| TURKEY’s
LAND is over 301,000 square miles, which is larger than Texas, and
almost twice as large as California. About
3% of the land is in Europe (Thrace), and 97% is in Asia (ANADOLU,
Anatolia, Asia Minor).
TURKEY’s GEOGRAPHY is similar to USA’s, with seashores, deserts, and snow-capped mountains.
TURKEY’s CLIMATE also resembles that of USA, but is drier and slightly milder. All regions enjoy beautiful Spring, Summer and Autumn Seasons. TIME ZONE is usually 7 hours ahead of U.S. East Coast.
POPULATION is over 70 million inhabitants, with concentrations of over 10 million in Istanbul, and about 3 million each in Ankara and Izmir. The TURKS, originally from Central Asia, came to Anatolia about a thousand years ago. The Turks are much like other Europeans, involved with agriculture, industry, trade, etc. TURKISH LANGUAGE uses the Latin alphabet with some variations. In major cities, many residents speak foreign languages, mostly English and German. RELIGION of most Turks is Islam. However, Turkey is a secular republic state, and the Turkish Jews, Christians, etc. freely practice their religions. It is the only country in the World, in which mosques, churches and synagogues have coexisted peacefully for centuries. TURKISH CUISINE is a harmonious combination of Central Asian and Mediterranean food cultures. You will quite easily find and enjoy such meals as you may find in the USA and Europe. However, you should not leave Turkey without tasting the Turkish specialties such as baklava, grilled beef or lamb ("kebabs"), boreks, dolmas, poultry, seafood, and vegetable dishes, and the World renowned Turkish coffee. Local wines, beers, and "raki" are surprisingly good and affordable.
SHOPPING in Turkey will be one of your greatest pleasures during your trip. You will be tempted with the rich collections of the precious handicrafts and decorative items, including carpets, silk, leather goods, copper & bronze wares, gold, silver, onyx, meerschaum, marble, pottery, glass and ceramic souvenirs. As you travel around, you may have the opportunity to observe the handicrafts being made at local workshops.
BANKS are usually open 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, some may be closed during the Lunch hour. Although most hotels provide currency exchange services, you may obtain more economical results at the banks and exchange ("DOVIZ") booths. ATM machines are wide spread. Your CREDIT CARDS are generally accepted for your purchases.
|
A valid PASSPORT is required to travel overseas. An "ENTRY VISA" with a fee of $20 per person (Single Entry) is currently (as of April 01, 2004) required for US Citizens traveling to TURKEY. Such visa fees can be paid for, and visas can be obtained easily, just before the Passport Control, at the entry point in Turkey, and will be good for a 3-Month stay. {You may consider a "Multiple Entry Visa", ($65 per person) if you are planning to enter Turkey more than once during such 3-month period}. Should you need further details and/or updated information on such matters, you may wish to contact The TURKISH CONSULATE in your region New York : (212) 949 - 0160
ELECTRICITY is mostly 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, with European style outlets, which require adapters if you decide to bring along your small electrical appliances. ATC TOUR hotels usually have a wall-mounted hair-dryer in the bathroom. TAP WATER is chlorinated and potable in all cities, but bottled water is advisable. No special VACCINATION is currently required or necessary for your trip to Turkey.
In order to properly enjoy the sights visited, comfortable casual CLOTHING and SHOES, fit for your time of travel and your itinerary (similar to any trip within USA or to Europe) are advisable. When visiting a mosque you will be required to remove your shoes, and women must cover their heads with a scarf (also sleeveless shirts and shorts must be avoided).
LOCAL TRAVEL could be achieved by car rentals, or by the use of local taxis, or intercity buses, which are both very economical. To most popular domestic destinations, the fastest trip may be via Turkish Airlines. However, your ATC Package Tours include all necessary land transportation by modern air-conditioned vehicles, under the supervision of English-speaking Tour Guide/Conductors.
TIPPING should be based on the quality of service. A service charge of about 15% is usually included in the restaurant bills, but additional 10% tip is appreciated. For taxis, tip is not required ( just rounding up the amount shown on the meter is sufficient ). For TOUR TIPPING, depending on the service received, between 3 to 6 USD per day per participant for your tour guide, and about half of this amount for your driver, are appropriate.
HOSPITALITY is a cornerstone of the Turkish way of life; even the poorest Turkish peasant would do his best to honor his guest ("misafir"). No matter what linguistic barriers may exist, Turks will make every effort to converse with the visitors to make them feel at home. Visit Turkey with an open mind, and you will return with wonderful and unforgettable memories. |
