| By Roy Witman | | | | Kamo's Beach Club gives sun worshipers a |
| | | | place to tan and also a great proximity to |
| When you talk about sightseeing, most people | | | | the downtown district. The resort offers a |
| naturally assume you'll remain above ground. | | | | swimming pool as well as beach access. |
| But in Istanbul, Turkey, the underground | | | | |
| cities are some of the best-loved sights of | | | | Buzada gives a unique beach experience. This |
| all! Room after room, city after city is | | | | island has a beach club that caters to guests |
| still being uncovered by archeologists | | | | with beach access and a swimming pool. Boats |
| … as many as 150 currently: most still | | | | shuttle guests to and from the mainland |
| unexcavated. With expansive structures that | | | | throughout the day. |
| reach far down into the earth, these sights | | | | |
| are truly fascinating. | | | | Turkish Baths |
| | | | |
| Underground Cities | | | | No one should leave Istanbul without first |
| | | | experiencing a Turkish bath. This |
| It all started millions of years ago with | | | | long-standing tradition involves a process, |
| massive volcanic activity. Three distinct | | | | which is much more involved than what |
| layers were formed in the earth: ash, dust | | | | Westerners consider typical bathing. |
| compressed into stone, and a thin layer of | | | | According to Wikipeida.com, "A person taking |
| lava. Centuries of movement in the earth | | | | a Turkish bath first relaxes in a room (known |
| produced rock formations now referred to as | | | | as the warm room) that is heated by a |
| "fairy chimneys" - towering structures that | | | | continuous flow of hot, dry air allowing the |
| serve as pre-made buildings. Goreme National | | | | bather to perspire freely. Bathers may then |
| Park in Cappadocia, Turkey is home to the | | | | move to an even hotter room (known as the hot |
| largest array of fairy chimneys: in excess of | | | | room) before splashing themselves with cold |
| 26,000 acres of them! | | | | water. After performing a full body wash and |
| | | | receiving a massage, bathers finally retire |
| What were these rock buildings used for? | | | | to the cooling-room for a period of |
| Practically everything! Citizens built homes | | | | relaxation." By American standards, this |
| in the rocks, underground chambers to store | | | | would equate to an afternoon at the day spa! |
| grain, shelters from storms and invaders, and | | | | |
| safe houses for their livestock and | | | | The Grand Bazaar Market |
| possessions. You'll even find elaborate | | | | |
| palaces and large dwellings with enormous | | | | Traveling to exotic places always require the |
| staircases and multiple levels. Early | | | | purchase of souvenirs. Everyone loves to |
| Christians used fairy chimneys as a hidden | | | | return home with items that remind them of |
| retreat to practice their religion during the | | | | the sights they've seen and fun they've had |
| early years of persecution. | | | | while on vacation or holiday. In Instanbul, |
| | | | the Grand Bazaar Market makes finding such |
| But underground cities isn't all Istanbul has | | | | items an adventure all to itself. |
| to offer. You can also enjoy numerous beaches | | | | |
| scattered all about the region. | | | | Under the ancient arches of the Beyazit Gate, |
| | | | over 4,000 shops can be found in this |
| Beaches In Istanbul | | | | open-air marketplace that winds on for about |
| | | | one mile. What can you buy? Practically |
| Solar Beach is probably the most popular | | | | everything! Gold, silk, brass, copper, |
| because of all its many offerings. In | | | | leather, rugs, baskets, carved wooden items, |
| addition to lounging on the beach, you can | | | | Turkish crafts, clothing, shoes, fruits, |
| also rent jet boats, play beach soccer or | | | | spices and prepared foods from sidewalk |
| volleyball, rent jet skis, kite boards, go | | | | vendors. Be prepared to spend some time here |
| carts, banana boats, windsurfing equipment | | | | and to pay with cash in the local currency: |
| and more. It offers plenty of fun for the | | | | the lira. |
| whole family. Solar beach is also a common | | | | |
| place for music lovers. It hosts plenty of | | | | A trip to Istanbul, Turkey is an exotic |
| concerts each year featuring well-known | | | | journey that shows you a vastly different way |
| artists. Previously performing musicians | | | | of life than most Westerners have seen. With |
| have included Gloria Gaynor, Norah Jones, | | | | intriguing sights and activities the entire |
| Shakira, Avril Lavigne, Smashing Pumpkins and | | | | family will enjoy, it's worth the effort to |
| more. | | | | find a cruise itinerary that offers a stop in |
| | | | Istanbul. |