Afyonkarahisar, Eskişehir and Kütahya governors, lieutenant governors, Culture and Tourism Director of the Provincial General Assembly with the participation of presidents and other officials on Phrygian Valley second meeting took place in meeting rooms Afyonkarahisar Governorship.

In order for the Phrygian Valley which majority within the borders of Afyonkarahisar and one of the most important settlements in Anatolia to take place in the tourism area, three cities (Afyonkarahisar, Eskişehir and Kütahya) governors discussion of this topic is significant.

At the meeting which was started by Afyonkarahisar Governor Haluk İmga, what can be done for the Phrygian Valley was discussed. Governor İmga said that, “Scythians and Cimmeriansraids resulted in lost of political supremacy for Phrygia in Anatolia at 7th centuries BC, and Phrygia has seledted mountainous region that includes a plateau as a new residential areas.  As a cultural extension, extending to the Mediterranean and Aegean seas are.  Therefore, the region known as Nagorno Phrygia, and because of the hot water resources this area is named as Phrygia Salutaris and with the name and culture Phrygia has continued to live until  toady”

Phrygia

In antiquity, Phrygia (Greek: Φρυγία) was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. The Phrygians (Phruges or Phryges) initially lived in the Southern Balkans; according to Herodotus, under the name of Bryges(/Briges), changing it to Phruges after their final migration to Anatolia, via the Hellespont.

During the floruit of the city-state of Troy, a part of the Bryges emigrated to Anatolia as Trojan allies or under the protection of Troy.[citation needed] The Trojan language did not survive; consequently, its exact relationship to the Phrygian language and the affinity of Phrygian society to that of Troy remain open questions. Similarly, the date of migration and the relationship of the Phrygians to the Hittite empire are unknown. They are, however, often considered part of a “Thraco-Phrygian” group. A conventional date of c. 1200 BC often is used, at the very end of the empire. It is certain that Phrygia was constituted on Hittite land, and yet not at the very center of Hittite power in the big bend of the Halys River, where Ankara now is.

Subsequently the state of Phrygia arose in the 8th century BC with its capital at Gordium. During this period, the Phrygians extended eastward and encroached upon the kingdom of Urartu, the descendants of the Hurrians, a former rival of the Hittites.

Meanwhile the Phrygian kingdom was overwhelmed by Iranian Cimmerian invaders c. 690 BC, then briefly conquered by its neighbor Lydia, before it passed successively into the Persian Empire of Cyrus and the empire of Alexander and his successors, was taken by the Attalids of Pergamon, and eventually became part of the Roman Empire. The Phrygian language survived until about the 6th century AD, when it finally gave way to Greek.

The area called ‘Phyrgian Valley’ among the cities of Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya and Eskişehir is an area that even native poeple living in the city are uninformed about its location and geographical characteristics  despite its historical, cultural and natural importance for tourism.

By Graham Boynton

The finalists for the 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards have been announced. The awards, for best practices in sustainable tourism in four different categories, are in their 20th year and have been under the stewardship of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) since 2003.

This year a record number of entries was received from more than 40 countries and the 12 finalists were selected by a team of independent judges. The winners will be announced at the WTTC Congress in Florianopolis in Brazil on May 15.

The finalists are:

Destination Stewardship Award: Grupo PUNTACANA, Dominica Republic (www.puntacana.com); Heritage Watch, Cambodia (www.heritagewatch.org); South West Tourism, UK (www.swtourism.org.uk).

Conservation Award: Ionian Eco Villagers, Greece (www.relaxingholidays.com); Lane Cove River Tourist Park, Australia (www.lcrtp.com.au); NatureAir, Costa Rica (www.natureair.com).

Community Benefit Award: Community Action Treks, Nepal (www.catreks.com); Ol Donyo Wuas, Kenya (www.oldonyowuas.com); Zakoura Foundation for Micro Credits, Morocco (www.zakourafondation.org)

Global Tourism Business Award: GAP Adventures, Canada&Global (www.gapadventures.com); Marriott International Inc, USA&Global (www.marriott.com); Metropolitan Touring, Ecuador (www.metropolitan-touring.com)

The original article can be found on;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hubs/greentravel/4536206/Tourism-for-Tomorrow-Awards-finalists-announced.html

They found the chamber in the desert on the western side of the Step Pyramid of Saqqara, one of the earliest large stone structures in the world, dating from about 2,650 BC.

The mummies appear to vary in age. One dates from about 640 BC while the unopened sarcophagus, which is made of limestone and sealed with plaster, is probably much older.

“We think it is Old Kingdom, maybe Fifth Dynasty,” archaeologist Abdel Hakim Karar told Reuters. The Fifth Dynasty ruled Egypt from about 2,494 BC to 2,345 BC.

It is unusual to find intact burials in well-known necropolises such as Saqqara, which served the nearby city of Memphis, because thieves scoured the area in ancient times.

The archaeologists expect to open it later this week and they may find amulets among the mummy wrappings.

The statement said another sarcophagus, made of wood, had not been opened since pharaohnic times but Karar said ancient grave robbers probably reached it first.

Inside it , the archaeologists found the complete mummy of a man called Badi Enhery, according to the inscriptions on the sarcophagus, Karar said.

Most of the mummies were in niches in the walls of the chamber, which is about 11 meters (34 feet) below ground level.

(Writing by Jonathan Wright; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Turkey is a unique country that lies along two continents. One side of Turkey is part of Europe, while the rest is geographically situated in West Asia, (also called the Middle East). Many languages are spoken in Turkey, such as: Greek, Armenian, Kurdish, Arabic and their official language, Turkish. A holiday in Turkey is the best way to see some beautiful sites and learn a great deal of history about Western Europe.

Travelers that come from Western Europe are not required to have a visa, except those coming from the UK. It is still possible to travel to Turkey by means of a train from Europe, albeit it is not very practical. This is done by those who are driven by the romantic notion of traveling by train, made famous by the movie, The Orient Express.

Arriving by plane is the fastest way to get to Turkey, and the most practical. Taxi services are widely available outside of the airports to welcome tourists.

It is a delight to travel around Turkey by bus. The buses offer accommodation equipped with air-conditioning and a great crew that attends to the needs of the passengers. They also offer food and drink, in addition to rest stops at restaurants every couple of hours or so.

Visitors who plan to drive while visiting this country should be very careful while on the road. Road accident rates are high in Turkey, especially since their roads are often left in poor condition.

Things to do in Turkey:

• Turkey offers a great cuisine derived from Arabic and Mediterranean style. These dishes often contain meat such as lamb, which is a staple meat in turkey. A lot of spices are also used in their dishes. Turkish coffee is a very popular drink that must be sampled while visiting.
• Travelers who are planning to go to Turkey during winter can take advantage of the numerous ski centers that are available. Rafting and yachting are also popular activities there, perfect during the summer and fall season.
• Tourists who want to absorb the culture and get better acquainted with Turkey’s history can visit some of their famous landmarks such as: Topkapi Palace, Ayasofya Museum, Mt Nemrut tours and the ancient City of Troy.
• Turkey is also famous for their diverse wildlife. It is one of only a few countries in the world that has preserved their ecological equilibrium. Many rare species here are protected by the government.
• The natural landscape of this country is a treasure. Visitors can go on hiking trips to partake in this wonderful outdoors experience.

There are so many wonderful things to see and do here. I hope this travel guide to Turkey has opened up this destination as a travel possibility. Many people take their holiday in Turkey to provide much needed rest and relaxation. So, if you are looking for something completely different and exotic, look no further than the only country in the world that lies on two continents.

The original article can be found on:
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-travel-guide-to-turkey-36002.html

As of 23 April 2009, easyJet will start London Gatwick to Bodrum to 3 times in a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

One-way flight between London and Bodrum are currently available from just £36.99 including taxes and charges.

Moreover, easyJet announced Manchester to Dalaman flights that will start on 6 August 2009, 3 times in a week. One-way flight ticket is also same as London-Bodrum starting from £36.99 including taxes and charges.

For more information visit http://www.easyjet.com