Is Turkey a safe place to travel?

It depends of where you're going. As a person who borned and living there, Istanbul is a huge city, but it as dangerous as other big cities. Nothing special. I can't promise about purse-snatching because not matter if you're in New York or Istanbul – there are muggers in big cities But places like Hakkari (east side) has some "terror issues". By the way 70% (totally random number) of Turkey people has never been to that place and it's really far away from the place you'll go. Trust me. You can not find any tour guide who take you THERE. But Turkish government has been working on it for years and I hope they fix that problem soon. Basically, Istanbul is a big city with so many historical places and I lives there, it's not bad at all.. ps: Don't take your car with you because traffic jam might. I mean will ruin your trip. Go there with some tour so you won't get lost. Antalya, Bodrum and Çeşme really cool places. They are holiday spots and there are so many hotels, so don't you worry about the price! Thousands of hotels, cheap to really expensive. (special info: Worlds second 7 star hotel is in Antalya) If you're from Russia, UK etc. you're even more luckier because there are some awesome discounts for you. The most common advantageous discount is: When other people can stay there for a week excluding the trips and the flight you can stay there for two weeks including the flight and trips. Sorry.. I forgot your question and kept to writing. Anyways. Yes it's as safe as other countries unless you're going to east border etc.

43

Write a holiday advertisement for a place you know well. Use as many of the words from Ex. 38 as possible.

44

Read the text and say if the statements are true or false. Correct the false ones.

1. What comes to your mind when you think of the word holidays?

2. Do you like to organize holidays? Why?

3. Describe the last holidays you organized.

Statements

1. Remember, nobody ever said on their death bad: "I wish I spent more time decorating for the holidays."

2. Keeping your organizing for the holidays simple, you'd have less distractions and less clutter.

3. Getting the kids involved teaches them good work professional ethics.

4. Take two minutes to plan and make a list of what you need, then stick to the list.

5. Figure out what is truly meaningful and special to the recipient and forget the rest.

6. People will remember that you spent time with them more than they will remember carelessly, expensive gifts.

7. Look at what you already have before venturing out to the shopping mall.

8. Budgeting involves more money.

9. One expensive item that is thoughtful and meaningful to the recipient is worth more than a large variety of things they will throw out or re-gift at a later time.

10. You may be surprised to discover there are some traditions no one likes, but were afraid to mention!

Organizing For the Holidays Organizing For the Holidays . . . Less Stress . . . More Fun

Do you feel stressed out just hearing the word holidays? It doesn't have to be that way. Organizing for the holidays takes a little time, but it's well worth the effort.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive, and applies only to the U.S. Additionally, people from many countries, cultures and faiths have other holidays they celebrate that are not included above. However, the principles of organizing for the holidays applies to all holidays.

Regardless of whether you're celebrating, Halloween or Hanukkah, the tips on this page will help you with organizing for the holidays.

Look Back to Look Forward

Making clear-headed choices is hard when you're in the middle of the holiday rush.

Take some time, several weeks before the next holiday, to think about last year. What worked? What didn't? What could you have done differently? What could you have done without?

You don't have to throw out cherished family traditions, but give some thought to editing and tweaking.

Talk to your family members after thinking, editing and tweaking to gain consensus on possible upcoming changes. You may be surprised to discover there are some traditions no one likes, but were afraid to mention!

Think of ways to start new, simpler versions, of existing family traditions.

Quality Instead of Quantity

If the holiday involves gift-giving, consider making, or purchasing, less items. One item that is thoughtful and meaningful to the recipient is worth more than a large variety of things they will throw out or re-gift at a later time.

Ask yourself: What does he/she like? What hobbies or extra curricular activities do they enjoy? Figure out what is truly meaningful and special to the recipient and forget the rest. You will probably spend less money in the process as well.

Budget & Time Savers

Budgeting involves more than just money. Your time is equally valuable. If you simplify your holiday traditions and gifts, you may have more money and time for making meaningful memories.

You don't have to go into Martha Stewart mode and grow your own Christmas trees and make your own wrapping paper. Consider making memories instead – they last longer and have a bigger impact.

Bake cookies with your children or grandchildren, etc. Give the gift of time. Offer a coupon for yard work or (gasp. . .) offer to organize a room!

People will remember that you spent time with them more than they will remember elaborate, expensive gifts.

And speaking of budgets. Don't utilize credit cards for holiday purchases EVER!! Plan ahead and tuck away money for the upcoming holiday purchases. You'll have less stress the following month when the bills arrive.

No More Wonder Woman

Don't over-plan. Assign duties to others. Get help and get everyone involved. You don't have to do it all, and you don't have to do it by yourself.

If it's a family event, every family member should contribute. Working together as a family generates a feeling of togetherness.

Getting the kids involved teaches them good work ethics. These are teachable moments. Kids can learn about house cleaning, budgeting and event planning right at home! You can prepare to pass the torch of family traditions to the next generation.

What's In Your Closet?

Look at what you already have before venturing out to the shopping mall. Check your stash of gift bags, wrapping paper and cards.

If you're organized, you should know what you have at a glance (and you should be organized!). Take a minute to plan and make a list of what you need, then stick to the list.

Avoid impulse buying. Resist the temptation to buy something just because it's on sale. Bargins have a way of cluttering up your house! Your budget will thank you.

You won't spend valuable time later on cleaning out those bargins that have cluttered your entire home!

Organize Yourself

You knew I couldn't resist that topic! Obviously you don't want to get yourself stressed out organizing every room of your home 6 weeks before Christmas.

When organizing for the holidays, some simple steps now can help you breeze through the holidays: (1) Tackle counter clutter, (2) Take care of those junk drawers (3) Get your holiday wrap center set up and stocked, (4) Create your mail and message center, (5) Get your guest room (and closet) in order.

When the holidays are done, go tackle those other To Do projects on your organizing list. It will make next year's holidays a breeze!

Double Duty

When choosing your holiday decorations, think and plan ahead. Keep it simple and make things work for more than one holiday. For example, purchasing a simple orange tablecloth will allow you to use it for both Halloween and Thanksgiving. You don't have to have one with pumpkins for Halloween and another one with turkeys for Thanksgiving.

Keeping your organizing for the holidays simple, you'll have less distractions and less clutter.

Focus On What Really Matters

Remember that people are more important than things. Make your family a priority. The "do, do, do" rush of the holidays can get you off center and out of focus. Remember, nobody ever said on their death bed: "I wish I spent more time decorating for the holidays."

Savor the Season

Talk with your family about the meaning behind the holiday and the traditions surrounding them. Find new meaning by starting your own family traditions.

Following these organizing for the holidays tips will keep you stress free and having more family fun.

45

You are going to read an article about the channel tunnel. For questions 1–8, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Recently I was offered the chance to travel by train through the channel tunnel between England and France. I went on the shuttle that carries cars. The site is not beautiful. There is a huge railway complex with tracks disappearing into a large hole, and a brand-new exhibition centre.

The location of trains is indicated by signs saying “France”. Cars must stop at the toll booths and French immigration points, where passports are shown. (Dealing with formalities here means you can drive straight off the train at the other end.)

The double-decker carriages are brightly lit, air-conditioned and very hi-tech. Loudspeaker announcements from the “Chef de Train”, an Englishman speaking very slow French, welcomed us aboard. A crew member with a walkie-talkie said the crossing would take about 35 minutes and passengers were expected to stay in or by their cars. He told me the shuttle employed several female drivers. “The most important requirement for the job is that they know about computers and learn French, especially the numbers. They practise by playing bingo.”

Then we started. We slid into the tunnel and hit our travelling speed of 80 mph. The ride was so smooth one was barely aware of any movement. It was, predictably, about as interesting as a ride round the London underground. Somewhere to sit and have a coffee would have been welcome, but a crew member said: “With the numbers we expect to carry, it just wouldn’t be practical.” (19)

After half an hour we shot back into the French daylight, had lunch, then came back. The return trip, however, did not go so smoothly. Halfway across, a fire alarm went off. We were all moved to a neighbouring carriage. Moments later, a young man appeared and said calmly: “Just practising. You can all go back!”

Then without warning, the train stopped. We found out that a lorry had fallen over during boarding. After half an hour we were still waiting. People were becoming mildly irritated, and the only person still smiling worked for a cross-channel ferry company.

Then, all at once, we moved off. Disembarking was swift and easy and, within minutes, we were driving on the left again through a wet English night. It had been an interesting day. I had enjoyed the experience of what will undoubtedly become routine in the 21st century; but for me, the attractions of the sea and the cry of gulls will always win in the end.