RIGAZZI:”WE BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE OF IZMIR”
Alain Rigazzi, the 53 year old general manager of Mövenpick Hotel İzmir is confident that there lies a future in İzmir and, while sipping his cappuccino, states the aim of Mövenpick, a company which evolved from a small restaurant in Switzerland in 1948 to a food manufacturer known for its world famous ice-cream, to a world player in the hospitality industry : To create a first class hotel in this city, and to make it successful.
With 56 hotels in cities including İstanbul and Bodrum and 23 currently underway, the company plans to expand to 200 hotels within the next three years. “We believe that there is future in İzmir,” said Rigazzi, and added, “The future of the economic environment in a city depends on many different factors. You have the policy of the government, you have the political environment, and the business community. What we are expecting is to have a first class hotel in the city, and to make it successful.” Mövenpick Hotel İzmir is to open on Nov. 1.
Rigazzi thinks the soul of a city is deeper. “It is the way the people do what they do, how they live. The soul of Izmir is its people, and the people are very polite,” he said, and added: “The people in İzmir are extremely friendly, very hospitable and they enjoy life. This is something I have noticed by moving around, that people who live next to the water in general are more open, much more laid-back and less stressed than people who live in a continental city.”
Rigazzi considers İzmir as being on the right track. He thinks that the new airport, the convention center and the hotels soon to be opened will contribute a lot to the city, and considers them all as steps to be taken to draw more tourists to the city. When referring to the city's tourism potential, Rigazzi said: “You know, in terms of tourism, one needs to define tourism the way people see it. For what I call seaside tourism, here you are not going to have many tourists unless you change the Kordon into a beach.” Mentioning that there were different types of tourism, Rigazzi made comments on the tourism potential of İzmir.
“You have historical tourism, you have health related tourism, and there are many other possibilities, too. What I am thinking about is the cruise industry.The cruise industry is a big chapter and then you have the all-inclusive concept which is a completely other long story. The cruise has two aspects.” Rigazzi mentioned how the cruise industry has direct and indirect economic impact on the city. Regarding the direct and indirect economic impact that stems from a cruise ship.
Rigazzi said: ''What I call the direct economic impact is when you have a stop for a cruise, you have obviously the people coming down, having an excursion and moving around Then you have all the re-supplying of the ships. For example, a ship purchasing 100 cases of tomatoes has no obviously direct impact on the people living here. The indirect economic impact is the people who have been here, in the area, and then later want to come back because they have seen it and they enjoyed themselves.”
He thinks people should look at the cruise industry as a new trend, and that this trend is only going to grow. Claiming that it is only going to grow in popularity he says it is very convenient because you can be in the cruise for seven days in the Mediterranean and see five different countries. ''You go Turkey, Greece, France, Italy, Spain and you never leave your cabin. And you say 'Today I am in Spain, OK.' Prices may be competitive because it is again an added value. The all inclusive, ultra inclusive system is another value. I think this is going to grow and gain popularity in Europe more and more.”
Regarding congress tourism in İzmir, Rigazzi goes by the motto “The more exposure you get, the better.” Stating that he believed in İzmir, he says that advertisement is vital. “For anybody who makes a decision about having a convention in a city there are number of things that need to take place. You need to have the facilities for the meeting you need to have the rooms. You need to have the infrastructure. You need to have the after hours activities. And then there is a price component. I do not see any reason why one would not choose İzmir.”
While commenting on the Swissotels presence in the market, Rigazzi said: “I believe in competition. I think it important to have competition in the market, it is important to have other players in the market. You can call it Swiss or you can replace it to another company, but it is very important to have a new player in market.”
On why he chose İzmir as his next destination Rigazzi said, “When you work for a company, when you come to the end of the contract, they say OK, listen you have different possibilities. My concern is I do not want to be in a place where I have already been. It is not interesting for me.”
Rigazzi has two sons aged 17 and15 years old who attend school in Gaziemir, and they have all made İzmir their home. “I am blessed to have a wife who, if you were to put her in the middle of the desert, she can find friends and as she goes around, she makes friends”he said, adding that he is completely integrated except for his little knowledge of Turkish.”
The most important thing for Rigazzi is his family. Therefore one of his most important concerns was the culture and the school. “A lot of people in my business find it extremely challenging to go from one country to another while taking the kids with them, so many of my colleagues choose to send their kids in England or Switzerland, and put them in boarding schools at the age of 10. This is not my concept. It is obviously more easy but I chose the difficult way. The old one is 17 now and he has lived in about 6 countries,” said Rigazzi. With an ironic smile, he added, “But never in Switzerland.”
FERRY SERVISE BETWEEN TRNC AND SYRIA RESTORED AFTER 29 YEARS
The ferry trips that had been held between the Gazimagusa (Famagusta) port of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Latikia port of Syria between 1978 and 1979 was restored after an interval of 28 years. The first trip that took place on Saturday was a promotional one and scheduled regular trips will start with the Ramadan holiday.
Government officials, businessmen, representatives from the press organizations, tourism agencies and universities attended the ferry trip. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Turgay Avci was present at the port for the first ferry trip after 28 years and bid farewell to passengers. Avci said that the ferry service would foster relations in the fields of tourism, culture, commerce and education, indicating that it would also help peoples of the two countries commingle. Avci recently paid an official visit to Damascus.
IZMIR OVERCOMING THE ACCOMODATION SHORTAGE
The opening of big hotel chains such as Swissôtel, Mövenpick and Ocakoğlu Otel in İzmir this winter will make up for a shortage of accommodation in the city by providing 1,236 more beds, reported the Doğan news agency. The city's total bed capacity will increase to 10,000 owing to the newly operating hotels Mövenpick, with a 400-bed capacity, and Swissôtel Grand Efes, with 670 beds.
Surveys are continuing for the building of a hotel in the lot of İzmir High Technology Institute in Çankaya, and TAV and Afken Holding are also still seeking land to build two additional four-star hotels, each with a 600 person capacity. The SC INN Boutique Hotel in Basmane, owned by Selçuk Cengiz, has 138 beds and 55 rooms while the Karcıoğlus' Beyond Hotel in Alsancak serves with 60 rooms and 120 beds. Onur Construction and Trade Industry A.Ş. has opened the Ontur İzmir Boutique Hotel for service in Basmane, with a 110 person capacity.
BREATHING IN SECLUDED COVES
The village of Göcek between Fethiye and Dalaman is a place far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern Western living, where the legendary Icarus fell into the sea after flying too close to the sun. The government has listed it among just 14 protected national heritage sites due to its natural surroundings and its fame in Turkey and abroad is increasing daily thanks to its clean waters and it being a rare harbor. The first thing to do in Göcek is to take a yacht tour to see the island and its wonderful bays. Do not forget your camera to take photos of the Twelve Islands (Oniki Ada).
Make sure to see Atbükü, Siralibük, Boynuz Bükü, Bedri Rahmi, Sarsala, Manastır, Cleopatra Bath and Göbün bays. Domuz, Yassıcalar and Tersane Islands are among the places that should be seen. Göcek Island, which is just 10 minutes away from Göcek, is the best choice for those wanting to take a yacht tour since it is the closest beach to Göcek. Yachts ferry passengers from the early morning until evening. It is possible to camp under trees and to rest in placid corners.
Boynuzbuku Bay is covered with sweet gums that grow only in the region from Koycegiz to Fethiye and whose resin is used in treatment of some illnesses. It is possible to go to Kile Bay's pebbly beach by car. Sarsala Bay has access overland. After passing Dalaman Centre, you will drive 12 kilometers after turning from Kapıkargın village signboard. This road, taking 20 or 25 minutes, has impressive views.
It is possible to reach Küçük Sarsala Bay only by yacht. There is no beach here. However, there is a wharf from which you can swim and a restaurant serving until late hours. The old cities of Kaunos and Telmessos are close to Göcek. If you are interested in history, reserve some time during your holiday to see these places. Göcek's marinas represent the town's main attraction and explain its reputation as a heaven for yachtsmen. When you take a trip to the quay, you will find yachts moored alongside tiny fishing boats in the harbor.
The growing yachting industry has seen a rise in the number of jewelers,clothes stores and restaurants, but Göcek has retained its authentic coastal village atmosphere with local markets and carpet sellers providing a charming throwback to antiquity. Skopea marina, which has been open for 15 years and can hold 85 yachts, takes its name from the bay known as Skopea Harbor. The newest marina of Göcek, Port Göcek is operated by Camper & Nicholson, a world-famous firm. There is an office for people wanting to sell or buy a yacht in the marina where 180 yachts on land and 365 yachts at the marina can camp at Port Göcek, the third breakwater of the world, and the first of the East Mediterranean.
It is possible to find sea foods restaurants along the harbor. Lagos, gilt head bream and red mullet are among the local fishes. It can be nice to eat fresh fish accompanied by a view of the seaside with lights ablaze at nearby bars and restaurants. Do not forget to taste appetizers: Purslane, eggplant salad and sour ezme will contribute to your fish delight!
BEYLERBEYİ PALACE OFFERS HARMANIOUS VIEW OF A BYGONE ERA
Students attending the Greater İstanbul Municipality Arts and Crafts Training Courses (İSMEK) opened an exhibition of hand-sewn caftans and embroidery, titled "Embroidery beyond Centuries, Sultans' Ornamented Caftans" at the Tünel Hall of İstanbul's Beylerbeyi Palace
The exhibition, which began on Sept. 19, includes around 80 pieces of handmade embroidery, Maraş-style clothes and glamorous caftans. Municipality Education Department head Mustafa Doğan said the pieces on display were created by 52 students who attended the latest term of the handicraft courses.
Underlining the importance of reviving traditional artwork, Doğan said: "It is our mission to develop and promote handicrafts and other forgotten branches of Turkish-Islamic art and pass them on to future generations. We will … help them reach the spot they deserve to hold because these crafts are our historical memories
Doğan went on to say that Turkish-Islamic artwork was a historical asset and that it "carries a civilization to the future." Emphasizing the importance of such exhibitions, where clothes, shoes, bags and hats belonging to the Ottoman era are put on display, Doğan said the works were being showcased at the historic Beylerbeyi Palace in order to establish harmony between the exhibition and its venue.
Mannequins wearing the striking caftans salute visitors in the huge stone-walled hall. Colorful caftans presentedThe exhibition is open every day except Mondays and Thursdays and will remain open until Sept. 30. All items but the caftans at the exhibition are on sale. Admission is free.
TOURISM INDUSTRY WANTS TO MAKE A BRAND OUT OF MARMARIS
Undertaking the leadership of hoteliers in Marmaris, which provides an annual flow of about 1 billion euros into the country and is one of the leading tourism centers in Turkey, İlhan Açıkgöz gives clear messages to both the ministry and the sector that they aim to actualize the region to its fullest potential. “Instead of fumbling in the dark, we will find our way with scientific studies. Our aim is to make the South Aegean and Marmaris a brand with its assets and high quality products.”
Leading managers of the Aegean tourism industry are trying to shed light on the future of the sector. The coastal regions of Turkey witness heavy travel. The Southern Aegean Union of Hoteliers (GETOB), which unites important tourism centers like Dalaman, Sarıgerme, Dalyan, Köyceğiz, Gökova, Marmaris, Datça and Muğla, is turning into an observation and research center in its quest to find long-term solutions to fundamental problems.
The young and dynamic president of the union, Açıkgöz now is at the top of the company that executes the management of seven different hotels in the sector where he started as a tourist guide. With the projects he develops and the research he maintains in GETOB, he tries to relieve the Turkish tourism industry of the pessimism that first appeared in the early 1980s.
“OUR PRODUCT IS MARMARIS ITSELF ‘
“The destination itself is a product. No one says, ‘I am going to that hotel,' but says, ‘I am going Hawaii.' That is to say, Hawaii is the brand, not the hotels. In other words, first comes the promotion of the destination. This situation in Turkey has not been well handled before. Now, this is what we are trying to achieve: To make a brand out of Marmaris and the southern Aegean as a whole,” Açıkgöz said.
In this respect, Açıkgöz opposes the ‘Turkish Riviera' comparison used for Antalya in recent years. He believes that Antalya and the southern Aegean is more beautiful than the French Riviera and says that it is unnecessary to imitate other countries. The GETOB has started to develop a business plan based on statistical data the British Total Media group performed with last year's data. An analysis to show the negative and positive opportunities of the region revealed that the most striking characteristic of Marmaris that separates the region from its rivals is the easy contribution to travelers' social lives during holiday. Tourists spending their holiday in Marmaris can easily adapt to the local people, life and traditions which makes Marmaris more advantageous than Şarm El-Şeyh, Belek or Crete where tourists spend their holidays in luxurious hotels in isolation. While the product of these hotels is the hotel itself, tourists to the southern Aegean can merge with the local life and cultural activities becoming closer with nature, local people and cuisine.
ALL-INCLUSIVE SYSTEM IS A REALITY EVERY HOTEL CANNOT MAINTAIN
GETOB President Açıkgöz considers the large population of two- and three-star hotels in the region from a different perspective. “That money comes from the poor ones [tourists],” he said. Hoteliers in Marmaris prefer the middle-income clients who spend more in the5-star hotels, he added. In this respect, he considers the existence of small hotels in the region as an advantage for local people and tradesmen.
‘WIN-WIN PRINCIPE BECOMES LOSE-LOSE DUE TO THE COMPETITION
Another point that Açıkgöz and his friends emphasize is that competition in the Turkish tourism sector is focused on the price rather than the product. Administrations that aim to attract clients, instead of increasing the quality of services or the facilities, prefer to cut prices. In time this causes a lack of quality in the sector. As Açıkgöz says, ‘win-win', turns out to be ‘lose-lose' for the competing hotels.
However, small hotels with high quality, he says, would be more profitable for clients. Research reveals that another reason Marmaris is advantageous is ‘guest royalty': At least 40 percent of tourists visiting the region make another holiday reservation.
‘INDIVIDUAL AND PARTY INDEXED TOURISM POLICIES SHOULD COME TO AN END 2
The hoteliers in the south Aegean with research and development studies have set their goals for the future: To increase the present product quality to world standards in the next five years. He describes the “product” as the general condition of the region, cultural and natural assets, facilities, personnel, understanding of services and quality of food and drinks. “The tourism policy of the last 15 years, except the fist three years, is based on a lack of policy. The sector has tried to find a way by fumbling in the dark. The lack of a master plan was always felt. The accommodation capacity was increased without efficient planning,” said Açıkgöz.
Some basic concerns of the report that British Total Media Group prepared for GETOB:
-- While reservations all around the world fell 10 percent in 2006, Turkey's rate fell 17 percent.
-- While Turkey spent 3.8 million pounds for promotion in the British market, Spain spent 5.5 million; Egypt, Morocco and Greek Cyprus spent about 2 million pounds for advertisement. In return, 954,000 British tourists visited Turkey. In the same period seven million British tourists visited Spain; 597,000 Brits went to Egypt; 370,000 went to Morocco and Tunisia; and one million went to Greek Cyprus. In 2006, Spain became the most popular attraction of the tourists from the Islands with 34 percent, followed by France with 17 percent and Italy and Greece with 9 percent.
Of British tourists arriving in Turkey, 44 percent were men and 56 percent were women. Of those, 55 percent were permanently employed, 10 percent were employed in part-time jobs and 35 percent were unemployed.
-- Turkey is not a cheap country for British tourists. A British tourist should save 2,030 pounds for a two-week holiday. This number for Egypt is 1,997 pounds, 1,981 for Greek Cyprus, 1,950 for Morocco and Tunisia, 1,881 for Italy, 1,772 for Greece, 1,658 for Spain and 1,653 for France.
The second-most popular holiday country, within the same year, for the British who spent their holiday in Turkey was Spain with 13 percent, Greece with 9 percent, France with 3.5 percent and Italy, Greek Cyprus, Egypt and Portugal with 3 percent.
The British regions Marmaris attracts tourists from are London and environs 23.7 percent, Midlands 17.4 percent, Manchester and environs 11.8 percent, Wales 7.2 percent and Scotland 5.5 percent.
DIVAN TO OPEN HOTEL IN ÇORLU
Divan, a Koç Holding Tourism Group company, will continue to expand with a new hotel, Divan Hotel Çorlu, due to open at the end of 2009. Divan general manager, Joep Bakx, said they decided to open their fifth city hotel in partnership with Arsan Group in Çorlu, a city that showed growth in industrial investments, population and employment in recent years. He said, “we expect to draw visitors from Thrace, not only from Çorlu.
”Bakx said the managers of factories and owners of buildings in Çorlu could not find accommodation in the city due to insufficient bed capacity, and added, “foreign visitors to Çorlu find accommodation in Büyükçekmece and Silivri. When Divan Hotel opens, they will have an opportunity to avail of accommodation with high standards.” Çorlu's first chain hotel Bakx said Çorlu will have its first chain hotel, and added, “Divan Hotel Çorlu will have 110 rooms and 25 apartment rooms, designed for long-term accommodation. It will also have the Divan
Brasserie, cafes and restaurants, sports center, outdoor pool, a ball room where occasions like conferences and wedding can be held.” “We are planning to reach 58 Divan hotels by 2017,” Bakx addedIt will also have the Divan Brasserie, cafes and restaurants, sports center, outdoor pool, a ball room where occasions like conferences and wedding can be held.” “We are planning to reach 58 Divan hotels by 2017,” Bakx added.
A new business hotel on the Anatolian side
A new addition to Istanbul's Anatolian side that will give tourism development a boost and close the current gap in the business hotel sector is three-star hotel Masi due to open in October in Ümraniye. Masi Hotel Executive Board Chairman Fazlı Yıldırım said their primary goal was to draw businessmen from outside of Istanbul. “At a time during which business events gained speed, we aim to meet demand on the Anatolian side and offer high-quality service. Those who choose our hotel will not be our customers, but our guests, and we will make them feel at home,” he said. Masi Hotel has a capacity of 40 double rooms, each with a different color and design. The hotel also has a 100 person capacity onference room, a large terrace and a restaurant which serves mostly Ottoman cuisine.
ISTANBUL TO DOMASCUS OVER LAND
Earlier this year I traveled to Damascus (Dimashq ash-Sham) over land. I took the train from Istanbul to Adana, alone in a two-bed cabin, as often happens on Turkish trains. So half the journey I slept, and the other half I watched Anatolia go by. Adana was an attractive city with a modern center. It seemed as “European” as Istanbul or İzmir, despite being on the Middle East's doorstep. There were many nice cafes and I ate the famous Adana kebabs. I spent the evening watching Turkish dancing and singing in a bar.
Next morning I was up early to get the bus to Antakya, via the ancient city of İskenderun on the Mediterranean Sea. The "fun" started there. I was pushed into a service bus and taken to a big bus organized to get tourists across the border. But when we got to the border the Turkish authorities told us to go back because the bus was not full. The driver took us halfway back to Antakya, then turned around and went back to the border. Again we were told to go back, so we all got off and were put into two dolmuşes. Our dolmuş, however, did not have enough passengers either, so we were told to go back for a third time.
Finally we found two “hitch-hikers” and, three hours after reaching the border, managed to get across. During this time I made friends with a few of the other passengers. They included an English photographer who lived in Damascus with his Syrian wife. From Aleppo we got the bus to Damascus. It is said to be the oldest city in the world where people have always lived, going back more than 10,000 years. Following 400 years of Ottoman rule, Syria was taken by the French after World War I, becoming independent again in 1946. The center of the city has a French influence with its architecture and restaurants. I visited the Umayyad Mosque and the old city.
On my second day, John Wreford, the photographer I had met at the border came to my hotel and invited me to Sayyida Zainab, the Shiite area of the city. There were many people from Iraq there, and we met one young man who had lost a hand in the war. They were friendly to us even though we were Westerners. Tourists are not judged by the actions of their politicians, thankfully! Apart from the magnificent Sayyida Zeinab Mosque, the area looked very poor. There were dead animals hanging in front of the shops and one man was killing fish in front of the customers. We ate “kibbe” and drank spicy Arab coffee in one of these shops. We also saw an informal game of cricket. Probably the players were from Pakistan.
WINTER GAMES TO PUT ERZURUM AND PALANDÖKEN IN SPOTLIGHT
The 2011 Winter Universiade (World University Games), an international multi-sport event for university athletes that will be held in Erzurum's Palandöken in 2011, is expected to contribute to the development of the economy and tourism in eastern Anatolia. “We will share Palandöken, a popular ski resort preferred by foreign tourists in particular, with the whole world in 2011,” said Erzurum Mayor Ahmet Küçükler. Noting that a comprehensive meeting was held a short time ago regarding the organization of the event at a government level, he said all the preparation activities carried out with the event in mind were completed without any problems. “The construction work for the ice hockey rink is underway.
But there are many other facilities to be established later. We are still in the project phase for them. Our target is to complete all the anticipated projects by the end of 2009,” he said, and added, the event will create new job opportunities for the people living in the region. “The fate of the city will change with the games,” said Küçükler, indicating that an income of YTL 200 million will flow into the city as a result of the event. He said Erzurum's “introvert” image has changed and it has become an internationally known province.
“Erzurum is the window opening up to the world. The games will further strengthen this reality. We will host our guests and display Turkish hospitality. We will do our best to reflect Erzurum culture,” he said. He also said the number of tourists coming to the city has already increased significantly. Nearly 10,000 tourists are expected to come to Palandöken for the games. A total of 200 million euros will be invested by 2011. There are three five-star hotels in the region with 2,600 rooms.
THE HOUSE OF MARY :A PLACE THAT UNITES ALL
Up in the mountain side of Selçuk, overlooking the city of Efes rests the House of the Virgin Mary. This place nestled in a green and tranquil environment attracts thousands of visitors each day, both local and international. They come for different reasons, some to visit and some to pray, but most importantly they come from different backgrounds. This is a special quality of this site in that it unifies all who come regardless of ones religion, culture or nationality. She is ‘A mother who embraces her children' with a maternal compassion. This uniting quality is one that Father Tarcy Mathias sees very clearly in his everyday work with the church, something that he is very proud of. Mother Mary embraces each and every one in the house, mother Mary embraces each and every one through the house.
The history of the house dates back to the early Roman period, as a part of Efes. The structure of the house has change somewhat over the thousands of years it has existed. Originally the house would have been a two structure building but years of deterioration has left just one level. Archaeologists have been able to find that the house dates back to approximately the 4th or 5th century AD, but foundations they found are much earlier, probably from the 1st century. The house was restored with the help of the Swiss and American Catholic Associations in 1950 and inaugurated on June 9th 1951 by the Archbishop of İzmir, Decuffi.
The discovery of the house is linked directly to a German nun, Anna Katherine Emmerich (1774-1824), who after many years of being bedridden from illness began to have visions of the Virgin Mary and Christ. In those visions she clearly detailed the house that Mary lived in after the crucifixion of Christ. These details were later verified by two Lazarist priests, Father Jung and Father Poulin, who on July 29th 1891 discovered the house. After six days of field work they were confident in their find.
THE HOUSE AS IT IS TODAY
Originally from India, Father Tarcy Mathias came to Selçuk in 1998, assigned to the House of the Virgin Mary by his superiors. He did not know much about Turkey and was hesitant in being reassigned but finally agreed to try it for a year. That was ten years ago and now Farther Tarcy feels “Very much at home and very comfortable and happy to work in Mary's House.'' ''I am very proud to be in Turkey,'' he said. He also feels nostalgic due to the fact that before he was working in North India. “In a small town that was a Muslim state until independence when it became a part of India. I feel very comfortable in Selçuk, because the environment is so similar,” Father Tarcy said.
The fact that the Roman Catholic Church has not officially acknowledged this site as Mother Mary's home has not shaken the faith of Father Tarcy or the people who come there each day. The church speaks officially in matters of faith and morals, “how you explain faith and put it into practice everyday. The existence of this house does not touch our faith in Mother Mary, it is not directly connected,” Father Tarcy said. But the house is still publicly acknowledged as a sacred site, a place of prayer and a place of spiritual feeling by the Catholic Church through the many visits of Popes to the site, recently with Pope Benedict XVI visit in November 2006.
This faith in the house is best shown each year on August 15th with the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. A record of this pilgrimage dates back centuries in the town of Şirince where every year local Greek Orthodox villagers would make the 18 km pilgrimage to the Virgin Mary's House. This tradition has continued but it has changed slightly. Firstly there is no longer a local Catholic community that gather but rather a mix of Catholics from other cities in Turkey and around the world as well as people of different religions. “From the morning people come to pray. Anyone can come and take part.” Father Tarcy said. The ceremony is conducted in three parts. At half past ten there is an inter-religious prayer service, at twelve a Catholic Mass and at three a devotion to Mary
A SITE OF RELIGIOUS HARMONY
The unique aspect of this place is that it shows the ability of the coexistence of many religions and the similarities between them. “Turkey is the bridge between East and West and that symbol is best shown in Mother Mary and what happens here in Mary's House,” Father Tarcy said. “It is a beautiful thing to see our brothers and sisters from Turkey of Islam come and pray here. Its very touching, I feel very proud of Turkey,” he said. The house of the Virgin Mary is a spiritual place, however “Religion does play a part in this place but not as an end, we want everyone regardless of religion and culture to have a spiritual experience. To feel that Mother Mary loves them and looks after them,” Father Tarcy said.
Due to this co-existence of many religions Father Tarcy's perspective has changed. “People of Islam, different religions, no religion, and young people come here. I can see that Mother Mary has touched everyone. My religion, through the practice of my Christian faith has become one of being human, to appreciate humanity. I see this very clearly here,” he said. On the subject of interpreting religious books, Farther Tarcy explained that it is important to follow the scriptures as well as interpret the words.
“These books were written at a certain time, by a certain person, with a certain perspective. Printed words are only an outer shell of the inner message of the word of God. Through the scriptures you must discover the Word of God.” Father Tarcy said. When Mary, as the mother of all, embraces and welcomes all, the differences disappear while the original truth becomes clearer, he asserts.“When you pray you will begin to understand each others religion. All of us come from the same spirit.
Every life is spirit,” he said. “Through prayer one can discover the oneness, not only between ourselves but within the whole of creation. There is life in this world, it is not a dead thing,” Father Tarcy said.This is his global message, that no matter what religion you are we come from the same god and that all religions have the same message. “We must find a common spirit between us. Everyone is a brother or sister so we must treat each other like that. Consider the humanity of one, discover the oneness of your spirit and not let your religion divide you,” Father Tarcy said.
MAINTAINING THE HOUSE OF MARY
The Church is maintained by the Dernek, who pay for its maintenance and everyday bills. “We receive no funding at all, neither from the Vatican or the government. Dernek provides for us. We are only in charge of religious services. But we are not here for the sake of money but for Mother Mary and her house,” Farther Tarcy said.Another issue was the entrance fee that both tourist and people attending Mass must pay. “People coming to Mass must buy a ticket to enter this place. The Belediye don't know who comes to pray and who comes as a tourist, I understand it's very difficult to know that. Nowhere else do you have to pay to pray. We need to all get together, the Belediye, Dernek and the Church to work out a better system, so that we can serve the people better and no wrong impressions are given,” Father Tarcy added.It's not only about financial maintenance but a spiritual one as well, in the sense that visitors to the Church must respect and maintain the spiritual atmosphere of the environment.
This can be achieved through dressing appropriately, observing silence as well as not taking photos within the House of the Virgin Mary. “It is not my place to tell a man to put on his shirt or a woman to dress more appropriately, but tourists must remember that this is a place of reflection and to act accordingly not only out of respect for the Church but for other people as well.” Father Tarcy said and insisted. “Tourist agents and guides must give this information to their groups and see that this is observed. This will certainly help to create a better atmosphere of payer and spiritual experience in Mary's House,” Father Tarcy said. The House of the Virgin Mary is a testament to the peaceful coexistence of many different religions, something that symbolic of the religious harmony that Turkey encompasses. A spiritual journey and experience is more important than the religious aspect of the place. The message of the place resonates in the many people who visit and pray there everyday, all from different background, religions and cultures. Through a deeper understanding of faith and a spiritual experience one will be able to come to the realization that all religions carry with them the same message and that with this realization we are united. Mary in Koran and Bible
"The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." (Luke, 1:28)
"Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah has chosen you and purified you - chosen you above the women of all nations." (Koran, 3:42)
"Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." (Luke, 1.29-31)
Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be İsa (Christ Jesus), the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah" (Koran, 3:45)
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”(Luke, 1:34-5)
"She said: 'O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?' He said: "Even so: Allah creates what He wills: when He has decreed a Plan, He but says to it, 'Be,' and it is!" (Koran, 3:47)
TOURIST INTEREST IN HARRAN INCREASES
Şanlıurfa's Harra district administrator, Hasan Yaman, said the number of tourists visiting the district has increased with growing tourism awareness. Yaman said Harran was a significant tourist destination with its Harran Castle, the remains of the world's first Islamic university, cone shaped domed houses and its original structure, the Anatolia news agency reported. He said foreign and local visitors to Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, Mardin and Diyarbakır also visited Harran but they could not find accommodation in the district because of a lack of hotels.
He said they were fascinated by the natural beauties of the district and came to see the same places. “The number of tourists has increased with growing tourism awareness. Interest shown by the people and tradesmen of the district is also effective in this rise in demand. More than 80,000 tourists have visited Harran in nine months. This number equals the number of visitors the district had in all of last year. Our aim is to solve accommodation problems, accelerate promotional activities and draw more tourists to Harran,” said Yaman. Yaman added that the completion of road construction between Şanlıurfa and Akçakale that had been ongoing for a few years, contributed to the increase of tourists visiting the district.
UNWINDING AT A BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Hotels are places people go to when on vacation or traveling on business but small hotels are more like a place to get away from it all. They are trendy, comfortable, calm and most importantly they are places allowing one to hide and relax. They offer all the comfort and the latest technology. Most of them are designed by famous architects. Most of these hotels are called “Boutique Hotels.” The number of beds and rooms are few, but when it comes to service, they are as refined as those of five-star hotels.
Most of them are renowned for their “cuisine.” Some of them offer homemade local cuisine. Yet, the price is not modest. You stand no chance of finding a room without a prior reservation. Ada HotelAda is located in Türkbükü, Bodrum. It is surrounded with centennial olive trees away from the crowds of Bodrum, and is a place for those who prefer tranquil vacations. It has been in service with its 14 rooms and 37 beds since 1997. Ada Hotel is open from April 1 to Nov. 1. The facilities include a Turkish bath, sauna, Internet room, mini movie-theater, a massage room and two swimming pools. It is about 400 meters from the water and has a private beach on the Türkbükü coast. Reservations are required.
Hotel Queen AdaIt is located on Bodrum's Torba coast and has been in service for six years. The hotel is open from April 1 to Oct. 31 and on special days such as New Year and Bayram. A wooden pier, sunbathing corners, swimming pool, fitness center, restaurant and bar are among the facilities. The boutique hotel has 22 rooms with 50 beds. It is ideal for those who want a calm, quiet vacation. Reservations are required. www.queenadahotel.com
Manici KasrıThe hotel is located in Yeşilyurt village, which is 10 kilometers from Altınoluk. It has three suites and seven double rooms. All of the food is provided from nearby villages. Manici Kasrı overlooks the Edremit Gulf and is perfect for resting. You can breathe the oxygen-filled air of Kazdığı. The hotel is decorated with stone, wood and forged iron. All of the rooms have fireplaces. A café, restaurant, bar and a private beach are among the facilities at Manici Kasrı. It is five kilometers from the beach, and reservations are required.
Antik Belkıs HanThis three-storey hotel in Gaziantep has been in service since 2003. Breakfast is served in a big garden full of trees and flowers. The building is 150 years old, and paintings by Nacaroğlu are displayed on the walls. While heading to Antik Belkıs Han, you can view the narrow streets of old Gaziantep. Reservations are required for Antik Belkıs Han. www.belkishan.com
Alaçatı Taş HotelThis 100-year-old Greek building in Alaçatı, Çeşme has been in service as a boutique hotel since 2001. The building had previously been used as an elementary school, olive oil depot and animal shelter. The hotel has eight rooms with 16 beds, and it is open all year long. There is a swimming pool, and all rooms have air conditioning. The original structure and construction of the building remains untouched. The hotel serves only breakfast, and is three kilometers from the seaside. Reservations are required.
Zeytinbağı HotelThe hotel is at the base of Kazdağı in Edremit Gulf. It has been in service with eight rooms for three years and is open all year round. Delicious food is prepared with local herbs and vegetables from its garden and the food is served with local olive oil. A colorful meal called "long breakfast" is served in the garden on the grass. The owner Tuncel Kurtiz is a Turkish actor, and you can take long walks with him while listening to stories of myth. Yoga courses are also available. It is two kilometers from the seaside. Reservations are required.
Erdoba Evleri Two houses belonging to the Sümer and Gözü families of Mardin have served as hotels since 2002. There are 19 rooms and 65 beds. The cuisine is made up of local dishes found in the area. The structure and construction of the houses remain unchanged, and they overlook the Mesopotamian plain and Mardin Castle. A wine cellar, şark köşesi (oriental corner), and Turkish bath are among the facilities. The hotel is open all year long and reservations are required.
Museum Hotel The hotel is located in the Cappadocia region and is specially designed for local and foreign tourists wishing to breathe the mystical air of antiquity. The hotel is in a cave in Uçhisar and is run by collector of historic works, Ömer Tosun. There are 20 rooms, each with a Jacuzzi and each housing many antique pieces registered to the Nevşehir Museum. The hotel hosts an artist each month to exhibit his/her works in the art gallery within the facilities of the hotel. Reservations are required. www.museumhotel.com.tr Tel: 0384 219 2220
Boutique hotel shines in Bodrum
Tucked away atop a hill a five-minute drive from Bodrum's center is a modest yet luxurious boutique hotel. Having bucked the declining tourism trend in the area both in 2006 (only the hotel's second season) and early into the summer of 2007, The Butterfly may have struck a business model for accommodation that can withstand any blows to the area's tourism industry – a model that makes it stand out from the majority of Bodrum's other hotels and bed and breakfasts.
“Bookings have doubled every year since opening,” said Patrick Hembrough, joint-owner of The Butterfly. Even more interesting, the hotel has not spent any money on formal advertising. The Butterfly opened in its current form and location about two-and-a-half years ago. In its first season, almost all of their clientele discovered The Butterfly via the hotel's Web site. From there, one former guest anonymously posted an excellent review for The Butterfly on tripadvisor.com, a trip planning resource frequently used in North America. Guests then started to find their way to The Butterfly via that Web portal. As of June 2007, of the 100 Bodrum hotels rated on tripadvisor.com, The Butterfly ranked number one.
The concept:
When Hembrough of Boston, U.S. and his Turkish business partner Faruk Helvacı started this eight-room boutique hotel, the aim was to create an experience for guests where they felt they were staying in a private villa. They bought and renovated a villa and installed bathrooms and terraces for every room, among other changes. Too upscale to be a bed and breakfast and far too small to rank among the big hotels of Bodrum, The Butterfly fills a niche in the area's accommodation offerings that may both bring profits to the hotel and strongly boost the local economy.
As part of its vision to create an intimate private villa experience, Hembrough wants "no one between the guests and us." Accordingly, there is no reception in the eight-room hotel and public spaces are guest-only spaces. Additionally, as part of providing a high-level of personalized service, Hembrough and Helvacı spend a good deal of time with guests on their first day – Hembrough mostly handles the English-speakers while Helvacı meets with the Turkish-speakers. "For the first day and half I hold their hand," said Hembrough.
Their method is to sit down with guests upon arrival and learn what each guests wants to get out of their experience in Bodrum and at The Butterfly. From there, The Butterfly "will organize anything" in order to ensure that the guests have the experience they desire. By the nature and concept of the hotel, it brings small numbers of tourists who are more likely to spend large amounts of money to the area rather than several budget travelers coming to Bodrum on all-inclusive package deals.
These high-end visitors to The Butterfly then venture out of their hotel for most meals and shopping. Any food that is served in the hotel is bought at the local market. When guests ask for suggestions on where to buy a Turkish rug, the hotel directs guests to a local rug-making cooperative, so that the artisans can earn a larger percentage of profit on the sale than they would working with a rug distributor/store. The Butterfly even recycles its metal cans (not a systematized activity throughout the region – or much of Turkey for that matter).
“Only a percentage of any profits that the larger hotels in Bodrum make benefits the local economy. Absolutely 100 percent of our profit goes right back to the local economy,” said Hembrough. Addressing specifically the onslaught of all-inclusive tour groups coming through Bodrum that are welcomed and hosted by Bodrum's larger hotels, Hembrough added, “there needs to be awareness that all-inclusive tour packages is not a sustainable way to do tourism in Bodrum.”
One factor that Hembrough believes greatly benefits their hotel's business is the draw and high comfort they can provide to English speakers via their English language Web site and hotel name, and on-going hosting – all provided with native-level English. For visitors who know no Turkish, coming to Turkey can be overwhelming. Having an insider who is a native English speaker explain everything to you could be an invaluable tool. Further, as someone coming from one of the hotel's target markets (The United States), Hembrough brings an advantage to The Butterfly of already knowing that market – what that market desires, where they go to look for hotels, etc. Most importantly for Hembrough, however, is that through the hotel he is able to offer others a similar glimpse of a place that has mesmerized him. "I love Bodrum and I love sharing it with people," he said.
BODRUM POPULAR AMONG RUSSIANS
Bodrum, mostly preferred by British tourists is now the new attraction for Russian tourists. Some 20,000 Russian tourists made reservations to be able to spend their holiday in Bodrum during the 2008 summer season. Among the biggest tour operators of Russia, Pegas tour brought 430,000 tourists to Antalya last year. Pegas Tour and Travel Agency Turkey General Manager Eren Adanır visited Turkish Association of Travel Agents (TÜRSAB) Bodrum Executive Committee President Nasih Demir to sign an agreement to bring Russian tourists to Bodrum in the summer of 2008. Demir said they had been carrying out campaigns to promote Bodrum for the last three years. He said therefore the number of Russian tourists visiting Bodrum increased by 30 percent in the 2007 summer season. “Huge Russian companies now covet Bodrum. We signed an agreement with Pegas Tour and Travel Agency for 20,000 Russian tourists. Tourists from 33 Russian cities will flock to Bodrum,” Demir said.
MARMARIS UNDER SURVEILLANCE
Surveillance will be maintained in Marmaris, one of Turkey's most popular holiday resorts, through security cameras. Marmaris head official, Cemalettin Özdemir, said the cameras will be placed in 64 different locations and will keep the district under surveillance 24 hours a day. The security system that was installed in Marmaris years ago but not used once again became the topic of discussions when an explosion on Aug. 28, 2006 injured 21 people. The representatives of civil and nongovernmental organizations gathered on Sept. 4, 2006, and agreed to implement the system as soon as possible.
The commission consisting of representatives from Marmaris Municipality, Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Shipping, South Aegean Tourism Hoteliers Union, Turkey Travel Agencies Union Regional Executive Committee, Provincial Police Department and Gendarmerie Headquarters decided to call for tenders for Marmaris's security system project last February.
A SEASIDE VIEW –MARMARIS
According to statistics by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, an impressive total of one million Russian and Ukrainian tourists visited Turkey during the first half of this year. And according to leading tour operators, by the end of 2007, this number will be over 2.2 million. These figures mark the Russian market as a booming market for Turkey this year compared to 2006, where the number of Russian and Ukrainian visitors was around 1.7 million.
Russian tour operators and their Turkish partners are happy with the growth and the future expectations have already started to excite them. Seyfi İmamoğlu of Teztur, the top operator in Russia, believes Turkey will receive not less than three million Russian and Ukrainian visitors in 2008. On the other hand, European tour operators are decreasing and it seems that they are loosing their optimism for the future. The main reason for that is the rising Russian capacity in hotels in Antalya and Marmaris.
For a long time, everybody was silent about the problem. But now, there are growing murmurs from agencies inMarmaris, reflecting their European customers' complaints about the Russian “invasion” in hotels, beaches and bars. They think the management in hotels have chosen a wrong way by selling more than 25 percent of their room capacity to the Russian market.
This case is not acceptable to repeat European customers as they are disturbed by the extremely free behavior of the Russians, claim the representatives of giant European operators. Ali Kırlı, the Marmaris office manager of Peninsula Travel Agency listed the complaints of the Europeans, “rowdiness during dining in hotel restaurants, the annoying noises after too much alcohol consumption and extremely free behavior of young Russian ladies.” “We even recently witnessed discussions between wives and husbands because of Russian girls!” he added.
An English citizen reflects her annoyance more clearly. “The Russians have long been acknowledged as overt partygoers, capable of consuming vast quantities of alcohol whilst remaining happily on their feet and making as much noise and commotion as possible – importing this kind of behavior into Turkish holiday resorts such as Marmaris sends the traditional western European tourist running for cover – probably never to return,” she said.
The hoteliers are aware of the problem, but are keeping quiet for the moment. Some want to make benefits thinking of competition between Russians and Europeans, whilst some others are taking the risk of losing the European market and selling more rooms to the demanding Russians instead of the decreasing numbers of Europeans. The prices on the contracts prove there is not a big gap between the two markets and this is the reason some high quality hotel managers ask British or German tour operators to hike their prices.
But, some hotels are still trying to maintain the balance between European and Russian customers. “We work with three different Russian tour operators and give them only 20 percent of our total beds. I have to keep this number under control, otherwise other tourists will feel as strangers,” said Dirk Rehorst, the German general manager of five-star Maritim Hotel Grand Azur.
The head of the Southern Aegean Hoteliers Association (GETOB) İlhan Açıkgöz in an interview in ITB Berlin Travel Market publication said, “recently German tourists have started asking the hotels they want to book at, if they also book for Russians. If so, they prefer to change their bookings to other hotels which do not work with Russians.” That was the most candid confession from the sector about the Russian phenomenon! The growth of Russian tourism in Turkey, however, indicates that wherever German, or any other European tourists head for holidays in Turkey they will be bound to come across Russians in the near future.
RESTORATION PROJECTS TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN FOCA
İzmir's holiday town of Foça will be turned into an “archeo-city” thanks to a joint project by the Greater İzmir Municipality, Culture and Tourism Ministry and Foça Municipality. The project will cost YTL 30 million. According to the project, structures that are important in terms of the city's history will be restored and those that can't be restored will be rebuilt in line with their original architecture.
Professor Ömer Özyiğit, Phokaia (old Foça) excavation head, said the “Archeo-City” Project was important for the development of the Foça region. “Many projects, the preliminary works of which have already been completed, will be undertaken, and Foça will be highlighted via this project,” he said. He added that the Athena Temple excavation and restoration project; Heredot city walls excavation project and windmill project were among the important initiatives of the project.
Work on the Athena Temple, one of the oldest Ionian temples that is believed to have been built in the sixth century B.C. on a rock platform overlooking the town, will be initiated as the first leg of the project. The temple will be restored and findings unearthed from the temple will be displayed in a high school-turned museum. The project is expected to boost tourism in the region.
HEREDOT CITY WALLS TO BE RESTORED:
The seven-kilometer city walls, referred to by Heredot and believed to have been built in the sixth century B.C. to repel Persian attacks, will be uncovered and restored totally. The area will then be converted into an open-air archaeological park through a series of arrangements around the walls. The restoration of three windmills, located in the western part of the town, is also among the project, which also anticipates converting the Ottoman period Foça cemetery into an open air museum.
FOCA,AN ANCİENT TOWN ON THE AEGEAN COAST:
Foca is a cute little town on the Aegean Sea coast and is also famous for its Mediterranean seals from which it takes its name. There is old and new Foça, and the ancient city of Phokaia is located between the two Foças. Phokaia is one of the 12 Ionian cities and its name was mentioned in Homer's epic “The Odyssey.” The first inhabitants of old Foça were immigrants from Greece around the ninth century B.C. According to the historian Herodotus, Phocaeans were good sailors and traveled long distances with fast ships with a capacity of 500 passengers.
Archeological excavations in Foça started in the early 1900s and several monuments from the Archaic, Hellenic and Roman periods including the remains of Temple of Athena and Sanctuary of Cybele, the Great Mother Goddess of the Phrygians in Anatolia, an open-air theater, castle, mosaics, fragments of ceramics and pottery etc have been unearthed. Some of the findings are currently on display at the İzmir Archaeological Museum. The town has many traditional stone houses some of which serve as boutique hotels.
EUROPE’S FIFTH BEST HOTEL ,ÇIRAĞAN PALACE KEMPINSKI
A leading travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, has cited the Çırağan Palace Kempinski as one of the world's best hotels, determined by the votes of its readers. Condé Nast Traveller magazine, which is mostly read by business people that travel frequently, recently announced the results of a survey conducted among its readers to determine the world's best hotel in tourism and business.
The readers who selected the “World's Best of the Best Top 100,” rated several countries and cities, along with many hotels in this survey. The Çırağan Palace Kempinski, which secured 62nd place among the world's Top 100, was rated the fifth best hotel in Europe, receiving a score of 89.53 from readers of the magazine. Condé Nast Traveller magazine readers have been annually rating cities, airlines, travel and cruise agencies and hotels in their respective categories and determining the “World's Best of the Best Top 100” list since 1988. By appearing among the top-rated hotels of this list, which serves as a guide to travelers around the world, the Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul has added yet another achievement to its list.
IMPERIAL PALACE HOTEL IN ISTANBUL
Çırağan Palace Kempinski, located in the heart of the city has 284 rooms; 20 suites; 12 VIP suites one of which is the biggest suite in Europe; five restaurants offering culinary delights of Ottoman, Turkish and world cuisine; 15 meeting rooms, and a ballroom and Turkish bath ever since its establishment. It has received several awards since 1991. Çırağan Palace Kempinski, which adds to its appeal with its SPA center and conference halls, entertains its guests in the palace's enchanting historic ambiance.
MARDIN ,A MYSTERIOUS CITY BUILT FROM STONES
Mardin is a mysterious city: It is on the rail and highway route which connects Turkey to Syria and Iraq and it has a historic view that brings the past to the future with its architecture, culture and atmosphere. It is a rocky region situated on a hill which looks down to the Mesopotamian plains. The city directly overlooks the sweltering Syrian plain 95 kilometers south of Diyarbakır.
Mardin's residents have lived under the rule of Hurri-Mitani, Hittites, Surs, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Arabs and the Seljuk Turks. During this time the city was given many names, all having similar sounds. Persians called it “Marde,” Byzantines called it “Mardia,” Arabs called it “Maridin and Syriacs called the city “Merde, Merdo, Merdi.”
It has a territory of 12,760 square kilometers. There are nearly 650,000 local people and the city has nine administrative districts, namely Dargeçit, Derik, Kızıltepe, Mazidağı, Midyat, Nusaybin, Ömerli, Savur and Yeşilli. It provides employment with 190 workers for nearly 1,500 people with its small enterprises besides its industrial zone. The city also has a Free Trade Zone.
The most important historical sites are Kasımiye Madrasah, Zinciriye Madrasah, Dayrul-Zeferan Monastery and Harizm Madrasah and the Grand Mosque. The other Madrasahs are Sultan Isa Madrasah and Kasım Paşa Madrasah. They both have special architecture. Another spot in the city which is visited by tourists is Ulu Mosque.
At Hasankeyf, which is on the border with Batman, it is possible to see the ruins of the ancient 12th century. The bridge, which once connected the two parts of the city over the Dicle (Tigris) river and the palace, are other must-see parts of this historical city. Hasankeyf will be completely flooded when they will finish the nearby dam, a part of the GAP Project (Southeast Anatolia Project). It is slowly being submerged.
One of the biggest monasteries in the region is Deyr'ul Zafaran. A secret section for worshipping, Mahzen is the oldest part of the structure. The area looks interesting because the Church of the Virgin Mary and Mar Yakup Monastery stand as if they are forming a trinity. The city museum, built in 1895, displays many ancient pieces such as seals, cylinder seals, coins, lamps, figurines, teardrop bottles, and jewelry. The pieces represent the Assyrian, Urartian, Hellenistic, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Artuklu and the Ottoman periods.
The city as a whole with its traditional stone, religious and vernacular architecture and its terraced urban pattern is the best-preserved example of Anatolian soil.Mardin houses are well preserved with an old-style carving. The city is located in a volcanic area and the houses reflect the culture and the lifestyle of the city. The houses are surrounded by high walls and isolated from the streets, built just right for the climate. Most of the houses have no kitchen. The stone houses are dressed with arches and motifs.
The central settlement was given the status of urban site area in 1979. There are carved pictures above the house doors. The pictures are from the Kaaba. They hang the photos if the owner of the house has made the pilgrimage to Mecca. Often the lanes run through arched tunnels beneath the upper floors of houses. Relief carvings of animals and fruit lend the city a dream-like character, and the modern world seems to fade away. But people still follow the old habits. It is what nature brings. Shuttles run frequently from Diyarbakır to Mardin throughout the day and there are flights from Istanbul via Ankara to Mardin and Diyarbakır.
Distances & Travel Times
Adıyaman: 80 km (174 miles) W, 4.5 hours
Ankara: 1,005 km (625 miles) NW, 15 hours
Diyarbakır: 95 km (59 miles) N, 1.5 hours
Istanbul: 1,459 km (907 miles) NW, 22 hours
Şanlıurfa 172 km (107 miles) W, 2.25 hours
AMERICAN TOURISTS LOVE ISTANBUL
There has been an enormous increase in the number of American tourists visiting Istanbul in the past two years said Istanbul deputy governor, Cumhur Güven Taşbaşı, and attributed the nearly $8 billion of Turkey's $20 billion annual tourism income to Istanbul. Near to 5.4 million tourists visited Istanbul in 2006. “There is a 20 percent increase in the number of tourists when compared to last year.
We aim to reach 6.5 million tourists by the end of the year. Istanbul ranks first in terms of tourist numbers and tourism income in Turkey,” Taşbaşı said in an interview with the Anatolia news agency and added: “Because tourists do not come to Istanbul not only for accommodation but also shopping, entertainment, surfing and so on, this increases the tourism income of the city.” Taşbaşı said they worked with public organizations, NGOs and vocational organizations to improve tourism, and held meetings every month.
GERMANS RANK FIRST
Germans ranked first among tourists coming to Istanbul and said the number of American tourists had increased to a great extent over the last two years. Noting that after the war in Iraq American tourists had decreased in number in Turkey, Taşbaşı said: “Since they saw that Turkey is a safe country and Turkey-American relations have improved, their number increased in Turkey. Americans are among tourist groups spending too much money.” Taşbaşı added that Russian, Spanish and French tourists also chose Istanbul.
Istanbul has been chosen as the 2010 European Capital of Culture. “Our goal is to bring 10,000,000 tourists in 2010. Approximately 2,200,000 million tourists came to Istanbul in 2002. People come for congress and culture tourism. They want to bring their habits to the city where they visit. That is why new walking areas should be established in Istanbul. We have been working for this.”
CULTURE AND TOURISM MINISTRY BUDGET PROMOTES HADRİANOUPOLIS AS TOURISM REGION
The YTL 70,000 fund allocated by the Culture and Tourism Ministry to be used for the excavations in the ancient city of Hadrianoupolis is expected to enliven tourism in the region. Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, archaeologist Ergun Laflı, an academic at İzmir-based Dokuz Eylül University who heads excavations in Hadrianoupolis, said this years' archaeological works focused on seven areas including Bath A, Late Roman Villa, Bath B, the structure with apse, a Teatron Roman period grave and a Roman Northeastern grave. He said that the ancient city of Hadrianoupolis, located in the Black Sea province Karabük, has been declared as a protected area.
“Works are underway to restore the Bath A unearthed during last year's digs, while the conservation works focused on the findings in the Late Roman Villa. The fund allocated from the Culture and Tourism Ministry's budget, will be used for restoration of the Byzantine Church as well as tourism-related facilities in the region,” he said. The continuing works also aimed at conservation, restoration and exhibition of the immovable findings as well as opening the four excavation sites for tourism, Laflı said and added that an archaeological map of the ancient site will be charted in order to carry out the works in a more scientific way.
He said this year's works revealed that Hadrianoupolis was the only site which was best preserved and where an extensive excavation could be done in the Paphlagonia Region, an ancient area on the Black Sea coast of north-central Anatolia. “Hadrianoupolis is an important excavation site helping archaeologists understand the late Roman period in an integrated way in terms of its religion, economy and military affairs,” he said. “The ancient site has thus been taken under protection and it is the first time that an ancient city was declared as a protected area.” The archaeological works in the region will also be promoted by publications on the international level.
HADRIANOUPOLIS
Hadrianoupolis, or Paphlagonia in ancient times, was established in the first century B.C. and was inhabited until the eighth century A.D. The site was the region's largest province of the period. Last year's excavation works uncovered 13 main sections of a Roman period bath as well as unique mosaics featuring many animal figures, such as a horse, an elephant, a panther and deer. The mosaics are considered to be as magnificent as the mosaics unearthed in the ancient city of Zeugma in Gaziantep. The depictions of animal figures on mosaics, on the other hand, reflect unique samples of mosaic art from the late Roman period.
NEW TOUR PACKAGES
Odeon Tours, which has a significant market share in Russia, will increase the number of countries to which it organizes flights from 13 to 20 this year. “We would like to expand the flights to all regions of the country,” said Ayhan Bektaş, board chairman of OTI Companies Group, with which Odeon is affiliated. In Russia, there are several cities with a population over 1 million. “These people had to organize their flights over Moscow, which increased the duration of travels.
Now we are planning to organize direct and shorter flights to Antalya from many regions. We are preparing package tours for this target.” The company aims to bring 500,000 Russians to Turkey in 2008. The 10-day package tour costs between $700 and $750. The prices will increase by 12 to 15 percent next year, said Bektaş, adding that the price of package tours to Turkey will reach $850 to $900.
RISE IN PER CAPITA INCOME INCREASES PASSPORT DEMAND
The number of travelers began to increase with the rise in per capita income in the last five years in Russia. The number of people applying for passports is increasing each year. The Foreign Ministry, Economy Ministry and Presidency of State Committee for Tourism jointly evaluate the passport applications. Currently, 12 million people have passports in Russia. In 2006 alone, some 4.2 million people took new passports. It is expected that some 3 million people will be given passports in 2008.
Number of Russian tourists
2006: 1,656,079
2007: 2,214,563
Rate of increase: 33.72 perce |
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WINE TOURISM CAN PROFIT SECTOR
Turkey should make use of the growing reputation of its wines and organize wine tours as part of its tourism sector, said Sibel Çınar Oğuz from Çukurova University's tourism department. Wine tourism is a rapidly growing field and many countries known for wines have taken advantage of this and earned high income from tourism, Oğuz said.
Oğuz and fellow university members Fatma Nur İplik and Gömeş Gözene have prepared a paper called “Wine and Wine Tourism as a Tourism Product.” Oğuz said trips organized by wine lovers to learn about the features of a wine region, taste different wines and attend wine festivals and wine shows are the biggest part of wine tourism.
HIGH-QUALITY WINES PRODUCED IN TURKEY
Oğuz said the first activity regarding wine tourism was a conference held in 1998 in Australia and that the increasing value of wine tourism has been proven in many countries including Australia and the United Kingdom. Oğuz said in the past it was just people from the high-income class that consumed wine but now people from all sections of society drink it.
“French, Spanish, Italian and Australian wines are known and consumed by people all over the world. Turkey's wine regions have recently started making use of the magical atmosphere created by wine. High-quality wines are produced in our country. Places like Ankara, İzmir, Niğde, Nevşehir, Tokat, Gaziantep, Manisa, Elazığ, Çanakkale, Tekirdağ, Ürgüp, Kilis, Şarköy and Bozcaada are famous for their good wines. The main tourist features of these places should be given importance,” she said.
WINE STORES SHOULD OPEN
Oğuz said Turkish tourism was very active in summer but should be spread out and made into an all year round business. “This can be achieved with wine tourism,” she said. “The value of wine tourism has been dramatically increasing. The vintage season starts Aug. 15 and continues through the end of September. This is a significant period to spread tourism to these months. There are many private and public wine factories in Turkey. Trips can be organized to these factories. Wine stores should also be opened next to factories for tourists to shop.”
NUMBER OF US AND RUSSIAN TOURISTS INCREASES:
Bakırcı said that besides the regular foreign tourists including Japanese, British, Italian and Korean, there were a growing number of tourists from the U.S., Russia and Iran. “We actually know that Russians like the Mediterranean coasts. This year however there is a visible increase in number of Russian tourists as well as U.S. tourists. I think it is the publication of the book on Mevlana in the U.S. that has attracted the U.S. tourists because the book was among bestsellers in there,” he said. UNESCO's declaration of 2007 as the “The Year of Mevlana” has made the real impact. The promotional activities held abroad by both the Culture and Tourism Ministry and Konya Municipality have attracted tourists to the museum, Bakırcı says.
OLD SANLIURFA HOUSES TO BOOST TOURISM
Old “Şanlıurfa houses,” which feature the traditional architectural characteristics of the southeastern Anatolian province of Şanlıurfa, have started serving tourists as boutique hotels. Entertainment activities have also been organized in the houses, attracting both domestic and international tourists. Cihat Kürkçüoğlu of Şanlıurfa-based Harran University said old Şanlıurfa houses reflect the historic texture and traditional architectural structure of the city, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Stating that Şanlıurfa was one of the rare cities that preserved its historic soul in Turkey, Kürkçüoğlu said there were around 300 old houses, which were registered by the Culture and Tourism Ministry. “At the end of the ongoing registration work, this figure may rise to 600-700,” he said, and added that the houses were being utilized for tourism purposes
“Houses serve as boutique hotels and some entertainment activities are also organized for tourists in order to enliven tourism in the region,” he said. “Although their numbers aren't very high, still there are such houses which are utilized for tourism. Gülizar, Cevahir, Pınarbaşı and Yıldız guesthouses are just a few of them. Tourists prefer to stay in such modest and historic houses rather than multi-story hotels. They can also enjoy some entertainment facilities featured in these houses,” he said.
SUN,SEA AND THE SILVER SCREEN MELD IN ANTALYA
Antalya is undoubtedly a well-known tourist destination, with over 6 million visitors a year passing through its airport. The vast majority, however, head straight off to the hotels and holiday villages lining the coast on either side of the city They come for sun, sea and sand plus (perhaps) the chance to visit one of the province’s incredibly well-preserved Graeco-Roman sites such as Side, Perge or Aspendos
For the more discerning visitor, Antalya has much more to offer. When you’re in the charming, walled old town with a picturesque little harbor, it is hard to believe you are in a city with a population of a million souls. There’s nightlife aplenty, excellent shopping, well-laid out parks and even a couple of city centre swimming areas. Not to mention the ancient treasures hidden away in the surrounding countryside -- from mountaintop Termessos to beachside, pine-fringed Phaselis
In other words, the city of Antalya is, in and of itself, a worthy destination for a long-weekend or a week-break. The arrival of the 10-day-long Altin Portakal (Golden Orange) Film Festival in either September or October brings an added buzz and glamour to this already bustling city. In fact, it is more proper now to call it the Antalya Film Festival, as in addition to the well-established Golden Orange (first held in 1963 and devoted solely to Turkish productions) this is the third year of the Eurasia International Film Festival, which includes a wide-range of films from the UK in the west to Japan in the east and all points in between.
If you have any interest in the silver screen, it is worth making the effort to go down to Antalya for the film festival. With over 100 films being screened at the Eurasia Film Festival and more than 50 in the Golden Orange, there is no shortage of entertainment. The main venue this year is Cinebonus, a state of the art of multi-screen cinema in the city’s largest shopping mall -- the Migros center on the west side of town. To the east of the city centre (Lara) stands Prestige cinema, with its three screens. The Atatürk Culture Center (AKM) is perhaps the most prestigious venue, with two large salons -- the Perge and Aspendos -- set in a beautifully landscaped park with splendid views over the Gulf of Antalya. Films are shown at 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. daily at each venue, with over 20 films screened daily!
The subject matter of the films is as broad as you would expect from such a multi-national festival -- from a Japanese film about Genghis Khan to an English production about the life of doomed Joy Division front-man Ian Curtis -- and there’s something to suit every taste. All “foreign” films are subtitled in both English and Turkish, so you don’t have to worry if your Chinese, Romanian or Swedish is not up top scratch
As it is the end of the summer season in Antalya, there are plenty of reasonably-priced hotel beds available during the festival period. The temperatures are cool enough for strolling around and sightseeing, yet the waters of the Mediterranean are delightfully warm. This internationally acclaimed festival is important not only for Antalya, but for Turkey as well, and it deserves the support of foreign visitors, ex-pats and Turkish citizens alike and runs through the 28th of this month. Let Antalya’s vibrant Golden Orange Film Festival give you a burst of color in the dull run-up to Christmas.
WEB SITE BRINGS TOURISTS ,SECTOR TOGETHER
Starting next month the official Web site of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (www.goturkey.com) prepared by Hacettepe University in Ankara will serve as a meeting point for tourists and the main actors in the sector “No country in the world has such a comprehensive promotional Web site. We have used visual materials that the other countries do not have. Spain's Web site is the closest one to ours but even they are insufficient,” said Turan Menteş, the man responsible for the project. Menteş said the most important feature of the Web site is that it brings the state and the sector together in a single structure and added that they plan to use all the technologies in the world for the Web site. He said “goturkey” will become synonymous with Turkey.
Project co-ordinator Nejat Ercingöz said the Web site will be a kind of magazine and television at the same time and that they will use video technologies in too. Films on Turkey's history, destinations, tourism varieties, hotels and tourism companies will be uploaded to the Web site, Ercingöz said that the interviews with tourists visiting Turkey will provide a very effective promotion and said films will always be updated. “Even international tour operators give priority to photos while promoting. We will bring an innovation to tourism with videos. We hope big tour operators demand these videos.
In this way Turkish hotels will get more advantageous promotion than the others in the world.” Ercingöz said the Web portal will have two main categories: The information category where Turkey will be promoted in detail in Turkish, English, French and German. Under the “History and Heritage” section all Anatolian civilizations will be shown with photos and films. The “Life and Culture” section will include shopping and sports opportunities, handicrafts and daily life in Turkey. “Activities” section will show that Turkey is not only made up of sea, sun and sand and it will broadcast 16 tourism alternatives.
ACTIVITY CALENDAR FEATURE
The most striking section in this category is “Actual” section where important developments in Turkey will be presented. There is also an activity calendar for tourists to plan every minute of their holiday. This calendar will show culture, art and sports activities and enable tourists to make most of their time. In the “Marketing” section of the Web site in English, German, Spanish and Russian there will be all the actors in the field of tourism including hotels, airplane companies, car rentals, restaurants, travel agency. Companies will be introduced through text, photos and videos in this section. Hotels will be included in the Web site by paying YTL 260-3,000 annually.
Online reservation
Ercingöz said talks had been continuing between the ministry and sector companies for online reservations through the Web site. He said price lists of all tour operators and travel agencies would be included in to enable tourists to see prices of all hotels in a single portal. He added that the main income source of the Web site are the sponsors.
HILTON SIGNS AGREEMENT FOR 15 HOTELS IN TURKEY
Hilton Hotels Corporation has signed an agreement with Amplio Real Estate Investment and Development A.Ş., that envisages establishing 15 new hotels with room capacity of 2,500 in various locations around Turkey. The first hotels to be managed by Hilton will be Hampton by Hilton and Hilton Inn hotels in Manisa and Diyarbakır and are expected to be complete within five years.
Hilton Hotels European President Wolfgang M. Neumann stressed that signing such "multi-hotel" agreements strengthens the corporation's leading position in hotel management and these agreements is a sign of the firm's strategy in emerging markets that are key points like Turkey. He described the agreement with Amplio as an approach to their goal of opening 1000 new hotels in the next 10 years.
IMPORTANT STEP:
Amplio founders and board members, E.W. Graebner and Alaaddin Babaoğlu, called the move an important step in establishing a chain of hotels in the main centers of Turkey. "We cannot think of a better, more experienced partner than one that has been in Turkey for 52 years like the Hilton." Amplio is a real estate investment and development company that is trying to set up a broad hotel network in Turkey for travelers on business and holidays.
The agreement in principle is the first "multi-hotel" agreement for Hilton in Turkey. It comes on the heels of four large agreements in principle signed within the framework of its growth strategy. Within five years the Hilton Hotels Corporation is expecting to open 65 new hotels. Other agreements have been signed this year between Hilton Hotels Corporation and Belgravia Asset Management Ltd. for 25 hotels in Russia and in addition, the company has signed another agreement with London & Regional Properties Ltd. for 25 new hotels.
OPERA SEASON STARTS WITH MEVLANA ORATORIO
The State Opera and Ballet General Directorate starts new opera season in Ankara with a world premiere of "Mevlana Oratorio" on Sept. 29Upon 800th Anniversary of the Birth of Hz. Mevlana, the year 2007, declared as the Year of Mevlana by UNESCO. State Opera and Ballet Directorate to mark the Mevlana Year will raise its curtains with Mevlana oratorio on Sept. 29.
Composed by Mustafa Erdogan, "Mevlana Oratorio," is the only oratorio in the repertoire, this year.
Accompanied by Ankara State Opera and Ballet orchestra and choir, soloists of the night will be Soprano Sule Koken, Mezzo Soprano FerdaYetiser, Tenor Murat Karahan, and Bass Sabri Karabudak
The performance will take place at the Opera House at 8:00 p.m.
State Opera and Ballet Director General Meric Sumen Kanan said in a press meeting that the General Directorate would stage 11 new productions in the new season; among them will be five operas, an oratorio, two ballets, two modern dance performances and a children's play.
Mevlana: A great philosopher It is an astonishing fact that, 800 years after he was born, Mevlana Rumi is still among the most popular poets in world. The name Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi stands for an ecstatic flight into infinite loveAn International Conference will be held in Tehran from 28 to 30 October 2007, aimed at reflecting on the thought and works of Mawlana, which surpass all political and geographical boundaries.
ANCIENT CIRCUS AREA IN MILAS
Historical artifacts found during the construction of a primary school in Milas district of Muğla revealed the existence of a circus area in the second century B.C.The chamber grave, unearthed during the construction of Zekeriya Gümüşkesen primary school, was reported to belong to an artist family lived in the second century B.C. Historical artifacts found in the chamber grave are now on display at Milas Museum.
Some of the artifacts indicate that there was a circus in Milas in ancient times. Milas Museum director Erol Özen said: “This is a different and a special situation, as well as an important historical development. Because of a theater mask of Heracles' head and a figure of Apollo in the grave we think that the chamber grave belonged to a family of artists.”
Özen added that scientific research on the project continues. "There is also an earthen bear figure with a bell around his neck. This indicates that there was a circus area in the region in the ancient times. We focused on the subject, and found that the bear was caught by the people living there and that it probably participated in circus shows. We can get important clues about the social life of the city with these findings,” he explained.
HUMAN PRESENCE DATING BACK 12,000 YEARS FOUND IN MARMARIS (TOURIST SPOT )
The recent excavation project carried out by Marmaris Municipality in Nimara Cave revealed traces of human presence dating back 12,000 years. The researchers stated that the cave was used as a place of worship in ancient times. The cave, declared a protected area in 1999, also shelters butterflies similar to those in Fethiye's Butterfly Valley.
During the excavations many pieces of glass, bones and coins were found. Marmaris Museum Director Neşe Kırdemir said: "The excavations proved wrong Herodotus who claimed Marmaris to have history dating back 3,000 B.C.” In a press conference last week Kırdemir also called prehistory experts to conduct further research on the area. “In the ground of the cave we discovered about 1,500 colored pieces of glass along with hatchets, cutters of stone and bones. Considering the data obtained, we can mention the presence of a bead workshop in use till the bronze age,” Kırdemir stated.
Accordingto Kırdemir, the cave was a sanctuary used also in the Roman Period. “The two stone terraces that were revealed prove that it was a temple in ancient times. There were pottery and 50 human figures of terracotta, which show us that there was human settlement in the cave in the Roman period.” The research group will carry on excavating the area without harming its ecological balance, as long as it has permission from the related ministry.
JUPITER RELIEF FOUND IN GAZIANTEP ‘S DULUK
A 130-centimeter-long relief, a sculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the background, depicting the Roman god Jupiter taking a vow with his wife Iuno Regina was found during excavations in the ancient city of Dülük in Gaziantep.The relief is the first evidence of the mythological king of the gods and god of thunder and lightning to be discovered in the city believed to be his hometown.
Professor Engelbert Winter, excavation head of Germany's Münster University, said there were many other findings depicting Jupiter in southern Europe, but that this is first time something was discovered in Dülek. “We had an idea of what he looked like from excavations held in southern Europe, but we couldn't find anything other than inscription in the ancient city so far. The (discovery of this) relief will shed light on our future works (in the city),” he said.
Stating that Jupiter represented a belief that spread throughout the Mediterranean after the third century A.D., Winter said, “the relief is 130 x 70 centimeters in size and depicts Jupiter and his wife Iuno Regina in a ceremony at an altar with two priests. Jupiter holds a bunch of lightning in his right hand and a pair of axes in his left hand. This symbolically represents the power of the god of thunder.” A local official, Metin Özkarslı, said the finding will contribute to tourism in the region. A 40-member international team consisting of people from Germany, Austria Italy, England, Japan and Denmark have conducted excavations at the site in the last 16 years.
ANCIENT DULUK :
Located 10 kilometers south of Gaziantep, the ancient city of Dülük lies on the historical Silk Road and ancient trade routes. Stone tools were discovered at the Şarklı Cave on the borders of Dülük, indicating that the area was settled in around 6000 B.C. The city is believed to be the ancient city of Doliche, which was a religious center of Teşup, the master deity of Hittite civilization. Numerous rock tombs and churches carved out of rocks are open to visitors in Dülük village.
VISITING ISTANBUL SHRINES DURING RAMADAN
Although Muslims frequent mosques more often during Ramadan to pray than at other times of the year, in Turkey they also go to shrines, usually mausoleums where deceased “saints” are buried. Islam in its purest form does not condone the use of interlocutors between believers and God. Mohammed never claimed that he was anything other than a prophet – albeit the last prophet – and a number of figures found in Judaism and Christianity are also deemed prophets.
But Islam like Judaism and Christianity has been affected by the belief that interlocutors between God and man are needed and the idea of “saints” or especially holy men who would help you has proven impossible to weed out. The custom of offering prayers to these “saints” started long before these three religions became widespread. Other religions however channeled the worship of saints into their own dogma and practice while Islam did not. But these saints were often local, more human and approachable. They might even miraculously grant one's wish. So it is not unusual for stories of wishes being granted being associated with large shrines and certain mausoleums over time.
The holiest shrine in Istanbul is that in Eyüp Camii (Mosque) where a companion of the Prophet Mohammed is buried. It is so holy that it is considered one of the three places of pilgrimage for believers after Mecca and Jerusalem. During the Ottoman Empire the Uzbek tribe of Central Asia used to pass through Istanbul to pray at Eyüp before going on to Jerusalem and Mecca. Ebu Eyüp al-Ansari was a companion of the Prophet Mohammed and participated in the forays carried out by Muslims into Anatolia to capture the Byzantine capital, today's Istanbul. During a siege of the metropolis, he died and was buried outside the walls.
Over the centuries he became revered and was visited by the Byzantines; however, after the conquest of Istanbul Fatih Sultan Mehmet wanted to find the location of the grave since no one seemed to know where it was and his grand vizier obligingly saw where it was in a dream. Subsequently a mosque was erected at the site and a mausoleum built. While many go to Eyüp during the course of the year, praying at Eyüp has special importance during Ramadan. If you take the road that runs along the Golden Horn on the south side, you'll find traffic heavier than usual all the way into Eyüp. In fact it can take as long as an hour to get from Unkapanı to Eyüp as the time for breaking fast approaches.
People are trying to get home. Peddlers are hawking bottles of water. On the banks of the Golden Horn, men are trying to get little charcoal braziers going while women unpack the food and children run about. As if this weren't enough, the municipality has a mini-circus going for the kids and the car park is full with a long line queue waiting to get in. This blocks one lane of traffic while other cars try to park on or alongside pavement. Then the muezzin issues the call to prayer as a fake cannon goes off announcing that the day's fast has come to an end.
OTHER HOLY SHRINES
One of the most notable shrines in Istanbul is that of Merkez Efendi in Zeytinburnu. He was a very popular leader in the Halvetiye mystic sect during his lifetime (1463-1551) and people still go to visit his grave in the courtyard of the mosque that bears his name. He is best known for the introduction of the tradition in Manisa of making macun (a fruit paste) as medicine for sick people. He also discovered the 41 plants that were used in this paste. Traditionally this macun was flung from the minarets of a mosque and it is still done today in Manisa.
Another one belongs to Aziz Mahmud Hudai Efendi who was born in 1543 and lived in Üsküdar until the end of his life. He is known to have completed his education at the St. Sophia school and when he was 28, he went to Edirne to be an assistant to a professor at the Sultan Selim School. He later served in Egypt and Damascus. While in Egypt he joined one of the mystic sects.
When he became a part of it in Bursa, he sold all his property and gave the money to the poor and to better train his soul. He roamed the streets selling liver. Later he was told to go to Istanbul where he found favor with Sultan Ahmet I and later served in various positions in the mosques of Istanbul. He died when he was 88 and was buried in Üsküdar in the courtyard of the mosque that he had had built.
During his lifetime, Aziz Mahmud Hudai Efendi is said to have performed several miracles including turning cold water into hot and stopping a storm when he had to pass from Üsküdar to Beşiktaş by boat because he was to deliver the first prayers and sermon at the inauguration of Sultan Ahmet Mosque. To this day the mosque attracts many visitors especially during the Ramadan holiday and a special ceremony is held at the mausoleum on the third day of the holiday during the afternoon prayer service.
Yavedud Sultan Seyh Abdu'l-Vedud participated in the conquest of Istanbul and died in 1455. According to one story however, he died on the day that the city was conquered. On the Friday following the conquest Fatih Sultan Mehmet went to Hagia Sophia and after praying began to examine the interior. He notices a bright light shining from one side and sees an old man there with his face all lit up. On him is written “Ya Vedud.” A voice was heard saying that the body had been washed and was ready for burial. And as they took the body out, a pleasant breeze started blowing and they immediately reached Eminönü where the body was placed on a boat that had no oars. Immediately it headed straight for Eyüp and a freshly dug grave from which voices arose saying, “Yavedud! Yavedud!” They buried him there. Today the area is considered the outskirts of Eyüp.
Sunbul Efendi was born two years before the conquest of Istanbul in 1451 in Merzifon and didn't come to Istanbul until 1465. Later he spent time in Egypt (1490-1493) before returning to Istanbul where he spent the remaining years of his life preaching in several mosques and earning the respect of scholars and rulers alike. He died in 1529 and was buried at the Koca Mustafa Paşa Mosque. Legend has it that next to the dervish lodge where he had resided is a well and once a year the water in it rises to the top. Sick people would come and drink this water in hope of getting well.
PREPARING FOR PRAYER AT A SHRINE
If you are planning on visiting a shrine, it is recommended that you do so on a Friday or a Saturday because those days are more auspicious or during Ramadan. Before leaving home, you should perform your ablutions with water and then say your prayers, praying for the souls of the Prophet, other prophets, the followers of the Prophet Mohammed and the dead.
On leaving the house and while on the road going and coming, you should keep your eyes away from anything that God has forbidden and also not let bad thoughts enter your mind. Also while on the road, you should recite the attributes of God and use your prayer beads. Since you as a believer are to give alms to the poor but if you haven't the means to do so, you can water plants or provide food for animals that don't have owners or feed birds. You also need to show contrition for the bad things you've done and ask to be forgiven Reaching the grave, you salute it and then recite certain prayers 11 times and repeat them again another 11 times. At the head of the grave, the beginning verses of a Koranic chapter (Bakara) should be recited and then at the foot of the grave, the remaining verses of the same chapter. Throughout the process you remain standing and never touch the grave or get it dirty. Clothing has to be carefully considered and shouldn't be of a type that would make others uncomfortable.
In theory, you would visit a grave thinking about death and about the individual who is buried there, what things he had done for Islam and what problems he faced and finally draw a lesson from this. And somewhere in this process you request good health or healing for yourself or your family.
CAPPADOCIAN CHURCH TO BE PRESENTED WITH EU’S TOP PRIZE
The Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, will crown Sarica Church of Cappadocia with the "architectural heritage prize."Having suffered from severe surface erosion due to rainwater infiltration, cracks and flaking, this remarkable example of a rock-carved Byzantine church located in central province of Nevsehir's Urgup town was rescued, restored and made accessible to visitors.
The project principally involved the restoration of the wall paintings, the construction of a new drainage system and the replacement of the eroded rock of the facade with a covering of harder local tuff of similar color.
The Europa Nostra will presented the award for the impressive rescue, stabilization and conservation by private initiative and for the provision of visitor infrastructure in a region of huge cultural significance.
Nevsehir Governor Mehmet Asim Hacimustafaoglu stated that Europa Nostra jury aiming at recognizing best practices in heritage conservation on a European level selected the restoration project among 158 others. He added that Europa Nostra executives will present the award at a ceremony in Istanbul on October 16.
Carved into the slpe of a hill in the Kepez Valley, the building was a hidden ruin before restoration. The project made the Sarica Church, which dates back to 12th century, stand out as a rare example of a successfully restored and renovated rock-carved church in Cappadocia.
