Kemer, Istanbul and Athens Cruises

The Turkish coast along the Aegean Sea just might be the single best place for cruises. The water is crystal clear, the beaches pristine, and there is more history here than just about anywhere else. For those of you interested in planning a cruise, here's a listing of several itineraries that include Kekova, Fethiye and Istanbul...

Fethiye is one of the more general starting points for Turkish sails, due in great section to its unparalleled beauty along the Meditarrean sea. While there, make sure to check out the Lycan rock tombs that are literally carved into the cliffs themselves; some date back as far as the fourth century B.C.

Another highlight of Fethiye is Belcegiz Bay, which is home to the world famous Blue Lagoon. Cruises that land in Fethiye often only stay for the day, which severely limits your time there. However, many cruise operators begin a tour from Fethiye, which offers you the chance to spend the night in the harbor before heading east. This is the route I recommend.

Istanbul itself is a worldly city in its own right. As Napoleon once observed, if the world was one nation, Istanbul would be its capital. Rightly so; it is the third most populous city in the world (behind Mumbai and Karachi, respectively) and is the only city in the world located on two continents. Originally known as Byzantine as far back as the seventh century B.C., Istanbul's current name is Greek for "the city" or "downtown."

Kekova is a highlight for sails along the Mediterranean Sea. Like Pompeii in Italy, this small island was one time the height of civilisation, until an earthquake levelled it in the second century A.D. It was rebuilt and remained bright for numerous years before Arab invasions eventually led to its permanent abandonment. On numerous cruises you can visit the sunken city, and then spend a lovely afternoon in the harbor, overlooking Gokkaya.

Athens is usually the western most point for cruises from Istanbul, and provides a special ending to a cruise. Athens, like Istanbul, is a advanced city with a rich story. As you study your direction up towards the Acropolis and the Parthenon, it looks as if you've gone back in time. You are drawn back thousands of years, back to the ancient Greeks, the civilization reliable for prompting Western philosophy, geometry and logic (not too shabby for a civilization, huh?). As you descend, you'll get upon the innovative city, replete with dining, shopping, bazaars and the legendary Plaka District.

From Kekova, sails continue to Olympos, an ancient ode to history. Olympos started its raise to fame round the time Kekova was destroyed by an earthquake (roughly second century B.C.). The town itself picked up its list from Mt. Olympos, which rises high above nearby. The locals worshipped the god of fire, who they considered was reliable for the ever present flamings emerging from Mt. Oympos (the real culprit is a continuing provide of methane gas).

Whatever cruise you decide upon, try to include at least a mixture of civilization with beachcombing.

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

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Daniel is an intrepid world traveler and sells many different materials for boating on his site, including high quality Chef Knife Sets, and Ceramic Knife Set.

by: Daniel Akinson

Total views: 4 Word Count: 529 Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 Time: 11:26 AM - 0 comments

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