Invitation To Paradise (And besides...No need to Die! )
Turkey - The Vacation of Your
Dreams :
Without any exageration , visitors to Turkey consider their vacation
in Turkey as ‘dreamlike‘ . We are inviting you to your dreams :
The expectations from the ideal trip :
1. Somewhere full of history, archeology & sites , mythology.
a. the cream of cake for time limited visitors : (up to 4 days )
Istanbul – the Byzantine Constantinople
Istanbul
was the capital city of three empires : Ottoman , Byzantine ,
and Roman Empires , and she was ruled over 120 kings, emperors and sultans.
The impressive Bosphorus Straits of Istanbul with so many palaces and
mansions built along is admired highly by the visitors on a fancy 2 hour cruise.
This is also the site of the ‘Clashing Rocks’ in the Mythology, through which
‘Jason & The Argounats’ were trying to pass. Many visitors come back to
Istanbul in winter for a weeks’ stay to enjoy more in depth.
Active churches, and Synagogues as well as the mosques attract
visitors at religiously significant days, like feasts, or Christmas.
Special Istanbul visits : Topkapi & Dolmabahce Palace, The Blue Mosque, The Grand Ottoman Military
Band of the Ottomans, Saint Sophia Church & Basilica Cistern of the Byzantines , An unforgettable Bosphorus
Straits Cruise , Shopping at the Grand or the Egyptian Bazaar.
b. If you have a week or more :
Towards East – Central Turkey from Istanbul :
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Biblical Galatia is the environs of Turkey’s capital, Ankara (name’ s origin is Angora .
Angora cats and goats come from this city . The Archaelogical Museum houses the most
impressive artefacts from ancient civilisations of Anatolia , including the earliest landscape
painting in history from the the Neolithic period from a wall of a Çatalhöyük house .
from where excursions to the 2 neighbouring
capitals and to Cappadocia - the wonder of nature, can be done :
Gordion
The capital city of the Phrigians – famous with their
king Midas of the golden touch . Walk into the famous king’s hill shaped
tomb – the Grand Tumulus .
Hattusash The capital city of the famous Hittites , one of the most
important Anatolian civilisations of the 2. Millenium B.C.
dating from 6200 BC.) ;
Cappadocia
The Real Life Version of ‘The Flintstones’ (ya
ba da ba doo !!!! – YESS!!! - Fred & Vilma ) : Giant stone
mushrooms , called the FairyChimneys (locals thought these
looked like their chimneys – since their chimneys also had a cap
above them to avoid leaking ) Underground Cities , Rockcut :
Homes (with a Satellite dish on top ) , Byzantine churches with
fresqoes , hotels, bars , restaurants, night clubs : Because this
is the volcanic soft rock easy to chisel . Canyons for soft
Trekking.
Skiing can be combined to your vacation in winter trips.
2 overnights are required, ideally 3.
4 hour driving (includes 2 comfort stops ) south of Ankara, or fly
from Istanbul Directly.
Aegean Coast Line & Environs
- 2 to 4 days minimum :
Ancient City of Troy from Homer’s (he is from Izmir – Symirna ) Iliad.
Three of the famous 7 churches of the Bible happen to be
impressive sites to visit not only for the religious significance :
Pergamon is the capital of the kingdom under the same name,
famous for its Acropolis, and Asclepion (the ancient hospital where they also
practised psycotherapy ). This is where parchment is invented (called Pergamenie
). Famous Physician Galen comes from Pergamon.
Ephesus , as well as one of the seven wonders of the world, Artemis
temple, has got the only theatre in the world that is mentioned in
the Bible. This is truly one most the most impressive ancient ruins
of the world.
Sardis is the capital city of the Lydians , who invented the coinage.
Wealthy Croisos was their king. This is probably the famous ancient
Jewish city Sfard - There is a very early synagogue surviving here.
Inland Towards Cappadocia from Ephesus
The Ancient city Aphrodisias is excavated by New York
University. Dedicated to Love Goddess Aphrodite, this city was a
great sculpture center in early Roman times. It has got an
exeptionaly well preserved ancient stadium – 30.000 audience
capacity.
3 hour driving distance from Ephesus.
2. Great landscape – mountains , beaches (Mediterrenean ,
Black Sea, Marmara Sea ),
3. Warm native people to make the the visitors not only feel
comfortable, but at home , as well.
5. Educational , full of experience,
Hittites, Urartians, Lydians, Phrigians, Trojans,
Romans,Byzantines, Selcuks, Ottomans.
Silk Road, ,
Ancient writers, philosophers, scholars : Thales of Miletos –
the Thales Theorem, Homer of Symirna father of Mythology &
Poetry, Herodotus of Halikarnassos – Father of History, ......
of Ephesus .
Sufism
: Mystic Whirling Dervishes of Konya with their
founder Mevlana, Hacıbektaş of Cappadocia – The Alevites.
Famous visitors – Conqeurers , armies, scholars : Alexander
The Great, Sezar : ‘’ Veni Vidi Vici ‘’, the Crusaders ,
Mongolians,
Christianity :
St. Paul from Tarsus & his Missionary trips through Anatolia.
St. Peter of Antioch – today’s modern province at the Syrian
border – Antakya.
7 Churches
6. Transportation, accommodation meeting the western
standards .
7. Art / Architecture
8. All of these for a reasonable, affordable price.
We meet your Expectations !
Alabanda
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The cave church, St.Peters Grotto, where the followers of Jesus first took the name Christians, is
in Antakya.
Noah’s Ark has landed on Mount Ağrı.
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The oldest known shipwreck on earth was excavated in Ulu Burun near Kaş.
Tulips were introduced to Holland from Anatolia by Oiger Ghiselin de Busbecq
who was ambassador of Charles the 5th to Süleyman the Magnificent in 1554.
Sultan Beyazit II dispatched the Ottoman Navy to bring the Jewish people who
were expelled from Spain. They were brought safely to the Ottoman lands in
1492 and lived in peace ever since.
The first man ever to fly was Turkish. Using two wings Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi flew from
the Galata Tower over the Bosphorus to land in Üsküdar in the 17th century.
Two of the Seven Wonders Of the Ancient World’ remains are in Turkey. The Artemis
Temple and the Halicarnassus Mausoleum.
Alabanda takes its name from the Ancient city Alabanda near the province Aydın and has a commonly
used meaning; “ to turn the helm of a ship suddenly and to accelerate the ship.”
You can have a look at our web site (www.alabanda.com.tr) for further information on the Ancient
City Alabanda and on our company.
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Located in the very heart of Ankara, Alabanda is an active member of IATA, ASTA, UFTAA, TATA
(Turkish American Travel Association) and TURSAB (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies).
Alabanda’s Incoming Tour Operations Department arranges tours to points of ecological or religious
interest, tours for golf enthusiasts, as well as regular sightseeing tours to Turkey.
Whenever you shall decide to come back , please contact us to have the most appropriate itinerary and
please keep in mind that our company can handle all your needs in every part of Turkey, with very
reasonable rates.
As we are the sole sales agent of world famous tour operator TUI, we can always offer mix and match
tours to Turkey and neighboring countries including Greece, Egypt, Israel, Russia and ex-Soviet
countries. Please ask for our itineraries that can be “Tailor Made” according to your preferences.
As we have special rates with many hotels in Turkey, please contact us before booking any hotel, our
rates will, most probably, be lower .
We have prepared, for the 2000th Birth Anniversary of Jesus Christ, a very attractive package covering
various religious sights of Turkey including; the House of Virgin Mary, the Seven Churches of
Apocalypse and Demre, which is the birth place of Santa Claus. In this booklet you will find the
details of the above mentioned itineraries and more.
We are happy to be here to help you and we are looking forward to welcoming you and your friends
to Turkey.
Best Regards,
Refik Kutluer
General Manager & MOB