Hello from Nicosia, Cyprus, the world's last divided capital city. A U.N.-controlled, no-man's land is the buffer zone that separates the Greek-dominated southern section of the ancient city from an area that's been under Turkish control since 1974.

The buffer zone, neglected and left the way it was 31 years ago, looks more ominous than it really is. Life on either side of the border goes on normally, with cafes selling rose-flavored ice cream and foreign exchange windows operating within a few feet of the barriers.

Tourists can now visit both sides of Nicosia safely with no problems. Travel back and forth across the two borders, previously restricted by the Greek Republic of Cyprus, was eased after the country joined the European Union last year.

— Carol Pucci, Seattle Times travel writer.