Turkey Study Tour 2009 - Exclusive Offer:

Invitation to Turkey Study Tour for Museum Executives, Universities and Art Galleries in US & Canada

$1400 per person in DBL Occupancy  9 Days / 7 Nights ( Land Only)

Oct 22 - 30 Oct , 2009

Dear Friends:

Upon the confirmation of Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry in Turkey, I’m delighted to announce you that Mediterranean Travel Management is offering the Turkey Study Trip 2009 for US & Canada Museum Executives, Universities & Art Galleries on October 22 between October 30, 2009. With the support of Turkish Ministry & Mediterranean Travel Magazine & Directory, you’re not only going to receive a  Super Value package, but also you will have an opportunity to explore mid-south-east of Turkey.

Unlike from the previous Study Tour there is no obligation to be a museum member to attend to this tour. Alternatively, one museum executive will have the authorization to invite 4 people from his/her family or friends. The group will be consisting of 25 people. If you’re interested in joining this exclusive offer, please fill out the Turkey Study 2009 form and submit or send it to info@mtmholidays.com.

Upon our confirmation, you will require to send non-refundable 500 USD check to: Mediterranean Travel Management 420 East 80th Street, Suite 6H, New York, NY 10075.

Warm regards,

Isik Braggiotti

President

P.S. Due to its nature of the project, we’re unable to accept credit cards. Please accept our apology for the inconvenience.

Turkey Study Tour 2009 Itinerary

7 Nights - 9 Days

Oct 22 - Oct 30, 2009

DAY 1: Oct 22

Turkish Airlines has a non-stop and non-smoking service to Istanbul. You will have comfortable overnight flight. Enjoy the delicious food and refreshments along with various kinds of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Overnight on board.

DAY 2: Oct 23 - Arrive Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul, the city which has been the capital of three empires in a time span of 3000 years and the unique link between east and west, past and present. Transfer to the hotel in the city center for check-in. Then, depart from the hotel for a Bosphorus Boat Tour along the Asian and European shores of Istanbul. Return to the hotel.

DAY 3: Oct 24 - Istanbul

Discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul. Visit the Topkapi Palace, once the Imperial residence of Ottoman Sultans, which displays priceless world class collections of artifacts, jeweler and rare porcelains. Nearby is the Blue Mosque known for the color of its interior decoration. Continue across the Hippodrome Square to the Hagia Sophia Church, the 6th century Basilica which was the largest building of the world for many of the thousand years of its existence. Stop to visit the world famous Grand Covered Bazaar. Overnight in your hotel.

Optional Turkish Night in Istanbul $85 pp: Transfer to restaurant, dinner at a restaurant to taste various kinds of excellent Turkish cuisine and local drinks while watching the spectacular oriental show performed by famous belly dancers, folk groups from different regions of Anatolia and Turkish singers. Late night back to the hotel (First local drinks are included within the price).

DAY 4: Oct 25 - Istanbul - Fly to Nevsehir - Cappadocia

Early flight to Nevsehir airport and then we will proceed to Cappadocia the violent eruptions of the volcanoes Erciyes and Hasan three million years ago, which covered the surrounding plateau with tuff, lava and volcanic ash, are at the origin of the strangest landscape on Earth. Undergoing erosion by wind and water, this plateau was shredded, creating monumental rock formations. Rock cones, capped pinnacles and fretted ravines are the result, in colors ranging from warm red and gold to cool greens and grays. “Fairy chimneys” with flat stones on the top, and cones with distorted shapes combine to embellish the landscape in a manner almost beyond the imagination of a surrealist sculptor. Cappadocia is not only a wonder of nature. Cliff openings give access to cave dwellings, rock-cut churches, monasteries and underground cities created during the earliest Christian era. You will have an unforgettable experience.  Bus will take us from Nevsehir Airport to Cappadocia in approximately 1hour. Today we are going to visit Goreme. The most famous sight in the region is The Goreme Open Air Museum (National Park),a moonscape volcanic valley filled with hollowed from the soft volcanic stone. We will visit a monastic complex of rock churches and chapels covered with frescoes, the area is one of the best-know sites in central Turkey. Then we will proceed to  Avanos, the charming town on the banks of the Kizilirmak river. We will visit a  production center in the cave and have an opportunity of a lecture about ceramics. Cappadocia district is consisting of many valleys and small towns. Such as : Goreme, Uskup, Zelve, Uchisar, Kaymakli. We will be going through most of the valleys and towns on our drive way enjoying the breathtaking panorama. Overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 5: Oct 26 - Cappadocia

Visit Kaymakli for a look to this underground city which goes down eight different levels into solid rock. Journey into Cappadocia, where the signs of the Fairy Chimneys are phenomenal, especially when seen for the first time. The natural wonder of Cappadocia is a result of volcanic deposits being eroded away by wind and water over millions of years. These soft rocks were hollowed out by early Christians and used as secret dwellings as they were being sought first by their Roman and later Byzantine. Visit lovely Zelve, a natural amphitheater at the junction of three valleys the cliff-faces are riddled with opening to houses and churches, many with frescos still visible. Continue for an observation of carpet weaving at one of the local workshops. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Optional Balloon Tour & Champagne Breakfast $225 pp: Cappadocia is a land of extreme beauty, the deep canyons and lush fertile valleys provide our balloons with an ideal playground for a unique and memorable flight. If you wish to do a balloon ride one time in your life save it for Cappadocia, you will have an unforgettable experience.

DAY 6: Oct 27 - Cappadocia - Konya- Pamukkale

After breakfast we will drive to Konya ,one of the Turkey’s oldest continuously inhabited cities was known as Iconium in Roman times and the later capital of the Seljuk Turkish Empire .Visit Mevlana Museum, a 13th century Whirling dervish monastery passing though the beautiful city Konya continue to Pamukkale cotton castle Mineral Water Spa since ancient times. Continue to Pamukkale, created by the deriving springs in a cliff almost 200m high overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters. Also called Cotton Castle, being one of the natural wonder of the world, has an unreal landscape made up of mineral forests, snow white cascades and a series of terraced basins. Overnight in Pamukkale.

DAY 7: Oct 28 - Pamukkale - Aphrodisias - Kusadasi

Drive to Aphrodisias, the city of the Goddess of Love, see the well preserved stadium the Odeon, the Theater and the Agora. Visit to the famous Aphrodisias Archeological Museum. Fashion leather show in Selcuk Town. Overnight in Kusadasi.

DAY 8: Oct 29 - Kusadasi - Ephesus - Kusadasi

Visit the House of the Virgin Mary which is recognized as her final resting place by Vatican. Leave for the ancient city of Ephesus, the Celsus Library, the marble paved Arcadian Road, the Brothel, the Roman Baths, the Theater where St. Paul preached and the Temple of Artemis which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. See the statue of Ephesians’ Artemis while touring the Archeological Museum of Ephesus . Overnight in Kusadasi.

DAY 9: Oct 30 - Kusadasi- Istanbul - New York

Escorted transfer to Izmir airport for the flight back home. End of our services.

 

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Discovery Highlights:

Istanbul:

Private cruise trip to the Asian side of Bosphorus, guided tours to Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome Square and Saint Sophia. Visit the Underground Cistern Basilica & Grand Covered Bazaar. Izmir: (formerly Smyrna), is now Turkey’s 3rd-largest city, the “capital” the Aegean Region, a major port and commercial center set dramatically around a huge bay and backed by mountains to the south.

Ephesus:

Glorious Ephesus, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO the Odeon, the Temple of Hadrian, the Celsius Library, the Marble Street, the Great Theater and the Harbor Road & Virgin Mary’s House. Visit the Temple of Diana (Artemis) seven wonder of ancient world. Pamukkale (Cotton castle) & Aphrodisias.

Hierapolis:

Pamukkale is Turkey’s foremost mineral-bath spa because of its natural beauty: hot calcium-laden waters spring from the earth and cascade over a cliff. As they cool they form dramatic travertine of hard, brilliantly white calcium that form pools. See the wonderful formation of stalactites in Pamukkale, swim in a spa and walk on travertine. Aphrodisias; the city of art dedicated to the Goddess Aphrodite. The marble theater there is beautiful and the stadium that seats over 35,000 is immense.

Cappadocia:

While in Cappadocia we will enjoy the unique landscapes of wind and rain eroded volcanic rock formations and see the amazing underground churches and cities carved into the rocks by early Christians. We will also visit ancient handicraft shops, the village of Soganli where the world famous Cappadocia dolls are made and a caravan-saray, an ancient caravan motel. Discovering the unknown Cappadocia, we will take wonderful strolls and go off the “tourist track”, visiting small villages.

Brief Information About Turkey:

By Turkish National Tourist Office - New York

WELCOME TO TURKEY:

Turkey is a paradise of sun, sea, mountains, and lakes that offers the vacationer a complete change from the stress and routine of everyday life. From April to October, most places in Turkey have an ideal climate that is perfect for relaxing on sandy beaches or enjoying the tranquility of mountains and lakes. Turkey also has a magnificent past, and is a land full of historic treasures from 13 successive civilizations spanning 10,000 years. Even if you spend only a short time in Turkey, you can see a lot of this great heritage. There is no doubt that one visit will not be enough, and you will want to come back again and again as you discover one extraordinary place after another. All of them, no matter how different, have one thing in common: the friendly and hospitable people of this unique country.

TURKEY IN BRIEF

Official Name: The Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti)

Founder: Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK (1881-1938)

Capital: Ankara

Population: 72 million

Language: Turkish (uses Latin Alphabet)

Currency: New Turkish Lira (YTL) as of 01/01/2005 1YTL = 1,000,000 TL (Turkish Lira)

Location: Eastern Mediterranean. Located on two continents Europe and Asia. The European part of Turkey is called Thrace, while the Asian part is called Anatolia or Asia Minor.

Area: 814 578 Km2 (314 500 square miles) % 3 on the European continent % 97 on the Asian continent.

Religion: 99 percent of the population is Muslim. Turkey is a secular state that assures complete freedom of worship to non- Muslims.

National Anthem: Istiklal Marsi Lyrics by: Mehmet Akif Ersoy Adopted as Turkey’s National Anthem on March 12, 1921.

Major Cities: Istanbul 12.0 million Ankara 4.0 million Izmir 3.3 million Konya 2.2 million Bursa 2.1 million Adana 1.8 million

Government: Turkey is democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law; committed to the nationalism of Atatürk and based on the principle of the separation of powers

Legislative Power: The Turkish Grand National Assembly Executive

Power: President and the Council of Ministers.

Judicial Power: Independent courts and supreme judiciary organs.

Coastline: 8333 Km. (5000 miles) Turkey is surrounded by sea on three sides, by the Black Sea in the north, the Mediterranean in the south and the Aegean Sea in the west. In the northwest there is also an important internal sea, the Sea of Marmara, between the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus.

Geographical Regions: Turkey has 80 administrative provinces and seven geographical regions. The first four of the seven regions are given the names of the seas which are adjacent to them. - Black Sea Region - Marmara Region - Aegean Region - Mediterranean Region The other three regions are named in accordance with their location in the whole of Anatolia. - Central Anatolia Region - Eastern Anatolia Region - Southeastern Anatolia Region Famous.

Landmarks: Ayasofya Museum, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, ancient City of Troy, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Goreme-Cappadocia, Mt. Nemrut, Safranbolu.

WHEN TO VISIT

Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean coasts: These coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The swimming season becomes shorter the further north one goes: Marmara and North Aegean - June to September; South Aegean and Mediterranean - April to October.

Black Sea Coast: Warm summers, mild winters, and relatively high rainfall. Central Anatolia: Steppe climate with hot, dry summers; cold winters. Eastern Anatolia: Long snowy cold winters with mild summers.

Southeast Anatolia: Hot summer with mild, rainy winters.

WHAT TO WEAR

Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts: Light, cotton summer clothing and cardigans for evening.

Black Sea, Central and Eastern Anatolia: Summer wear, warmer clothing should be taken for cool evenings at high altitudes. -Comfortable shoes are necessary for visiting archeological and historical sites. -Sun hats and sunglasses are advisable in the summer. -Headscarves should be brought by women for visiting mosques.

Turkey Study Trip 2002 - 2008 -- Testimonials

Dear Friends:

The Turkey Study Trip is for US & Canada Museum Executives, College & university Meeting & Facilities Planner, who wish to explore Turkey to organize tours for their members. Since 2002, we have hosted over 100 museum directors in Turkey. Mediterranean Travel Management, a division of Mediterranean Travel Magazine, Inc., has been supported by the Turkish Culture & Tourism Ministers, Turkish Airlines, many local hotels, and Mediterranean Travel Magazine & Directory.   Being a member of ASTA, USTOA, ISMP, we’re committed to offer the best services for Turkey & Greece destinations.

If you have any doubt, you may contact:

Hasan Zongur, Attaché

Turkish National Tourist Office

821 United Nations Plaza

New York, NY 10017

Tel:(212) 687-2194

Fax: (212) 599-7568

E-mail:ny@tourismturkey.org

I hope you will be able to join this unforgettable Study Tour. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Ivo Braggiotti, Jr.  Vice President

Mediterranean Travel Management

420 East 80th Street # 6H,

New York, NY 10075

Tel: (212) 744-4669

E-mail:info@mtmholidays.com

Turkey Study Tour 2007 Participant List:

• 1, 2-  Anna L Koster & William M. Kirkpatrick,  Stanford University (Cantor Art Center), CA
• 3, 4-Elizabeth Turco, The Museum of Arts & Sciences, FL Director Visitor and Retail Services & Jacqueline Davis
• 5, 6- Raul Magdaleno & Zulema Martine Southern Methodist University, TX Office of the Dean  
• 7.Theodore Griffith Decker, Arizona State University Art Museum  
• 8, 9-Bernice Mummery & Frank Mummery, Eva Brook Donly Museum, Canada Member  
• 10. Kate Bedding, Haldimond-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H., Canada Board Member
• 11, 12-Catherine Suprun & Anthony Suprun Women in Norfolk, Canada
• 13,14,15- Judith Albers & Carolyn Drake & Todd Allen McMillen, Dennos Musuem, MI
• 16, 17- Keith &  Joyce Flexman, Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise/ Haldimand Norfolk Alzheimer Society, Canada
• 18, 19- Noreen Parker &Peter Parker, Sweet Briar Alumnae Association, VA

Participants' Testimonals:

Dear Isik Braggiotti, I want to thank you very much for the Study Tour that you provided for me and my colleagues through so much of Turkey in November of 2006. It was a wonderful experience; and I appreciated you, our guide, for offering us so much. It is important for you to know how much our group appreciated the wealth of knowledge and experience that you brought to each sight that we visited.

As an Art Educator, Curator, and Director of an Art Gallery, I appreciated the focus on culture, history, art, and archaeology. Turkey has so many artefacts, and so much art and architecture, it is important for everyone to have a chance to learn about our past with a knowledge of the people who have gone before us. Many tours let you see 'things,' but your study tours offer an academic and educational benefit that most do not. I really appreciated the tours you offer, and the resources you offer as a guide. You know your way around Turkey and did an excellent job of arranging visits, coordinating tour guides, hotels, and travel plans. I would happily take another tour and encourage friends or colleagues to join one of your tours.

My colleague who teaches art history at Malaspina University-College was so grateful for all the images I brought back related to the underground cities and especially the imagery on the hidden churches. She said "you can't get this kind of material unless you actually go there!" So many others that I show my photos to, now want to come to Turkey!

As a Curator, I was also interested to see how works are protected, exhibited, and a proud part of the Turkish people. Education is a major component of what galleries and museums do, and it was wonderful to see the way the Turkish government is protecting and promoting its' past.

The Nanaimo Art Gallery board was happy to hear of my experiences, and we want to look at some options of offering a gallery event which would include a visit to several sights in western, central, and southern Turkey. I will be in touch with you further in this regard, in the future.

An intellectual tour in a region of the world that is is looking for more understanding and acceptance to important at time when the world is becoming one community. As a humanitarian and teacher, I feel that the benefit of these kinds of tours are important for all people who can participate.

Thank you very much for the valuable and enjoyable experience, and I hope to see you again in new York or Turkey.

Sincerely, Robin Field

Professor of Visual Art Malaspina-University College

Executive Director and Curator Nanaimo Art Gallery

Thank you and your family for all kindnesses to me. I began with much embarrassment because of my cancelled passport. Your family responded. I then needed medical attention, you responded. How supportive and kind you are. Thank you for including me. I love Turkey and will visit as often as I can.

Thank you.

BEATRICE BLOOM

Dear Isik: Thank you again for the wonderful experience in Turkey.You are a very special person! I also hope we can keep in touch.

Vicky Huband & Steve Williams

Dear Ivo or Isik, First I want to thank you for a WONDERFUL trip, my dream trip of a lifetime. One day, hopefully with our museum tour, I will go back to Turkey.  Thank you so much for your patience and good humor.  I have been telling everyone since we got home that Turkey is a must to visit. Again, thank you for a wonderful experience in Turkey, and thank you most of all for your friendship.

Sincerely,

Eugene A. Jenneman

What fun we had and I too am feeling like I am missing the Study group very much. Thanks God we all had such a great time and I am glad to hear you are doing well. Please keep us here in Canada in your thoughts.

Regards,

Nataley

Several of Museum who joined Turkey Study Trips:

• Benjamin Whine, NEW MUSEUM-NY - Membership Programs Manager
• 2- Martha Longenecker, MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM-CA - Founder & Director
• 3- Marc Linton Gardener, MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM-CA - Membership Programs Director
• 4- Maggie G. Lyko, THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART-NY - Director of the Junior Associates
• 5- Marijo Dougherty, ALBANY UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM - Director
• 6- Norman Bauman, ALBANY UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM - Member of the President’s Club
• 7- Jose Koes, WINNIPEG ART GALLERY-CANADA - Chairman
• 8- Michael P. Mezzatesta, DUKE UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM-NC - Director
• 9- Donald R. Friary,DEERFIELD HISTORIC MUSEUM-MA - Executive Director
• 10- Karen Carr, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART-OH - Director of the Constituent Relations
• 11- Barrett Carr, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART-OH -Director of the Membership Programs
• 12- Susan Stevens Jaros, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART-OH - Deputy Director
• 13- Carey Jaros, CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART-OH - Associate Curator
• 14- Hitomi Iwasaki, THE QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART-NY - Associate Curator
• 15- Sandra London, SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART-KS - Director of Membership & Development
• 16- Robert Milnes, SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY-CA - Director
• 17- Karen Milnes, SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY-CA - Director of the Advisory Council
• 18- Kimberly Camp, THE BARNES FOUNDATION-PA - Executive Director & CEO
• 19- Paola Morsiani, HOUSTON CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM - Associate Curator
• 20- Raul M. Oyuela, LATIN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM-FL
• 21- Angela Maria Zapata, LATIN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM-FL
• 22- James T. Hanley, DELAWARE ART MUSEUM-DE - Deputy Director
• 23- Jon Carrol, FRESNO METROPOLITAN MUSEUM-CA - Associate Director
• 24- Dolores Richard, BOLINAS MUSEUM-CA - Director
• 25- Deirc Keman, Academy Of Sciences Travel Office - Travel program Director
• 26- Kathie Harvey, Travel Office Manager
• 27- Cecelia Barry, Porttand Community College - Educational Travel Director
• 28- Sara Bentley,Program Assistant
• 29- John Dadabay, State Historical Museum-ID - Director
• 30- Eugene A. Jenneman, Dennos Museum Center Director
• 31- Nataley Nagy, Textile Museum of Canada - Director
• 32- Diane Camber, BASS Museum Director
• 33- Denise Wolpert, Membership Associate
• 34- Jennifer Rexroad, Museum of Contemporary art San Diego
• 35- RENEE WALASAUAGE, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
• 36- KATHLEEN COLLINS, Columbia Gorge Discovery
• 37- CAROLINE RAO, Berkeley College
• 38- NANCY RAO, Berkeley College
• 39- CELESTE MOURE STROM, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Science Center
• 40- CARRIE BANASKY, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Science Center