Transcontinental Turkey: Holiday Deals

Turkey lying as it does partly in Western Asia and partly in South Eastern Europe is transcontinental. It has the Mediterranean sea to the south, the Aegean sea to the West and the Black sea to the north. A varied history with many different civilisations making it their home at different times has left Turkey with a fascinating heritage full of history and archaeology, but also an ability to move with the times enabling it to become very much a part of the modern world as well. This gives a great feeling of modern and ancient sitting side by side, and a wonderful culture where the two exist happily together.

The climate around the coast is temperate with hot dry summers and mild winters. Wonderful beach resorts daub the coastal regions of this wonderful country, with sparkling blue seas, virtually never ending sunshine and an incredibly beautiful coastline. Hospitality here is paramount and a warm welcome awaits everyone travelling to Turkey making this a very popular package holiday location with many holiday makers every year especially as Turkey is still one of the cheaper destinations in the Mediterranean.

If you find yourself bored with the beaches, there are many places in turkey worth visiting. At Dalyan there are the Lycian rock tombs which are cut into the rock face and are incredible to see particularly if viewed from the river below. A trip on the river will take you past these and on through the river marshes to the mud baths where you can pamper yourself in the mud and sulphur pools here before enjoying a river side lunch.

Turkey’s largest City is Istanbul, and it is one of Turkey’s top city destinations. A wealth of historical sites are here from the 17th century Blue Mosque (known for it’s blue tiled interior), to the Dolmabahce Palace built in the mid 19th century which was the first European style palace built in Istanbul. Fourteen tons of gold leaf have been used to decorate it’s ornate gilt ceilings, and in the centre hall there is a chandelier which was a gift from Great Britains own Queen Victoria. If you fancy trying a bit of traditional Turkish lifestyle, you could visit a hamam for a traditional Turkish bath, and perhaps follow it up by visiting the streets and haggling for some of the many bargains to be had here. Perhaps you’d like to fill your evening watching belly dancers while eating a traditional Turkish meal and sipping your raki. Finish off your meal with a proper Turkish coffee, but make sure you let them know whether you’d like it sade (plain), orta (with some sugar) or sekerli (very sweet) as it’s brewed with the sugar already mixed in with the coffee granules. When you drink it, be careful to make sure you stop before you find yourself with a mouthful of coffee grounds, and if you’re lucky, you;ll be able to find a local who will tell you your fortune.