Adaland,Turkey

Този парк е разположен на планински склон над Егейско море. Той включва река за рафтинг и всякакви предизвикателства – пред търсачите на отдих или силни усещания. Една от уникалните атракции е откритият клуб за танци, където върху танцуващите се излива прохладен дъжд.

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Adaland,Turkey /Turkish and English language/

Наивници горят с резервации по интернет

Стотици са ужилените летовници и по схемата за предварително плащане на почивки чрез интернет. Измамата е известна като "БГ почивка". Изгодната ваканция, рекламирана в интернет сайтове или чрез вестници, излиза доста солено на наивните туристи. Те плащат капаро по посочената банкова сметка, а след като пристигнат на почивка, се оказва, че хотелът, който са резервирали, не съществува. Посочените от туристическата агенция телефони се оказват закрити, а адресът - фалшив.

Inform,18.06.08

İzmir,the pearl of the Aegean,awaits visitors

Müge Özbağ

İZMİR - Turkish Daily News

“The southwest coast of Anatolia has the most beautiful sky, the mildest climate in the world and the most incommensurable sainthoods.” said Herodotus, one of the most important historians of the ancient world. Of this there is no doubt. Ephesus, Troy, Assos, Pergamon and Miletus: the Aegean region was the centre of the most important cities of the ancient world.

The miles long esplanade, “Kordon”, with its date palms, its houses built in the Mediterranean colonial style and winding narrow streets throughout the old town are all part of the picturesque coastal city rightly named by its residents “Pearl of the Aegean”.Müge ÖzbağThe myths and heroic songs of old reflect the ancient history of the city. The city's influence on the most important centers of the ancient world is still perceptible because of the different cultures that have left their mark on the city: the Persians, Romans, Byzantians, Ottomans, Greeks and the Jews have all influenced the history of the city.It is assumed that the city is named after the Amazon queen Tsmirna. Her statue was once located on the 160 meter high hill named Pagos at the entrance gate of “Kadifekale”, which means “velvet castle”. The Turks called the statue Saba Melikesi Kaydafa. Legend has it that the Queen of Sheba came from Yemen and founded the city on the hill. Here you can enjoy the tranquility and magnificent views of the city and bay. On entering the bazaar of Kemeraltı, established in the 17th century and located beneath the castle, tranquility is no more. Customers in the bazaar are mainly locals, unlike in other bazaars such as the Egyptian Bazaar in Istanbul. In the labyrinth made up of tiny alleyways and crowds of people, blacksmiths, saddle makers and spice traders can still be found plying their trade. Ambling through the alleyways of the bazaar one can also discover the ruins of the Agora, the ancient centre of the city.

Motivated by its candidacy for the EXPO 2015, the third-largest city in Turkey has begun an overall renovation. “We restored the ancient buildings located in the Bazaar of Kemeraltı, which is one of the main symbols of the city. The Kadifekale, the Agora and the Bazaar are all connected to each other by an Archaeological-Park”, notes the mayor of İzmir, Aziz Kocaoğlu.In Asansör, the former Jewish quarter, a huge red brick tower built behind the houses and narrow streets, attracts widespread attention. This tower, also called Asansör, contains two separate elevators. The tower, built in 1907 by Jewish businessman Nesim Levi Bayrakoğlu, provided the residents of the traditional Jewish quarter on the Halil Rıfat Paşa Hill with a more convenient route to their homes. Thanks to the Asansör, the residents were saved the twice-daily hike up and down the 155 steps that separated them from their homes. As is the case from the citadel of Kadifekale, there is a breathtaking view over the entire city of İzmir from the tower. The Dario-Moreno-Alley, named after the famous Turkish-Jewish singer and film star who was born in İzmir, leads to the entrance of the Asansör. “I have crossed many seas, and searched for similar, but found none as beautiful as you” are the lyrics of one of his famous songs called, “My Beloved İzmir”. After his death in 1968 his home was converted into a museum.“The region around İzmir is an example of how different cultures and religions can live together in peace. Today, as a result, it is not only our democratic culture that is strengthened, but modern city planning as well”, says Aziz Kocaoğlu. During the Ottoman Empire the city was also known as “Gavur İzmir”, which means “non-believing İzmir”. In the year 1918 there were 155.000 orthodox Greeks, 44.000 Turks, 21.000 Jews, 10.000 Armenians and 50.000 foreigners including British, French, German and Italians all residing in İzmir. Although the make up of the population has changed, the peaceful coexistence amongst the different cultures is an entrenched core value of this modern and cosmopolitan city. That is probably why the most liberal minded youth of Turkey is to be found here. Another proverb goes, “İzmir girls are the most beautiful in Turkey.” Besides beautiful girls, İzmir's other well known symbol is its clock tower, the Saat Kulesi. The post Ottoman-Moorish style clock tower, a gift from German Emperor Wilhem II, was built in honor of the grand vizier, Kücük Sait Paşa and Sultan Abdülhamid II. The clock tower is used as a meeting point for young and old alike. People often say how happy they are to live in İzmir. The optimism and energy of the people can be felt throughout the city. This lust for life is especially evident in the Alsancak entertainment quarter. Here modern life and age-old traditions live side by side. Behind the many modern buildings and shop fronts you cannot help but notice the small, beautifully restored houses, which today serve as cafes. Here you can relax after an exhausting shopping expedition or just meet friends for a chat.

Before leaving İzmir however, if nothing else make sure to enjoy at sunset a casual stroll or nostalgic ride with a horse and trap along the “Kordon” esplanade. An unforgettable experience…

Inform,Saturday, May 24, 2008

Next big thing:Tourism for dogs

ANIMALS: Emulating private eye hospitals that draw patients from Europe with their ability to perform operations at half the price and offers a holiday in the bargain, veterinary hopitals plan to provide an array of health services to sick animals.

Veterinary hospitals in Turkey are preparing to treat sick animals brought from abroad. Operations will cost half the price in Europe. Animal owners will be provided a one-week holiday in Turkey during the treatment process

Özgüç Kozan

Intensive care units, special X-ray devices capable of rotating 360 degrees, eye units, obesity control programs, mud baths, autopsies, pedicures, and coiffeurs. Turkey's veterinary hospitals are often on a par with private hospitals for humans in terms of technology, comfort and high standards of care they offer, which is why they are increasingly trying to attract European pets to Turkey for healing and a holiday.

Emulating private eye hospitals that draw patients from Europe with their ability to perform operations at half the price while offering patients the chance to holiday in Turkey, veterinary hospitals plan to provide an array of health services to sick animals, drawing patients from Europe and providing their owners with a pleasant holiday in Turkey.

“A dog hip luxation operation is carried out at a price of between 4,000 and 5,000 euros in Europe, but we perform such an operation for 1,500 euros,” said Burak Tuvay, general manager of Avrupa Animal Hospital in Istanbul.

Tuvay said the hospital has established contact with a number of veterinary and animal hospitals in European countries, particularly in Germany, where they are preparing to launch a big advertising campaign to attract pet owners with sick animals to Turkey. “We have prepared one-week holiday packages for them. During the operation, they can enjoy their time in beautiful corners of Turkey,” said Tuvay.

Service at half the price in Europe

The pet sector in Turkey is growing thanks to an increased interest in recent years in animals and animal care. A wider array of health services for pets is offered, not only by traditional veterinarians, but also at newly opened pet clinics and private veterinary hospitals that feature the latest technology. The number of veterinary clinics has doubled, reaching 370 in Istanbul and 250 in Ankara in the last five years. The countrywide number is predicted to surpass 1,000. The first private veterinary hospital was established in Istanbul in 1999. The total number of such hospitals in Turkey has increased from 10 to 21 within the last two years.

The health services provided at private veterinary hospitals, established with large initial investments and equipped with high-tech devices, is almost equal to the standards of service provided at normal private hospitals. Some animal hospitals even provide treatment for behavioral disorders or obesity, and offer autopsy and coiffeur services.

The current goal for these hospitals is to make Turkey an international destination for the treatment of sick animals at reasonable prices, according to directors of private animal hospitals. “We would like to start a kind of pet health tourism in Turkey,” said Tuvay, adding that the sector is already growing rapidly.

VIP implementation

The rapid growth in the sector has resulted in fierce competition among veterinary hospitals and introduced certain areas of specialization.

Vet Hospital, which operates in Ankara, has turned into a special institution just for cats. Likewise, the Jockey Club of Turkey has fully-equipped hospitals for racehorses. These hospitals, located in Istanbul and İzmir, also offer services to other countries.

Pet Hospital in Ankara provides animal monitoring and discounts for holders of its V.I.P. Card. Using the hospital is sufficient to obtain a V.I.P. card, which enables easier monitoring of any phase of disease. The card also offers special discounts or “pet points” for any kind of services, food and material purchases from the hospital. It is possible to use the collected points as pet money.

Unemployed vets open clinics

Turkey is Europe's top country in terms of the number of veterinary faculties and veterinary graduates, said Professor Dr. Murat Arslan, chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons.

“The graduated vets used to shift to food or pharmaceutical factories when they were unable to find jobs in the area of cattle. As agricultural subsidies increased in Anatolia, they started finding jobs again,” he continued. “However, when subsidies declined, vets were forced to draw loans and fill metropolises with clinics. The excessive number of clinics may result in slumps soon, putting vets on the verge of another crisis.”

Illegal animal trade

A substantial proportion of imported pets are brought into Turkey illegally, said vets. The provincial directorates of agriculture are unable to conduct supervision efficiently due to insufficient staff, said Arslan, adding that 90 percent of animals sold in pet shops are illegal.

In order to prevent illegal entrance and loss of taxes as well as to develop the domestic animal sector, the government should encourage domestic production, said Arslan. “The pet sector is developing. We should make several plans for its future,” said Professor Ali Daşkın of Pet Hospital. “Pet shops have multiplied on the lower floors of shopping centers. We should now establish dog and cat breeding centers to foster economy and produce healthier animals.”

Inform,Saturday,May 24,2008