Istanbul Bulletin

by Martin George
President, International Planetarium Society

Having been a passionate traveller for many years to over 50 countries, some people in my homeland of Australia were surprised to learn that I had never been to Turkey. But that is the way it was – until recently.

In my profession as an astronomer, I become involved in many activities. One of these is leading tours to see the most spectacular sight that the eye can behold: a total eclipse of the Sun. In such an event, visible every year or two, the Moon's shadow describes a narrow track across the Earth's surface, hiding the Sun's disc from each location along the path for at most
a few precious minutes and allowing a view of its prominences and its atmosphere (called the corona).

On March 29, 2006, the track passed over western and northern Africa before crossing Turkey. In my mind there was no question about the preferred location: southern Turkey, which offered a good chance of clear sky together with the attractions of this fascinating country.

Eclipse day dawned with a clear blue sky and my group of 12 people, together with our wonderful guide Saffet Tonguc, headed for Manavgat and turned inland after viewing the superb Managvat Waterfall. We could not have hoped for better conditions: a local Turkish family was most hospitable in allowing us to use their land to view the eclipse, and even brought us refreshments! The view of the eclipse, high in the Turkish sky, was stunning.

Apart from the eclipse, we all had a great taste of Turkish History during our memorable two-week stay. Many people don't realize that to see Greco-Roman ruins, the best place to come is Turkey! From the ruins of Perge to a stroll through the remains of Ephesus and Troy, every day was filled with amazement for everyone. For me, Ephesus was one of the highlights, but the same could be said for Gallipoli. Being from Australia, it meant a great deal for the people in my group to visit this famous site. It was a fascinating and, for some, an emotional experience.

Even in war, the Turkish soldiers who had to endure such terrible conditions in 1915 showed a great deal of respect for their enemies. Indeed, one of the most lasting impressions that we have of our visit to Turkey is the great hospitality and friendliness of the people of this wonderful county.

I'll be back – and hopefully, next time, for much longer.

After NASA announced that the eclipse would best be viewed in Turkey, tourists rushed to the country days before the event and had the opportunity to see Turkey's cultural wealth first hand. Live broadcasts of the eclipse via TV channels were also an advertisement for Turkey's tourist areas.

Tourist groups mostly visited Side, Antalya, Cappadocia, Konya, Ordu. Turkey warmly hosted nearly 300,000 tourists.

In Side, groups of astronomers from NASA and the San Francisco-based Exploratorium science museum set telescopes and special cameras in an ancient Roman theater, for live broadcasts of the eclipse.

Turkey will not witness another total eclipse until 30 April 2060, another 54 years.

Excellent news for those wanting to visit the Turkish capital, Ankara. This summer, British Airways franchise partner, BMED, will become the only airline offering non-stop flights between London and the capital city.

Commencing on 26th of March, the service will initially fly six times a week, which will rise to daily in July.

The launch of the service to Ankara will increase BMED's route network to 16 destinations in the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.

David Richardson, BMED's Chief Executive, said:

“The announcement of this new route, together with our ongoing fleet development, signals an exciting new phase of steady business expansion for BMED.

Aircraft orders placed with Airbus will see our fleet grow to 12 aircraft over the next four years. They will support our plans for the progressive extension of the route network into new markets.

The introduction of Ankara recognizes the growing importance of Turkey as the country moves towards membership of the European Union, with all the implications this has for trade, commerce and closer cultural ties with the UK and other EU states.

Air links with Turkey have traditionally centered on Istanbul and coastal resort areas but it is now clear that there is increasing demand for direct access to the capital city of Ankara. Research and development studies show there is viable market for the level of frequency and capacity BMED is planning to offer.”

Lithuanian Airlines flying under the trademark ‘flyLAL', the national carrier of the Republic of Lithuania has started flights to Istanbul from Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania. FlyLAL becomes the first and only airline offering direct flights to Turkey, at the moment.

The company expands its services to 4 more countries in Europe with Turkey at the top with two destinations. Greece, Croatia and Norway are other countries to be served at upcoming months. To passengers from Vilnius the “flyLAL” presents new direct flights to Istanbul, Antalya, Thessalonica, Rome, Dubrovnik and Simferopol.

From Palanga Airport the company will offer nine new directions, allowing to easily reach Hamburg, Frankfurt, Berlin, Hanover, Cologne and Munich in Germany, Moscow and Saint Petersburg in Russia, and Oslo in Norway.

“We are very happy being able to offer our travelers more scheduled flights and not only in current but also in new directions. Turkey is one of the countries receiving most of attention of the Lithuanian holidaymakers, and therefore we hope that the new flights will be especially popular and successful”, claims Executive manager of “Lietuvos Avialinijos” AB, Saulius Stasiunas.
Source: The New Anatolian

As of April, 2006, direct flights from Izmir to Greek islands will begin," said chairman of the Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce Panagiotis Koutsikos.

Koutsikos, secretary general of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Turkish-Greek Business Council and chairman of the Greek-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce visited the Bodrum Chamber of Commerce.

Aside from the beginning of direct flights from Izmir to Greek islands, Turkish-Greek relations would be boosted by the opening of a Turkish-Greek bank in June, 2006. "The bank already has a capital of 110 million Euro. A total of 26 branches will be inaugurated in Turkey and Greece (13 branches in each country). The first three branches in Turkey will be opened in Izmir . We wish to develop commercial ties with Turkey in all areas, including tourism. Greece buys many products from Turkey ," noted Koutsikos.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Bodrum Chamber of Commerce & Industry Mahmut Serdar Kocadon has indicated that the easiest and shortest way leading to a lasting peace is to develop commercial relations.

"Greek businessmen can help their Turkish counterparts in marketing Turkish products in the European Union while the Turkish business community can assist Greek businessmen in selling Greek products to Turkish republics of Central Asia ," stressed Kocadon.

Turkey's Mediterranean tourism resort Alanya is prepared to host 80,000 tourists from Israel during the upcoming tourism season.

Some 120 cruisers are expected to bring 80,000 Israeli tourists to the town during the upcoming months. Last year, 70,000 Israeli tourists had arrived at Alanya port.

Alanya Port Administration and Maritime Company officials said that the cruiser ships carrying the tourists are expected to anchor at Alanya port, starting in the first half of April.

The port officials said the tourist arrivals at the town's port were expected to surge this season.

Turkish State Railways (TCDD) will organize the first tour to of Friendship Express between April 15th and 22nd and the second one between April 29th and May 5th. (Friendship Express" traveling between Istanbul and Thessalonica)

Tourists will have the opportunity of visiting touristic and historical sites in Athens, Thessalonica and Kavalla during the tour. A boat tour will also be organized for participants to visit some Greek islands including Hydra and Paros.

The statement from TCDD noted that tour fee will be 900 Euros per person in double room, including Istanbul-Thessalonica-Istanbul train ticket, accommodations in five-star hotels, all breakfasts, four lunches, six dinners, entrance fee to historical sites, boat tour and transfers.

The Second Turkey-Europe Tourism Summit will begin on Monday, April 24th in Antalya's Kemer town where the top 100 hotels of the world will be announced, reported the Europe-Turkey Tourism Business Council.

Representatives from 300 giant tourism groups and travel agencies will gather in Kemer to attend the summit that will welcome about 1,000 Turkish hotel executives.

Chairman of the Europe-Turkey Tourism Business Council Huseyin Baraner said that the Swiss Holiday Check organization will conduct a voting that the top 100 hotels of the world will be announced in Kemer. "There are 40 hotels from Turkey in this list of 100 top hotels," stated Baraner.

The Eighth State Theaters Sabanci International Theater Festival, an event held annually in the Mediterranean province of Adana , will take place this year between March 27 and April 29.

Speaking at a press conference, Adana State Theater Director Dara Tan said they were pleased to be the hosts.

“This year's festival will feature a greater number of countries and a variety of theater performances,” the Anatolia news agency reported Tan as saying.

Noting that the festival will open this year with the Adana State Theater's play “Esegin Gölgesinde” (In the Shadow of a Donkey), written by veteran theater actor and playwright Haldun Taner and directed by Halil Akarsu, Tan said: “This year's event will feature 'Maskeler, Kumaslar ve Kader' (Masks, Cloth and Fate) from Egypt; 'Merhaba Yarin' (Hello Tomorrow) from Sweden; 'Mektup' (The Letter) and 'Ölüm Sanati' (The Art of Death) from Denmark; 'Kral Lear' (King Lear) and 'Aldar Köse' from Kyrgyzstan; the children's play 'Sehrazat' (Sheherezade) and 'Bir Daha Çal Sam' (Play it Again Sam) from Germany.”

He also said a total of 20 plays from one municipal, six private and four state theaters will be featured at the festival.