Different Types of Private Ephesus Tours

When people visit Ephesus, which is the ancient city and the commercial centre of Antolia, they prefer going for private tours. There are also the options of Ephesus Shore Excursions. This is also amazing part of th e journey, when the excursions start from one of the ports, and one can witness the amazing beauties.

Private Ephesus Tours are preferred by many who wish to go adventurous places individually rather than going in crowds. A number of tourism companies allow different private tours to the tourists. There are different companies, and each of them have different tour packages. For instance, one tour package would be a half day one, covering the Basilica of St John, while the other would cover the House of Virgin Mary.

There are the full day tours as well as the half day tours. These tourism organizations, provide private tourist guides, who speak english for the facilitation of the tourists. Their vehicles are luxurious airconditioned ones. Some tours cover a larger part of the ancient city, while others cover lesser part. The time would also vary. There are the full day tours that last for 7 to 8 hours, and there are those that last to 3 to 4 hours. They have a pickup facility from the port or the hotel, and drop the tourist to a hotel for ease and convenience.

All the different private tour packages are different from one another. However, all of them guarantee a luxurious trip round the city. The guide is there to answer the questions of different tourists and explain to them the importance of each site they visit. The most interesting part of the private tours is that one can go round, and see the ancient temples and churches with their own ease, without the worry of the public bus going away , if they were late, since they have their private vehicles.

Kusadasi, Top Holiday Resort in Turkey

Kusadasi is one of the most swollen resort towns on the southern Aegean Coast, overflowing with shiploads of tourists in summer who enlarge the year-round population several times over. Once a small fishing village, today the busy town is packed with curios and carpet shops; its proximity to the ruins of Ephesus making it an ideal base for Aegean cruise ships. You can take Ephesus Tours to visit the Ancient Ephesus City.

Despite the frenzied tourism, Kusadasi is situated amid splendid coastal scenery and several significant archaeological sites, including the three well-preserved Ionian settlements of Miletus, Priene and Didyma. There are plenty of good hotels and restaurants, and ferries link it with the nearby Greek islands of Samos and Mykonos.

The Grand Bazaar in Kusadasi, near the harbour, is one of Turkey’s largest shopping treasure troves, crammed with 1,000 or more stores and stalls open seven days a week from 9am until midnight. Bargaining for a variety of attractive items, like leather jackets, sandals, carpets and hand-made jewellery, is a fun experience, usually accompanied by a glass of tea. Despite the traditional trading atmosphere, most merchants accept credit cards, travellers cheques and even foreign currency for purchases.

All budgets and all tastes are amply catered for among Kusadasi’s dozens of restaurants, cafes and lokantas. Most visitors opt for sampling Turkish cuisine or enjoying the sumptuous seafood on offer, but there are numerous alternatives from curry to Chinese and burgers. Acknowledged as one of the best seafood restaurants is the Cinar Fish Restaurant, where guests can watch their meal prepared in the open kitchen and dine with a view of the sea.

Nights in Kusadasi throb with action, particularly along the town’s pulsating Bar Street in the old town centre, lined with pubs and clubs. One of the hottest spots is the huge open air disco, Ecstasy Bar, featuring top European DJs. Jimmy’s Irish Bar at the start of Bar Street is a favourite gathering place for young Brits.

Those looking for something more sedate will find cabaret bars, Turkish folk taverns, or cosy jazz clubs tucked away. Activities: Kusadasi’s clean, sandy beaches are a major drawcard for visitors, whether simply for sunbathing and swimming, or for indulging in a myriad of watersports that are on offer through local operators at the numerous ‘beach clubs’. The turquoise Aegean waters are particularly popular for scuba diving and snorkelling.

What Do The Turks Think Of British People?

We spend a lot of time with British company where inevitably, the main topic of discussion turns to what we think of the Turks. On the last such occasion, I was beginning to get bored of this repetitive conversation and my mind started to wonder to the opposite end of the spectrum. What do the Turks really think of us Brits? Are we obnoxious? Are we two sandwiches short of a picnic? Are we friendly, happy-go-lucky people who spread joy everywhere we go?

With this in mind, I set out to complete my own mini survey. Some of the answers were really not suitable for a family blog and went straight in the bin. However there were three answers that were repeated time and time again and here they are

The Turks Think the Brits….

1: Drink too much alcohol.

The Turks are fascinated by our marvelous ability to drink copious amounts of the demon’s drink and still be standing. They also confessed that after a while, we begin to sound like a reject from the Toshiba robot factory and they really cannot understand a word we are saying.

Most of the Turks fully admitted that if they consumed half of what we did, their head would be permanently over the toilet bowl for the rest of the night. They are also unsure of why we want to spend all our money on something that will just come out of the opposite end twenty minutes later. Far from criticizing us for our drinking habits, they actually love it as it provides them with a wage at the end of the week.

2: British Girls are Easy.

Brothel owners must have been up in arms on the day that British girls landed on the shores of Turkey. Apparently we are a bit too eager to stare at the heavens while spreading them. The Turkish men love it because it gives them a chance to practice being a red hot stallion before they finally wed the woman that will produce heirs to their blood line.

In one such conversation, I failed miserably at trying to explain the difference in cultures between English girls and Turkish girls. Therefore I reverted to pointing out the irony in what had just been said. Surely, if the girls are easy for giving it up so quickly then the boys must be easy for taking it. I was met with a confused look, then the penny dropped and he walked off while scowling. Not sure if I won that one or made an enemy for life.

3: We Have Impeccable Manners

To all those who moan that the future generations of Britain are rude and obnoxious individuals, I hope you are reading this because the Turks think we rock when it comes to saying “please” and “thank you”. We constantly say thank you for everything. We go into restaurants, pay for food and say thank you to the waiter. We buy a newspaper from the local shop and say “thank you”.

The Turks really don’t understand how we can be giving out so much love for such little things, but they like it. Interesting enough, all the people who said this worked in tourism. Every one of them also said that if their boss made them work with Turkish people only, they would leave. Obviously our parents taught us well!

The Home Improvement Stores Rebound Back

The home improvement often makes reference to construction projects that change the structure of a home. It can even include improvements to gardens, lawns, and external structures like garages and gazebos. The main aim of the project may be comfort, maintenance & repair, additional space, energy saving, or safety and preparedness. However, according to analysts the home improvement stores rebound back to save costs and sell to the growing number of remodeling projects. Thursday, shares of the Home Depot and Lowe’s company rose sharply. The UBS investment research suggested that undervalued stocks with recover quickly then the remaining declining construction and housing industries.

The shares will be supported by the stock buybacks. According to Jefferies Co. analysts the foreclosure sales are upsetting the home builders and housing market with little incentive to construct new dwellings. The fear of poor demand sparked substantial decline for Lowe and Co shares. Still, residential renovation activity has risen considerably by 15%. Necessary repairs and remodeling sales for home depot and low’s is weak still, the home improvement stores rebound back. Both the companies struggled badly and this season as fiery weather led Americans to delay landscaping and gardening projects. The traders dumped industry, shares. The cut-rate sale pushed prices of the shares to bargain.

Furthermore, the home improvement stores rebound back even in volatile housing market place conditions. The new construction and remodeling is also weak. The UBS analysts stated despite of unpredictable housing conditions, demand for home renovation has a positive and encouraging outlook. Still, the traders undervalued shared feeling that Home Depot and Lowe’s could bounce back quicker than the big housing industry. Low’s has employed many new executives and is on track to purchase more than half of the outstanding shares.

The analysts stated that this year, Lowe’s aims to invest in $2.4 billion value of shares. The analytic even noted that earnings for per share rise by a value of each $100 million shares of the company. The home improvement stores rebound back due to strong, organized and detailed plan of action. The UBS analysts praised both the company’s plan of action for expanding margins of profit and raising values of the share. Meanwhile, the home depot is deriving benefit from a modernized supply chain. The new system is playing a vital role in improving the profit margin of the home depot by 0.4% higher than the estimated value. The home depot is even re-buying shares to rise per share earnings.

Discover Spectacular Things to Do in Turkey

Turkey is easily one of the most popular summer holiday destinations for Purple Travelers. Its combination of stunning beaches, quaint seaside resorts, ethnic cuisine, and rock-bottom prices, make Turkey the destination of choice for British holidaymakers. If you’re thinking of travelling to Turkey this summer, or have already planned to return, we’ve come up with some of the most spectacular things to do while you’re there.

1. Pamukkale Thermal Pools

If you do only one excursion during your stay in the Bodrum Peninsula, this is definitely it. This rare formation of thermal pools high in the mountainous region is said to heal asthma, rheumatism, and even skin and eye conditions. In case that’s not enough to convince you, the stunning views and the photos you’ll be able to bring back home should certainly do it.

2. Gulet Cruise

The best way to experience everything the Turkish coast has to offer is by taking a Gulet Cruise, also known as the Blue Cruise. Starting in the port of Bodrum and travelling as far as Antalya, these cruises will take you through stunning bays, busy ports, ancient cities, and secluded coves. A little research in advance is well worth it, as these cruises are different and may stop in different places of interest. Keep your eyes out for those stopping at Kaputas Cove and Patara Beach.

3. Ruins of Ephesus

One of the most-visited archeological sites in Turkey, the ancient ruins are certainly a sight to see if you’re staying near Kusadasi.Ephesus was home to one of the original 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis, and still is a significant point of culture, religion, and history.

4. Mamure Kalesi

This castle fortress located on the southernmost tip of Turkey, is a magnificent sight. Home to the Romans, Crusaders, and Ottomans throughout the centuries, it stands as though it was livable just last week. Although it’s about 5 hours from the nearest tourist resort of Alanya, it is the ideal getaway for a swim at sunset.

Of course, there are many other sights to see in Turkey that we didn’t go into more detail about and are sure to be a memorable experience on your trip. Definitely go to one of the many Turkish markets in your resort, or the Turkish Nargile (Water Pipe) Bars. There are many archeological sites and castles scattered throughout the coastal region worth visiting. If you’re still deciding on where to go in Turkey, do some research on what you want to see before you book and stay in the area with the most places of interest to you. A good place to start is Trip Advisor’s Thing to Do in Turkey page. Have you been to see these, or any other sites, yourself? If so, please post your feedback and your suggestions for our readers!

Source:Purple Travel

Visit the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul Turkey

There are hundreds of Byzantine cisterns underneath Istanbul. They are remnants of when Istanbul was Constantinople.

The Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıç) is the largest of all of them. It lies beneath the Stoa Basilica. The Stoa Basilica is a grand Byzantine public square. It is also called the Sunken Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Saray Sarnıçı).

The Basilica Cistern is as impressive as it is massive. It measures 138 meters long and 64.6 meters wide. It covers almost 1000 square meters. This is around 2.4 acres. Its capacity is 80,000 cubic meters. That is over 21 million US gallons. The Basilica also contains 336 marble columns.

The Yerebatan is the location of a scene in the James Bond movie From Russian with Love. Bond rows a small boat through a maze of marble columns. This scene was shot on location at the Basilica Cistern.

Justinian built the Basilica Cistern after 532. The Yerbatan stored water for the Great Palace and its nearby structures. Petrus Gyllius rediscovered the Basilica when he came to Constantinople to discover Byzantine monuments. Curiously, Gyllius noticed that locals got their water by lowering buckets through holes in the floors of their homes. He searched for an entrance, found one, and the rest is Turkey history.

The Ottomans used the Basilica to supply Topkapi Palace with water.

In the 1990s, the city added walkways and atmospheric lighting. Visitors can also sit and enjoy soft mood music, drinks, and snacks, at the Basilica’s cafe.

The Basilica Cistern is at the northeastern end of the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet Square. It is off Divan Yolu and across the street from Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia). The Cistern entrance is on Yerebatan Caddesi and the exit is on Alemdar Caddesi.

A typical visit lasts about 30 minutes to an hour. It is open from 0900 to 1730 every day. Entrance cost is TL10.

Turkish History: Visit the Ataturk Museum

The Ataturk museum is the place where the first steps to resurrect the Turkish nation took place. It was home base to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk for a brief time in Turkey.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk stayed at the building between 1918 and 1919. Mustafa Kemal drafted his plans to build a modern Turkish Republic at this place. He did this with the help of his solider and civilian staff. The building’s first floor was a staff room and dining room. The 2nd floor was for meeting, with bedrooms, and contained an office. On the third floor, Zubeybe Hanim (Ataturk’s mother) and Makbule (his sister) resided. The city municipality purchased the Ataturk building in 1928 and converted it to a museum in 1942.

The museum displays a large amount of significant items and Ataturk’s personal belongings. This includes some of his clothes, uniforms, handwritten letters, documents, medals, and his souvenirs. It also contains pictures of his life as a soldier and civilian. The museum also displays his Marshall uniform and clothes he wore during the Sivas Congress. These clothes and uniforms are some of the most important items in the museum. The Sivas Congress was an assembly of the Turkish National Movement. The congress at Sivas made a large number of vital decisions fundamental to shaping the future policy conducted in the frame of the Turkish War of Independence.

Some other interesting items include cigar boxes, writing sets, and a wooden radio. The wooden radio was a gift from US President Roosevelt. There are also original works of art. The original pieces displayed in the museum include the watercolor paintings of V. Pisani. The paintings illustrate the Turkish War of Independence.