Get to see the great continents of Asia and Europe in one fabulous journey through Turkey. The only country straddling the two continents, this superbly exciting nation offers delightful and peculiar attractions that would surely pique everyone’s interest. Istanbul, for instance, is not only the country’s largest city but is one that also sits on European and Asian soils. Thus, Istanbul is a city with transcontinental attractions seen nowhere else. In the European side, one can see the Hippodrome, the center of the old Roman and Byzantine Constantinople; the Hagia Sophia, an ancient basilica turned into a mosque, then a museum, with a large dome that was once biggest in the world; and the Blue Mosque with its minarets. Visit Ortaköy, an arty coastal neighborhood filled with nice cafes and a perfect view of the Bosphorus, and the Miniaturk, a miniature park where scaled down models of them ajor Turkish attractions were recreated, giving you all of Turkey in one place.

After taking all the sights in Istanbul, head off to Ankara where the life is a little less frenetic than Istanbul. Although also founded in ancient times, and centrally-located such that it is at the center of all railway and highway networks in the country, the capital nonetheless offers a more relaxed ambience, perhaps due to the well-planned urban development that the city underwent after it was chosen as the country’s capital. From Ankara, one is just a bus away from the Cappadocia region, a popular destination famous for its moon-like landscapes. The cities of Göreme, Uçhisar and Nevsehir in Cappadocia sit on soft rocks erupted from volcanoes millions of years ago, and weathering and erosion caused exceptional natural formations that attracts tourists in droves. Cappadocia has underground cities, temples and cave houses carved on the soft rocks, which were believed to be sanctuaries of early Christian converts fleeing from persecution. Going through these extraordinary natural and man-made wonders makes one feel like being in a fairytale, particularly if one opts to stay in one of the pricey cave-houses-turned-into-hotel facilities.

The perfect way to end your fairytale holiday in Turkey is to visit the Turquoise Coast. Turkey’s Mediterranean coast boasts of some of the finest beaches in Europe as well as quaint little cities and towns offering unique attractions. The rapidly developing city of Antalya is the gateway to the Turkish Riviera, as the coast is also known. Situated in a cliff overlooking the sea, the city is quite beautiful and inviting, with winding Ottoman style streets, particularly in the old quarter of Kaleiçi. Aside from Antalya, the seaside cities of Kemer, Ölüdeniz and Fethiye have postcard-pretty beaches that promise endless fun in sun and surf. For those raring for some adventure, the small town of Olimpos near Kemer has Lycian ruins, accommodations on tree houses, isolated beach and mysterious flames that erupt from the hillside. The town is a popular beehive of backpackers as it has a very lively social scene despite the spartan offerings. Many come here just to drink away the time at the backpackers establishments, just the perfect way to end your fairytale journey.

Marice Willard is a travel writer who writes for Zencarhire.com – Zen car hire offer cheap car hire in 17,000 locations worldwide.  To book your car hire Cyprus  visit www.zencarhire.com

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Living inland, often gives us an eagerness to get to the nearest shore to get a taste of diving to satisfy our desire to see what wonders it can bring. Diving is a really exciting activity especially when done in the right place but finding the right place is not as easy as going to going to the nearest shore and entering the water. If you desire going to the best diving spots, then you would have to think on a worldwide level. This is when places like diving Mexico can be the adventure worth going on.

Scuba diving in Mexico is widely popular for its beautiful sea life and clear coral reef presence. Don’t worry about being lost there in Mexico because if you have never been there or travelled in your life, plenty of scuba diving resources are available in all areas of the Mexican coast with good resort towns to stay in. They usually come in great packages and many times combined with the travel accommodations.

Places to look forward to when diving in Mexico

If you’re looking for a massive scene, set your eyes on the Great Maya Reef since it is the second biggest reef system in the world. It has water currents flowing along it so that the marine life around the reef develops.

The Great Maya Reef is not only great for scuba diving but for snorkeling and swimming as well. With crystal clear waters it offers you the best view in observing the fine coral the fine coral even when you are diving deep.

Divers interested in a tourism experience to add to the diving should head to Riviera Maya which is just parallel to the Carribean coastline of Quintana Roo, Mexico. There you can find the best place to check into all-inclusive resorts for your enjoyment. Majestic sites such as the historical Mayan ruins of Tulum and the ancient Chichen Itza are places that can be visited in that area. Divers in the Riviera Maya area will find interest scuba diving in the Belize Barrier reef – the second biggest coral reef system in the world.

Those seeking an island experience should visit Cozumel. The Cozumel dive spots promise well preserved coral reefs which will definitely make you dive into the deeper depths for exploration. The town of San Miguel de Cozumel located in the northern part of the island is the largest town in the area and the place where all tourists around the world go shopping for gear and stay in the many Cozumel dive resorts. Divers in the Cozumel island will enjoy the coral swim-through’s in the Palancar Reef located in the southwestern side.

A bigger place to explore

In addition to the major diving areas mentioned here, there are over 70 other dive Mexico sites with tons of reef formations and walls of giant coral. More than 500 species roam around the reef as well and are well protected by marine reserves. This is why Mexico is ranked in the top 10 destinations for tourists and should be a stop for any diver.

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