| The Travel Institute has released the 5th Edition of its popular Exploring the World tourism geography reference guide for frontline travel agents, recently updated with dozens of new destinations; hundreds of additional sights, attraction and local cuisine details; and extensive updates for Canada, Bermuda, South America, Antarctica, United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
The following is taken from that course:
For adventurous travelers, Türkiye (formerly known by its Anglicized spelling Turkey) offers high mountains and rugged scenery. For the historically inclined, it has Hittite, Greek, and Roman remains, as well as examples of Byzantine art. For relaxation, it offers the beautiful Mediterranean and Aegean coasts.
Many visitors to Türkiye begin their travels in Istanbul. Here are five must-dos in that city.
1. Hagia Sophia, once the greatest church in Christendom. It was turned into a mosque in 1453 and converted to a museum in 1935. The dome and ceiling are covered in gold mosaic. Probably few buildings are so overwhelming in their sheer beauty.
2. Blue Mosque, Istanbul’s principal place of worship. More than 20,000 blue tiles cover the walls (hence its name). Non-Muslim visitors are allowed in Turkish mosques, although they are cordoned off from the sanctuary.
3. Grand Bazaar (Kapali Çarsi), the world’s biggest covered bazaar. The market has some 4,000 shops on 66 streets, all surrounded by a wall. The shops are grouped according to guilds, with carpets in one area, jewelry in another.
4. Galeta Tower, built in 1343 as part of the city’s fortifications is a museum worth visiting; it once was used as a jail for Christian slaves and then as a fire station.5. The Spice Bazaar, filled with fragrant spices, lokum (Turkish delight), dried fruit, nuts, and herbs; it is a popular attraction for visitors.
5. A ferry cruise along the Bosphorus is a relaxing way to see Istanbul’s most iconic treasures, including fortresses, Ottoman-era palaces and mansions while cruising underneath the bridges across the Bosphorus. The longer cruise is an all-day adventure that takes two hours one-way, with stops in Anadolu Kavağı for three hours, and then the return trip. In the spring through fall, there is a shorter cruise operating daily. The two-hour afternoon cruise heads up the Bosphorus as far as Rumeli fortress before turning around. |
