I have thought of travelling to Turkey for the total eclipse of the sun that happens on Wednesday, March 29, 2006. Maps of the path of totality in various sizes can be found at:
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEmono/TSE2006/TSE2006.htmlThe path of totality extends from west Africa to Siberia. Turkey seems like the easiest country to visit along the path. Paths of totality are defined by the geometry of the sun, earth, and moon, naturally without regard to the presence of tourist infrastructure. The result is often an eclipse that happens in a place where there are very few hotel rooms, all of which are booked by eclipse tour companies a couple of years in advance. These companies offer expensive tour packages that include speakers on astronomy and visits to interesting sites in whatever area the eclipse path takes you.
This eclipse, however, is passing over the city of Antalya in a resort area of the mediterranean coast of Turkey, and it will be off-season for normal tourists. So I would think that many hotel rooms (and other things like seats on planes, busses and trains, or rental cars) would be available. The many ancient Greek ruins along that coast should also be less crowded.
I'm interested to know how far in advance I might need to schedule this thing. Lonely Planet says that it probably won't be cold on the coast at that time, but likely will be inland. I'm interested in other general advice. I have friends who have visited Turkey, and they all loved it. Of course I wouldn't miss Istanbul.
I don't want a package tour. They are too expensive, I don't care so much about lecturers, and I don't think I need that kind of help in Turkey. An eclipse tour would probably be helpful in providing things like solar telescopes, though.
I have heard that driving in Turkish cities is insane, but not so bad in parts of the countryside. I wonder what it would be like driving in a small Turkish city like Antalya. Having one's own car can be handy if there are clouds in Antalya (or wherever I was staying) on the day, but clear skies elsewhere along the path.
My friend went to Cochin in southern India for a wedding. He took videotape of the traffic there. That image is on my mind when I think about renting a car in an Asian country.
