Welcome to Turkey!

Turkey is a paradise of sun, mountains and seas. It offers alternatives to the routine and stress of daily life.

From April to October the climate in most parts of Turkey is mild enough for beach holidays or enjoying the calm atmosphere of the mountains and seas.

Turkey with its glorious history is an important historical place in Asia with a lot of ruins out of 12 civilizations. Also if you stay only for a few weeks, you will see more than 20 centuries of history.

Get to know the hospitality of the Turkish people in their own country. Get surprised by the culture and the wonderful climate of the country....
Turkey is a large country, oblong in shape. The only country which is surrounded by four seas: the Mediterranean sea, the Ägäian sea, the Black sea and the Marmara sea, the smallest ocean of the world and very rich in fish. Turkish people name it “ Sweet Ocean”.

It is a country, which charms with its natural beauty: from the rough mountainside to the waving steppe, from the moon landscape of Kappadokia to the clear oceans, from the beach with sand and pebbles to the ruins of antique temples and remnants of history.

Turkish people are hospitable and helpful. In the big cities they live in a hurry, but in the interior they live by century old tradition and rules of nomads and boors show it.

Turkey is a paradise of olives, wine, citrus fruits and vegetables. It is the third place in world in producing wine. It is the country of Kashmir-wool, cotton and linen.

Tourism situation in Turkey:
The last 5 years have been good years in the tourism economy. Particularly in the Mediterranean area the demand was high. In Turkey an increase of 10 - 15% could be registered. Altogether 17.5 million tourists visited the country. Statistics have shown that Turkey takes fourth place after France, Spain and Italy. Due to the historical inheritance and the various possibilities from winter sports to the summer vacations Turkey has the possibility to attract up to 30-40 million tourists by the year 2030 and therefore be able to catch up with Spain and Italy, if the economic and political development remains stable.

To clarify the Numbers of visitors:

• 14 million foreign tourists were counted in the year 2003

• Among them 3,3 million were Germans

• Already in 2004 4 million Germans came to the holiday in Turkey.

• 2006 there was approximately 12 million Europeans in Turkey

Also the neighboring countries, Holland, Austria, United Kingdom and the Scandinavian countries have found more favor in the beautiful country of Turkey.

One takes into account considerable rates of growth also in the coming years.

Property market in Turkey:
Turkey is a beautiful and exciting country with dynamic economic growth and many different possibilities. This is recognized also even more by the many tourists, who come to visit and whose number rises annually around 10-15%.

Even more tourists come with the thought to acquire real estate in this beautiful country.  A few years ago the laws for foreigners were drafted to help them with the purchase of real estates, and thus the demand rose very strongly. The reason is simple: the prices here are enticing, inexpensive and particularly if one compares them with similar real estates in other European countries.

In connection with the rising demand for real estates, also the prices have risen, for most of the real estate’s by 20-40% per year. That may sound unbelievable it is however actually true. Much points to the fact that the price history will continue to increase like that.  The interest of the foreign media in Turkey was never greater. The newspapers report nearly daily on the Turkish property market and several country-wide TV stations show programs on the purchase of real estates in Turkey. The topic is still being discussed by word of mouth.

Culture, country & people
In Turkey the Orient meets the West: a crossroad for ideas, faith and cultures. This becomes clearer in the art, literature, music and architecture of the country: of the ancient civilization of the Hellenistic or over the influences of the Romans, Byzantine and Seljuk up to the powerful realm of the Ottoman. This versatility reflects itself also in the faces of the people: the modern Turkey is a cultural mixture, which by their history and their singular position between two cultures is coined/shaped

Turkey not only convinces the holiday-maker with its fantastic scenery, but also with its culture. Where else do you find a comprehensive mixture of the old and new, to the western person it is probably often incomprehensible to understand the customs.  In the larger cities the different cultures meet one another and it has a special flair, which is obtained by friendly, open people. Tourists are received in a friendly manner and invited to enter into the individual establishments. With the traditional beverage, the respective price is negotiated and all come to a friendly agreement in the end, as well as having interesting discussions. Because of the open friendly invitation, you must get involved in a friendly discussion, exchange views and in this way both can learn about each other which will help everyone to enjoy their experience of each other’s culture and customs.

‘You come as a stranger and go as a friend'! Thus a Turkish proverb reads. Here the world renowned cordial hospitality of the Turks is meant. Hospitality, it comes from the whole heart and is really rare in the world. If you are lucky to be invited into the family house, enjoy it. The woman of the house will serve meals that will cause the table itself to bend under the weight. You take your time when eating. Even the poorest citizen would be honored that you are a guest in their home and will care for you in the best way.

In all other respects Turkish hospitality is very generous. Nobody expects you as a foreigner that you are familiar in the Turkish culture in all details. Be natural in yourself enjoy the company; do not act in such a way that can upset your host. If they make a small error, you should discuss this and explain the error in a quiet and friendly manner.
 

The Turkish cuisine is 3rd place in the world behind France and China. The taste is very good and is based on old traditions. In older times it made the Sultan happy. Also the Romans had Turkish cooks in their kitchen. Beside this Turkish cuisine is very healthy.

You will enjoy the various meals of Turkish cuisine. A rich choice of soups, hors d'oeuvres, vegetables, meat dishes, flour dishes and last but not least the wonderful sweets and the delicious fruits.

The freshness of the ingredients and the special choice of several vegetables and herbs are the secret of Turkish cuisine.

Turkish people begin their meal normally with a choice of hors d'oeuvres with olive oil. Pancake bread fits very nicely with this. You should try it. To complete the meal you can take a cup of Turkish coffee.

The good name of Turkish cuisine is also based on the good taste of the fruits and vegetables. In the land of sun everything grows under the warm heat of the sun. Because of this it tastes very delicious. Don´t loose this experience.

Because of the rigorous rules of hygiene in Turkey they have public baths (HAMAM) since the middle ages. Men and women normally use different baths. In the form of open cabins you find in the middle the “Göbektasi”.

On this pedestal you lay down with a “Pestemal” around your loins to sweat, and afterwards you allow yourself to be cleaned of your old skin by a “Tellak” (for men customers) or a “Natir” (for women customers) and get a massage.

This procedure is not only a cleanser. It also supports the blood circulation. After a whole bath procedure you feel like a newborn, because the skin pores are opened and can breath. Highly recommendable!

Turkey has more than 1000 therapeutic water springs. A few of them we would like to present to you in the following part:

BURSA
Most of the historic baths in the old Osmanian capital are situated in the district of Cekirge. (47-78°) Suitable for bath and drink cures. Medical indication: rheumatism, gynaecological and dermatological trouble. cures in first to four class hotels under medically supervision.

GÖNEN
(Province Balikesir) Suitable for bath and drink cures. Medical indication: dermatological and urine troubles, rheumatism and tiredness. (78°-82° C)

AFYON
(250 km south-west of Ankara).
It is suitable for drinking and for bathing cures. The temperature of the spring water is 49C.The water is rich in carbon- dioxide, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, bromide and fluoride. It has beneficial effects on arthritis, sciatica, disc hernia, neuritis, neuralgia, lumbago, and osteoathrosis and after orthopedic surgery.

PAMUKKALE AND KARAHAYIT
(20 km north of Denizli) Suitable for drink and bath cures. Medical indication: heart, blood circulation, stomach and intestine troubles, rheumatism (33°-56° C)

SEA WITH THERAPEUTIC FISHES IN CERMIK
(12 km northeast to Kangal, provinz Sivas) The special at this therapeutic basin are the fish ,which come to action in dermatological trouble and clean the skin. Medical indication: rheumatism, sclerosis, gynaecological trouble (35°)
More information about room and board you get from the information services of Turkey.