TURKEY

In Turkey it is said that the visitor is ‘a gift from God’ and the traditional greeting ‘Hos Geldiniz’ means ‘glad you came’. Wherever you go you will be met with smiles, offer of tea and a share of whatever there is to eat and by the time you return home you will be glad you came. Turkey offers spectacular scenery, a colorful culture with fascinating history and unique tradition evident in the incredible monuments and archaeological sites. The shops are full with quality carpets and handicrafts and the restaurants serve a range of delicious foods.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Istanbul  The only city in the world that lies between Europe and Asia, Istanbul truly bridges East and West, past and present and it is without doubt the heartbeat of the Turkish spirit. A sprawling metropolis of over 10 million inhabitants, today Istanbul is a city filled with mosques and cathedrals, palaces and fortresses, luxury stores and covered bazaars, cafes and nightclubs. Istanbul is the home of some of Turkey's world-renowned treasures, Sultan Ahmet Camli (The Blue Mosque), Aya Sophia, Topkapi Saray (Topkapi Palace) and Kalpali Çarsi (Grand Bazaar) with its 4000 shops. It is a remarkable experience cruising and seeing both sides of the Bosphoros – gliding across the Sea of Marmara while watching the rounded brassed and gilded mosques with slender minarets against the blue skies.

Ankara  The capitol of the Turkish Republic, Ankara was once called Angora. The thriving industry of the fine soft hair on Angora goats still thrives. Today, Ankara is primarily a city of ministries, embassies, universities and medical centers.

Izmir  Located on a scenic bay of the Aegean coastline, Izmir is Turkey's second largest port and third largest city. A beautiful, cosmopolitan city, Izmir is often used as a launching point for exploring two of the world's greatest ancient sites - Ephesus and Pergamum.

Pergamum  One of the 7 churches of Asia Minor, Pergamum was the rival of Ephesus in commerce. Home to the famous physician Galen, Pergamum was the city that invented parchment after Egypt cut off the supply of papyrus. Unfortunately, most of the ruins from the Altar of Zeus were taken to Berlin, though the Temple of Trajan, theater and Asclepion still remain.

Aphrodisias  Dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodisias was known throughout the ancient world for its distinctive school of sculpture. Statues from Aphrodisias were discovered everywhere in the Roman world. The classical ruins are numerous and well preserved.

Cappadocia  This extraordinary region lying between Ankara and Mataya, between the black Sea and the Taurus Mountains with its center at Kayseri is known for itsunusual volcanic landscapes where the intricate carvings of nature and man have been recorded for centuries. When invaders flooded the land, early Christians went underground, carving elaborate multi-level cave cities beneath the surface of the earth. The interiors of the caves are decorated with colorful, biblical frescoes celebrating the beliefs of early Christians. Above ground, the extremely malleable volcanic tuff has been shaped by the elements into a balancing act of cones with a boulder on top, whimsically called peribaca or "fairy chimneys." One of the oldest settlements of the region is Goreme where churches were carved into the stone of the region. At its height, Goreme is said to have had a church for every day of the year.

Pamukkale  Famed for the immense tiers of white limestone, which cascade down the hillside, Pamukkale was once filled with mineral water thought by the ancient Greeks to have healing powers. Nearby, the beautiful terraces are the remains of Roman baths, theater and necropolis of the ancient town of Hierapolis.

Troy The famous city of Greek legend, on the northwestern corner of Asia Minor was founded by Ilus, the son of Tros, from whom the name Troy was derived. During the celebrated Trojan War, because of the trick of the "Wooden Horse", the city fell and Troy was burnt and destroyed. The legendary city immortalized in Homer’s Iliad, discovered in 1871 is still being excavated. Troy is located near Canakkale across from the Dardanelles.

Antalya  As the main city along the Mediterranean coast, Antalya is a major seaside resort with a beautiful harbor. Still standing on the cliffs which surround Antalya, are the ancient city walls and ramparts built by the Greeks. Inside the town stand the 13^th century Aladdin Mosque and Hadrian's Gate which was built in honor of the Emperor's visit in 130 AD.

Bodrum  This Aegean port town is built on twin bays separated by the massive 15^th century Castle of St. Peter and was once the home of the famous Greek historian, Herodotus. Today the white washed, sun bathed houses along the turquoise colored sea are home to many artists. It is a lovely place to spend a few days of leisure swimming or sunning or to embark on a Gullet cruise.