Coastal paradise on the azure Aegean, or great crossroads of the ancient world? Or both? Modern day Izmir on Turkey’s west coast is one of the most popular destinations for northern European vacationers and is also the birthplace of Homer, one of the greatest poets and storytellers of all time. The city was founded by the almost mythical Trojans thousands of years ago and was fought over by ancient Greeks, Alexander the Great, Romans, Arabs and eventually the Ottoman Turks who wrested control of the city from the victors of WWI, who at the time helped to carve up Turkey the way they carved up the Middle East.
Unfortunately for history buffs, approximately 70% of the city burned during the battle between Mustafa Kemal Attaturk (Father of the Turks) and the Greek Occupation Force following WW I. Even so, there are still ruins and castles and bazaars and crumbling white neighborhoods facing the sea that can satisfy any admirer of old civilizations.
Probably one the most significant sights in Turkey is the Kadifekale Fortress, originally built by Alexander the Great’s generals per his instructions. The fortress stands guard over the city from a height of 250 feet and is an ideal 
place to watch the sunset over the Aegean. Ruins from Izmir’s Roman and Greek past can be seen in dramatic fashion at the Agora, where recent finds include the remains of a temple of Zeus built almost 2000 years ago. At Bayrakli, the ruins of the original site of Smyrna (ancient Izmir) are still open to the public. This site was moved by Alexander to the hilltop above the city for defensive purposes.
Izmir is a great place to shop (as are most middle eastern cities): there are bazaars and kervansarays (marketplaces where caravans stopped, and merchants slept and did business) throughout the city, selling all manner of carpets, trinkets, jewelry and pottery. The most famous bazaar in Izmir is the Kemeralti, which sprawls around the old Kizlargasi Hani kervansara. And after exploring the markets for a full day, consider a dip in one of Turkey’s most famous thermal spas at Balcova, either immediatly before or after sunset.
Most people go to Izmir for the white sand beaches of the Aegean. The beaches around Izmir are full during the high seasons of summer and winter. There are kebabs and shisha, tanned Swedish women and slick Turkish men and some of the most beautiful and peaceful bays you will find anywhere. The beach areas leading up into the city turn into thumping club districts and elegant sipping lounges at night. If you are young and looking for some action, you can find it and if you would rather relax and have a few cocktails that works fine too.
Turkish food is excellent and Izmir cuisine is particularly delicious. Here you can have fresh fruit all year long, fresh fish (fried, grilled or steamed) served in various kebab styles and local specialties like Izmir cheese and Izmir kebabs (Tulum Peyniri and Kumru respectively). A two week sojourn through the 
bazaars, along the beaches and through the cafes eating and drinking non-stop — this is what a standard vacation to Izmir can be. One of the best areas to experience the easy living of Izmir is the Alsancak district, a favorite for visitors looking for baklava, tea, shisha and other tasty dishes.
Izmir is a great third stop in any tour of Turkey — after jaw-dropping Istanbul and the ruins of Cappadocia, Izmir and its beaches, cafes and lazy walks around the bazaars is a welcome — no, perfect — next destination.
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We arrived at sunset. The Temple of Apollo, now just a remnant of the original, ancient edifice, clung to a rocky outcrop just north of the port. We walked out along the quay to see the stone pillars, backlit against the 
pomegranate-red sunset. Others stood in small groups viewing the ruins. The only sound was of the waves cutting against the rocks.
This peaceful introduction to Naxos set the tone for our visit. Naxos, Greece has only recently discovered tourism and it still retains a sleepy atmosphere in keeping with its agricultural roots. The largest island in the Cyclades chain, Naxos has a hilly, green interior that is ringed by sandy beaches and small towns. We based ourselves in Chora Naxos and settled in for a wonderful week of leisurely exploration.
Lining the waterfront promenade of this busy town, are several open-air restaurants. And despite their touristy appeal, quite a few offer delicious, fresh seafood at a reasonable cost. Alleys lead back from the waterfront into the winding streets of the town’s Venetian quarter, the Kastro. In a full week of exploring this area, we could never quite map-out the intricate maze of narrow pedestrian streets. And it was this feature that contributed to the charm of stumbling upon hidden shops and plazas. We often found breakfast by discovering a bakery as it opened, and paying a mere euro for a delicious, hot spankopita off the tray.
One morning, we wandered into an inviting café that was tucked away somewhere up a hill. Its dark wood interior framed charming windows that opened to a cobblestone alley below. It was a neighborhood place, lovingly tended by the owners who invited us back that night for ouzo, appetizers, and traditional Greek music. This type of small-town friendliness is common on Naxos, many of whose residents are still farmers or fishermen.
The towns people take great pride in the Naxos Castle and the adjacent Tower of Glezos. The castle, surounded by a pentagonal wall, long served as a fortification, and most recently was transformed into the Venetian Museum. Entrance to the museum, which sponsors classical music concerts in the summer months, is just inside the gates of the castle.
Chora’s main square is a bustling mix of tourist restaurants and bars. It’s the best place on the island to catch a soccer game, and is a lively mixture of visitors and locals. Chora Naxos also boasts some of the best Mexican food in Greece at the Picasso Mexican Bistro, an expat-owned restaurant that will satisfy any homesickness with a heaping plate of beans, sizzling peppers, and homemade tortillas.
To the south, the town gives way to Agios Georgios, a crowded but pretty stretch of beach, popular for swimming. We, however, preferred the narrow beaches of Plaka and Agia Anna, a few minutes further down the road, that were full of bars, snack shops, live music, and more youthful crowds.
Having heard about Naxos’ lovely interior, we planed to rent motorcycles and explore. Unfortunately, we were provided with a less glamorous option: a 4-Wheeler. These squat, hardy machines top out at around 40 mph. We rented a bright purple creature and took off into the mountains. Despite the indignity of sleek Ducatis passing our silly little 4-Wheeler, we learned that independent transport is really the best way to see Naxos. We wound through gray olive groves, quaint farms, and tiny villages comprised of a few white, sun-baked homes. We refueled in the mountain village of Filoti, a cluster of buildings perched above a wide agricultural valley, and were delighted by the sight of Mt. Zeus, the island’s highest point, which cast its shadow over the valley.
In the town of Halki, the Vallindras Distillery makes citron, a liquor distilled from the local fruit of the same name. We toured the distillery, which has been in operation since the late 19th century and still uses its original methods and equipment. At the end of our complimentary tour, the guide poured a taste of the sweet, citrusy, emerald-green liquor. The traditional processes used to make citron, its homegrown ingredients, and the distillery’s new focus on tourism, perfectly embodied the changing character of this quiet island.
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Roast chestnuts, festive music, mulled wine and shopping ideas galore – these are just some of the ingredients that make up the traditional Bath Christmas Market.
The annual Bath Christmas Market takes place in late November - early December and runs for 11 days (in 2009, it runs from 26th November to 6th December.) Traditional wooden stalls are erected in the city center, near the famous Bath Abbey and Roman Baths. Stallholders sell handmade and unusual gifts, Christmas decorations, cards, and food and drink that mark the holiday season. There are over 100 stalls, built in a style reminiscent of European chalets, each with an abundance of Christmas lights strung around them, creating a celebratory atmosphere on a typical, dull, dark December day or as daylight fades and dusk arrives.
The Christmas market has become a popular Bath attraction, with many people from a wide surrounding area making day trips or taking weekend breaks to the city to take full advantage of the market. It does get extremely busy, especially on weekends, so if you want to browse the stalls properly, then it’s best to go early or late in the day and avoid the peak times at weekends.
Street entertainment is a big part of the overall experience, so you can expect to enjoy watching and listening to a variety of novel amusments and diversions as you wander the market grounds. Carol singing is, of course, a favourite form of entertainment at this time of year, but there are also children’s entertainers and a good selection of musicians to keep the crowds happy. Children – or children at heart – can also enjoy a ride on the Victorian Galloper Carousel, which offers rides throughout the day.
Three stage areas have been introduced this year to provide a real break from the shopping crowds and give you time to focus on the entertainment in style. Plus, you may get lucky and catch the sounds of a full choir singing in the Bath Abbey.
Holiday food and drink is available throughout the market area, so you will certainly want to enjoy a warming glass of mulled wine, tuck into mince pies or nibble on traditional roasted chestnuts. Other European favourites are available as well, from freshly made pancakes and crepes, to German Bratwurst.
The market is ideally located for exploring the rest of Bath’s shops, where you can get more of your Christmas shopping done. And there are plenty of restaurants and cafes in which to stop for a refreshing cup of tea or coffee, or have a bite to eat at lunchtime. If you are visiting on a weekend, 
then the streets are likely to be heaving with visitors – the market attracts coach loads of extra visitors – so if you are planning on treating yourself to lunch out, then it’s advisable to book a table in advance. If you don’t, you could find yourself queuing for ages, or waiting in vain for a free table.
On most days, the market opens at 10am (11am on Sundays) and stays open until 6pm, 7pm or even 9pm. It provides a wonderful festive atmosphere, especially at night, and is a lovely way for all ages to enjoy the festive season and find some great gift ideas.
Photos courtesy of visitbath.co.uk
Copyright: Bath Tourism Plus / Colin Hawkins
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Sabina Lohr visited Salalah, Oman, just after monsoon season. While there, she got a unique taste of the region.
In Salalah, Oman, the annual khareef, or monsoon season, brings cool relief from the oppressive summertime temperatures felt throughout the rest of the country. Each year, many Middle Easterners travel to this town of 180,000 in the Dhofar region of Oman, on the Arabian Sea northeast of Yemen, from late June through September, when its desert skies fill with a drizzle that turns its brown landscape a temporary green. But after the khareef, during the autumn and winter, when the skies dry out and temperatures hover in the low- to mid-eighties, this little part of the earth becomes an ideal escape for Westerners craving a wintertime respite.
For my first visit to Salalah I wait until just after the end of the monsoon season, arriving in late September to find rolling hills blooming with grass, flowers, and foliage. The desert, starkly beautiful itself, is still visible through the greenery. My guide, Ali Amer Al-Mashani, leads me to a roadside stand where strips of camel meat hang to dry before being wrapped in foil and cooked over coals (above). I eat some, tangy and delicious. We make our way to another stand where we buy coconuts, drink the fresh milk inside and peel and eat the soft, wet and sweet coconut meat.
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By Ethan Gelber
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On 3 November, WHL Group, the parent company of whl.travel, was identified as one of five nominees shortlisted to win the EcoTrophea 2009, the German Travel Association (or DRV) International Environmental Award.
The EcoTrophea prize has been awarded annually since 1987 by the DRV for “innovative, high-impact and exemplary environmental protection projects in tourism”.
The [...]
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Contributors: Dawn Erickson, Sylvia Vriesendorp and Maria Witz
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This article was first published by our friends at The International Ecotourism Society, who have agreed to its republication here.
View the original article on their Your Travel Choice blog.
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What Is It Like to Visit Afghanistan?
Afghanistan, before becoming known mostly for guns and bombs, was a popular tourist destination, [...]
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Travel review website TripAdvisor has announced that it is buying Kuxun.cn, a Chinese flight and hotel search engine, as it taps into a burgeoning tourism market buoyed by China’s resilient economy.
TripAdvisor chief executive told media that the company plans to invest more than USD50 million in China by the end of 2011. The budget includes [...]
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Two famous Chinese tourist cities, Guilin in Guangxi and Leshan in Sichuan, have inked a tourism cooperation agreement that aims to offer more convenience to tourism enterprises and tourists.
The two cities will assign certain travel agencies to organize companies, students, senior citizens, and others to visit each other via incentive travel, health tours, and leisure [...]
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Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration has signed a strategic partnership agreement in Taipei with Taiwan’s EVA Air to promote the 2010 World Expo and tourism in the Yangtze River Delta.
EVA Air will layout a concept cabin in a 747-400 aircraft with the visual design of the service accessories coming from images of the Taiwan Pavilion and [...]
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Surely by now, you’ve heard about, if not read some of (it is not just for teens and tweens) the Twilight series books by Stephanie Meyer. The second film installment of her Vampire saga – New Moon – is due to hit theaters November 20th and Tuscany plays a starring role…
You see, in the story, the royal family of vampires, the Volturi, hail from the Tuscan town of Volterra and the main characters find themselves there in a dramatic turn in the story. For the In honor of the movie, the tourism office of Volterra has put together a unique three-day tour package.
Whether you’re into the vampire series or not, find out why Volterra is worth visiting and learn more details about the tour!
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