Miami - Norwegian Gem Focus of Fine Living Network’s Ultimate Cruise Guide - Aug 11, 2008 - Norwegian Gem, NCL’s newest Freestyle Cruising ship, takes center stage in Fine Living Network’s new one-hour special: The Ultimate Cruise Guide. The special was filmed during a seven-day Western Mediterranean cruise aboard Norwegian Gem and will premiere on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 10 p.m. EST.

The show presents a complete guide to everything a viewer needs to know about cruising, featuring insider tips from Norwegian Gem’s officers and a first-hand look at cruising through the eyes of the Walkers, a family of four from New York with children ages six and 10, and Joey and Joy, a young, professional couple on a romantic getaway, as they explore the ship’s on-board amenities and NCL shore excursions.

Viewers will vacation alongside the Walkers and Joey and Joy as they set out on their European cruise on Norwegian Gem. During the cruise, Joey and Joy use the time to unwind and relax from their busy Continue reading this post…

Melik Gazi Vault (Center): In the southeast of the city center, teh vault is thought to have been built in 13th century.

Cacabey (Medresesi) Mosque (Center): The theology school , which is at the city center, is constructed in 1271-1272 and currently used as a mosque.

It served as a astronomy institute during Seljuk period.Its minaret, which is seperate from the structure , was also used as an watch tower.

Lala Mosque (Lale Mosque-Center): It is in the city center and adjacent to Melik Gazi Vault.The architectural style of the mosque resemble to that of caravanserai and a mint.

Derefakılı Churches (Akçakent): Among the first Christian churches to have been built, these churches are located in Derefakılı Village, Akçakent district.

Ahi Evran Mosque and Mausoleum (Center): The mosque and mauso1eum , which was constructed in the name of Ahi Ervan, who was the founder of Ahilik Organization, in 1482, is at the city center.

One can climb the mausoleum by a ladder inside the mosque.

Alaaddin Mosque Konya is on Alaaddin Hill. The first Seljuk work of art dating back to 12th century, Alaaddin Mosque is not an organic whole since its plan has exposed to various changes in the course of time. On the magnificient pulpit of the first mosque made of ebony tree and dated 1155, there are epitaphs of Sultan Mesut and Kılıçaslan II and the names of Master Mengümberti on them.

Two different periods are observed in the mosque which is thought to have been constructed in accordance to the superiority of its pulpit as the most ancient Seljuk work of art.

Kırklareli

Cedit Ali Paşa Mosque (Babaeski): It is thouth that Mimar Sinan’s piece of art, mosque is constructed between 1561-1565. It is understood that it is repaired in 1832 from the inscription at west gate of the courtyard. Only mosque had reached today from the kulliye, composed of mosque, theology school, hamam, caravansary and library. A small model of Süleymaniye Mosque, mosque has single balcony.

Hızırbey Kulliye (Center): The kulliye,which is constructed in 1383 by Kösemihalzade Hızır Bey, is composed of hamam, mosque and arasta. It is also known as Büyük Mosque. Its body is demolished during Balkans War, and repaired in 1937.

Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Kulliye (Lüleburgaz): 1570 dated kulliye is a magnificent Ottoman piece of art with its mosque, hamam, theology school and caravansary. Sokullu Mosque, which is repaired in 1839, has an important place among sing domed mosques. Its minaret has been restored and reopened for worship.

Cavern Monastery (Vize): It is constructed with engraving to the rocks at slopes of the valley, which is north west of Vize province. Most attractive part of the cavern monastery is chapel, and this is very small.

Gazi Süleyman Paşa Mosque Church (Küçük Ayasofya, Vize): The church, which is between ramparts at Kale district, is turned into a mosque by Gazi Süleyman Paşa in 16th century. Frisk ruins can be selceted on plastered walls. Also Islamic period belonging chisel works are present. A complete church appearence is reigning on the structure.

Ayanikola Ayazma (Sacred Fountaın) and Monastery (Kıyıköy): Located near a rock at Papuç River Valley, the monastery can be accessible through two different roads from district andbank of the river.On the rock of 2m height on the road of the district there seven lines inscription.

Shaped totally by engraving into a rock, the structure made up of three sections.

Mevlana Mausoleum and Dervish Convent (Center): The idea of constructing such a structure was originated from the will of Sultan-ul Ulema Bahaeddin Veledin, father of Mevlana, when he wanted to be burried there after his death in 1230 and the structure turn out to take its shape as a single tomb was built upon his grave. After the death of Mevlana,a tomb was built there by Pervane Muiniddin and his wife Gürcü Hatun.

The most appealing section of the tomb is the Kubbe-i Hadra (Green Vault) above the graves of Hz. Mevlana and his son Sultan Veledin. Inside of the structure built by Architect Bedreddin during Seljuk Period in 1396 is coated with green tiles. The inner walls of the tomb was embellished with plaster relief and designs. The sarcophagus of Hz. Mevlana is one of the superior samples of wooden crafts of the period.Yet this high sarcophagus is above that of his father Sultan-ul Ulema Bahaeddin Veledin’s. On the north side of the tomb, there are Semahane( where Mevlevi dervishes perform the sema) and a small mosque constructed by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in 16th century.

The tomb has taken its current dervish convent structre as further religious and social architectural additions were carried out. Succeeding to the death of Mevlana that is from 1273 improvements as to the dervish convent building continued and it was converted into a museum after the Proclamation of the Republic. In the museum there are properties belonging to Mevlana and other dervishes as well as valuable samples of hand-painted erchiefs,handwritings, ornaments, wooden works of art and instruments of the Mevlevi music, carpets and pileless carpets.

Şeb-i Aruz Pool, on the other hand, is before the kitchen of the dervish convent. Within the frame of the annual commemoration ceremonies organized in the name of Mevlana, whirling dances of the Mevlevi dervishes( sema) around the pool are performed in certain days called as Şeb-i Aruz (Feast Day). Since the death of Hz. Mevlana was considered as a reunion with God, these days have been renamed as feast days. Most above all Hz. Mevlana is a great humanist, a perfect advocate of peace and a sage figure.