. . . n o i t a c a v r u o y e b s n o s a e s ll a t Le It’s that time of the year again in the UK when the weather seems “slightly” less happy and a little bit gloomier. Whilst some of us enjoy this change some of us may still be yearning for sunny scrub ups.
Akıncı: “Echo Tourism must be supported”
Whilst working on this special supplement, we put our hearts and souls into all of the contents as this time we have loads to say and mention,reminding you and let you know that your touristic endeavours haven’t been ended, especially if visiting North Cyprus and Turkey is in your agenda. One of the things we are asked the most is if it still is a good idea to visit Turkey or North Cyprus during Autumn/Winter seasons, whether it is warm, reasonably priced and safe. Here in this supplement we have compiled such amazing articles along with our “personal picks” for you, addressing all of the questions above to make all your question marks disappear. From myths to secret havens, seasonal spots to eateries, cultural and historic places to natural wonders. We pride ourselves on this finished edition as this will stand for being your guide in your process of deciding where to visit and enjoy your time off. So make yourselves comfortable, get your tea or coffee and enjoy the rest of this edition as we take you to a journey, into the wonders of Turkey and North Cyprus, like you have never been before. Yours Sincerely, Londra Gazete
N
Published by: Londra Gazete Ltd. Travel Supplement
Editor: Onur Uz Design: Huriser Ezgi Ece Reporter: Egemen Arkut
Web: www.londragazete.com/ilave-arsivi/ Email: news@londragazete.com tel: +44 (20) 8889 5025 177 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, London N13 4UR
orthern Cyprus President Mustafa Akinci, reflected upon the importance of echo tourism by stating the special interest tourism zone is vital for the country’s future. Remarking the need of supporting special interest tourism endeavours, Mr Akinci said North Cyprus stands for being a treasure of Mediterranean realm and its wonders must be prioritised for tourism. Mr Akinci said the supports for echo tourism must be enhanced for a better tourism sector and improvements.
Nationalities visiting Turkey in their millions Germany 4,724,787 2
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2016
Russia 2,842,972
UK 2,094,736
Georgia 1,872,325
Bulgaria 1,751,766 www.londragazete.com
5
misconceptions
I
aboutTurkey
n an era where information abounds like an avalanche with the Internet, it may be getting harder for us to clear our minds off the misconceptions about anything we would like to explore. For holidays, this definitely applies to countries and cultures.
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The founder of modern Turkey, Ataturk, is deeply respected and holds a George Washington like status for the Turks. The Turkey he established was structured to be a secular and democratic nation-state. The Turkish Government has, as a result, actively worked to discourage fundamentalism and religious
influence on government. Turkish currency features great scientific minds and scientific subjects. The 10 Lira note features a mathematics equation, while the 5 lira note features the atomic symbol and a strand of DNA. This level of secularism and visible declaration for science is something that Turks va-
lue a lot and take the chance to reflect upon as much as possible. Here in this section we have compiled the biggest 5 misconceptions about Turkey to help you “cleanse” your question marks and hopefully get a better vision on what’s actually expecting you in the one and only Turkish shores.
“Turkey is an Arab Country”
Wrong. Geographically, Turkey sits between Europe and Asia. Demographically only %1 of the population is identified as Arab (that includes 3 million refugees who moved recently). Turkey has its own language and uses the Latin alphabet.
Turkey is a big desert
Wrong! The area of deserts is lower than %1 in Turkey in total. As you will see in the following pages, Turkey is the homeland of such green and natural wonders from seas to rivers, mountains to strong forests. Let’s not skip the magnificent Bosporus of Istanbul that is famous for bridging Asia and Europe.
“Turkey is not a secure and safe country”
Again, wrong. Crime Index for Countries 2016 Mid-Year Report shows that Turkey is safer than United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy France and many more.
Turkey is ruled by an Islamic dictatorship
Wrong: Turkey has a secular constitution. In its first part, the general principles, the borders are drawn specifically around the term of secularism by stating: “ The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state governed by rule of law, within the notions of public peace, national solidarity and justice, respecting human rights loyal to the nationalism of Atatürk*, and based on the fundamental tenets set forth in the preamble.”
“Turkey supports Daesh”
Very wrong. Turkey has an ongoing battle against Daesh. Turkey has backed the FSA to free Northern Syria from Daesh and trained Iraqi troops in Northern Iraq fight Daesh. In many attacks, it was reported that Turkish-backed Syrian rebels are preparing to attack some Syrian towns held by Daesh.
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2016
| TRAVEL
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Autumn
Turkey
in
A
s Turkey is geoghrphically located all the way in middle between Asia and Europe, its unique climate gives you the ultimate taste of whichever colour, warmth and cuisine you would like to have. Although it may still be possible to enjoy the sun and sea in Southern shores, from November on the Turkey generally leaves its colours to the Autumn shades, with a chillier and calmer breeze. Autumn (mid-September through October) is second best with mostly mild weather, but the days are shorter, and rain may begin again in October. This, too, is high season for Istanbul and Cappadocia, with many boutique hotels heavily booked at their highest prices. At beach resorts, the water is still
Walk around : go in areas not mentioned in conventional guides. We have specifically compiled some secret places that you cannot find in commercial sources. The banks of the Bosphorus for example are not very visited by tourists despite being the most charming of the city. The districts of Bebek, Tarabya, Arnavutköy, Yeniköy or Emirgan are worth visiting.
warm, crowds are smaller, and prices lower. Autumn is a very good season to
travel to Turkey, if you are looking to experience discovering historical sites in depth, mild and comfor
table temperatures, competitively priced hotels and services, smaller crowds and local life, unique natural environments. This is high season for Turkey’s popular destinations, with many boutique hotels heavily booked at their highest prices. Autumn is one of the best seasons to visit Turkey. At beach shores, crowds are smaller, and is much more reasonably priced.
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ANTALYA
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10 5
IZMIR
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ISTANBUL
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ANKARA
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TRABZON
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Average Autumn Temperatures
DIYARBAKIR
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A treasure every season:
Y
s u r p y C
ou may be surprised, but many believe that fall is the best time to travel to Cyprus. In some aspects, it is difficult not to agree. Just imagine a world with the warm, after the summer time sea which keeps a temperature at average 26 – 27 °C to almost the end of November, no sweltering heat, comfortable beaches with a few people, in comparison with the number of tourists in the summer, an officially opened season until the end of October. Thus, answering the question of where to go on holiday in the autumn, we recommend Cyprus! the harvest iN cyprus In September – October the harvest finishes in Cyprus and you can indulge yourself in ripe grapes, apples and pears, plums and figs. In November, the first famous citrus and bananas from Paphos come out – tender, flavorful, absolutely not comparable to those that we buy in our stores. And, of course, what kind of harvest can do without interesting events and various festivals. It goes without thinking, what to do in Cyprus in autumn. September hosts the very famous wine festival in Limassol, in addition to the relevant festive events in all villages, dedicated to harvesting grapes, cooking traditional Cypriot delicacies, where shushukos (almond grape molasses) has
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a special place. In October, the largest festival of arts “Kipria” is held, as well as a 10-day sports event. In November you can participate in the olive harvest, to get acquainted with the process of pomace olive oil,
and if lucky, pick up a bottle with the freshest olive oil. Comfortable weather and great entertainment The weather in autumn is varied and depends on the month. In the
early and mid-September, the island is still quite hot, the transition from the summer heat into the velvet season has just begun. The sea is well warmed, swimming at this time can be very comfortable. In late September, the night temperature can already drop to 16 – 18 °C, therefore, if planning a vacation in late September – early October, do not forget to bring light jackets and sweaters for the evening walks along the coast in order to feel comfortable, and have the breeze bring only good feelings. The Mediterranean way of life - is relaxed, friendly and simple. We do not like to rush around. We spend time with friends, and invite strangers to sit and drink coffee and chat. We value these parts of life and encourage others to slow down and share more of themselves. The favourite saying of Cypriots is Yavaş Yavaş (slow slow) and is the perfect example of their general philosophy! In October – November, a comfortable holiday in Cyprus is also guaranteed. So if you’re wondering where to go with the children during the autumn holidays, the choice in favor of Cyprus could be the ideal solution. On 31st October all the water parks close, but swimming in the warm sea and gives great pleasure to travelers. In addition, all the zoos, entertainment centers and amusement parks are open all year round in Cyprus.
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ready g n i l e e f
for World Travel Market 2016 7- 9 November 2016
?
As being world’s second biggest travel market “Network, NegotIate aNd coNduct busINess wIth the global travel trade” Close to 5,000 exhibitors take part at World Travel Market to showcase their destinations, products and services. These organisations use WTM as a platform to reach almost 50,000 travel professionals across the three days of the show. Exhibitors are organised by geographical region on the show floor in the following regions: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East and UK & Ireland as well as the Global Village. There are also dedicated sectors for The Travel Tech Show at WTM and A Taste of ILTM at WTM. Staged annually in London, World Travel Market London - the leading global event for the travel industry - is a vibrant must attend business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and International travel professionals. It provides a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business.
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after Berlin, London WTF is about come back for this year’s offerings, with again many tempting destination proposals to mesmerise your dreams.
who atteNds? More than 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international
press, visit ExCeL - London every November to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry opinion and
trends at WTM London. The event, now in its 37th year, generates more than £2.5 billion of travel industry contracts. WTM London forms part of the Reed Travel Exhibitions WTM Portfolio along with: • World Travel Market Latin America • World Travel Market Africa • Arabian Travel Market • International French Travel Market • World Travel Market Connect Asia • International Golf Travel Market World Travel Market London will be held at ExCeL London between 7 - 9 November 2016. ExCeL London is an exhibitions and international convention centre located on the northern quay of the Royal Victoria Dock in London Docklands, between Canary Wharf and London City Airport. For more information and admission inquiries, please visit: http://www.wtmlondon.com/en/ Registration/
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ICTTOA to enhance North Cyprus’
N
orth Cyprus historic tourism sources are the UK and Turkey. Over the years, with the closure of Cyprus Turkish airlines, North Cyprus has seen a dramatic reduction in advertising expenditure in one of these primary tourism sources – UK. While other tourism sources have been created with great success with charter flight incentives, the UK has seen a massive decline in travellers. This decline has been due to a number of factors. These factors have varied over the years. The main impact has been due to the long-term subsidy scheme of advertising subsidy for tour operators changing to a charter flights subsidy. The issue with this is that the advertising subsidies used to give greater power to a large number of tour operators to advertise North Cyprus themselves. This meant that North Cyprus
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tourism
was constantly being advertised by many companies, and so awareness and marketing for North Cyprus was very heavy – which in return created demand for the entire destination.
reduced over the years, with them being almost non-existent in 2016. Those who know North Cyprus are the repeat customers travelling to it, it is essential to create a breed of
As ICTTOA vice chairman and as managing Director of Direct Traveller, I wholly welcome and support advertising support for the UK The removal of this subsidy scheme has meant that tour operators do not have the same opportunity to advertise North Cyprus as heavily with the huge costs linked to advertising in the UK. With advertising budgets shrinking with the change of the subsidy scheme, North Cyprus adverts have
new tourists and travellers who visit North Cyprus for the benefits it offers as a cultural and historic destination with its beautiful natural landscape and
beaches. As ICTTOA (Independent Cyprus Turkish Tour Operators Association) vice chairman and as managing Director of Direct Traveller, a specialist tour operator to North Cyprus I wholly welcome and support advertising support for the UK. It is essential that an additional advertising subsidy system is introduced for the UK with support for tour operators. Perhaps a budget can be created, tour operators can advertise and the subsidy can be paid directly to the advertising agent the Ministry chooses. We should also consider the longevity of the advertising and refrain from the tourist office starting and stopping advertising. Support directly to the tour operator would control this and would help the adverts to be published at the right time to generate direct bookings and directly send tourists to North Cyprus. We anticipate meeting the Minister of Tourism at WTM as tour operators did in past years in order to achieve more tourists and greater economic benefits for North Cyprus and maintain and achieve expectations for 2017 and beyond in a long term perspective on North Cyprus tourism.
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Your stairway to Cyprus:
C
yprus Premier Holidays Ltd trading as Cyprus Paradise, one of U.K’s leading specialist tour operator to North Cyprus has seen strong demand for its products during 2016. Sales have shown an increase in relation to previous year. Growth for 2017 has been the main objective of the company. In order to facilitate this growth we have invested heavily in our infrastructure and expanded our supplier portfolio strengthening our market share to deliver the highest service and products purchased from the best available suppliers for the needs of our clients. A new sales shop in Harringay,
North London, will be opening in January 2017 which will cater for the local community and those who prefer to deal face to face with one of our experienced sales staff where we can present the wealth of information that we possess on any destination in a re-
laxed environment. We have seen an increase in advance bookings for the 2017 summer holidays and this has been very encouraging. We know we are on the right track and our plans for next year and the following years is to introduce new destinati-
ons to add choice and diversity to the needs of our members who are happy to book under the Paradise brand. We are working closely with our airline partners looking into new departure points and services to add to the large number of airports they already service out of U.K. Our aim has always been to provide the best service to our members whichever service they choose from within our brand we are confident that we can provide the best price also. We have worked very hard and will not stop working until we reach the level of service our members deserve and expect of us.
Your “Turkish people guide” to relish during your stay
I
n a World where cultures abound and langugages, accents and gestures are intertwined as a matter of globalisation, innerly we all are professional fixers. As known, the Mediterrenean people are renowned and famous for their explicit. In this section, we will give you some preliminary hints should you feel your body language needs to take over to find your way out. Worry not though, Turkish people are utterly great at talking in English, we just love to “express the feelings” a little too much! they’ll Never leave you aloNe If you’re lost Often, when they don’t know the location that you’re looking for or can’t speak your language – they will insist on holding your hand until you
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are in front of the exact door you need. eager to teach you turkIsh Can’t speak Turkish? No problem! They can go on and on about life in Turkish. Whether it’s about life, war, groceries, directions, no problem! they keep theIr space oN THE STREET If the pavement is too narrow, don’t try to pass as you have to step aside to avoid bumping into them. Turks hold onto their lines without ever moving over. tea tIme, 10 tImes a day You think English drinks tea all the
time? Try Turkey. This is something that’s imbedded into their culture and they have tea with everything. they’re always sINgINg Happy nation you could say, Turks know how to enjoy their life and get over arguments with a simple song. they hoNk a lot Everyone tries to break through the traffic with a honk. Heavy traffic is so common in Turkey throughout the day but worry not as you are not in Italy! the louder, the better! Turkey is a very loud nation and
they’re not being afraid to express their emotions in laughter, shouting or, as mentioned before, in song. turks doN’t mINd the rules If you’re one of those people who thinks “I’m against the system”, you’ll fit in perfectly. Here, the law can be a little disobeyed but that doesn’t mean it is all lawless. they’re proud of theIr culture Almost every Turk would be incredibly excited to have the opportunity to show you around and share endless stories about the Ottoman Empire. When it comes to food and drinks, you’ll be sure to be fed as they love introducing foreigners to their delicacies.
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YO U R N O RT H
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2016
| TRAVEL
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5
1
amazing
Under-The-Radar Spots
to Hit in Istanbul Istanbul’s Reputation precedes it, and the same is true with some of its most notable sights: the Hagia Sofia, the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern…the list goes on. At the same time, there’s so much going on in this city, and its history and heritage are so extensive, that even the “lesser-known” attractions are still world class. Here are a few examples.
2
Rustem Pasa Mosque Navigate the warren of narrow streets west of Istanbul’s Egyptian Spice Market to find a twisting, dark staircase that leads to a truly stunning place of worship. Built by the great Mimar Sinan for Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent’s grand vizier in 1563, this seldom-visited mosque is embellished with stunning blue Iznik tiles whose beauty rivals that of the better-known 17th-century Sultan Ahmet Mosque (aka, the Blue Mosque).
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hagia sophia
Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument both for Byzantine and for Ottoman Empires. Once a church, later a mosque, and now a museum at the Turkish Republic, Hagia Sophia has always been the precious of its time. Rebuilt by the orders of Emperor Justinian in 537, for 900 years Hagia Sophia had been the center of Orthodox Christianity until 1453 when the city was concurred by Ottomans. 500 years following the conquest of Muslims, it became a jewel for the Muslim world and as the grand mosque of the sultans.
4
Tarabya
One of the most mesmerising shores of the Bosphorus, Tarabya is like a safe shelter away from the high-paced city for a time off with nature, nice cafes and great bars during the evening. In the early days of the last siege of Constantinople in 1453, Ottoman forces captured Therapia - then a minor Byzantine fortification. Some 40 surrendered soldiers were impaled. Tarabya was where the foreign embassies had their summer houses during the Ottoman period, and today the area has several European consulates. Sultan Selim II used to enjoy eating fish in this area and asked his grand vizier, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, to build a palace for him where he can spend the summers. It is believed that Sultan Selim II called his palace Tarabiye which means “pleasure”, and the name of the neighbourhood (Tarabya) has derived from the name of this palace. Besides its historical monuments, Tarabya is famous for its seafood restaurants, bistros and nightclubs.
Kasımpasa and Bomonti food markets Istanbul is filled with street markets, but two stand out. The Kasimpasa market on Sunday mornings is on a small street and sells a limited but unusual selection of meats, fruits, vegetables, and fungi grown in the Black Sea region’s Kastamonu province — they’re driven 300 miles through the night to Istanbul by the vendors. The other is the Bomonti organic market, where you can find heirloom everything and enjoy high-brow conversations with local intellectuals over freshly cooked gözleme.
5
The Ecumenical Patriarchate
The seat of world Orthodoxy and home to the 270th successor of the Apostle Andrew is a surprisingly humble complex of buildings in the Golden Horn neighborhood of Fener. The 17th-century Church of St. George’s magnificent gold-leaf altar bears important icons, and relics of major saints rest in the cathedral’s narthex. Since the fall of the Ottomans, the Greek population of Istanbul has largely emigrated, so today the church is more of a symbolic center for the Ecumenical Patriarchate than anything else. But the spiritual leader of the world’s 300 million Orthodox, Bartholomew I, continues to hold services he
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2016
| TRAVEL
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10
P laces
to Visit in Turkey in this Autumn/Winter 1
poloNeZkÖy: Polonezköy, in Istanbul, is known for its clear, fresh and relaxing air, natural beauty
and cherries. You can find great venues and food in this small village right next to Istanbul. Cumhuriyet
overwhelming. Just to make your job easier and give less burden on your shoulders, we have narrowed down the “to-be-seen” list in the hope of your interest.
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assos: Behramkale is an old village which has roots in the Ottoman era and sits within spitting dis-
tance of the 3,000-year-old town of Assos… Walking through the streets of Behramkale, which is set to become a protected site, evokes the feelings of being in
this route, you can find beautiful hotels, self-catering
centuries past. There are a number of hotels and B&Bs
places, hiking trails, horse-riding opportunities and fo-
in the village. The Hüdavendigar Mosque and bridge
rests. During your passage, you can see every tone of gre-
are among the must-see places in Behramkale, where you
2
aĞva: Surrounded by the Yeşilçay Creek on one side and the Göksu Creek on the other, Ağva is a
verdant paradise. Though it is close to Istanbul, it has not lost its natural atmosphere. There are places to stay for out-of-town visitors while there are also facili-
ties to rent bicycles and go hiking. Ağva’s restaurants are also great for gastronomes.
3
abaNt: Abant, harboring all of nature’s beauty, is an excellent vacation destination for those that seek
refuge from the complexity of city life. You can park your car and take a carriage ride around the idyllic lake, grab some food before going for a walk or find a
book and cozy up on the lakeside. There are also many grill restaurants as you head up Bolu Mountain. Enjoying a barbeque next to the lake with some red wine is also a delightful experience. There are also pensions to host out-of-town guests.
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boZcaada: If you are after a calm vacation, Bozcaada might be the place for you. What renders
this island unique are the vintage season festivities in September. During the festival, visitors board tractors and head to vineyards to learn about the intricacies
of harvesting grapes. There are vineyard houses, guest houses and affordable B&Bs for accommodation… Devoid of an ear-splitting nightlife, Bozcaada offers calm venues where you can dine on the unique flavors of Aegean cuisine to the pleasing rhythms of live music. Wine, tomato jam, glass objects, ragdolls and designer jewelry are among the top souvenirs on Bozcaada…
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yuvacIk: Part of Kocaeli, Yuvacık welcomes nature lovers while also offering excellent repast. You
2016
can sample all there is to savor in Aegean cuisine.
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cuNda: September is one of the calmest times on Cunda, as the hectic pace of July and August
give way to serenity… You can take a journey toward unknown beauty by joining a boat tour or indulge in the octopus salad, sea beans, stuffed squash blossoms and mashed broad beans that a must on
the island. Don’t leave before strolling up Lovers’ Hill, drinking sage tea, eating ‘lokma’ desert and taking a whole lot of pictures…
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the kaZ mouNtaINs: Featuring both sea and mountains, the Kaz Mountains in northwestern
Turkey abound with trees that shed their leaves in winter, a factor that promises a delightful, multicolored autumn. The trees decorated in yellow and oran-
ge compete for attention alongside clear-running waterfalls. It is possible to stay in areas on the coast such as Küçükkuyu, Akçay, Altınoluk and Güre.
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alaÇatI: Alaçatı is one of Turkey’s most popular summer destinations. But with the arrival of Sep-
tember, this gorgeous Aegean town becomes serene. The town’s cobblestone streets, stone buildings with bay windows and weathercocks are best savored in
autumn. You can enjoy Aegean cuisine in this cute town that has retained its historical texture, unlike other localities in the area.
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cappadocIa: Cappadocia’s famous fairy chimneys just look better with fall colors. Taking a
balloon ride in the morning breeze and seeing this
can eat fish next to flowing waterfalls and enjoy a walk
unique landscape from a bird’s eye view is one of the
along the river. This location of green forests and
rare pleasures of life. And it’s not just this: going for a
chirping birds is just 150 kilometers from Istanbul. If
hike in Kızıl Çukur, watching the sunset and visiting
you ever feel overwhelmed by the fast life of Istanbul,
the old stone houses that have been used as film sets
Yuvacık is there to sooth your heart down.
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Turkey’s endless offerings can be quite
Village is about 10 kilometers past Polonezköy. On
en. Toward Saklıköy, however, the chestnut and linden trees stand out.
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We believe without a good road map,
could all be highlights of your trip.
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Looking for the best
r e off
for your 2017 Summer Holiday plans?
W
hat could be any better than having the perfect holiday with an ultimately reasonably-priced offer? One of the leader brands in tourism sector here in London, New President Holidays is coming up with an exclusive offer you don’t want to miss out. Regardless of any ambiguities that may have cropped up after Brexit, New President Holiday is keen to make you feel safe and lead you to the most economic opportunities for your 2017 plans. Offering its 2015 fees for the 2017 season, your choices in Turkey’s and North Cyprus’ most desired hotels are just a step away from you. With only £195 per person, the only thing you have to do is to keep up with the early-bird reservations as the places go fast.
“our destINatIoNs are expaNdINg” The director of the company, Mr Refik Salp says they are the most assertive tourism operator in the 2017 season. Reflecting on the fact that they are now offering more budget-friendly packages and discounts this year, Mr Salp said they are in ne-
gotiation with North Cyprus Tourism Ministry to enhance North Cyprus’ presentation at the World Travel Market in November 2016. “Firstly, I was born in Cyprus and still have a family home there. I know the island intimately. I am a friend of many hotel owners and have worked
in the tourist industries of both Cyprus and Turkey for over two decades. I want you to enjoy your stay on my island. Together with my experienced management team I visit all the establishments we feature - two or three times a year and check they remain at a high standard. “No one should make any exact plans for 2017 summer before seeing our deals. We would like to invite people for a consultation and see our exclusive early birds deals to guarantee their dream holidays in this upcoming summer season. I can assure everyone, that these kind of deals in tourism sector don’t come really often” You can book with New President Holiday with confidence as the company has ATOL and ABTA licences. Their trained staff shall be awaiting your phone call on 0208 406 4440, and looking forward to discussing your holiday plans for 2017.
The director of the company, Mr Refik Salp says they are the most assertive tourism operator in the 2017 season. www.londragazete.com
2016
| TRAVEL
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: e v i s u l Exc The wonders of Grand Bazaar
T
he Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) in Istanbul is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and 5,000 shops, and attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. It is well known for its jewellery, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antique shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather, gold jewellery and the like. The bazaar has been an important trading centre since 1461 and its labyrinthine vaults feature two bedestens (domed buildings), the first of which was constructed between 1455
Getting there: Take a tram to Beyazit, Üniversite or Sirkeci. The Grand Bazaar is around 15 minutes walk from the Aya Sofya/Blue Mosque area. and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. The bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th
century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and in 1894 underwent a major restorati-
on following an earthquake. The complex houses two mosques, four fountains, two hamams, and several cafés and restaurants. In the centre is the high domed hall of the Cevahir Bedesten, where the most valuable items and antiques were to be found in the past, and still are today, including water pipes, watches and clocks, candlesticks, old coins, and silver and gold jewellery set with coral and turquoise. A leisurely afternoon spent exploring the bazaar, sitting in one of the cafés and watching the crowds pass by, and bargaining for purchases is one of the best ways to recapture the romantic atmosphere of old Istanbul.
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Atlasglobal’s new route from Stansted
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tlasglobal Airlines were joined by tour operators and agents on the 31 October morning, to celebrate the launch of their daily flights from London Stansted Airport to Istanbul Atatürk Airport, offering convenient onward connections to destinations across Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Chris Wiggan, Head of External Affairs at Stansted Airport welcomed the airline and a ceremonial ribbon was cut by TRNC Ambassador, Zehra Basaran, who emphasised how important the route was for the Turkish Cypriot community living in London and the UK. John Bennett from Colchester
l u b n a to Ist
Travel, which owns four long-established local travel agency branches throughout Essex, said: “We are always delighted to welcome any new airline to our local
airport, London Stansted. I am sure that our clients will be very happy to fly with Atlasglobal as it opens up lots of interesting connections via Istanbul. Atlasglobal
has a great reputation for service and it will be fantastic to have a local option which is not a low-cost carrier.” Mustafa Ebgü, UK Manager for Atlasglobal Airlines added: “We are delighted to be operating from London Stansted. This was a strategic decision taken to offer our customers even more convenience and comfort, and the feedback from both passengers and agents has been very positive.” Flights can be booked online at www.atlasglb.com or through associated agents and all fares include tax, in-flight catering, 30 kgs baggage allowance and online check-in. Business class is also available.
The aim is 5 million Russian tourists
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URSAB (Turkish Travelling Associations Union) President Başaran Ulusoy, remarked upon the anticipation to accommodate more Russian tourists in Turkey. “Russians couldn’t take on a vacation last year, as a result, they are tired. Our hearts are open for our Russian friends as we have doubled our efforts to give them the best holiday of a life time. Our new hotels, planes and sectoral enterprises are all set for accommodating new tourists.
two couNtrIes complete each other Mr Ulusoy also reflected upon the easiness of travel, completion of cultures and similarities in daily life between Russians and Turkish people by highlighting the significance of over 15 flights between
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In 1980 our Russian tourist arrivals were only limited with 30 people however in 2014 we have had the privilege of increasing this number up to more than 4 million.
Russia and Turkey, Mr Ulusoy said they are expecting more than 5 million Russian tourists in 2017.
14 New hotels are oN theIr way iN turkey Upon the new season, Turkish Republic Economy Ministry (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Ekonomi Bakanlığı) published the new incentive certificates on the official Gazette, remarking upon the prospective plans for 14 new hotel plans along with 25 new touristic business plans for 2017. Five of the hotels will be ranked as 3 stars while two will be 4-stars, five 5-stars and one boutique along with a restaurant-oriented hotel. The cities to the hotel plans are also revealed in the Gazette. Two of the 5-starred hotels will be placed in the touristic gem of Turkey, Antalya whilst the rest are expected to be incepted in Muğla, İzmir and the capital, Ankara. The total gross of the enterprise is expected to hit 220 million Turkish Liras.
2016
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