Welcome to Istanbul
Istanbul the pearl of the East and the jewel of the West. Istanbul stands on the divide between two very different cultures, religions, and social views. Historically and geographically this great city has the weight of a nation behind it and a country that still claims several of the wonders of the world. Accepting and fascinating Istanbul is a city not to be taken lightly. Every street corner has a story every building has a past. Istanbul is an amalgamation of east meats west and the divide between the two. Istanbul is the starting point for Tourism in Turkey the crossing point from Europe to Asia all bundled together elegantly by its founder Ataturk. The history of this man and the love from his nation is truly defining.

Istanbul has always been a most popular visiting place for travelers and now it is preparing for its rendezvous with the 21st century. Its new ports and marinas facilitate arrival by the sea. For visitors who prefer air travel, the existing modern airport has been enlarged and a second airport is under construction on the Asian side. By a lucky coincidence the maintenance and repair projects realized for the 75th year of the Republic of Turkey in 1998 turned into a blessing for the initiatives to get Istanbul ready for the 21st century.

Istanbul is now a city with adequate supplies of energy, no major infrastructure problems, clean air and seas, unproblematic transportation, a sufficient number of five and four-star hotels, and minimized traffic jams. In addition to the neat covered bazaars, a new development for the city is the large, modern and luxurious shopping malls that include outlets for well-known international brands.