This is the view Rich and Pat Gavula enjoyed from their hotel room in Kusadasi, Turkey. Pat said the turquoise water was beautiful and the accommodations on the trip were great. In the top picture, visitors wade into the hot springs of Pamukkale. The Gavulas traveled to Turkey in the spring and stayed overnight in 10 different cities.

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Location: Turkey bordered by eight countries, Bulgaria to the northwest; Greece to the west; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the southeast.•

Capital: Ankara•

Largest city: Istanbul•

Area: 301,382 square miles, slightly larger than Texas•

Population: 73.7 million•

Climate: Temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior•

Terrain: High central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges•

Religion: Turkey is a secular state with no official state religion; its constitution provides for freedom of religion.About 97 percent of Turks are Muslim, a figure that exceeds 99 percent if secular people of Muslim background are included.

Source: www.wikipedia.org and the CIA World Factbook.