European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 24, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Fishing pleasure boats of All sizes fill the ancient Harbor on a summer Day in Antalya Turkey. Sun sea on the Mem Story photos by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer when planning my Beach vacation recently a tide of possibilities rolled through my head the Trench Riviera Southern Spain Italy maybe Mallorca. Yet not one e did i Turkey enter my visions of Sun Sand. After All i thought Turkey is where you shop for cheap i Opper pots leather jackets handmade rugs. It s the place of hustling bustling bazaars Pistachios scarves. But As hard As i tried la mentally argue the Point there Ould be no debate about Turkey s Bottom line attraction Tost. I his country linking two continents is highly affordable. Furthermore with 4,900 Miles of beaches on four different seas it must offer some opportunities for solar regeneration. My husband i booked our trip to Side Turkey through Neckermann Reinera German travel Agency. One week s lodging with two meals a Day air fare from i rank furl Cost 970 Marks about $525 each. A pleasant flight on an Aero Lloyd plane took us to an lava. Side is about 50 Miles East of Antalya on the turkish this Section of coastline stretches from Antalya East to Mersin a City about 42 Miles Wesl of Adana in Ciurlik a. It lakes about nine hours to travel the entire Riviera by bus. The mostly Sandy Mediterranean coast has a Rich collection of Greco roman ruins. It s believed to have been a wedding gift from Mark Anthony to his wife Cleopatra what a gift. 1 he Taurus mountains reach Down to meet the coast where red ibis cases purple Boug Arvillea Pink oleanders grow like dandelions. Sunlight bathes the Lush vegetation i Days .1 year. And As if i controlled by tourism officials the rain holds Bank until the end of november when most vac. Aligners have Long since returned to their Homes. I he temperature averages u degrees in july 77 degrees in Une september. May october bring an average g8 degrees. And by August the Mediterranean s average temperature just about matches the steamy air. In recent , Cleopatra s coast has bet ome a pleasure strand brimming with modern resorts Holiday Camps marinas. Many modern hotels offer amenities such As air i conditioning Tennis windsurfing outdoor pools. Sim e the arrival of German Mega travel agencies Hudi As Neckermann Tui which Load half of the Federal Republic onto charter flights each year locals have dubbed Side Little the Beach s Many topless women bathers further attest to the town s nickname arc a Stark contrast to fundamentalist moslem women who still cover their Heads with scarves. Not every town along the Riviera has Boon overrun by German speakers however even Side has managed to retain most of its native culture. Unlike spots on Spain s Costa brava or on the Island of Mallorca schnitzel have not crowded out local fare. Swimmers enjoy the Rocky seashore near Antalya. Side is dominated by ruins of a roman Amphitheater built around . 200. Ii differs from other similar structures in that the 25,000-seat Arena was not built into a Hill but constructed on level ground. Visitors can t limb up its rows rows of seats look out Over the City Bays neighbouring ruins of a by Antine Basilica temples dedicated to Apollo Artemis. Not far from the Amphitheater paddlers carry on the tradition of the town s centuries old agora or marketplace by Selling carpets leather ceramics jewelry. Although shops Are open during the Day the shopping streets really come alive in the evenings when sunburned tourists descend upon them. Most stores stay open until Midnight. Many hotels also offer evening entertainment such As 6 stripes Magazine August 24,1989
