A World Away

The Nicosia International Airport was once the primary airport on the island of Cyprus however today sites in a derelict state. The airport was originally opened by the Royal Air Force of Britain however began accepting joint civilian flights to the island in 1948 which soon became a booming success and the airport had to be expanded several times over the next few decades to accommodate the increased traffic. The military eventually left the site due to the need of space by the commercial sector. Plans were being made to expand the airport again in June 1974 to accept the largest of commercial airplanes at that time.

Unfortunately these plans would never be carried through as Greek nationalists ousted the president of Cyprus in July 1974 which forced the airport to close and not to reopen until the 18th of July 1974. Tourists and foreign nationals panicked as they tried to secure passage off the island until on the 20th of July 1974 when Turkey invaded Cyprus and bombed the airport closing it permanently. Since that day the airport has remained closed to civilian traffic.

Today the airport is the main base of operations for the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in Cyprus and is located in the buffering zone between the sides of the island controlled by Turkey and the Greeks. The once bright future of the island as a tourism hub was cut short by the tragedy of a war that has left the island and its people divided. Airports are a symbol and gateway to the world, they are the first and last thing most people see when visiting a country, however the gates of Nicosia International Airport may have been closed for good.

Beauty Forgotten

Union Station Ottawa

Ottawa went from being a small logging town to the nations capital suddenly and this meant Ottawa had a bright future in store. However the city was lacking in almost every necessity of a capital city and it wasnt long before a proper train station, known as Union Station, would be built right in the heart of Ottawa a short distance from Parliament Hill. Union Station served for years welcoming incoming trains of foreign dignitaries and even royalty and sits today on the iconic Confederation Square, just across the street from the famous Chateau Laurier. Construction was completed in 1912, the same year as the completion of the Chateau Laurier and stood a monument amongst the smaller petty buildings from before the government moved to the city.

 The inside of Union Station is full of towering columns and arched ceilings with windows two stories tall. The halls are replicas of the roman baths of Caracalla. The grandeur of this station has not been enough to save it however and due to the issues of trains running through downtown, it wasn't long before the station was closed and condemned to be demolished in 1966. Luckily the federal government purchased the structure to be the center piece of the 1967 centennial celebrations in the city and later converted it to a convention center for government use. It held the G20 as well as many other foreign heads of state in years past however sits today empty and as an abandoned status building due to the construction of the new convention center in Ottawa.

 The future of the building isn't clear as proposals to add it to the new transit system fell through when the government refused to sell the structure. No plans are currently on the table for the building and this iconic ottawa building is still in danger of falling into neglect in the coming years. Union Station still has no heritage status despite being over 100 years old and sits on some of the most valuable real estate in the city. Fears of potential buyers who would demolish the site is a possibility especially if the building becomes damaged due to neglect in the following years. Only time will tell exactly what has in store for this beautiful structure, for now its future is anything but certain.