Trabzon, Turkey

The Northern coast of Turkey, borders the Black Sea and stretches 650 miles from the Georgian border to the Bosphorus. The coast is backed by forest-clad mountains and is sparsely populated. As the largest port on Turkey's Black Sea Coast, Trabzon today serves an interesting role as a go-between for the countries of the ex-Soviet Union, and for Russia as well. This modern town of over 200,000 is thoroughly commercial and crowded, with a fascinating blend of cultures and lifestyles. As one of the cities on the "Silk Road", it has a long history of trading. An hour's drive south of Trabzon, at 3,900 feet in the mountains is the remarkable Sumela Monastary, built into a sheer cliff face. The Orthodox monastery was founded in 386 AD and its present form dates from about 1350. The site was abandoned in 1923, following forced population exchanges between Greece and Turkey. Standing in the Atlindere National Park, it overlooks forests and streams, making it popular for its aesthetic attractions as well as for its cultural and religious significance.