Updated 22 May 2003, 10.16

"When I was told that I was going to be filmed by the BBC about the opening of the Green Line, I knew that I would finally visit Kyrenia - the place where my father grew up.

Easy access

It was a place described to me a hundred times and was at the back of all our Greek books.

The Green Line was opened last month and everyone was trying to get through the border.

A UN guard at the Green Line

We went around and saw the reception, the bar and the salt-water swimming pool my great-grandfather was very proud of.

The hotel was right on the sea and the harbour could be seen from all sides.

We then made our way towards my father's house where a Turkish Cypriot woman now lives.

Sad feeling

She let us look around and I didn't know what to feel.

Laura's father's old house in Kyrenia

I was quite sad, someone we knew nothing about was living in my father's old house, but I was happy it was being taken care of.

My father pointed out that the dining room looked almost the same.

Same furniture

The woman had kept my father's table and the chairs that surrounded it.

The kitchen cupboards were also the same.

We then walked up a flight of stairs to the bedroom my father had a child.

We then made our way to Catsellis Street, which was named after my great-grandfather.

Laura and her father take a look inside

All my great-aunts had their houses there, but after the war everyone had to leave their homes.

Overwhelming

It was amazing seeing where I could have been living.

All the houses I'd seen made me a little sad, because if we could live there, the whole family would be living so close to each other.

Overall, I had a fantastic day visiting Kyrenia, even though it was very overwhelming."

Laura, 12, Limassol, Cyprus

Later this week we'll have another report from a Press Packer who travelled from Northern Cyprus to the South for the first time.