Sorry for the delay all! I’ve been seriously into research, and as my parents will attest to, I’ve been stressing out a bit about it because of the short time frame that I have left. Regardless, I’ve seen some incredible things and met some fascinating people, each of which are bringing me closer to Cyprus and its issues.
The other day we were at the Byzantine museum (connected to the Archbishops palace) watching the process of 3-D documentation of each of the museums pieces. They were using cameras that shot from different angles and a projector that placed a series of lines on the item to show the contours. Very cool stuff, and allows the pieces to be permanently stored (visually at least). We were introduced to the director of the museum who was very interested in our research. (In case I haven’t already mentioned, there is another student here, Mike, who is researching similar topics to mine but specifically focusing on the monuments directly connected to and within the Buffer Zone). He told us that only a few days ago, there was an agreement that has promised the eventual renovation of the two main churches that have been swallowed by the UN-controlled buffer zone. He believed that as architecture students and American citizens, we have a better chance than most for an entrance application to go through. Immediately we were excited, but realized that it is a bit harder than it sounds.
Today we went to the US embassy to seek some guidance. The man at the front gate of the fortified embassy was not very much help, so we went straight to the place that we thought we would have to… The UN base in Cyprus at the Ledra Palace Hotel (formerly one of the most beautiful hotels in all the island and now a military barracks) in the Buffer Zone to the Office of Civil Affairs. The man we were introduced to (from Bosnia) gave us the number of a woman that would take in our application and listen to our proposal. He said that if she finds it worthy, we will have the opportunity to enter the abandoned core of the old city (escorted by armed UN soldiers of course) to look at the churches of St. George and St. Jacob, which was at one time a monastery.
The former hotel now has bullet holes in the walls from the war. The rooms are used as offices and housing of the soldiers during the peacekeeping efforts between sides Cyprus. Walking into the hotel at first seems to be a place of luxury, but once at the front desk with UN soldiers you are quick to realize the sad reality that is the division of this beautiful island...
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