Istanbul

It takes time to see Istanbul properly, since examples of its 2,000-year-old past can be difficult to find amid the chaos of the present. Most visitors go straight to the Sultanahmet district, the oldest part of the city, where there are at least some remnants of Byzantine Constantinople, such as Haghia Sophia (Aya Sofya), among the splendours of Imperial Ottoman architecture, such as Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque. Sultanahmet is, however, a ‘tourist quarter' with the usual irritations of badgering touts and crowds of people and it is not the only historic part of the city.

The city centre, including the areas referred to as ‘the old city' and ‘the new city', which are separated by the estuary of the Golden Horn, is located on the European side of Istanbul, on the western side of the Bosphorus Strait.

Dear Students,

Today I would like to tell you about a great town in Turkey called Alacati. You can find this city on the Cesme peninsula in the south-western part of turkey, just opposite the Greek island of Chios and on the same latitude as Athens. Although Alacati is normally a sleepy little village, where only some people from Istanbul and Antalya live during the summer months, it also happens to be the perfect windsurfing spot on Turkey's Aegean shores. The combination of consistent winds and a very safe, 500m by 400m shallow section of completely flat water makes Alaçati an extremely appealing destination for windsurfing. This attracts beginners, intermediates, speedsters and freestylers alike.

However windsurfing is not the only thing Alacati has to offer. Alacati has some very beautiful beaches with white sand stretching as far as the eye can see. Similarly its historic city is a sight not to miss, boasting an excellent antiquities market at the heart of the town and several charming bars at every corner.

Insider hint:

You can get the best cocktails in town at a bar called “Iyi” but if you crave something sweet and you are on a budget then just ask for the waffle restaurant. You will find this restaurant in a backstreet next to the antiquities market.