Five Reasons to Visit Turkey in 2008

By Rhiannon Williamson

The stunning nation of Turkey is the one country in the world where east truly meets west - because the country is located in South-eastern Europe and spans such a large geographic landmass that it also reaches into South-western Asia.

As a result, Turkey is a nation of mixed cultural and historic flavours, a country where the modern skyscrapers of Istanbul stand alongside the minarets of ancient mosques, and where holiday makers can experience a whole host of flavours, sights and events in just a short visit.

If you're thinking about where to go for a weekend break, a summer holiday getaway or for a holiday of a lifetime, there are a million reasons to visit Turkey - and in this article we will explore five of the best reasons for you to look a little more closely at this country of contrasts.

1) Culture and retail therapy in Istanbul. Side by side on the streets of Istanbul you have the most luxurious shopping malls in the world with grand bazaars where peddlers vie for your trade as they sell locally grown produce. As a backdrop to the eclectic mix of retail delights on the streets of Istanbul you have legendary landmarks such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia - and so no matter what you prefer doing when on holiday, you are sure to find thrills and experiences to delight you in Istanbul.

2) Sailing the sun-drenched seas off the south coast. The southern coastline of Turkey is known as the Turkish Riviera. It is home to famous resorts such as Bodrum, Alanya, Antalya and Side and from each of these beautiful towns you can charter boats to bob about on the Mediterranean and Aegean seas whilst basking in the summer sunshine.

3) Castle hoping. Along the south coast in Turkey there are crusader castles in towns such as Bodrum and Alanya and you can explore these stunning ruins and the museums they now house...getting to learn more about how this is one nation that has been fought over for generations because of its stunning beauty, its geographic importance and because of the wealth of natural resources it is home to.

4) Sun, sea and sand sampling. Turkey's Riviera is world famous as a summer holiday destination and it's not surprising...enjoying a summer season that spans from March through to November and an extremely temperate winter season, you can enjoy the beaches, the surf and the stunning sunshine when on holiday in this part of the nation.

5) Sumptuous cuisine and excellent wine. Turkish cuisine is all about using the very best locally grown produce and cooking it simply to ensure the natural flavours are maintained. You can enjoy a meze, which is a meal of many tiny offerings of local dishes, followed perhaps by a traditional fish dish or kebab, and you can wash the whole lot down with a bottle of Turkey's finest red or white wine. The food and drink available in Turkey is exquisite and of very high quality...but watch out for the deserts which are highly addictively sweet!

If you're looking for a stunning nation in which to explore history, culture, leisure pursuits and landscapes, give Turkey a look in 2008.

Rhiannon Williamson writes about property in Turkey on her website Shelter Offshore

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhiannon_Williamson

Visiting Manchester - Your Guide To What To Do In Manchester

By Arthur Townlands

The "Capital of the North" is a phrase normally used to describe Manchester.
Whether you visit Manchester for business or pleasure, there is plenty to see and do.

1. Football
Home to the famous Manchester United as well as rival team Manchester City, the city has plenty to offer football fans, although if you're planning an overnight stay on the evening of a home match, be sure to book your hotel in plenty of time so that the other 76,000 people visiting Old Trafford don't get there before you!

2. Nightlife
As you'd expect in a major city with a large student population, there is plenty of nightlife available if you have the energy. Things have changed a bit since Jimmy Savile first welded two record decks together for one of his first DJ gigs back in 1946. If you're into music history like this, be sure to visit the Band on the Wall venue in Manchester's Northern Quarter. This venue has changed with the times but has been hosting live music since 1862.

3. Manchester Ship Canal
This is an impressive 36 mile long canal that is over 100 years old. It turned Manchester from being landlocked into a major sea port in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The canal is still in private ownership but as the size of ocean going vessels has increased over the years, its importance as a freight route has declined, although with the modern emphasis on the user of greener forms of transport, there is new interest in using the canal for freight.

4. Music Venues
As you would expect from such a cultural city, Manchester has a diverse range of music venues. There are two symphony orchestras permanently based here as well as a chamber orchestra.
Pop music fans are catered for at the large Manchester Evening News Arena, close to Victoria railway station. It is the largest such arena in Europe and hosts major concerts on a regular basis. Manchester has given rise to a large number of pop groups, including Oasis, New Order, the Buzzcocks and The Smiths.

5. Eating Out
If you fancy a change from your hotel's menu, you can find almost any cuisine in Manchester. There are restaurants offering everything from traditional British meals through to the expected Indian, Chinese, Italian, Greek and Thai menus. Additionally, you can find Cajun, Caribbean, Japanese, Korean and many other national cuisines. So your taste buds will be excited whatever you choose.

6. Day Trips from Manchester
If you've got more time on your hands, there are plenty of day trips that you can take in the surrounding area. To familiarize yourself with the city, there are regular guided tours, run by registered Blue Badge Guides where you'll learn fascinating details about the city. If you or your children are interested in science, Jodrell Bank Observatory is close by and you can examine the Lovell Radio Telescope at first hand as well as watch the planets and check out the exhibits in the visitor centre.

Check out this Manchester hotel directory and find the best places to stay in Manchester

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arthur_Townlands

Visit Detroit, Michigan

By Sunil Tanna

Detroit is the largest city in Michigan. As of 2005, the population was 886,675, making it 11th largest city in the United States of America. Even so, the population has fallen by more than half since its peak in the early 1950s - at one time the city was the 4th largest in the country.

Detroit is known worldwide as a center of automobile manufacturing (hence its two best-known nicknames: "Motor City" and "Motown"), as well as for its music. Apart "Motor City" and "Motown", Detroit has many other nicknames including "Arsenal of Democracy" (which was popular during World War II), as well as "The D", "D-Town", "Hockeytown", "Rock City" and "The 3-1-3" (from the city's telephone area area code).

Attractions in the Detroit area include:

- Detroit Institute of Arts

Here is some more information about the area:

- Some of the major companies headquartered in Detroit include Compuware and General Motors.

- Important education institutions in Detroit include University of Detroit Mercy and Wayne State University. University of Detroit Mercy is a comprehensive university, and the largest Roman Catholic university in the state. Wayne State University is a research university with 11 schools and colleges, 350 major subject areas, and more than 33,000 students including both undergraduates and postgraduates.

- The main airport for Detroit is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

- Professional sports teams in Detroit include the American football team, the Detroit Lions, the Major League Baseball team, the Detroit Tigers, and the NHL ice hockey team, the Detroit Red Wings.

By S. Tanna. First published at
http://www.vacation2usa.com/p1_state_michigan_cities_detroit.php -
Visit this link for more details, pictures, attractions, towns and cities and more!

Discover all 50 states at http://www.vacation2usa.com

Visit London

By Sunil Tanna

London is the capital city, and by a quite considerable margin, the largest city of both England and the UK as a whole. The term "City of London" (as well as "The Square Mile" or just "The City") is used mainly to refer to a very small (1 square mile - 2.6 square km) area that formed the ancient core of the conurbation, and which is today the most important center of the financial industry. The conurbation as a whole is referred to "Greater London" or simply "London", and even this is largely surrounded by further built-up and urban areas.
Approximately 8.5 million people live in Greater London, with perhaps 14 million in the metropolitan area.

As the former capital of a globe-spanning empire, London is home to people of many races, cultures and languages. Many of these people have their roots in former British colonies, but there European, South American, Turkish, Greek, Kurdish, Iranian, Arab and other communities too. While it would be incorrect to say that there have never been tensions, the communities get along remarkably well, and it is not at all unusual to go to school, live and work with people from diverse backgrounds. This cultural diversity has contributed not only greatly to the character of the city, but to arts, festivals, music and cuisine.

There are many tourist attractions in London, too many too mention in a brief article, but some must-see sights include Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament (including Big Ben), the Tower of London, the Millenium Wheel, Greenwich Observatory and Madame Tussaud's wax museum. Visitors to the city will also want to catch a theater production in the West End, see the London's many excellent museums and art galleries, check out the city's nightlife, and sample the variety of British, Anglo-Indian and international restaurants available.

First published at http://www.travelguide2uk.com/c1_cities_london.php

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Wonder In Rajasthan - A Great Place To Visit!

By Michael Braganza

Are you looking for a comprehensive holiday vacation? Have you desire to visit India? Come to India and wonder in Rajasthan which is a great place to visit. The vibrant state of Rajasthan is one of the most colourful regions in the sub-continent of India. The vibrant state of Rajasthan exhibits magnificence and royalty in every walk of life. The vibrant and colourful state of Rajasthan offers perhaps everything what a tourist can ask for? Here are discussed about brief Rajasthan information which will be surely beneficial for your tours to Rajasthan.

According to area, Rajasthan is the largest state in the sub-continent of India. The state of Rajasthan is encircled by Pakistan to the west, Punjab to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the northeast, Madhya Pradesh to the southeast and Gujarat to the southwest. The largest state of Rajasthan occupies an area of 342,239 square km. A great part of Rajasthan is occupied with the vast Thar Desert.

Rajasthan is known as the land of kings and magnificient monuments. The vibrant state of Rajasthan exhibits narrates amazing legends of bravery and romance. The land of Rajasthan is endowed with many magnificient palaces, architecturally beautiful structures and invincible forts which prove why it is called the land of monuments. The vibrant state of Rajasthan is also endowed with waves of sand dunes, serene lakes and amazing wildlife. Can any region in the country pull together as much diversity as does the vibrant and colourful land of Rajasthan?

The capital of Rajasthan is Jaipur, which is also popularly known as the Pink City. All the major cities of Rajasthan are too fascinating and must to visit. It is sure that fascination of cities of Rajasthan never fails to allure you. All the cities of Rajasthan are endowed with many architecturally beautiful structures and many other beautiful attractions. To wonder in to Rajasthan in more easy way Rajasthan maps and guide can be very useful to you. It is sure that Rajasthan Map and guide will help you plan your tours to Rajasthan easy. The maps of Rajasthan with wide detailed travel destinations and road routes will surely help you to locate destinations of your preference.

The geography of Rajasthan is also fascinating and attention-grabbing. The major geographical feature of Rajasthan is the vast Thar Desert and one of the oldest mountain ranges, the Aravalli Range which runs through the state from south west to north east. Mount Abu is the only hill station in the desert land of Rajasthan. The climate of Mount Abu is very pleasant and cool. The town of Mount Abu is also endowed with natural beautiful and famous Jain Temples. Come to the vibrant state of Rajasthan and enjoy everlasting experience of tours to Rajasthan.

Michael Braganza is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel & Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for Rajasthan Map and India Tours. Now he is rendering his services to http://www.indiatraveltours.com/

First Visit To Rome

By Tomas Tilver

Rome is a fantastic place! The entire downtown area is like a huge museum. Wherever you look, wherever you go there are historic buildings, fountains, statues, monuments, palaces... And history is so alive in Rome. Makes you feel privileged to visit this great city and see what has been one of the most important cities in our western history.

Streets are narrow and winding. The building plan is somewhat confusing; so many streets, and many of them change their name along the road. Even with a good map it can be quite hard to find the way.

There are tourists everywhere! The most renown sights are crowded, long lines of people waiting for admittance. And the typical tourist “traps” lots of street salesmen offering souvenirs of all sorts. We had an exciting experience at one occasion; someone shouted out the single word “Polizia” (=Police) and all street salesmen and their goods disappeared within seconds. Absolutely incredible, it happened so quickly one could almost believe they turned invisible.

A good start is to take a bus tour and get familiar with the general plan of the City. There are several tour operators that run guided tours from Stazione Termini. Buses are open-roof so bring a hat to protect from the sun! There are also bus tours that run to the outskirts of Rome, e.g. to catacombs, aqueducts and along the Via Appia which is the ancient road on which the Imperial Roman army returned in triumph after successful campaigns! Parts of Via Appia are preserved, i.e. you ride on 2000 year old pavement!!!

Walking is a very good way to see Rome, but be prepared for distances and heat. It is very easy to find nice outdoor places to sit and have a rest and get something to drink along the road. Be careful if you have a limited expense account, at some places they will charge you 5 euro for a small bottle of water or 7 euro for a small beer! Also note that there are public drinking fountains everywhere in Rome. The water is said to be of good drinking quality. Buy a bottle of mineral water when you leave the hotel in the morning and refill it from the drinking fountains as you move through Rome.

Taxi services are relatively inexpensive and easy to catch. There is also a large number of city buses that run frequently more or less everywhere. The subway is good but there are only two lines crossing each other at Stazione Termini. So far it has been impossible to expand the subway system; wherever they want to dig a new tunnel they run into some archeological finding.

Anyway, Rome is a beautiful city with a friendly atmosphere, lots of historic sights, good restaurants and a lovely climate so it is well worth a visit!

Tomas Tilver is an experienced IT engineer who is dedicated to fulfil his life vision: To live and work independent of time and place!
http://xango-t2.blogspot.com

Things To Do And Places To Visit In Chichester

By Keith McGregor

The four main streets of the city (North, East, South and West) are lined with bustling shops, businesses, restaurants and pubs. At Christmas the Rotary club in Chichester place a large Christmas tree near the cross at the centre of the city. Colourful lights are also draped high above the streets and emit a magical glow which lights the streets after sun down. A Christmas market is setup in the streets and roast chestnuts and other warm snacks are served.

Chichester is home to some great home-grown shops and businesses, some recommended ones to visit are The Cornish Pasty Factory (North street), The Orchard Tearoom (North street), Bah! Humbug sweet shop (Butter market, North street), The Edinburgh Woollen Mill (West street), Montezuma's organic chocolate factory and shop (East street), The Surf Grill Shack (South street), Toywizz (South street) and The Slug and Lettuce pub (South street).

The Chichester Gate leisure complex is located just outside the southern gate of the city, a five minute walk from the city centre (opposite to the police station and canal, near Stockbridge road). It features something for all of the family – bowling (Lakeside Superbowl), a cinema (Cineworld), a health club (Cannons), a hotel (Premier Travel Inn) and several restaurants and bars (The Chicago Rock Café, Domino's Pizza, Frankie and Benny's, KFC, McDonald's, Tandoori Nite and The Gatehouse).

Not too far from Chichester Gate is the Westgate Leisure Centre. The Westgate Leisure Centre is a sports centre providing a number of activities including swimming, trampolining, football and squash. Located behind the centre is a skate park for skaters, rollerbladers and BMXers which features a half pipe, fun box, tabletops and spines.

Looking for the perfect picnic location? Priory Park will cater to all of your needs – great for kids and adults, the park is a large green with a playground, a hill where a motte and bailey castle once stood, a priory (now a museum), a cricket pitch, a bird cage and a bowls green. The playground is split into two sections for infants and for older children, both of which are very well equipped and in excellent condition. There are picnic benches in the playground area which are a great place to eat, but many people enjoy to picnic on the green or at the top of the motte and bailey hill. On sunny days one can watch cricket matches whilst picnicking in the shade of the priory or on the green.

The cattle market is open every Wednesday and Saturday, and is host to a number of stalls. From fruit and vegetables, to meats, foreign foods and iPods, you will find it at the market. The cattle market still has traces from Chichester's roots, and on the Eastern wall you will find metal rings attached where cattle were once tethered hundreds of years ago.

But, of course, a visit to Chichester is not complete without a visit to its historic cathedral. The cathedral grounds are open to the public everyday of the week, and there are plenty of places to eat. There is a café in the cathedral and a garden to eat in, but the green at the front of the cathedral provides an adequate spot. The cathedral is in West street by the cross, and is almost impossible to miss. The cathedral's fascinating architecture and history are found interesting by everyone from children to great grandparents. Trips to the spire are even held occasionally!

If you are planning on visiting Chichester, you may need to book some accomodation in Chichester. Chichester is such a great place to visit for a holiday or long weekend - there is an abundance of accomodation to choose. For the perfect hotel in Chichester, why not visit Crouchers Country Hotel and experience both this fascinating historic town and this beautiful hotel in Chichester at the same time!

Keith McGregor is a partner of Strawberrysoup, a web design agency with offices in Chichester and Bournemouth. Strawberrysoup specialise in creative web design, content managed websites, search engine optimisation, search engine marketing and graphic design.

10 Great Places to Visit in Alabama

By Sunil Tanna


Alabama, nicknamed "The Heart of Dixie" is known for its heritage as a key southern state. Today the state contains an exciting mixture of old and new. From traditional agricultural events to high-tech rocketry, there's something for everyone.

Some highlights to visit in Alabama include:

1. Ave Maria Grotto (in Cullman): Also known as "Jerusalem in Miniature", and constructed by Brother Joseph Zoetti, a Benedictine monk, the Ave Maria Grotto is a 4 acre park containing 125 miniature reproductions of famous shrines and historical buildings from around the world.

2. Battleship Memorial Park (in Mobile): Home to the battleship USS Alabama, the submarine USS Drum, as well as many tanks and aircraft.

3. Bellingrath Gardens and Home (Southwest of Mobile): A beautiful 65-acre garden estate that offers walking tours, cruises on the Fowl river, and is home to an award-winning rose garden.
4. Birmingham Museum of Art (in North Birmingham): Contains an outstanding collection of over 21,000 works of art.

5. DeSoto Caverns Park (Southeast of Birmingham): offers guided tours through the state's biggest cave which is 12 stories high and larger than a football field. There are also a variety of family attractions in the park outside the caverns.

6. Early Works Museum Complex (in Huntsville): An impressive complex of three history museums including a hands-on history museum for children and a railroad museum.

7. International Motorsports Hall of Fame Museum (in Talladega): This museum, next door to the Talladega Superspeedway records and celebrates the history of motorsports. Exhibits include the Budweiser rocket car which was the first car to break the speed of sound.

8. Noccalulua Falls Park (in Gadsden): A 250-acre public park containing a legendary waterwall, as wall caves, Indian and civil war carvings, a pioneer homesteed, a mini-golf course, a petting zoo, and more.

9. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (throughout Alabama): A must for golf-lovers. The Trail is a result of the largest golf course construction project ever attempted. and contains over 400 holes spread across multiple sites around the state.

10. US Space & Rocket Center (in Huntsville): contains the United States' largest collection space memorabilia and rockets including the Pathfinder shuttle simulator and a Saturn V moon rocket.

You can find out about all these attractions in Alabama, and others in the state too, at: http://www.vacation2usa.com/p1_state_alabama_attractions.php

Or discover all 50 states, 800 towns & cities, and over 1,000 attractions! For more information about travel and vacations in the US, please visit: http://www.vacation2usa.com/

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