Middle East - Anthony Ham [519]
Greece Ankara ( 0312-448 0873; greekemb@superonline.com; Zia Ur Rahman Caddesi 9-11, Gaziosmanpaşa); Edirne ( 0284-235 5804; Nolu Caddesi 2); İstanbul Map; 0212-245 0596; Turnacıbaşı Sokak 32, Galatasaray)
Iran Ankara ( 0312-427 4320; Tahran Caddesi 10, Kavaklıdere); Erzurum ( 0442-315 9983; fax 316 1182; Alparslan Bulvarı, 201 Sokak); İstanbul Map; 0212-513 8230; 2nd fl, Ankara Caddesi 1, Cağaloğlu)
Iraq ( 0312-468 7421; fax 468 4832; Turan Emeksiz Sokak 11, Gaziosmanpaşa, Ankara)
Ireland Ankara ( 0312-446 6172; fax 446 8061; Uğur Mumcu Caddesi, MNG Binasi B-Bl 88/3, Gaziosmanpaşa); İstanbul ( 0212-482 2434; fax 482 0943; Ali Riza Gurcan Caddesi 2/13, Merter)
Israel Ankara ( 0312-459 7500; fax 459 7555; Mahatma Gandhi Caddesi 85, 06700 Gaziosmanpaşa); İstanbul ( 212-317 6500; Yapı Kredi Plaza, Blok C, Kat 7, Levent)
Jordan ( 0312-440 2054; fax 440 4327; Mesnevi Dede Korkut Sokak 18, Çankaya, Ankara)
Lebanon Ankara ( 0312-446 7485; fax 446 1023; Kıkulesi Sokak 44, Gaziosmanpaşa); İstanbul ( 0212-236 1365; fax 227 3373; Teşvikiye Caddesi 134/1, Teşvikiye)
Netherlands Ankara ( 0312-409 1800; fax 409 1898; Hollanda Caddesi No 3, Yıldız); İstanbul Map; 0212-393 2121; fax 292 5031; İstiklal Caddesi 393, Tünel)
New Zealand Ankara ( 0312-467 9054; www.nzembassy.com/turkey; 4th fl, İran Caddesi 13, Kavaklıdere); İstanbul ( 0212-244 0272; nzhonconist@hatem-law.com.tr; 3rd fl, İnönü Caddesi 48, Taksim)
Russia Ankara ( 0312-439 2122; www.turkey.mid.ru; Karyağdi Sokak 5, Çankaya); İstanbul Map; 0212-292 5101; visavi@turk.net; İstiklal Caddesi 443, Beyoğlu)
Syria Ankara ( 0312-440 9657; fax 438 5609; Abdullah Cevdet Sokak 7, Çankaya); İstanbul Map; 0212-232 6721; Maçka Caddesi 59, Ralli Apt 3, Nişantaşı)
UK Ankara ( 0312-455 3344; fax 455 3320; Şehit Ersan Caddesi 46a, Çankaya); İstanbul Map; 0212-334 6400; fax 334 6401; Meşrutiyet Caddesi 34, Tepebaşı, Beyoğlu)
USA Ankara ( 0312-455 5555; fax 467 0019; Atatürk Bulvarı 110, Kavaklıdere); İstanbul ( 0212-335 9000; fax 335 9102; Kaplıcalar Mevkii 2, İstinye)
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FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Following are some of the major annual festivals and events in Turkey:
Anzac Day The WWI battles at Gallipoli are commemorated with dawn services on 25 April.
International İstanbul Music Festival Held from early June to early July in İstanbul.
Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Championship Huge crowds watch oil-covered men wrestling in a field near Edirne in late June or early July.
Mevlâna Festival The dervishes whirl in Konya from 10 to 17 December.
Nevruz Festival Kurds and Alevis celebrate the ancient Middle Eastern spring festival on 21 March. Banned until recent years, Nevruz is now an official holiday.
Note that for the week-long festival of Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha) at the end of November, hotels are jam-packed, banks close and transport is booked up weeks ahead. See also Holidays, Click here.
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GAY & LESBIAN TRAVELLERS
Although not uncommon in a culture that traditionally separates men and women, overt homosexuality is not socially acceptable except in a few small pockets in İstanbul, Bodrum and other resorts. In İstanbul there is an increasing number of openly gay bars and nightclubs, mainly around the Taksim Sq end of İstiklal Caddesi. Some hamams are known to be gay meeting places.
For more information, contact Turkey’s own gay and lesbian support group, Lambda İstanbul (www.lambdaistanbul.org).
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HOLIDAYS
As well as the major Islamic holidays (Click here), Turkey observes the following national holidays:
New Year’s Day 1 January
Children’s Day 23 April
Youth & Sports Day 19 May
Victory Day 30 August
Republic Day 29 October
Anniversary of Atatürk’s Death 10 November
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INTERNET ACCESS
Wherever you go, you’ll never be far from an internet café. Fees are generally TL1 to TL2 for an hour. Throughout the country, hotels of all standards typically offer free wi-fi access, as do many restaurants and cafés. In accommodation