My Favourite Place: Leyla {North Cyprus}

Good afternoon everyone. Today we have Leyla from Motherhood Diaries on the blog to tell us all about her favourite place. You can also find Leyla on Twitter and Instagram so make sure you go over and say hi 🙂

Tell me a little bit about yourself…

My name is Leyla Preston, I am 37 and I have two boys aged 6 and 7 years old. I have a background in law, but I gave it all up to have kids and start my own pregnancy and parenting magazine and now a budget food blog called Five for a Fiver where I document 5-ingredient recipes for £5 or less and ways to save money on your shopping bill. I am slowly getting back to law and recently I became a part time Employment and GDPR Consultant for my friend’s employment law consultancy.

Where is your favourite place to visit?

Easily North Cyprus. Easily.

Why do you love it?

Although born and raised in London, my roots are in North Cyprus and I have visited my friends and family there since I was a small baby. It is an untouched half island of natural beauty, perched on the edge of the Mediterranean and literally metres (472km to be exact) apart from Israel. It is steeped in natural history and due to its lack of commercialism, so its beauty is untouched.

Can you describe it for me?

Cyprus as an entire island is beautiful, but as I have rarely been to the South (Greek Cypriots), I can describe the North (Turkish Cypriots) for you. The mountains are majestic, the seas are crystal clear, and you can enjoy sun all year around. The Cypriots are warm, hospitable and family oriented. We love our food, so be prepared for an abundance of it, but in its healthy Mediterranean kind, such as grains, cereals, fresh fruit (especially Babutsa and Incir in August!) vegetables, fish, olive oil and lots of red wine! North Cyprus – and Cyprus in general – is an amalgamation of different races and cultures through history due to its place in the world and the war with the South. However, there is little crime now – some people don’t lock their houses or cars. It’s a safe, relaxed and fun environment. I’ll live there one day.

How often have you visited?

I’ve lost count, but I’d say roughly 25 times?

Would you recommend other people visit and how would you sell it to them?

100% I would. See above in my description. That’s how I would sell it.

Tell me the one place you’d love to visit next and why?

I’d love to visit Rome because I adore everything about the Mediterranean. It’s in my blood 😊

Thanks so much for sharing North Cyprus with us Leyla, it sound like an absolutely beautiful part of the world. We have never been to Cyprus but it is definitely on our list of places that we would like to go. 

If you’d like to be featured then please make sure you get in touch 🙂