Mention skiing at this time of year and most people in Europe think of the Alps. But Esendal International Tourism & Travel in Istanbul reminds visitors that Turkey has its own mountainous areas, many of them covered with snow for six months or more.
Although skiing is still an emerging sport in Turkey, the company says the winter resorts offer skiing opportunities for both serious and beginning skiers, with snow heights of up to 10 feet.
One example is Uluday, about 150 miles from Istanbul. The area, part of a national park, has peaks up to 8,400 feet tall, and a ski season that runs between Dec. 10 and March 3. Other activities include cross-country skiing and heli-skiing.
Esendal International offers an eight-day package that combines a three-day ski trip with several days of sightseeing in Turkey. The trip begins with a tour in Istanbul, followed by the three days of skiing, and then goes to Canakkale and the legendary city of Troy. The trip continues to the Gallipoli Peninsula, site of World War I battles, and then returns to Istanbul.
The cost depends on how many people travel. For example, one person traveling alone pays $2,390. For pairs and couples, the cost is $1,490 per person in a double room. If two couples go, the cost is $1,190 each; if three pairs attend, it is $990; four pairs will pay $890 each. The single supplement is $320.
The price includes three nights in Istanbul, four nights in Uludag and one in Canakkale; breakfasts, four lunches and five dinners; entrance fees and English- speaking guide; ground transportation and airport transfers; tips for baggage handling; toll roads, parking, ferry and taxes.
Contact the company at telephone (+90) (0)212-661 5735 or (0) 212-661 5737; or by e-mail at esendalitourism@superonline.com or esdendaltravel@turk.net. The Web site is esendaltravel.com.
Bamberg packageAmong the offers for the upcoming months sent by the German Tourist Board is a package organized by the Bamberg Tourist Board.
The tour of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is called “Dream City at a Dream Price” and is valid until Dec. 31. It begins at 79 euros per person, double occupancy, and includes two nights’ accommodation, breakfast and Bamberg Card.
Details from the tourist board are available by calling (+49) (0) 951-297-6200, or by e-mailing touristinfo@bamberg.info. The Web site is www.bamberg.info.
Art history in RomeRome is a city rich in history and art. If you’d like to explore the Italian capital on a trip focusing on its art treasures, you might be interested in a tour escorted by Dr. Andrew Laurie Stangel, March 11-17.
Stangel created and spent 20 years directing the Art History Tours program for U.S. military forces in Europe.
The itinerary includes masterworks of painting, sculpture and architecture by Giotto, Fra Angelico, Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio and Bernini.
Some of the sites on the program include the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Catacombs and Appian Way, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Coliseum and Mamertine Prison. There’s also free time for personal activities and optional excursions.
The cost is $1,490 per person, double occupancy, and includes hotel, breakfasts, sightseeing admission fees and art-historical slide show and commentary. Transportation to and from Rome is not included.
For details, contact Stangel in the United States at (603) 774-7308.
Best betsEngland
¶ In 1215, the Lord Mayor of London first made his way to the Royal Courts of Justice to pledge his allegiance to the crown. Today, Queen Elizabeth II receives the mayor Saturday, an event that’s marked with a grand procession and fireworks. The parade with more than 6,000 participants on floats and in marching bands and carriages (including the mayor’s grand state coach) will travel along a nearly two-mile route. The journey begins at 11:02 a.m. after a sendoff from aircraft flying overhead and two minutes of silence for Armistice Day. At 5 p.m., the day ends with fireworks over the Thames. The city recommends that visitors take public transportation for the event. For details of the route and transportation, go to www.lordmayorsshow.org.
¶ Dog owners and potential owners should consider heading to Earls Court this weekend for the annual Discover Dogs show, an event the sponsoring Kennel Club calls “the fun day out for doggy people.”
Talk to experienced owners for advice on training, health issues and buying puppies (more than 180 breeds of pedigreed dogs) and watch dogs at their best in a program featuring agility, heelwork and other competitions. The organizers ask that visitors leave their own pets at home.
The show is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tickets at the door cost 10.50 pounds (about $20) for adults and 7.50 pounds for children. Find more details at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/buying/discover_dogs.html.
Germany
¶ If you’re interested in new films, check out the selection at Mannheim-Heidelberg’s International Film Festival, now in its 55th year. Up to 2,500 entries have been judged, of which about 40 have been selected for the competition.
Categories include international competition, international discoveries, specialties, short films and children’s cinema. There also are special events and screenings. Tickets cost 3.50 euros. For details on the films, venues and dates, go to www.mannheim-filmfestival.com.
¶ The annual carnival season starts 11:11 a.m. Saturday, and in many German cities it will be launched by the awakening of the Hoppeditz, a carnival character. One of the biggest celebrations is in Düsseldorf, a major carnival site, where crowds, some in costume, will wait in front of the town hall for the historic figure to present a humorous review of the year’s events. Although it isn’t a major event in terms of an all-day party, there will be plenty of beer and music to enjoy.
