In the early 1990's, North Cyprus (or the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus as declared since 1983) was marketed by its tourist board as "A corner of Earth touched by Heaven". This referred to its variety of unspoilled hill walks, its ancient olive groves, its myriad display of wild flowers in Springtime, its reputation as a spotting place for migratory birds in spring and autumn and its uncrowded beaches, some with well-preserved turtle nesting sites. By Jim Roche, lecturer in architecture at DIT.