Turkey is a melting pot of cultures and a bridge between continents. How much do you know about this Western-oriented, rapidly modernizing, and Mediterranean travel destination?
The ancient city of Ephesus (Turkish: Efes), located near the Aegean Sea in modern day Turkey, was one of the great cities of the Greeks in Asia Minor and home to the one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, the ruins of Ephesus are a major tourist attraction, especially for travelers on Mediterranean cruises. Ephesus is also a sacred site for Christians due to its association with several biblical figures, including St. Paul, St. John the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary.
Which of the seven ancient wonders can be found in this city?
This city received its name from the saffron which is native there. The powder obtained from its flower is a very strong dye. Used in very small quantities, saffron adds a delicate flavor, distinct aroma and a very unique color to deserts and other food in the Turkish Cuisine. It is also used for some Turkish carpets as a unique dye. Also unique in this city are the famous Çavus grapes with their extremely thin skin and sweet flavor.
What city gets its name from this well known spice?
Turkish yachts are attractive, traditional wooden vessels. They are hand-crafted from carefully chosen wood, offering high ceilings, wide corridors, spacious, airy cabins and a plenitude of cushioned lounging areas. These vessels have a crew who plan the voyage, navigate and sail the ship and do all the work, including the cooking which may include the fresh catch of the day and cleaning. The captain creates a warm sociable atmosphere, whilst you discover the breathtaking Aegean and Mediterranean coastline. You can help to crew if you wish, but the relaxation of the forward sun deck or snorkeling in the beautiful bays and the delights of a cool and crystal clear sea are far more attractive to most. Few other sailing vessels similar in size can claim this degree of comfort.
What is the name of these wooden Turkish yachts?
The underground cities of Cappadocia are worthy of a visit. Take Derinkuyu for example. The one time home of up to 20,000 people, its 18 stories descend into the Anatolian plateau 50 kms south of Goreme. Stop and think about that for a while. A large, market town sized community digging a settlement out to guarantee themselves a degree of protection. There are 8 floors of tunnels open to the visitor and this is enough to give you an idea of the sensation of living in a labyrinth like this. The ventilation shafts, circular and descending from the surface to the lower levels, bring home the scale of the enterprise while the massive circular doors – which were rolled across the passages and sealed from the inside – remind you of the motivation for moving underground in the first place. Derinkuyu is by no means the only such city you can visit here.
How many of these subterranean cities exist in Turkey?
Find the answers to these questions about Turkey on the blog at www.yourlanguageconnection.com
1. Temple of Artemis
2. Safranbolu
3. Gulets
4. 36
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