With a trip to Turkey and Northern Cyprus, one can easily go to the modern holiday centers, where comfort, quality, a wide range of leisure sports and warm hospitality are very important. At the same time, however, the visitor suddenly finds himself transported back centuries, especially when dedicating himself to ancient archaeological sites, such as the history of Troy, which dates back to the year 3000 BC. Or a visit to Ephesus, where great cultures experienced their beginnings, their heyday but also their end. Time still seems to have stood still in Priene, Miletus and Didima.
Framed by the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, the country has around 8000 km of coastline. Located on two continents, it is the bridge between Europe and Asia. Istanbul, the only capital in the world to sit on two continents, attracts thousands of visitors every year. They are all enthusiastic about the Ottoman palaces, the large mosques and the rich museums. In the Topkapi Palace, for example, there is a collection of crystal and silver objects as well as Chinese porcelain. The Crown Jewels, a famous dagger, and priceless medieval manuscripts are on display here. The Sultanahmet Mosque (also known as the “Blue Mosque” because of the magnificent lining of its interior and its dome with blue Iznik tiles) or the Suleymaniye Mosque with their cascading domes and four slender minarets still give the city a unique oriental ” Flair”. Holidays on the Aegean Those who book a trip with us can also benefit from the exclusive offer of a stay in a 5-room villa in Oezdere, directly on the Aegean. Here you can expect a kilometer-long pebble beach, crystal clear water and the cozy comfort of a comfortable and airy apartment. Especially suitable for families with 2-6 people or small groups. The ideal combination is: flight to Izmir, renting a car and staying in an apartment in Oezdere. Here you determine the daily routine and can cook for yourself. From there it is a short hop to Ephesus, Kusadasi, Izmir or to the nearby hotels with their huge leisure and sports facilities. Shopping is done in nearby “Tansas” or in Gümüldür on the market. Northern Cyprus A gem in the Eastern Mediterranean, largely untouched and ‘forgotten’. Somehow one is reminded of the Italian Riviera, the Levante or the Ponente about 60 years ago: A good and functioning infrastructure, but which has not yet succumbed to the excesses and deformities of the modern zeitgeist and mass tourism. Here it is still contemplative, almost family-like, just like on the Italian Riviera a long time ago. Extensive and natural sand and pebble beaches, small, quiet bays, game reserves, where you can still see free-swimming turtles and wild donkeys and – as a matter of course – crystal-clear and very clean water. Many residents speak English, which is particularly beneficial for guests traveling individually. You can orientate yourself well and unmistakably. The people are friendly, helpful and sociable – typically Turkish. We also offer you orientation and information if you would like to get to know the mountain ranges of the Beshparmak Mountains, which are more than 1000m high. A unique vegetation (the orchid flora is famous with its wonderful spring blossom), olive and carob groves, orange and lemon plantations, wide ocher-colored plains burnt to steppe-like areas by the sun, the fertile alluvial zone near the coast, refreshing forests allow small or medium-sized hikes. Anyone interested in architecture, history or culture will get their money’s worth here: on this island, which has been shaped by changing rulers, you will find relics of a 9000-year-old history. BC founded ancient city of Sàlamis, the remains of the former crusader castles of Kantara, Buffavento and St. Hilarion, which in the early Middle Ages had the task of warning the city of Kyrenia (Girne) with the well-fortified harbor against attacks in good time. Or, for example, the Bellapais Monastery, which was founded in 1205 by Augustinian monks. Today the Gothic walls look like an “enchanted ruin” against the backdrop of sea and mountains. Unique and incomparable! We would be happy to organize your stay in Turkey, individually and tailored to your wishes. Combinations that are particularly recommended and popular are: 2-3 days stay in Istanbul and beach holidays in Oezdere on the Aegean, the southern coast of Anatolia or on northern Cyprus. A good trip starts with good advice. So give us a call!
Geography
According to topmbadirectory, Turkey stretches geographically over two continents. Anatolia, the Asian part of Turkish territory, occupies about 97% of the area. The European part in the northwest (East Thrace) covers about 3% of the area in which the main part of the metropolis Istanbul is located. With a coastline of around 7,200 km, Turkey borders the Aegean Sea to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Black Sea to the north. The Sea of Marmara lies between the Aegean and the Black Sea and is connected to each of them by a strait: in the west the approximately 65 km long Dardanelles, in the east the Bosporus. The metropolis of Istanbul is located on the Bosphorus.
Flora and Fauna
The flora of Turkey is considered to be the most diverse and varied in the Middle East. In the meantime, more than 9,000 species from over 850 genera have been identified. About a third of these species are endemic. Reasons for this extremely high rate of endemics are the meeting of different phytogeographical regions, the climatic diversity and a mountainous landscape; Factors that enable strong differentiation. The genera Verbascum and Astragalus have their distribution focus here. However, many endemic species are endangered. The central steppe areas are dominated by thorn pads and shrubs, e.g. B. thistles, which withstood the centuries-long grazing of the cattle nomads. In the north, especially on the Black Sea coast, there are extensive coniferous forests and hazelnut.
Population
Since the republic was founded in 1923, Turkey’s population has grown rapidly. In 1927 almost 14 million people lived in Turkey, in 2003 there were almost 70 million (see graphic), in 2014 there were 77.7 million. Turkey is both an emigration and immigration country. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, millions of Turks left their country as migrant workers (“guest workers”) or political refugees, going to countries such as Germany, Belgium, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria. Minorities in particular left Turkey, such as Arameans, Alevis, Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks, Kurds, Jews, Yazidis and Zaza. On the other hand, immigrants from the Balkans, Greece, the Middle East, Iran, Central Asia and Crimea came to the Republic after the fall of the Iron Curtain. In 2009, around 4,600 Germans chose Turkey as their new adopted country, out of a total of around 155,000 German emigrants. In addition to the climate and beautiful landscapes, the low cost of living and relatively few bureaucratic hurdles are factors that encourage immigration. In 2016 there were 2.8 million refugees in Turkey, most of whom were displaced by the Syrian civil war. Turkey was the country with the highest number of refugees in the world. In 2017, 6% of the population were migrants or refugees. In 2016 there were 2.8 million refugees in Turkey, most of whom were displaced by the Syrian civil war. Turkey was the country with the highest number of refugees in the world. In 2017, 6% of the population were migrants or refugees. In 2016 there were 2.8 million refugees in Turkey, most of whom were displaced by the Syrian civil war. Turkey was the country with the highest number of refugees in the world. In 2017, 6% of the population were migrants or refugees.
Languages
A total of about fifty languages from six different language families and one isolated language (Hattic) were and are spoken in the territory of present-day Turkey. Around half of these languages are now extinct, but have been handed down through inscriptions or historical texts. Today there are over twenty languages and ethnic groups in Turkey with a total of around 75 million speakers. This shows that today’s Turkish state as well as the territory of Turkey was and is shaped by a great ethnic and linguistic diversity in all phases of history. More recent are the immigration of smaller groups of refugees from Central Asia or the Caucasus who speak Turkic or Caucasian languages.
History
The area of present-day Turkey has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period. The Neolithic began very early in eastern Turkey. Evidence of this can be seen at Göbekli Tepe, Nevali Cori and Çatalhöyük. In the third and second millennium B.C. The Hattians (also Protohattians) lived in Anatolia and the Hurrians in northern Mesopotamia.
Business
In terms of purchasing power, the economy in Turkey generated the thirteenth largest economic output in the world in 2016, but has one of the world’s highest current account deficits (in relation to gross domestic product). Istanbul is considered to be Turkey’s largest market and transhipment point. The city’s economic life is dominated by the stock exchange, wholesale trade, transport, banking, press and publishing. There are several bazaars as well as modern Western-style shopping streets. The handicraft and industrial companies mainly produce textiles and food. The construction of automobiles, buses, tractors and diesel engines is also an important branch of the economy.
