Festivals are the Heart of Alanya’s Culture

Alanya’s culture is deeply rooted in the city’s location and tourism. Since it is close to the sea there are many annual festivals that make the city unique. These festivals include the Tourism and Art Festival. This one marks the open of the tourism season at the end of May or the beginning of June. The Alanya International Culture and Art Festival starts the last week of May. This is a festival known throughout Turkey. One of the other notable festivals includes Alanya Jazz Days. The city holds this one in September or October and it has been going strong since 2002. Kizil Kule (home of the municipal ethnographic museum) hosts Alanya Jazz Days. Visitors enjoy music from Turkish and international jazz musicians. The festival consists of five free concerts.

Musicians also perform during the Alanya International Culture and Art Festival. Members of the Antalya State Opera and Ballet, and Alanya Chamber Orchestra made its inaugural performance debut back in December of 2007. During November, The International Alanya Stone Sculpture Symposium meet. The Alanya Cinémathèque Society and the Association of Documentary Filmmakers in Turkey founded the Alanya Documentary Festival in 2001. When it comes to Turkish film Alanya is on the map. Onat Kutlar, the Turkish poet and writer was born in Alanya. He was the founder of the Istanbul International Film Festival.

Every February 18^th the locals celebrate Ataturk’s visit to Alanya. The party centers around Atatürk’s House and Museum. The Alanya Museum houses archaeology found around the city including ceramics, Roman limestone ossuaries, historic Qur’an copies and a large bronze statue of Hercules.

Boza in the Winter? Visit Luleburgaz!

Luleburgaz is located in the Marmara region of Turkey. The city borders Pinarhisar on the north, Terkirday on the south and east, and Babaeski on the west. Luleburgaz’s ancient name was Bergula. Emperor Theodosius I changed the city’s name to Arcadiopolis later in the city’s history.

In 970, the city endured the Battle of Arcadiopolis and the Battle of Lule-Burgas during the First Balkan War in 1912. Luleburgaz is the seat of the Roman Catholic titular arch-bishopric of Arcadiopolis in Europa. The Greeks captured the city in 1919 and remained in control until the Mudanya agreement of 1922.

The city is famous for its sixteenth-century mosque and bridge. Both of these architectural masterpieces were named after the Grand Vizier Sokullu Mehmet Paşa. They were also designed by the Ottoman’s chief architect Mimar Sinan. The ”Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Kulliye” was built in 1570. It’s mosque, hamam, caravansari, and theology school are a wonderful Ottoman piece of art.

When you visit the city make sure to do some shopping at the local bazaar and enjoy the town center’s parks. You can visit with the locals and enjoy a cool drink. You can also visit the numerous cafes and restaurants for local Turkish fare. For a taste of the locals make sure to try the dishes made with meat. The region is known for its meat.

During the winter you can try the popular local drink “Boza”. Boza is a fermented drink sold in Turkey and throughout Eastern Europe. This malt liquor has a thick consistency and slightly acidic but sweet flavor. You’ll find plenty of shops selling Boza in the town’s center.

A Brief History and Overview of Kirklareli, Turkey

Kirklareli is located in the Eastern Thrace. This is on the European part of Turkey. The city sits on the border with Edirne to its west, Tekirdag to its south, Istanbul to the south-east, the Black Sea to it’s east, and Bulgaria to the north.

It’s not known when exactly Kirklareli was founded but the city was once called the “Forty Churches” or Kirk Kilise. The name comes from 14^th century Greek Byzantines. The city was seriously damaged during the Greek War of Independence by Turks and Greeks while it was under Bulgarian control. During the Balkan Wars the Bulgarians occupied the city again.

The Greeks took over after World War I and Turks took over Kirk Kilise during the Turkish War for Independence on November 10, 1922. There was a population exchange agreement signed between Turkey and Greece in 1923. Greeks living in the city were exchanged for Turks and the name Kirk Kilise officially changed to Kirklareli on December 20, 1924.

There are numerous ways to get to Kirklareli. Istanbul connects to the city via highway and is only 209 km away. So, this makes visiting via car or bus very easy. In fact, there are numerous buses that travel frequently from Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. If you would rather travel by sea there are private boats that travel on the coastal region. When you travel inside the city the best way to see the city is on foot. However, there are plenty of busses driving around the city.

If you do plan to walk the city just keep in mind that it is hot during the summer and cold during the winter. You’ll want to dress accordingly.

There is one very modern and very popular holiday dialysis center right in the middle of Kirklareli province, and on the main O-3 / E80 highway that runs through Kirklareli. Contact one of the Diaverum Holiday Travel Coordinators to make your appointments for your entire Turkish holiday.

Bus Travel in Turkey

There are plenty of low-cost airlines flying into Turkey and just as many connecting the Turkish cities, so it’s fast and quite affordable to travel to/from Turkey as well as within the country by plane.

However, if you are on a tight budget, bus travel makes an excellent alternative. There are plenty of buses and dolmus offers connections even to the off the places which are located off the beaten bath.

The bus network in Turkey is excellent, with long haul buses equipped with air conditioning. However, don’t expect to find too many luxury buses, as most are economy-type but the services are good. The motorways are well maintained, but the further you get from them, the worse the roads tend to be.

Getting to/from Turkey by Bus – From Another Country

The cheapest way to get to/from Turkey and another country is by bus. It’s cheaper and faster than trains.

Romania, Bulgaria and Greece

There are direct buses to Turkey from Bucharest and Constanta every day. Romania also offers the possibility to travel further west , offering the link to Central and Western Europe. There are also direct connections from Sofia (Bulgaria) and Athens (Greece) via Thessaloniki. Smaller bus carriers offer links to other cities in the Balkans, as well.

Iran

There are direct buses from Teheran to both Ankara and Istanbul. The travel time is about 48 h.

Syria

There are buses from Aleppo to Antakya and the travel time is only 3 h. If you need to get to Istanbul, there are direct flights from Damascus.

Getting around Turkey by Bus – from one city to another

Buses are excellent choices to get around Turkey. There is an extensive network covering the Turkish cities. The service is generally good and you need to reserve the seat. Buses are often crowded.

As a rule of thumb, the further east you travel, the less frequent the bus service will be. But even if you travel very far from Istanbul or Izmir, you’ll still be able to find a connection.

Generally, if you can choose from more operators, a bus capable of carry more passengers will offer more leg room. There are also the dolmus, which are minibuses, and they are definitely not as comfortable as the buses. However, the dolmus typically cover small distances (such as from the periphery of a major city to the centre or within a city).

Don’t be surprised to see that you are dropped off somewhere on the ring road. Sometimes, the bus companies also offer a bus to take you to the city center, but in other cases you’ll have to use the public transport to get where you need to.

Getting around Turkey by Bus – within a city

In Ankara, there is an extensive bus network service (350 different lines). In Antalya, the buses also connect all parts of the city. The fares are low and there is even AC in the buses. The city of Izmir also has an extensive bus network. In Bodrum, the dolmus is the best way to get around the city.

In the capital of Istanbul, there are both public and private buses. They run from 6 a.m. until midnight, with limited service after 10 p.m. There are also 24 hours lines which connect the city to the airports. Some areas of the city aren’t covered by buses, so you’ll use the tram or metro if you need to get to Sultanahmet and Taksim areas.

Kemer Travel Guide, Turkey

Kemer is located about 43 kilometres from Antalya. It is really very attractive village at the outskirts of the Taurus Mountains. Kemer has nine pretty villages. The population of Kemer is roughly around 10.000 and it has a coast of 52 kms. In Kemer the forest, the sea and the mountains blend with each other and it offers an ideal environment for a wonderful holiday.



Many developments had been in Kemer recently. The investments made for the development of Tourism Industry, has a big important role in Kemer's economy. This town is an actual sample of the urbanization. Kemer is a quite and comfortable holiday district, with ; easy and organized transportation, completed infrastructure, , all utilities of communication and well working Municipality. Today, Kemer is well known place and has important touristic town in tourism. Kemer marina is fully equipped and it has facilities for all activities so that yachtsmen can enjoy the beaches and bays south of the town. Shopping lovers will delight in the wonderful range of high quality souvenirs for sale. Kemer's setting, however, is incredibly fascinating and beautiful, and it supposedly had its origins as a Lycian settlement. Many hotels in Kemer offer their own activities and entertainments for guests, and several have private beach access.



On the 16 km west of the touristic town of Kemer there is an ancient Lycian city Phaselis. Modern resort town Kemer has a vibrant club and disco culture. With many restaurants, bars, blue flag beaches and a 180-capacity yacht marina. Popular coastal villages such as Beldibi, Göynük, Kiris, Çamyuva, Çayova, Aslanbucak, Kuzdere, Beycik and Çirali also provide many exciting nightlife options.