Hilda and Nina on holiday in Cyprus

Nina (a cis woman) and I (a trans woman) have known each other for over thirty years and when just over two years ago I decided that I would be much happier and at ease with myself if I dressed and presented as female, Nina was a tower of strength and support. We decided to go on holiday together in Cyprus and to stay at the Arkin Palm Beach Hotel Gazimagosa, Kibris; a hotel where Nina had very much enjoyed staying before. So, we booked two rooms with sea views for the last week in September.

Then another friend advised that I ought to check out how LGBTQ+ friendly Northern Cyprus was before arriving as Hilda Ruth. This seemed like sound advice, so I telephoned the hotel some months before our trip. I was put through to reception and explained that although I had booked the room in a male name, the one currently on my passport, and I preferred to dress and present as female. I hoped that this would not be a cause of any difficulty. There was silence at the other end of the phone and then the receptionist asked if I could repeat myself. I did to which the receptionist replied that he would need to transfer my call to the manager which he did. I explained the situation again and the manager said that he would have to talk to the local chief of police and that he would get back to me. In my mind I could see the holiday disappearing. Twenty minutes later he phoned back and told me that his police contact had said that cross dressing was not a crime in Northern Cyprus but that I should remember that this was a family hotel, and he would not want to see any nudity. I reassured him on that front explaining that I wanted to dress and present as a woman.

Reassured, Nina and I made our plans and flew into Larnaca Airport on 21^st September. Nina has a friend, Kay (a cis woman) who lives some of the time in a village near the hotel and she had arranged for us to be picked up and driven across the border to the hotel. There were no difficulties; the two passport checks went without a hitch. We had a wonderful time!

We're on half board so a very substantial breakfast was in order inclusive of a variety of cheeses and salad, an omelet along with croissants and coffee leaving absolutely no room for lunch. Evening meal is equally grand with salad type starters, several choices of mains, and desserts to die for. All this on a cafeteria help yourself basis.

The entire staff at the hotel was delightful! They were always courteous, polite, and accepting as were the other guests staying there as well.  The lady who did my room admired my collection of wigs and most of the staff called me 'Madam'. And the evenings were balmy so we could sit out on the terrace, watch the bats that flitted around the balconies, shoot the breeze and see the stars.

We spent most days relaxing on the beach and swimming but found time for a visit to some local ruins and then a shopping trip to Famagusta followed by a wonderful evening in Kay’s village during which villages re-enact a traditional wedding ceremony wearing traditional clothes and playing traditional music along with traditional dancing and performances. I was invited by one of the male performers to join him in the traditional dancing.

Nina and I are already planning to return to this very same place next year!

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Thank you so very much for taking the time to read my article. Now please take the time to leave a response to either my article or one of my questions I’ve posed to you below:

• Have you ever planned a vacation far from your home in another country with a girl and you presenting yourself as a woman for the very first time?
• How did the trip/vacation affect your confidence?
• Could you hardly wait to go on the next vacation dressed as a woman?

Sincerely, Hilda