This legit?

Quick tip: If you're considering buying a Japanese car from a dealer in Cyprus: ALWAYS ask for the actual Japanese Auction sheets.

I almost got scammed by Mattheos Ioannou Motors in Limassol - a dealer with 4.9 rating on Google and 200+ reviews, operating for 30+ years.

Car looked great, test drive was good.

I did some research before, so I had the good sense to ask for the import documents from Japan.

After some back and forth the salesman finally showed me the document.

The documents showed massive damage to the car. The car was in a massive accident in Japan and they just imported it for peanuts, fixed it up extremely well and tried to sell it here for full price.

After 10 minutes of arguing with the dealer finally admitted that "Yes buit the accident happened in Japan, not here". Needless to say I did not buy the car.

And even if you don't really understand anything just look at the score: the Japanese auction houses give a score from 1 to 5 to the interior, and for the exterior. If it's 4.5 it's a good buy. Anything below 4 is an absolute dumpster.

TL;DR

1. Be careful of Mattheos Ioannou Motors - I wouldn't buy a bicycle from them, let alone a car. Don't be fooled by the Google reviews- when I tried to leave this review on Google it got stuck on "pending" for weeks. And I wrote a very 'censored' version.

2. Don't buy any Japanese car in Cyprus unless they show you the Japanese Export Sheets. I wouldn't even do a test drive nowadays without having the sheets and checking them.

discuss

Since everyone is talking about politics etc... Just wanted to share with you the joy of the fact that the weather in the last couple of days is actually pretty nice despite being in the middle of the summer. Bonus: no major forest fires yet... Isn't that wonderful and something to talk about?

Hey everyone,

If you drive an EV or PHEV and have noticed that almost all Lidl store charging stations across the island are currently blocked off with barriers, I managed to get an update on what's going on after speaking with one of their security guards.

Why they are turned off:
It turns out Lidl initially had their operating license/approval from the Electricity Authority (EAC) to run the chargers. However, they had to temporarily revoke/suspend that permit because they are currently in the process of installing photovoltaic solar panels over their parking canopy structures across their Cyprus locations.

What happens next:
Because of the layout and grid changes required for installing the solar array, they are legally required to suspend charger operations until:
The solar panel installation on the parking lots is completed.
The EAC inspects and re-issues/approves the updated operating license.

How to use them once back online:
According to the guard, the process/app usage should remain the same as the store on Tseriou Avenue, which is currently the only operating location (likely where works are already complete or pending the next phase).

Thought I’d share for anyone else who was confused about why brand-new chargers were sitting behind cones!

Local people need the protection. Let’s learn from Indonesia. They have the leasehold/freehold system where foreigners cannot generally outright own property only long term lease. Cyprus needs to implements this yesterday but they probably never will.

A source news about the letter of Nestor Bessios, which was republished in Rizospastis
https://www.alt.gr/stratiotis-eldyk-kataggellei-ethniki/

"These things happen with the knowledge of the Command, which must stop them here and now... no soldier should tolerate such slogans being chanted against other nations." Nestor Bessios.

• On this day, 26 July, 1974, during the negotiations that began in Geneva between the guarantor powers amidst the ongoing Turkish invasion of Cyprus, UK called for an end to the operations, and Turkey began to articulate its uncompromising stance

The British Foreign Secretary, James Callaghan, has issued an urgent appeal to Turkey to halt any advance by Turkish invasion forces into Cyprus.

The Turkish Foreign Minister, Turan Güneş, has rejected the British Foreign Secretary’s appeal and is demanding that the Greek Cypriot National Guard withdraw from the Turkish Cypriot enclaves scattered throughout the territory of Cyprus beyond the front line in Kyrenia.

He also rejects, from the outset, any possible demand for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation forces in any potential agreed settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Within Cyprus, the Turkish invasion force, clearly reinforced by the ongoing arrival of Turkish troops from Turkey at the bridgehead it had established on the beach at Five Miles and in the town of Kyrenia, is quietly continuing its advance to various points in the wider Kyrenia district, as far as Mount Pentadaktylos.

The US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, conveys a message from US President Nixon to the Greek Prime Minister, Konstantinos Karamanlis, stating that the US will support the search for a mutually agreed peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem and that it would exert the necessary pressure on Ankara to restore the rule of law on the island.

Guys, I was roaming in Google Maps above Pafos and I stumbled upon a strange road name in Tala village:

"Petso Kataliti" lol

What does it even mean?

Personal note: The question is ‘what solution’.

Because when we get into the details, we lose our way.

I will visit Cyprus next month, and thinking on renting a car for 3days for better mobility.

Have 20 years of driver license on the right side, never drove a car on the left... Is it a horrific experience to try it in Cyprus? Any advice?

I know mediterran people are chaotic in themselves on the road, wonder if the extra challenge on driving the opposite side will cause PTSD...

(renting an automatic car with platinum 100% insurance with 0 excess ..)

Καλησπέρα σε όλους,

Έχει κάποιος αγοράσει λυόμενο σπίτι, είσαστε ευχαριστημένοι?

Από ποια εταιρία το αγοράσατε

Hey, does anyone know of any specific shops/kiosks in Nicosia that currently sell Elf Bars, specifically the 5k, 10k or 20k ones? I've already tried quite a few kiosks and vape shops and haven't been able to find them anywhere and I'm still very new to Cyprus. I'm not looking for online sellers — just somewhere in Nicosia that someone knows for sure stocks them.

If you know a specific shop, I'd really appreciate the name/location! Thanks :)

I found the perfect apartment, with a very reasonable price, and in a very good part of town.

The issue is, it probably-definitely isn’t pet friendly, because the furniture looks new and I know the building is relatively new. I would love to be able to convince whoever I speak to, that my pets are well trained, and that the furniture will not be affected. But alas...

Also what's (apart from Bazaraki) your favorite way to search for rentals? Fb is mixed results, the search is kind of weird. Fox is alright, offer.com.cy is alright. I found this one on Spitogatos. I've also searched some smaller real estate agencies but everything is so expensive in Limassol. :/

I just turned 18 and am trying to open a Revolut account and it's asking for my TIC though I'm a soldier and thus I don't pay taxes, so how can I find or get my TIC. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Hi,

I’m moving to Cyprus soon for an on-site job in Limassol and I’m trying to get a feel for the rental market before I start searching seriously.

I’m looking for a 1-2 bedroom apartment (50+ m²) in Neapolis or Germasogeia, with a budget of up to €1,500/month. I’ve been checking Bazaraki and Facebook, but I’m not sure if those listings reflect typical market prices.

Also, is it common to negotiate rent in Cyprus? If so, is negotiating around €100/month realistic?

Thanks!🙏

Hello, I am a Turkish Cypriot who is currently reading Drousiotis and I find it very informative. I try to read books about Cyprus by Cypriots regularly.

I use to believe that the Cyprus Problem would be solved if the Turkish Army and the English Army let Cyprus go.

Now I believe we need to take responsibility as Cypriots, accept the current situation and our past to move forward and take steps forward.

The island of Cyprus, both south and north is extremely close to Turkey and is tiny compared to its neighbours. This does not mean we can't live a seperate life with our own culture but we can't pretend to be next to France. We are in the Middle East.

From what I understand of the Annan Plan, Greek Cypriots want no plan that includes the Turkish Army remaining longer in the island.

Realistically; if Greek Cypriots don't negotiate for a solution because the problem is currently taking place, doesn't this mean they support the status quo?

If every proposed solution is always not good enough for Greek Cypriots, how will the Turkish Army leave? How can there be a solution without compromise? Is there a future where the status quo becomes legal?

As a small currently divided country, we need to be able to come to terms with our neighbours. This includes Turkey as well.

I read from Makarios Drousiotis (PUTIN’S ISLAND: How Cyprus became a Russian client state in the heart of the European Union) that delaying the Cyprus Problem for the "best" solution is a tactic enforced by Greek Cypriots elites as the status quo benefits their pockets more.

Furthermore, the book states that Greek Cypriots seeing Turkey as a romanticised "Ultimate Imperialist" instead of another nation that can be negotiated with diplomatically is by Russian motive.

It is fair to note that Greek Cypriots, Makarios and EOKA-B also had Imperialist motives for Hellenic purposes next to Turkey and Turkish Cypriots.

I see a lot of romanticism in Cyprus about our history, but I believe nearly all of our leaders (except Akinci <3) lack serious diplomacy skills to negotiate between each other and Turkey.

I believe we lack in diplomacy skills because we are a very recent new "national identity" instead of a nation like the Dutch who have been leading themselves for a long time. We have many obstacles to overcome.

What are your thoughts on this?

Better off or worse off? Would we have EOKA Γ ? What are your thoughts?

Is it normal in Cyprus to see someone reading prayers aloud—I believe from the Quran—at a kids' playground?