Galway Advertiser 2007/2007_08_23/GA_2308_E1_030.pdf 

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30 F E A T U R E S

www.galwayadvertiser.ie

August 23 3007

BREAK-AWAY
TRAVEL WITH UNA SINNOTT

A little bit of home - in Turkey
With its balmy summer weather, expansive coastline, and incredibly good value for money, Turkey is a firm favourite when it comes to booking a summer break. From next year, Irish holiday makers can enjoy a little bit of home in the glorious surrounds of Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Gold City, located just outside the southern town of Mahmutlar, represents the largest Irish investment in Turkey and is a collaboration between businessmen from the local area and Galway. The five-star development boasts 950 villas and apartments, a hotel, 35 swimming pools, restaurants, an Irish bar, and acres of lush landscaped gardens. Situated in the foothills of the Taurus mountains, Gold City is just a short drive from its own private beach, Mahmutlar, and the ancient city of Alanya, and the development provides regular courtesy buses to these areas for its patrons. There is little reason to leave the complex other than for sightseeing or other leisure activities -- Gold City features a range of shops and facilities including shops, supermarket, bars, restaurants, a leisure centre, and even a beauty salon. You can pick up your groceries in the hotel supermarket, enjoy a dip in the Olympic-sized hotel swimming pool, eat out in one of several restaurants, and finish the day with a few drinks in Folan's Irish bar, or head to the hotel's top floor rotating bar. The development has seen heavy investment from Ireland, and Galway in particular, giving it a `local' feel. The apartments, villas, and hotel will be available to let from next year. The rural area of Kargicak, where Gold City is located, is part of Turkey's agricultural heartland but just minutes from Mahmutlar, which offers some great bargains for holiday shoppers. Enjoy an afternoon scouring the town's bustling market for a few bargains, or head to one of the many Turkish baths for a few hours of pure indulgence. One of the best options for a night out in Mahmutlar is a trip to the Blue Parrot, a popular bistro bar which serves some of the most delicious steak on the planet, and also serves Guinness, a rarity elsewhere in the area. The Blue Parrot is also famed for its full Irish breakfast, featuring bacon and sausages imported from Ireland, and even offers a free pick up service for customers. Alanya, the main town and administrative centre of the area, has a history of human occupation dating back to 20,000 BC and was part of the Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman empires. The city has preserved much of its ancient architecture while growing into a bustling modern metropolis. Alanya Castle, a complex of castles, fortifications, churches, mosques, and ancient villas, was built in the 13th century by the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, and now stands as an open-air monument to the area's past atop a rocky peninsula and surrounded by craft shops, stalls, and traditional restaurants. The octagonal Red Tower, once used to house the city's arsenal, is the last of Alanya's 33 towers and is well worth a visit. It now accommodates the municipal ethnographic museum and is close to the harbour, once a favourite haunt of the pirates who plagued the Mediterranean during ancient times. The Pirates' Cave, named for the nefarious characters who once frequented the area, is one of several caves open to the public along Alanya's shoreline. The town has literally hundreds of shops, bars, and restaurants to suit every taste and, if you want your evening to go on into the small hours, Alanya's nightclub district boast several large night clubs. Food is served at all premises, and admission to the clubs is free.

Alanya Castle.

Gold City at night.

WEATHER
Thursday
A cloudy day. Some bright and sunny intervals in the morning, especially in the Midlands, cloud will thicken from the north-west. Light north-westerly winds. Max temp 18-20C (6468F).

Friday
A fairly cloudy day. In the morning, there may be a little drizzle on the hills but most places will stay dry and it may brighten up later. Light westerly winds. Max temp 17-19C (6366F).
Clifden
19

20

High Tide in Galway
8
20

Tuam
20

Thursday August 23 Friday August 24 Saturday August 25 Sunday August 26 Monday August 27 Tuesday August 28 Wednesday August 29 Thursday August 30

01.15 02.57 04.01 04.44 05.21 05.56 06.31 07.08

13.58 15.13 16.05 16.47 17.25 18.03 18.41 19.20

7

GALWAY
19

Ballinasloe
18

Information supplied by PA Weather Centre

Noon Thursday

20

Saturday
Rather cloudy but mainly dry.

Sunday
Cloudy, occasional brightness.

Monday
Mainly dry but cloudy again.

Tuesday
Overcast, isolated drizzle possible.

Wednesday
Dry, patchy cloud and bright intervals.

Phases of the Moon
Tuesday August 28 -- full moon.