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