You can leave a response to this post by using the text entry box below:
The country of Turkey has much to offer the world traveler. The area of Istanbul is perhaps the most well known, and has numerous outstanding viewing sites to offer. There is, of course, an entire series of truly great mosques that you can visit, such as the Blue Mosque and the Aya Sofya Mosque. These are truly beautiful and awe-inspiring, and you will not forget your visit there. This is also true for the palaces within Istanbul, including the world-famous Topkapi palace and the Sultan’s summer palace on the water. You will see opulence on a scale that you have probably never seen before, including a harem for a thousand concubines. Carved ivory, gold candlesticks, diamonds, emeralds and Ming china are everywhere, as is Jade, marble and gold leaf in every one of hundreds of rooms. Your own house will seem very commonplace by the time you leave these palaces.
Istanbul also has many ancient Roman artifacts that can easily be seen and visited, such as the Roman Cistern system (still operating), the aquaduct and the ancient wall around Constantinople. There is the Bosporus for a great day cruise, and dinner at the old Orient Express train station, which was the end of the line, and which still has ticket flyers displayed. With a population of more than 12 million people, Istanbul has significant traffic, so don’t plan to drive there unless you are very brave. There are also a number of very interesting museums, including the Kariye Museum of ancient Christian culture. Throughout it’s history, Constantinople has alternated a number of times between Christian and Muslim domination, and there is much history for both on display. Southwest of Istanbul is the ancient city of Ephesis, which for many years was the seat of the ancient eastern Roman Empire. A visit to Ephesis is highly recommended, and the marble ruins are still in good shape and recognizable for many of the buildings and ampitheaters. You can walk down the main street where Antony and Cleopatra walked some 2000 years ago. It is still in good shape.
In south-central Turkey is perhaps the next most famous tourist area, that of Cappadocia. This large region may be reached by flying into Kayseri, then taking a 1.5 hour drive to the heart of Cappadocia country. There you can even stay in a cave hotel room carved out of solid rock (as is the entire hotel). Cappadocia has many attractions, but the most stunning are the thousands of beautiful and unusual rock formations. Weird shapes and blazing colors of mountain, hill and rock formations are everywhere, where volcanic activity over eons, coupled with wind and water erosion have created truly unique formations. The area also has many caves and even complete underground cave cities (muli-level) where the Christians lived and hid from the Romans. There is also beautiful mountain scenery south of Kayseri, with snow-capped mountains. Other areas for tourism include Ankara, the seat of the Turkish government, and the mountainous Black Sea area north of Ankara. The areas of eastern and southeastern Turkey near the borders with Iraq, Iran and Syria are not normally visited by tourists, for obvious reasons.
read next comment if available (0)