LETS SEE HOW MANY OF THESE FACTS YOU ALREADY KNEW
1. Istanbul sits on two continents
Let's start with a classic: Istanbul lives on two continents. The city is separated by the Bosporus, a strait, and thus consists of a European and an Asian part. Overall, 95% of Turkey is in Asia, and 5% is in Europe.
2. Ankara, not Istanbul, is the capital of Turkey
Many people assume that it is Istanbul that is the capital of Turkey, but actually, it is the city of Ankara that is the capital. Istanbul just happens to be Turkey’s largest city. Ankara has been an important trade centre throughout Turkey’s history and has grown to become a significant trading, art and cultural hub.
3. The original name of Istanbul is "Byzantium"
The name "Byzantium" has Greek origins and refers to Byzas, the founder of the city. In 324, it was renamed to “Constantinople”, and in 1930 it was changed to Istanbul.
4. The story of Santa Claus originated in Turkey
Born to wealthy parents, Nicholas was a Christian saint and Greek bishop of Myra, who was born in Patara. Once his parents died, he received a large amount of wealth, which he would give away to the poor and needy. Legend has it that he would drop bags of gold coins down the chimneys of houses, and provide fruits to children. His good deeds spread through Europe, and locals began integrating it with their myths and legends.
5. The Turks love tea
Although you may know Turkey for their coffee, 96% of the population drinks at least one cup of tea per day. Turkish tea is robust, and they serve it in small tulip-shaped glasses. Make sure to try all their extraordinary tea flavours during your travels.
6. Turkey has a young demographic
Turkey has the EU’s largest young population. The average age in Turkey is around 31, and only 9% of the country’s population is over 60.
7. Istanbul (Old Constantinople) was founded on seven hills
Similar to Rome, Istanbul was built on seven hills. However, this wasn’t a coincidence; the Byzantine Empire built the city that way to declare them as the new Rome. All seven hills are historically significant and studded with impressive mosques and gorgeous palaces.
8. The name "turquoise" actually comes from Turkey
Turquoise means ‘Turkish stone’. The beautiful mineral came to Europe from the Orient via Turkey and is one of the oldest gemstones in history. They were first used as amulets by Turkish soldiers.
9. The national sport of Turkey is oil wrestling
Also known as grease wrestling, oil wrestling is one of the oldest sports in Turkey. When wrestling with oil, the fighters douse themselves with oil beforehand and then face their opponent.
10. There are 82,693 mosques in Turkey
Turkey is home to some of the most beautiful mosques in the world, as about 99% of all Turks are Muslims. One of the most breathtaking mosques in Turkey is the Sultanahmet Mosque, popularly known as the ‘Blue Mosque’ in Istanbul.
11. Turkey is the largest producer of hazelnuts
Turkey supplies approximately 75% of the world’s production of hazelnuts and is thus one of the pillars of the Turkish export market. Mainly due to its favourable weather conditions for hazelnut production, hazelnut fields stretch along the Black Sea coasts of Turkey.
12. Turkey has an impressive self-sufficient agriculture
Agriculture is the main occupation of the majority of the Turkish population, as almost half the country consists of agricultural land. Historians believe that many agricultural systems originated in Turkey. Due to its fruitful soil, favourable climate and plentiful rainfall, in terms of food production, Turkey is one of the few self-sufficient countries in the world.
13. The Turks love their bread
In Turkey, almost every meal comes with fresh bread (ekmek), and the best part of the meal is soaking up the juices and oils of other dishes with your bread. The giving of ekmek is significant in Turkey because, in Islamic belief, bread sustains life. Due to this, bread is never wasted.
14. There are more than 30 ethnic languages in Turkey
Although Turkish is the official language of the country, more than 30 other languages are spoken regularly, including Arabic, Kurmanji and Zazaki to name a few.
15. The "Evil Eye" is the best-selling souvenir
The “Nazar boncuğu”, or “evil eye”, is a stone made from molten glass, iron and copper. A 3000-year old tradition, it is worn to protect the wearer from evil forces. The belief is that the blue colour of the stone has the power to shield from negative energy.
16. We owe coffee to the Turks
Although coffee doesn't come from Turkey, the Turks brought coffee to Europe in the 16th century. When in Turkey, try their classic mocha coffee, brewed in a cezve, a small copper pot.
17. Turkish women could leave their husbands for coffee
Yes, you read that right. A few hundred years ago, Turkish women had legal grounds to get a divorce if their husbands couldn’t provide them with something as essential as coffee.
18. The Grand Bazaar has more than 3000 stores
The “Kapalı Çarşı” in Istanbul dates back to the 14th century and is now a labyrinth of 61 streets with around 3000 shops - definitely worth a visit.
19. Istanbul Airport is a major aviation hub
All airlines fly to worldwide destinations from Istanbul. Turkish Airlines alone flies to more than 260 destinations.
20. Noah's Ark allegedly landed on Mount Ararat
Many believe that Noah's biblical ark arrived on the Ararat volcano. The mountain is beautiful to look at and is home to incredible natural diversity. It’s one of the highlights of the country, so make sure to check it out when you visit.
MANILYA - INTERNATIONAL SHOW CLUB
By the beginning of the 90s, the communist system collapsed in the world and a stream of artists from the countries of the former communist camp poured into Turkey. The first foreign artists were groups from Romania and Bulgaria. And one of the first clubs that dared to change the usual system was the MANİLYA club. On the stage, in addition to the usual program, colorful dance groups appeared with a revue show. Beautiful European girls dancers began to squeeze out not only the Turkish program from the stage, but also local hostess girls. They began to be invited to the tables more often than Turkish hostesses. But the main explosion in the system of the clubs was 1991. Collapse of the USSR. It was a stream of the most beautiful groups with the strongest dance training. It covered Turkey like a wave. They completely supplanted the local hostesses in the hall and occupied the stage by 90%. Turkish performers were now invited as guests with a performance of no more than an hour. It was then that the term family club ceased to exist. It was a new era of nightlife in Turkey, the formation of tourist nightclubs. It was necessary to change the management structure, and Irfan Bey transferred the management of the club to his eldest son Suat Bey. From that moment on, the club received a Tourist License, which allows the recruitment of foreign personnel. Thus, Turkish artists no longer worked in the club, but show ballets, solo and hostesses from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Cuba and Brazil began to work. The club employed about 100 people at a time. After some time, the business of the Akin family began to expand, a hotel and car dealerships were opened. And the elder brother decided to control the new business, and transferred the management of the club to his younger brother Osman Bey. Osman Bey is still at the head of the club, preserving family traditions and the identity of the club. Club "MANILYA" has always distinguished itself from others in its design and level of clients. This is the hallmark of the club, which for more than 20 years has been the most preferred and visited nightclub in Turkey.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF WORK
- CITY: ANKARA
- CONTRACT TERMS: from 3 months to 1 year
- VISA: Work visa, issued at the Turkish Embassy of the artist's country of citizenship. Personal presence at the consulate is required. The visa is valid for 1 year. MULTI type of visa, which allows the artist in the middle of the contract to go on vacation home without interrupting the validity of the visa.
- SOCIAL SECURITY: Medical insurance is standard for work visas. Social insurance . At the end of the contract, the relevant documents are provided (relevant for citizens of Belarus). The Ministry of Internal Affairs issues a residence permit for a period of 1 year.
- ACCOMMODATION: The artist is provided with a hotel, for the accommodation of which he pays on his own once a week. The amount is included in the artist's bet. 1 day's stay costs 45 Turkish liras. Accommodation for 2-3 people per room. The room has all the necessary amenities and internet. The hotel also has shared washing machines. If the artist does not go to work, then, accordingly, he does not receive a salary on that day and the hotel pays itself.
- MEALS: Artists are provided with free meals 2 times a day in the club before and after work. During the work, the artist can order tea, coffee, water.
- DELIVERY TO THE CLUB: The club provides a transfer of minibuses for the delivery of artists from the club to the hotel and back. The artist pays himself 42 Turkish liras once a week.
- SCHEDULE OF WORK: from 22-00 to 06-00. Seasonal changes are negotiated additionally. The artist must be at the club from 21-00 to 21-30 (dinner).
- WORKING AND WEEKEND: The club is open 7 days a week, seven days a week. The club is closed on public holidays. Weekends are taken at their own expense, negotiated in advance with the management of the club. You cannot take weekends on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the exception of illness.
- FREE TIME: Free time of the artist from 13-00 to 21-00. In his free time, the artist can meet with the guests of the club, but only in public places. Any seclusion with the guests of the club in hotels and the like is a reason for unilateral termination of the contract.
- SALARY:
Show ballet dancer: rate 360 Turkish lira per day.
Solo artist (go-go, floor dance, vocals): rate 320 TL per day.
Hostess: rate 280 Turkish Lira per day.
The salary is issued in national currency once a week on Tuesdays.
Sunday is a working day, but without a salary, which is compensated by the increased payment for drinks that day.
- CONSUMATION: 1 drink 15 minutes - 8 round. lire. Sunday - round 10. lire. Drinks can be absolutely any. Alcohol is restricted to the use of the artist. With each drink, the artist receives a token, which at the end of the work he hands over to the cashier for recording. The calculation is received together with the salary once a week in a separate envelope. Extra bonuses by the end of the week sales results: 76 drinks - 500 liras, 91 drink - 700 liras, 141 drink - 1000 liras.
- VISA REGISTRATION AND FLIGHT: The club credits all the costs of obtaining a visa and the artist's flight, with a subsequent deduction from the salary.
- FUSION WORK: Is your manager and accompanies the artist from the moment of submission until the end of the artist's contract.