SAILING DESTINATION : KUŞADASI

Kuşadası – Aydın – Turkey

Kuşadası, one of Turkey’s principle holiday resorts, offers an excellent environment for an unforgettable holiday. Situated on the west coast of Turkey- 90 km south of Izmir, Kuşadası, is reputed for one of the most attractive city of the Aegean, as it is close to the important historical sites including Ephesus, Didyma, Priene, Miletos – the principals of ancient times, and ideal for sightseers.

Kuşadası has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters, providing a long tourism season.  The city is bathed in sunshine for 300 days of the year.

Numerous powdery sandy beaches with warm – clear waters, providing a peaceful atmosphere, allow a great variety of water and beach facilities. Windsurfing, water skiing, sailing and beach volley are only a few choice for the lovers of active life. After sunbathing restfully during the day, the city awaits the superb sunset. As the sun sets, the attractive cafes and restaurants through the palm-lined boulevard, get busier.

It is a great delight to watch the comings and goings of the yachts and ships with accompanies of the panoramic view of the sunset, on a pre-drink before the dinner. The restaurants, serving a variety of fresh seafood, fish and Aegean specialties, offer a delicious meal in Kuşadası. Dancing and entertaining at a lively bar or a disco until dawn, may end an ideal day in Kuşadası.

According to the latest datum in 1995, the number of inhabitants in Kuşadası is about 50.000. The population, consisting 99% Turks, increases rapidly with the beginning of the tourism season. The city has shown a rapid development an incredible growth since from the 1970’s, with the introducing of tourism.

The Kuşadası Setur Marina is one of the largest and best equipped marinas in Turkey with the capacity of 629 yachts both a float and on shore, visited between 2500-3000 boats each year. The marina is on the latitude of 37 52′ 20”N and on the longitude of 27 15′ 46”E. Custom, repair service, security are some of the 24 hour services in the marina.

Apart from the great historical beauties around Kuşadası, the city is also preserves excellent examples of Ottoman and Turkish mosques, located in the centrium. “The Fortress Mosque”, built by the vizier Oküz Mehmet Paşa in the 17th century, is the most impressing and monumental mosque in Kuşadası. Constructed in the area of 1800 m2, the mosque has 550 person capacity. The main part of mosque is square-planned and covered by a large leaden dome- with the supports of 12 arches. Inner part of the dome is ornamented by geometrical designs and plant motives. The entrance door examplifies the best of wood- working of Ottoman, decorated with mother of pearl. Between the 16 stained-glass windows, are the oil paintings decorated with Ion styled columns.

“The Hanım Mosque” was constructed in 1658 in the name of Haji Hatice Hatun, but was destroyed in 1922. The mosque was rebuilt by the inhabitants of Kuşadası between the years of 1951-57. The foundation walls of the minaret belong to the original construction. The simply decorated mosque is surrounded by a leaden dome. “Haji Ibrahim Mosque” exemplifies a different 17 century style of Ottoman architecture. The wooden ceiling of rectangular planned mosque is covered by roof tiles. “The Turkmen Mosque” and “The Camiatik Mosque” are the other sights located inside the centre of Kuşadası, in different districts.

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These scripts and photographs are registered under © Copyright 2006, Transbalkan / Istanbul – Turkey. All Rights Reserved.

SAILING DESTINATION : KEMER

Kemer – Antalya – Turkey

This important tourism region is located in the southwest of Turkey, 42 km south of Antalya. This region has grown very fast in this field, especially within the last 15 years and has added new 5 star hotels and vacation villages into its structure. Besides the great holiday villages around the district, many big and small hotels are in a position to answer all kinds of accommodation requirements.

During the trip from Antalya to Kemer, which takes 40 minutes, pine trees will accompany you. At one side where is the Taurus Mountains, on the other side many impressive panoramas worthwhile to see, will fascinate you. Then you will arrive at the center of Kemer.. Kemer, at the feet of the western Taurus Mountain, extending down the 52 km long coast, seems to mix up with the blue of the Mediterranean and the green of the Taurus pine trees. Many bays and small natural harbors are present in its indented coast – line.

Kemer also offers many opportunties to those who intent to stay away from crowded places. You can participate to boat tours in the turquoise colored coasts of the Mediterranean sea or you can experience different excitements in the tracks of the Taurus mountains by joining one of the jeep safaris.

A modern marina with a capacity of 320 yachts makes Kemer also an important yachting tourism center. The marina and the 52 km long coastline has fulfilled the criteria set by the European Foundation for Environmental Education (FEEK) and obtained the right for the Blue Flag.

The sea and the pine tree covered high mountains will give you a comfortable peaceful feeling in the hot summer days of the Mediterranean climate. The average air temperatures in Kemer are 10°C in winter and 28°C in summer. With its 300 sunny days in the year, Kemer provides you a wide range of time to select your holiday period. How many places in the world do you know, where you can go for skiing and have fun on the beach on the same day?. . .

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These scripts and photographs are registered under © Copyright 2006, Kemer Holiday / Kemer – Antalya – Turkey. All Rights Reserved.

SAILING DESTINATION : GÖÇEK

Set at the north-west end of the Gulf of Fethiye, Göçek is blessed with magnificent scenery. Backed by majestic mountains and substantial pine forests it looks out over the Twelve Islands, which provide shelter for Göçek’s almost circular bay that has made the village such a perfect, natural harbor. Lured by such perfection, the yachting community has long made Göçek a favorite, and it is also a popular stop for gullet cruises.

Perhaps this explains Göçek’s impressive range of facilities for a place that remains so blissfully unspoiled: there are only a handful of small hotels and pensions, yet all along the wide, landscaped promenade that fringes the quayside, there are plenty of eateries, from simple cafes to excellent restaurants specializing in delicious fresh fish. In the back streets and around the old village square by the mosque, there is a surprising array of interesting craft shops.

From the harbor you can take boat trips around the Twelve Islands and a boat is also the natural choice of transport to reach Göçek’s beaches, the nearest of which lies just a little further around the bay. An enjoyable, 20-minute trip – which is provided daily free of charge for Simply Turkey guests – takes you to an immensely picturesque cove on Göçek Island, where you can feel like Robinson Crusoe for the day!

Göçek which recently became the meeting point of yachtsmen and lovers of the sea, has attained a justified fame with its natural position. The coves where colorful yachts ranging from the latest models to small vessels meet, can be visited in all seasons. In addition to being an ideal place from the standpoint of wind, sea and air temperature, it is only 22 km from the Dalaman Airport with international standards. Also the yacht marina built in recent years and improved rapidly has placed Göçek into a privileged state. Any plane that you board, for example, in Istanbul, Ankara and even some places abroad would relieve you from the problems of world and take to the blue-green paradise of Göçek.

Besides all of these, Göçek is, at the furthest north end of Fethiye bay, and is in a location very close to both the islands and to the coves each more beautiful than the other. You can meet all of your requirements here before starting out for a blue voyage and very easily come back within few days to replenish your supplies.

Göçek which was a small village until very recently has now became a municipality within a very short period of time with the yacht marina. Due to its location on the Fethiye highway, in Göçek where land transportation is also made, you can obtain all the provisions you need to world standards as well as being able to find all kinds of domestic and foreign newspapers, books, and other publications. It is possible to enter into the port of Göçek, regardless of day or night, without any danger at all.

Yachts as well as being moored at the wharf, which belongs to the municipality, can also moor either at the Skopea Marina or at the Club Marina which takes its place in Büngüs Cove with unbelievable beauty.

Sea and nature in Göçek where no contamination takes place at all are gleaming shining as if they had just been created. In addition, the collection of contaminants in coves, by the Göçek Culture and Tourism Association shall contribute to the keeping of this condition in the area for a long while. Also the construction policy implemented by the municipality prevents the spoiling of nature by not allowing new structures.

This region, since 1988 has been declared a special environmental protection area and as a result has become a third degree natural site. In the waters near the Forest Department administration section in the vicinity of Göçek a breakwater and a variety of old remains can be observed.

The old name of Göçek is Kalinche and in nearby coves, like in this one, many other old remains can be seen. These remains are a proof of these coves having been used in earlier times. If you decide to stay in Göçek, like the famous poet Homer of Izmir says when the sun sends its golden rays behind the mountains and at the moment the color of the waters transform into the color of wine, colorful nights of Göçek start. After living up the nights in Göçek until the time of complete satisfaction, let us depart here to meet in coves of Göçek which itself is the paradise on the earth which owns marvels of nature, each more beautiful than the other, like Atbükü, Boynuz Bükü, Bedri Rahmi, Sıralıbük, Sarsala, Manastır, Göbün Coves and Göçek, Yassıcalar, Tersane and Domuz Islands.