Tourism VS Terrorism

 “Istanbul is beautiful, we are here for the next five days and we don’t intend to leave. I am here with my wife and we will enjoy out time here.”

After the massive attack in new year eve, a Russian tourist Efim Kogan said these to a news portal from europe called EuroNews.  Who was determined to proceed with his holiday in Istanbul this first week of 2017. I will come back to him again in the last of my blog.

It was not so far. As recently as 2015, Turkey ranked sixth position in the world in most popular tourist spot category. Just behind of Italy where the first place was France. By welcoming about 39.4 million tourists in a year Turkey gained that position.

Source: Wikipedia

So what ? Do you have any question ?

After getting this information I've also get curioused to know, What happened now ? What’s going to be look like this graph in 2017 ?

Here I’ve got the answer. According to travel intelligence firm ForwardKeys, the number of tourists entering Turkey via airports fell 21% in 2016. Even before the latest New Year attack in Istanbul, the number of visitors was expected to fall by another 22% in the first few months of 2017. The number of foreign arrivals to Turkey fell by 21.3 percent in November, from the same month in 2015, according to the Tourism Ministry.

Not only in Turkey but Hundreds of lives have been claimed over the past year in terrorist attacks taking place in cities across the globe—from a Paris theater to an Orlando, Florida, nightclub, from Brussels’ and to a bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Source: Internet

In an age of terrorism proportionality may encourage more victims and in prolonging conflict does additional damage to that locale’s tourism industry. Terrorism is not an easy topic to place into a slot within a morality graphic. War, terrorism, tourism and morality are an even more difficult subject. Where do they overlap? Are tourists to be considered by getting these terrorism to be continued.

Let me get in my main point from here.

Yes I am writing this blog from inside of Turkey. Where last month I waked up in the morning with a sound of huge blast here in Kayseri. What left 14 commando married and another 36 injured.

Yes I am writing from a country where dogs huge blast get attention of international media. And more concern of many countries as their citizens has been killed in several blast of them.

Yes I am writing about 2016 when at least 23 terrorist attack got placed in Turkey. 5 of them targeted most popular city Istanbul another 4 hitted the capital of this country Ankara.

And Yes, I am going to invite you to visit Turkey again. After these all attack and so on. To see Istanbul, To drink the great tea in this winter here. To feel the real hospitality of local peoples and to feel it from your heart. It's unique and you have to see it.

And what ? Yes To fight TERRORISM with your ignorance. With you all hate what you feel for these terrorists who are here to stop your normal life with a fear of attack.

Here what influensed me to invite you.

Paula Daian, a Romanian tourist now living in Germany, said: 

“ I think the most important thing is that we keep living our lives the way we have been and the way we planned, that is the only logical response we can have to terrorism so that we can actually fight it in our day-to-day lives. ”

Source: www.euronews.com

Don't forget Efim Kogan from Russia. 

Be brave to FIGHT TERRORISM, Be brave to SEE THE WORLD.

So I am inviting you to my city Kayseri. The City  located at the foot of the extinct volcano Mount Erciyes that towers 3,916 metres (12,848 feet) over the city. The city is often cited in the first ranks among Turkey's cities that fit the definition of Anatolian Tigers.

Mount Erciyes of Kayseri in the winter.

The city is rich in historical monuments, dating especially from the Seljuk period. While it is generally visited en route to the international tourist attractions of Cappadocia, Kayseri has many visitor's attractions by its own right: Seljuk and Ottoman era monuments in and around the city center, Mount Erciyes as a trekking and alpinism center, Zamantı River as a rafting center, the historic sites of Kültepe, Ağırnas, Talas and Develi, to name a few.

Source: WikiPedia

Let's fight terrorism. Let's say no to terrorism. 
Let's Pray for Turkey Lets Pray for our World.

The "moonscape" Cappadocia

Cappadocia, Turkey is the historic area of central Anatolia bounded by the towns of Hacıbektaş, Aksaray,Niğde and Kayseri (map). It was known as Cappadocia in ancient times, and is still called Kapadokya informally today.

Cappadocia is Turkey's most visually striking region, especially the "moonscape" area around the towns of Ürgüp, Göreme, Uçhisar, Avanos and Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), where erosion has formed caves, clefts, pinnacles, "fairy chimneys" and sensuous folds in the soft volcanic rock.

Although the volcanic landscape can appear inhospitable, the mineral-rich soil is excellent for growing vegetables and fruits, making Cappadocia a rich agricultural region. It has always been one ofAnatolia's prime grape-growing areas, and still boasts many productive vineyards and wineries.

The Bible's New Testament tells of Cappadocia, but in fact this part of central Anatolia has been important since Hittite times, long before the time of Jesus.

Prime activities here are visiting the historic painted cave churches of the many monastic valleys (especially the Göreme Valley and Zelve Valley), flying in a hot-air balloon at dawn above the incredible landscape, hiking the volcanic valleys (especially theRose Valley [Güllüdere]), and spending the night in acomfortable cave hotel room with all the modern comforts. Here are the highlights of what to see and do in Cappadocia. Here's a list of the towns of Cappadocia.

For an excellent full-day excursion, drive to the surprising underground cities at Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı and the formerly Ottoman-Greek mountain town of Güzelyurt before taking a hike of several hours in the Ihlara Valley. 

You may also want to spend a half-day hiking the less-visited Soğanlı Valleys of southern Cappadocia, south of Mustafapaşa. Another great excursion is to the Byzantine Iconoclastic rock-hewn monastery at Eski Gümüşler near Niğde.

Uzungöl Lake Trabzon

Uzungöl is a lake situated to the south of the city of Trabzon, in the Çaykara district of Trabzon Province, Turkey. Uzungöl is also the name of the village on the lake's coast.

Once known as Trebizond, this historic port city near the eastern end of Turkey's Black Sea coast (map) provides interesting contrasts to the normal Turkish town.

Trabzon (pop. 240,000) has been around since at least746 BC, so it has quite a story to tell, though you must work some to find the clues.

What to See & Do

Its old walled quarter contains numerous Byzantinechurches, though most are not easily accessible. Several kilometers to the west of the center, the well-preserved Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya, 1263) stands on a hill overlooking the Black Sea. More...

Trabzon is also a good base for visiting surrounding sites such as Sumela Monastery, the alpine village ofAyder, and the tea-growing towns such as Rize to the east.

Finding Your Way Around

Trabzon's layout is confusing! Built on a mountainside falling into the sea, it may take its name from thetrapeza (table) of land on which part of the ancient city was perched.

The modern city has sprawled far beyond the ancient city walls. Even so, Trabzon's quarter-million inhabitants—and their cars and trucks—pack its narrow, twisting streets often to the point of stasis.

Your main point of orientation is Atatürk Alanı (Atatürk Square), a shady park at the heart of the city, referred to by locals simply as the meydan (plaza).

Trabzon's historic harbor (liman) is downhill to the north of Atatürk Alanı, an easy 10-minute walk.

West of Atatürk Alanı, Uzun Sokak is a major pedestrian shopping street. To its north,Kahramanmaraş Caddesi is filled with shoppers, but also vehicular traffic.

Walk west along either of these streets and in 10 minutes you'll come to the steep valley of the Soğuk Su creek and parts of the old city walls near theAtapark, another shady refuge.

Trabzon's airport (TZK) is 6 km (3.7 miles) southeast of Atatürk Alanı along the Black Sea shore

Prophets' City Urfa

Şanlıurfa, 150 km (93 miles) east of Gaziantep and 1,300 km (808 miles) southeast of Istanbul, is perhaps the most interesting and historic city in Turkey's southeastern region.

Turks know Urfa (as it's commonly called) as the Prophets' City because of legends telling that the Patriarch Abraham was born in a cave here. (The Bible does say he stayed at Harran, 50 km [31 miles] to the south.) The cave, and other legendary locations, are visited annually by hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims.

It's certain that Urfa (OOR-fah, pop. 500,000, alt. 518 m/1700 feet), as it's commonly called, is very old, dating back at least 3500 years to Hittite times; and the world's first temple at nearby Göbekli Tepe dates from 11,000+ years ago.

Because Urfa is set right at the crossroads of routes to Europe, Asia and Africa, just about everyone important has marched through and left their mark, including the Babylonians, Egyptians, Alexander the Great, Greeks,Romans and Seljuk Turks under Saladin.

The Crusaders, no doubt attracted by the town's easily-defended promontory called the Throne of Nimrod, called it Edessa and made it the capital of the Latin County of Edessa, ruled by Count Baldwin of Boulogne.

Because of its attraction of religious pilgrims, Şanlıurfa has a good variety of hotels. Stay at least one night here so you have time to see the sights: Balıklıgöl, or Fish Pool, at the center of the religious pilgrimage area; the wondrous old covered bazaar; the Throne of Nimrod fortress; the good little archaeological museum; some of the fine old houses; and of course an excursion to Göbekli Tepe. More...

The southeast is hot hot HOT in summer, so plan your visit for another time of year if possible. See When to Gofor details.

Capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Come to Bursa, due south of Istanbul across the Sea of Marmara (map), for its beautiful mosques and otherearly Ottoman architecture, for its silk-filledbazaars, its thermal spa baths and hotels.

You can visit Bursa to see the top sights on a day-trip excursion from Istanbul, although an overnight in Bursais more comfortable and rewarding. That way you can also see the ancient town of İznik (Nicaea) on the way to Bursa, and you may even have time to go to the top of Uludağ (OO-loo-dah, 2543 meters, 8343 feet), the mountain behind the city. 

Bursa was the first capital (late 1200s-early 1300s) of the Ottoman Empire. The two founding sultans, Orhanand Osman, are buried here, and this is where the empire's great architectural style was first developed.

The city clings to the slopes of Uludağ, the Bithynian Mount Olympus, and thus got its nickname Green Bursa from the surrounding forests. Now a large, bustling city of 2 million people, much of the greenery has disappeared beneath the concrete and macadam urban sprawl. Bursa's traditional industries of silk weaving and fruit processing have long since been supplemented by motor vehicle manufacturing (it's "Turkey's Detroit") and other industry, large and small.

Mount Nimrod

Nemrut Dağı (Mount Nimrod) is one of Turkey's most astounding sights: an artifical mountaintop framed by two great temples littered with colossal statues.

Lost to memory for 2000 years, the mountaintop south of Malatya and north of Adıyaman and Kahta(map), was rediscovered by a geologist in 1881.

On it are two hierothesiums, open-air shrines to the gods, with huge limestone statues of Apollo, Fortuna, Zeus, Heracles, and Antiochus I Epiphanes, King of Commagene.

His kingdom was no more than a minor buffer statebetween the Roman and Persian empires, but Antiochus believed he was definitely big-league stuff, so he had his own huge statue seated with "his equals," the gods.

Between the hierothesiums is the artificial mountain peak of crushed stone, beneath which may be theactual tomb of Antiochus. We don't know, and we may never know.

Was Elvis Presley really Antiochus reincarnated? Click here!

You can ascend Nemrut Dağı (NEHM-root dah-uh, 2150 meters, 7054 feet) from the south using eitherKahta or Adıyaman as your base; or from the northusing Malatya. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Do it in July or August, or at least between late May and mid-October, or you might be blocked by snow (seeTom's Turkish Almanac for details).

The roads up the opposite sides of the mountain do not meet at the top, so you cannot (yet) drive right over from north to south or vice-versa.

Bring warm clothes!—at least a warm sweater and windbreaker—because there is always a cool breeze at the summit, and sometimes a cold wind, even inAugust.

Lake Van, Eastern Turkey

Eastern Turkey's vast, highly alkaline inland sea called Lake Van (Van Gölü) is surrounded by historyand stark beauty.

The city of Van is the goal of most travelers because of its historic sights, hotels, transportation links, beautifulVan cats and other attractions, but Tatvan, on the western shore, is the railhead for trains westward toAnkara and Istanbul.

Just north of Tatvan, Nemrut Dağı (2935 meters/9629 feet) is an extinct volcano holding a beautiful crater lake. (This is not the Nemrut Dağı with the colossal stone statues, which is 500 km (311 miles) W near Malatya.)

Near Gevaş, 90 km (56 miles) E of Tatvan and 44 km (27 miles) SW of Van, you can hire a boat for the 3-km (2-mile), 20-minute voyage north to the island of Akdamar to see its 10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross with fine relief carving.

Edremit, 15 km (9 miles) W of Van, has beaches at which you may dip a toe in the highly alkaline lake—but not if the toe is sunburned or has a cut on it, as the alkaline water will sting mercilessly. If you havedirty laundry, you can wash it in the lake and you won't need any soap.

At Ahlat on the NW shore are unusual Seljuk Turkishtombs and cemeteries. What is now called Malazgirt, 87 km (54 miles) NW of the city of Van, was onceManzikert. On August 26, 1071, Seljuk Turkish Sultan Alp Arslan defeated Byzantine Emperor Romanus IV Diogenes on the field of battle here, opening all of Anatolia to conquest by the Seljuks and, later, theOttomans.

Van is also the base for visits to the mountain towns ofHakkâri and Yüksekova.

Bitlis, a provincial capital 17 km (11 miles) SW of Tatvan, is set dramatically in a valley, and boasts several Seljuk Turkish mosques and caravanserais, and a castle.

Unless you like long bus or car trips, or even longertrain trips, the best way to get to Van is by plane.