A Letter from Catoni
Travel ServicesDear MIRA Members and Associates,
I was sincerely honored when I was asked to address you, by Valley Oaks Travel and MIRA, in this electronic medium and convey to you our reasons why the proposed trip to view the Total Eclipse 99 in Turkey would really
be an experience that you would not forget. An experience that would turn you into a repeater as most visitors to Turkey are.I am aware that due to the recent developments starting with the capture and extradition to Turkey of Abdullah Ocalan, the escalation of terrorist activities within the cities in Turkey must create some serious questions
in your minds about Turkey being a safe country to visit. Unfortunately in recent years my country has been faced with intermittent terrorist activity. However, it has not proven to be a threat to tourists in the past and I am confident that your journey will be peaceful and rewarding.We Turks generally have learned to take what we read in the papers with a grain of salt. We have heard frightening rumors in the past, but none of our clients has ever been harmed by any terrorist activities. Although there have been some reports in the press to the effect that tourism areas would be targeted to discourage especially Westerners from visiting Turkey, I as a professional of over 24 years do not believe that there is any need
to fear travel to Turkey. First of all, the Turkish police and army have stepped up security to prevent anything from happening. Secondly, and more important, the Kurds are aware that they have an international reputation
to protect. Harming tourists in Turkey would do irreparable damage to their cause, and they are well aware of that fact.As CATONI Travel Services, a company, which has a history dating back to 1846, we would never jeopardize the safety of any client, whatever the reason. In our sincere and honest assessment, we still believe that
visiting Turkey is very safe regardless of the current situation and should there ever be a need to warn clients we would be the first people to do so.I know it will take a bit of your valuable time but I thought it best to continue with a short synopsis of our country's 400,000-year history. Yes! Near Istanbul in the Yarimburgaz Caves scientists found traces of the Paleolithic Age, which attest to the numbers of years mentioned above.
History"The thinking man" or also known as Homo Sapiens Sapiens of 40,000 years ago have left their animal motifs in the Karain and Okuzini caves in the Antalya region of southern Turkey. Following those, we find the traces of
sedentary civilizations in Cayonu and Hallan Cemi excavation sites in southeastern Turkey dating back to 10,000 BC. We see that wheat and barley had been cultivated, sheep, goats and pigs had been domesticated and
reared. This was indeed a very important step in the development of Near Eastern civilizations.At the beginning of the third millennium BC (2900 BC) we see the development of the Trojan culture that leaves its mark in northwestern Anatolia and in the Aegean islands. Known as the Early Bronze Age we find improved agriculture, weaving techniques, improved pottery and manufacture of weapons from bronze.
By about 1900 BC trade relations between Anatolia and Mesopotamia start and this is the same period when the cuneiform writing was invented and recorded history began. Among those trade colonies, set up by the Assyrian merchants, the most famous is the Kultepe site near the city of Kayseri in Central Turkey.
By 1650 BC the Hittite Empire of Anatolia comes into existence. Setting Hattusha as their capital the Hittites ruled all of eastern Anatolia and reaching northern Syria. They fought with the Egyptian King Ramses II, signed a treaty with him after the Battle of Kadesh which was stopped because of a Total Eclipse during the battle, which was interpreted as a sign of Gods' displeasure for the fighting. The Hittites left numerable pieces of ceramics; terra cotta tablets with cuneiform writings and seals which you will see when you visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in
Ankara.Starting by mid 13th century BC Anatolia hosts different kingdoms like the Urartians in the east Phyrigians in the west and the Lydians of King Croseus in the southwest. During the 7th century BC the Ionian city states, combining Anatolian and Greek civilizations, in western Anatolia, reach their zenith. Anatolians like Thales, Anaximandros and Anaximenes lay the foundations of philosophy, mathematics, geometry, astronomy and the freedom of thought. For the first time in recorded history Thales of Caria pre-calculated the Total Eclipse of May 28th, 585 BC. This first
scientific calculation later on became the basis of all the research carried out in Europe during the Renaissance. Some of the best examples of Ionic architectural heritage are seen in the world famous sites of Ephesos, Pergamum, Sardes, Priene, Miletos, Didyma, and Aphrodisias.During the later years Anatolia was ruled by the Persians followed by Alexander the Great and of course the Romans. The Roman period was of course the time when vast works of civil engineering were undertaken with
roads and bridges constructed to connect these far away corners of the empire to Rome.Christianity came early to Anatolia and she is proud to claim the first ever church of Christendom in Antioch set in a cave by St.Peter. Ephesos is known to have been the last residence of Virgin Mary who came here together with St.John the Evangelist. St Paul who devoted more than probably anyone else to spread the word criss-crossed the land mass of Anatolia and starting his many journeys by ship from various ports on the Anatolian coast, like Seleucia ad Priera - port of Antioch, like Assos in the west and like Perge in the south.
Starting by the 4th century AD the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, comes into existence. Constantinopolis then, or Istanbul as I now call my hometown, served as the world's most important cultural and artistic center for 250 years under the Byzantine rule. The churches and the mosaics and frescos are simply mind-boggling.
By 1071 AD Seljuk Turks started to come in from the east into Anatolia and set up their empire with their capital in the city of Konya, ancient Iconium. Building medreses (schools), caravanserais (inns along the famous
Silk Road), palaces and bridges, the Seljuks left a huge wealth of their heritage to us. By 1300 AD the Ottomans, starting as frontier guards for the Seljuks, began to build their empire, which is considered to be one of
the longest living empires and dynasties (1299 – 1927). Ottomans gave shape, form and substance to the land of Anatolia until the advent of the Turkish Republic in 1923.Missing the opportunity of visiting a country with such historic, cultural and natural wealth, which now is a modern nation with membership in the NATO, OECD, European Council, European Parliament, a signatory to almost
all the western treaties like GATT, WTO, Helsinki Accord would be a shame to say the least.I hope to see you all in August. If any of you have any specific concerns you would like to share with me, please don't hesitate to contact me at my e-mail madervis@turk.net.
Sincerely,
Mehmet Dervis
Catoni Travel Services