It is almost impossible, to resist
the charm of this mysterious country, the former empire of Byzantine
emperors and Osman sultans, the country between orient and occident.
 Located in
the very heart of Eurasia, Turkey is
the birthplace of many great civilizations and a melting pot of
different cultures, which makes holidays in Turkey very special.
Numerous and
 famous
archaeological sites like Pergamon and Troy bear witness
of a long and turbulent history. The country has also been a prominent
centre of commerce because of its advantageous land connections
and the sea surrounding it on three sides: the Black Sea in the
north, the Mediterranean in the south and the Aegean Sea in the
west. In the north-west the straits of the Dardanelles and the
Bosporus on the waterway connect Asia
with Europe and Africa.
With
the opening of the Mamaray tunnel in
Istanbul underneath the
Bosporus Strait
on Oct.
29 2013, the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey,
for the first time in the world two continents have been united
under the sea. The railway tunnel is 8.5 miles (13.6 km) long with
an underwater section of 0.8 miles (1.4 km).
 Probably it
is the great variety and diversity of attractions
and cultural features, which make the fascination of this
great country. Just go there and have the Orient with its colourful
bazaars and magnificent mosques, like the
Hagia Sophia and the
Blue Mosque, charm you; explore the
amazing treasures of the ancient world; discover unique wonders
of nature like the white
Travertine Terraces at Pamukkale
and enjoy the beauty of the varied countryside with mountains, gorges,
rivers, lakes as well as fine sandy, white beaches.
After crossing the Dardanelles, the Trojan
Horse soon welcomed us at the excavation place of Heinrich
Schliemann. What an exciting start of the trip and what a thrill,
to enter the scene of the Trojan War 3000 years ago!
When
we arrived at our hotel on the beach of the Aegean Sea, much to
our surprise we were welcomed in German, even though the hotel was
only middle class. The Turkish people proved to be very polite and
obliging hosts, not just at the hotel, but as well at all tourist
centers we visited. Also the simple people - sellers at the beach
or in the shops, street vendors or waiters in small beach restaurants
often spoke 3 foreign languages - English, French and German and
made every endeavour to please the visitor. The country between
Europe and Asia is a favourite travel destination and vacation spot
not just for us, but for people from around the world, not only
because of its amazing cultural historical treasures but also because
of the beauty and wonders of nature one can find there. Turkey is
a very hospitable country, so you don't have to worry about finding
a fitting hotel for your dream vacation.
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