My Visit To Turkey

(Part One of Five)

This Document is written by Usman Shahid Sheikh

About Turkey:
Climate:
The Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey display a typical Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters, though Istanbul can have some very cold snaps with snow in the winter. July and August are the hottest months with temperatures around 30C with quite high humidity during the summer months. Temperatures increase a few degrees when travelling to the south and water temperatures also become warmer. The swimming season is from June to September along the Marmara and north Aegean coasts, while it is from April to October on the south Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. The Black Sea Region has a comparatively moderate climate; the summers are warm and winters are mild. Rainfall is also heavier here than in any other region. The swimming season is from June to early September though the weather is not so dependable. There is quite a difference between the climate of the coastal and the inland regions which tend to be at higher altitudes. The Turkish weather reaches its extremes in central and eastern Anatolia and the Eastern parts of the country, with hot, dry summers when the temperatures may reach 42C, and freezing, snowy winters. Thus spring and autumn are best for sightseeing and travelling in this part of the country. In the mountainous and Eastern regions of Turkey, the summers become milder and the winters harsher - temperatures can drop as low as -30C to -38C and snow may lay on the ground for around four months, making them ideal for winter sports. Detailed weather forecasts can be found on

www.bbc.co.uk/weather andwww.dmi.gov.tr

Geography:
Turkey occupies a rectangular-shaped peninsula of land at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa; home to countless civilizations and a crossing point between the continents over several ages.

A vast country 814,578 square kilometres or 314,510 square metres in area with a beautiful coastline stretching 8333 km or 5187 miles, it is approximately 3.5 times the size of the UK. It is situated on two continents 3% in Europe (Thrace) and the remainder of the landmass, including Anatolia, in Asia - and Istanbul is the only city in the world straddled on two continents, separated by the Bosphorus strait, which runs from the Black Sea through Istanbul and into the inland Sea of Marmara which flows through the Dardanelles and out to the Aegean. Turkey is bordered to the north by the Black Sea (Karadeniz), to the west by the Sea of Marmara (Marmara Denizi) and Aegean (Ege) and to the south by the Mediterranean (Akdeniz). Due to its position and the fact that Turkey is at the meeting point of three different climatic zones, it is home to a tremendous variety of landscapes and plants so being a paradise for travellers and naturalists. There are dense forests in the northern Black Sea and the southern Mediterranean regions, coastal plains on the western Aegean; mountain pastures inland, deserts to the southeast and lakes throughout the country.

Regions:
Turkey is separated into seven geographical regions, which are, in order of size: East Anatolia, Central Anatolia, Black Sea, Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara and Southeast Anatolia.

Mountains:
Turkey is also a very mountainous country, with an average altitude of 1,132 metres and the tallest peaks in the east with Mount Agri (Ar Da) the highest at 5165 metres. This mountain is a snow-capped inactive volcano and is said to be the resting place for Noahs Ark. The North Anatolian Mountains run along the north of the country parallel to the Black Sea, whilst the Taurus Mountains (Toros Dalar) sweep along the Mediterranean in the south.

Lakes and Rivers:

There are a large number of lakes in Turkey; most notable is Lake Van, the largest natural lake at 3,713 square kms, covering as much area as an inland sea. Dam lakes are also a common site in Turkey. The countrys longest river is the Kzlrmak, which flows into the Black Sea and is 1355 km long. The Euphrates (Frat) and Tigris (Dicle) both originate in Turkey and flow through other countries before reaching the Persian Gulf.

Wondrous Landscapes:
Having a complex geological past has left some wondrous traces on the landscape, most notably the white, lunar rocky fairychimney forms of the Cappadocian countryside and the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale which literally means cotton castle. This varied landscape is also reflected in the crops grown in the different parts of the country: tea to the northeast, hazelnuts to the north, olives and tobacco to the west, wheat inland and fruit throughout, to name just a few.

Beaches:
With over 8000 km of coastline and over 300 blue flag beaches, Turkey makes the perfect spot for beach holidays. The country has some of the most beautiful pristine beaches in Europe, often with a backdrop of lush green forests and just a stone's throw from an archaeological treasure. Many secluded beaches can be enjoyed by relaxed boat trips available from the resorts.

Moving round the Turkish coast anti-clockwise the first resort worthy of mention is Cesme and Alacati which is popular for its fine sandy beaches, mineral springs and ideal wind conditions, making it a popular centre for kite-surfing, sailing and windsurfing. Some of the nearby beaches include the out of town Long Beach, a 6km stretch of sand or the sandy beach of Kustur 5kms to the north. Further down the coast is the international port of Kusadasi with its well-known Ladies Beach, useful for its vicinity to the biblical site of Ephesus and for its shopping opportunities and lively nightlife. Bodrum with its whitewashed houses cascading in bright pink bougainvillea is well-loved as one of Turkey's most trendy and sophisticated resorts with blend of history, proximity to a vast array of fantastic beaches, fishing villages and hip nightclubs. The views of the city are exceptionally striking against the stunning backdrop of the Castle of St Peter which stands formidably between the citys twin bays, making it a magnet for yachtsmen too. For those who prefer a more intimate setting Bitez, Gumusluk, Turgutreis and Turkbuku and are just a bus trip away from Bodrum, offering swimming, intimate restaurants and water-sports in a more laid back setting. Marmaris, a favourite with British tourists, is a lovely seafront of restaurants and cafes against a backdrop of pine-clad hills with beaches just out of town. A buzzing resort, if the beaches get too crowded there are hotel pools as an alternative and the town really comes to life after dark. It is possible to take a day trip to the Greek island Rhodes just a few hours away by boat. The nearby Icmeler boasts the best beach in the area a sweeping bay of coarse golden sand with a variety of water-sports on offer. Further along the Loryma Peninsula, Datca is a popular stopping off point for gulet cruises and yachts as it is relatively difficult to access by road meaning it has retained much of its unspoilt beauty and authentic atmosphere. There are some beautiful beaches nearby including the bays of Aktur and Kargi. Mediterranean Coast The most famous beach in Turkey has to be Olu Deniz (Dead Sea) near Fethiye, a serene lagoon beach with turquoise waters that graces the cover of so many holiday brochures. There is a small entry charge to use the lagoon beach, where only non-motorised sports are allowed. The main resort beach is free of entry charge, is the long stretch of shingle known as Belcegiz beach. Fethiye with its backdrop of cliffside Lycian tombs is a bustling centre with a sandy beach nearby at Calis and the much-renowned Olu Deniz lagoon with its crystal clear waters close by. Nearby to Dalyan is the unspoilt Iztuzu beach which can be reached by boat.

Patara Beach is a 12 km beautiful white sandy stretch voted as one of the top beaches in the world by Times Online, Best of 2005 and known as the "widest beach of the northern Mediterranean. Backed by mountains and bordered by sand dunes, mimosa bushes and the large marshy area which once was the harbour of Patara, this beach is part of a national park and a key biodiversity area, rich in birdlife and the breeding ground of the endangered loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta). The Turkish Riviera The Turkish Riviera city of Antalya set around a Roman harbour and old town is the main resort on the southern coast of Turkey; its long holiday season and warm waters can be enjoyed on the long stretches of beach just outside the town centre and there are too many activities available to mention, windsurfing, waterskiing and sailing to name a few. Further along the coast Alanya, with its vast beaches, historical sites, caves reachable only by boat, hotels and motels, cafes and bars is one of the most popular and developed resorts of the Mediterranean coast. Nearby Side has a long stretch of golden sand, known as Kumkoy or sand village

Did you know?

Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents, Europe and Asia. In its thousands of years of history, it has been the capital of three great empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman.

Now Lets get to my own story:

Me and My Friend Hassan

I started my childhood from Saudi Arabia and studied there in Pakistan Embassy School Jeddah. When I was studying there I always love to see my father going always outside of Saudi Arabia. Sometimes my father went to England some times to Netherlands. I would like to tell you that he was having a Pakistani Passport but had visited all over the world. That was the main thing that I thought that I will also travel like my father did. So my first day at Istanbul was very exciting and wonderful I went to basiktas a small town in Istanbul with my friend Hassan, we were working in Dubai from the last six years in a Turkish company we planned that these holidays we will visit Istanbul instead of Pakistan. We went to a market where we could find something to eat. We had there some Turkish food and had some Turkish kawa. Turkish kawa is one of the oldest traditions of Turkey. Then we are all the day tired and went back to Hassans house. And we took some rest there.

The Next Day at Basiktas

Me and My Friend Hassan planned to visit the other side of Istanbul which is popular as the European side of Turkey and started our journey to European Istanbul. We went to the station and filled up some gas and started our trip via car. One thing I would to tell you about turkey that they feel very happy when they see some guests at their doorsteps.

To be continued in part Two..