28th May 2009 We set off from Kyrenia in the morning, driving along the north coast road, with a slight detour via the Pentadactylos range affording stunning views out to the northern shores and southern plains. It is a long arduous road along the north side and I begin to see why people from Kyrenia prefer to use the highway running east from Nicosia and then turn up north again. We arrived in Dipkarpas at 3.10pm and 5 minutes later checked in to our prearranged accommodation at the Oasis, Ay Philon about 5km or so north of the town of Dipkarpas. We were accommodated in one of the more expensive rooms, with en suite shower and wc, set off to one side. These are priced at YTL100 (€45 approx) and consist of a single room with a bed, complete with mosquito net and wc/shower in one corner, basic but fully functional. The cheaper accommodation is YTL15 cheaper and occupants share a communal shower block at the end, probably better for childless couples/singles. We settled in, had a swim on the sandy beach there and then went for a fresh fish dinner, which was delicious. Afterward, we went for a drive to the Golden Sands beach, so that Elena and Kyle could have a sneak peek, before returning to the hotel for a cup of tea before bed.
29th May 2009 We got up, had a lovely breakfast and went for a walk to a nearby sandy beach. Kyle and dad had a dip there and dad went for a little snorkel, but there was nothing much of great note. Afterwards we went back to the hotel, packed and left for the very end of the ‘pan handle’ of the peninsular. We posed for some pics beside the two enormous flags there and then took a look at the very ‘underwhelming’ St Andreas Monastery. Next we pottered down to Hasan’s Turtle Beach, where we checked ourselves in and set up tent ready for the night, before taking a look at the enormous and beautiful Golden Sands beach, where we swam, snorkelled, sunbathed and even walked for miles. We wandered to the visible end of the beach some couple of kilometres south and up onto a high sand dune which, as it turned out was ideal for rolling down! We strolled back again and collected our belongings from the beach where we’d left them and returned to the campsite, where we had a simple meal at the café. It took a fair while coming, so we were quite hungry before it had arrived, but nevertheless we were satisfied and duly scuttled off to bed afterward. Sleep was a bit intermittent, what with all the wildlife chirruping until the early hours, but some sleep was still had nonetheless.
