| There
are events that turn traveling into a more meaningful and fun experience.
On this page, you will find a list of interesting annual activities
& unique events that will take place in the not-so-distant future...
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| Formula
1 - Istanbul 2006
--- Formula
1 Turkish Grand Prix is scheduled for Aug.27, Sunday. Well,
it is time to trace the glory of chariots turned into high-tech,
state of the art machines in Istanbul circuit... |
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WRC
- the Rally of Turkey
--- The 13. race of 2006 WRC is to be run in the Mediterranean
county of Kemer between Oct.13, Fri. & Oct.15, Sun... |
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International
Istanbul Festival
--- In the past, festival hosted world renowned artists &
groups from La Scala (Muti), to New York Philharmonic - Kurt
Masur & Zubin Mehta... |
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Int.
Izmir & Aspendos Festivals
--- Activities are organized in Ephesus - the ancient theater
and Celcus library - or the 2000 years old Aspendos theater... |
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re-building
a Bronze Age vessel
--- Roughly 3.500 years ago, a trade ship, that was carrying
the wealth of the advanced civilizations of the era, sunk
along the Mediterranean coastline of Turkey with the secrets
of the Bronze Age... |
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Marmaris
Maritime Festival
--- Features
various sports activities, laser and optimist class center
boat races as the first lap of the Yacht Regatta... |
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| Anniversary
of Rumi -
December 10-17 |
| Mevlana
Celaleddin Rumi was one of the most important Islam mystics
of the world in middle ages. He lived and died in the 13th.
century. As part of his teachings, he introduced meditation,
and his followers meditate the same way, by whirling. They
are known as the "Whirling Dervhishes", and the
ceremony as "sema", through which the dervish becomes
part of the universal harmony.
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| Every
year in December, a week long festival is held in the city
of Konya on the anniversary of the death of Rumi, and whirling
ceremony is held in public. |
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| Traditional
Oil Wrestling -
June 20-26, 2005 |
| Wrestling
is the national sport of the country. Applying oil overall
makes the contest last longer and more strenous, therefore
a better excercise. Oil makes the weight difference between
wrestlers unimportant, therefore wrestler of different weight
groups can compete. |
| The
uniform is a tight fitting black leather trouser, known as
"kispet". The trouser should be plain and smooth
in order not to give the opponent the chance to grab it.
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| Every
year in summer, a traditional wrestling festival is held in
Edirne Kirkpinar, to choose the champion of the year. The
games start as all wrestlers show up in the large grass field
in a - must see - action. |
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| Cirit
- Horseback Lancing -
Congress Cup / July 23 |
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To
the surprise of many, this equesterian game is the ancestorial
traditional sport of Turks. Played by the daredevil horsemen
and extremely well trained horses, Turks brought this sport
along with them from Central Asia into Asia Minor. Once, horses
were a most important companion to the Turks. As in the tradition,
they were born on a horse, lived on a horse, and died on a
horse. |
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In
the 17th century, horseback lancing became popular in France
and other European countries. Different forms of the game
showed up around the globe. Lately, Turkey exported trained
horses worth of 700 million dollars to the USA.
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Drums
and horns announce the start of the festive game. Eastern
province of Erzurum is where this sport still lives with all
its glory. There is a local league, and the annual Congress
cup takes place in July 23rd. |
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| Camel
Wrestling -
January, 3rd Sunday |
Organized
every year on the 3rd Sunday of January in Selcuk, contemporary
Ephesus. As the camels are untied and off the trucks, the
procession heads for the ancient hippodrome of Ephesus, accompanied
by hundreds of cymbals and bells. Imagine over a hundred camels
along with the owners and fans, and the rising dust as they
move along; this gives the impression of a wealthy silk road
caravan. |
Camel
wrestling is a non-violent activity, and there are rules to
prevent injuries. These are male camels raised to wrestle.
In order to win, a camel basicly has to scare the other one,
or bring him down (on the knees!).
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| The
competition lasts for 10 to 15 minutes, unless one of the
camels withdraws, or runs away. The result may often be a
draw, or two camels refusing to give up yet! It takes over
twenty men to separate the animals weighing almost a ton each.
Not very often, but a female camel may be brought to the field
to encourage the male that refuses to get involved in the
competition. |
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Total
Solar Eclipse 2006
--- A unique experience that can not be put into words, or
simply reflected by a photograph... On March 29, the eclipse
was observed in a wide band, from the Mediterranean on to
central Turkey, and the Black Sea... |
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