Turkey
Turkey is a country that connects two continents, a country that was the home of great cultures and civilizations for over ten thousand years. Turkey is the country of the Sun, and the name that was given to it is Anatolia – 8000 km of seductive coastal lines in never ending tones of turquoise. Golden shores, virgin lagoons, and the gentle whispering of the breezes are waiting for you here.
The republic of Turkey occupies a territory of 780576 square kilometers. To the north lies the Black Sea, to the South the Mediterranean, to the west –the Aegean, and the Sea of Marmara. In Europe Turkey has a border with Bulgaria in the north, Greece in the west, Georgia and Armenia in the Caucasus, Iran and Iraq in the East and Syria in the south, between Tiger and Euphrates rivers. Geographically the Turkish coast on the Mediterranean is divided into two large regions. The western coast with its numerous bays and peninsulas all the way until the Marmara belongs to the Aegean Sea. The southern coast begins in Antalya. “Turkish Riviera” – a name given to the region for its long sandy beaches. Right behind the beaches lies a fertile land, a valley were ancient Pamphylia was located. Ancient Cilicia lies to the east; the region is characterized by a mountain landscape between Alanya and Anamur, here the Taurus Mountains appear to be rising right out of the sea waters. The Turkish coast features all types of beaches, from enormous sand beaches to small rocky bays.
The climate in Turkey is subtropical, Mediterranean, on the inland plateaus –continental. The average temperature in January in Ankara is about -4°С to +4°С, the average temperature in July is +15°С to +30°С. In Istanbul the climate is mild, the sky is often cloudy (the average temperature in January from +3 to +9°С, in August from +20 to +29°С, water temperature is +23°С). The Mediterranean resorts get around +30°С in the summer and +15°С in winter.
As for the form of government Turkey is a mixed (presidential-parliamentary) republic of a special kind. The political regime is a developing democracy. In 1991the prohibition of the communist party in Turkey has ended. The legislative powers are held by a unicameral parliament (Meclis) – The Grand National Assembly of Turkey, consisting of 550 representatives. The territory is divided into 72 provinces each with its own governor.
The population of Turkey is about 72 million people, predominantly Turks (80%). There are also about 17% of Kurds who live quite compactly in the south-eastern part of the country. The population is diversified with Arab, Greek, Armenian, Georgian, and Jewish minorities.
The official language is Turkish. In the resorts and in Istanbul all the service personnel at hotels, restaurants, cafes, and stores speak English, German, and sometimes even Russian languages. The modern Turkish language uses the Latin alphabet. To write in Turkish using Arabic letters, as it was done until the beginning of the 20th Century, is against the law. The Turks are amazingly multilingual people. In cities and resort many can talk easily in English, German, and Russian.
Automobile and bus transportation is very developed in Turkey and private bus routes connect all major cities (the best are Ulusoy, Varan, and Кос). The tickets have to be reserved in advance, usually at the station. Route taxis are very popular as well, Dolmus stops are marked with the letter D, and these taxis follow a set route and do not stop in any predetermined places. Upon request the drivers can stop the Dolmus at the place of your preference. The ticket prices are not very high. A yellow taxi cab can be caught just about anywhere or ordered over the phone; you pay by the meter. The night tariff is twice the day tariff. If there is no meter in the taxi you should agree about the price at the beginning of the fare.
If you cross the Turkish border to enter then you are allowed to bring 20 cigarette packs or 50 cigars, or 200 grams of tobacco, 3 bottles of liquors, 2 bottles of wine, souvenirs and presents of total value below 200 USD; food, cosmetics and perfumes in reasonable amounts for personal use. All these items can be carried through without having to pay any tariffs. Additionally you can bring one household appliance and one technology item. Bringing narcotics, weapons, ammo, antiques and old carpets is forbidden. Upon exit from the country you will have to declare all gold items, technical items, and carpets. Private persons are allowed to bring in non-declared items that have a total value of less than 1000USD and weigh less than 200kg. There are no limits for carrying foreign or national currency but amounts above 5000USD will have to be declared. Turkish liras can be brought out of the country in amounts not exceeding 1000USD. If you bring your pets then you will need a certificate from the veterinarian with all the vaccination documentation.
To make calls it is best to use prepaid card sold at post offices and supermarkets. Payphones can be found everywhere and calling from them is considerably cheaper than using the phone in your hotel room. The main post offices work 24/7.
The rich history of Turkey and the large amount of monuments of ancient civilizations attract tourists from all over the world. Istanbul –“the heart of the Byzantines”, is the oldest port city, the capital of Sultans, one of the biggest cities in Europe and a true historical monument under the open sky. It is interesting to go over the bridge at the Bosporus straight, which separates Europe and Asia, visit the magnificent temple of St. Sophia with its beautiful mosaics, the Blue Mosk of Sultan Ahmed, the palace of Sultans in Topkapi, the Kapali Charshi Grand Bazaar. In the city of Antalya the main attractions are the Hadrian Gate (130 BC), the Yivli Minaret of the Seljuks and the Kesik Minaret of the Byzantine era. Not too far from Antalya you will find the ancient cities of Termessos, Phasalis, and others.
