosia has become easier. You can simply walk across the main border crossing, show your papers, and then depending on where you are from you will have to fill-out a visa formulare. However, you do not have to buy a visa. You simply fill-out the form, and then the border guard stamps it on the way in. When you leave the Republic of Northern Cyprus for the Greek Cypriot side, you simply show the visa which you were issued, they check your name in their computer, and you proceed across the border. I was not checked on the Greek Cypriot side. Apparently, you do not want them to stamp your passport as the two sides are still technically at war. That means you might have problems when you want to re-enter Cyprus or when you use your passport to apply for a Greek Cypriot work or living permit. Therefore, the Turks will stamp a piece of paper...
