Linking Europe and the Middle East, suspended between the new and the long established, Turkey retains a disconcerted balance of both east and west, representing a cultural mix. Different regions of Turkey offer an assortment of landscapes, activities and characters, and whether one is a history or archaeology enthusiast, a sun-worshipper, sailor, or city-lover keen on shopping, there is something to offer for everyone. Most visitors concentrate on Western Turkey, with its picturesque seaside resorts, scenic and recreational attractions, well-preserved archaeological sites and fascinating museums that bring its rich history to life. Wherever one ventures in Turkey there is certain to be a warm welcome and traditional hospitality, making this a deeply satisfying corner of the world in which to travel.
In Turkey there are very hot and dry summers, and wet, mild winters when the coastal towns more or less shut down between October and April. Winter can be very cold with a dusting of snow. The peak tourist season is during high summer, roughly between July and September. From June the mosquitoes can be a problem. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit, as the climate is still hot, but not unbearable. Eastern Turkey should be visited during summer as roads and mountain passes may close due to winter ice and snow.
If you are going to have Turkey vacation, you could apply to some Turkey travel agency, which would offer a typical museum tour to Turkey. But there is a person who could give you more then a simple story about such an inimitable country. Her name is Holly Chase.
Holly Chase embarked on her first Turkish sojourn alone at age 18, and her subsequent "adoption" in Konya by an educated, upper middle-class family exposed her early on to the warmth of Turkish hospitality. In the two decades since that first wondrous visit, she has learned the language, explored Turkey's diverse landscapes, became rug merchant, ethnographer, tour guide and gastronomic researcher, and made friends at every level of its complex society. In 1993 she became an author of "Turkish Tapestry, A Traveler's Portrait of Turkey". This book is worth reading! If you have been to Turkey, "Turkish Tapestry" will firm your resolve to return; if you have not, it will persuade you to place it on the top of your travel list.
Holly Chase likes to think of herself as a facilitator of travel in Turkey. Whether you are planning an international convention, a family vacation, or a weekend escape for two - Holly Chase can help you from the beginning or merely apply the final polish to your program. Her compensation is based on the fees she charges for her services, not on commissions. This keeps her impartial and makes her a better consumer of services on behalf of her clients. Especially with small yacht charters, this saves clients significant sums: she finds you boats, many of which are never marketed through any Turkey travel agency. In many cases, she pays the Turkish boat owners directly.
You can buy as much or as little of her time as you like. Perhaps you have found a cheap package tour and want to know how to mold it to your own style and particular interests. Holly Chase will vet it for you and help you get the most for your money.
She can steer you through bazaars and ruins, introduce you to Ottoman mosque architecture, show you autumn crocuses in bloom, teach you how to stuff grape-leaves, unravel the mysteries of tribal rugs, and translate your desires from English into Turkish. Just as importantly, she can also leave you alone, merely staying in the background to make sure you're armed with the knowledge of how deal with provincial plumbing and the daunting zeros of the inflated Turkish currency.
People call Holly Chase a guide, tour manager, translator, lecturer, art historian, and gastronomic fanatic. She confesses to all. Sharing her knowledge and appreciation of the Mediterranean and the Middle East gives her an immense pleasure.