The Quiet Charms of Akbuk

Akbuk is perfectly situated as it is only 40 minutes drive from Bodrum airport, and is just 15 km from Altinkum, and it is fast becoming a sought-after location. The small town has a real sense of history as it used to be primarily a fishing village, but is rapidly growing into a well-developed tourist resort which has its own harbour, villas and hotels.

The area around Akbuk is protected forest and olive trees, and it has a beautifully peaceful feel to it. Activities here include hiking, fishing, water sports, or you can simply choose to relax around the pretty little bay or on one of the gorgeous beaches. Lake Bafa is just a 10 minute drive away, or if you feel like enjoying a little nightlife then Altinkum is easily within reach.

Akbuk has one of the highest oxygen ratios and lowest humidity in the heart of Turkey, and this makes it an extremely healthy place in which to live or holiday. It is often recommended by doctors to those suffering from asthma. The beaches and bays here are very clean, and although not terribly big, they have a lovely family oriented atmosphere.

Akbuk appeals to people looking for a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, and it is extremely popular amongst retired people and families. It gets even better when you consider that high density housing isn't allowed here, and no buildings over two and a half storeys high are allowed.

Akbuk truly feels like little piece of paradise, but has sufficient amenities to allow for day-to-day living with lots of mini supermarkets selling groceries, and of course Altkinkum is just a short drive away, if you happen to feel the need to visit a large and busy supermarket.

Liberal Opposition Candidate Wins Cape Verdean Presidency

The Presidency for Cape Verde has finally been settled and was won by the liberal opposition candidate, Jorge Carlos Fonseca who beat is socialist rival Manuel Inocencio Sousa with 54.9% of the vote compared to 45.91%.

He won the campaign by promising to modernise the economy, reduce unemployment rates and keep economic growth steady. The outcome of the election means that the Prime Minister and the President are from two different parties, as the Prime Minister José Maria Neves stands for the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde, which has a Parliamentary majority of 37 out of 72 seats.

It is a Parliamentary democracy, and the Presidency is very much a ceremonial role. The election was calm and peaceful, and was monitored by the Economic Community of West African States who reported no major irregularities. However the observers did note that there was a need for greater voter participation. Although 305,000 people were registered to vote, only around 60% actually bothered to do so.

Cape Verde is one of the most stable and prosperous nations in Africa, and it has a burgeoning tourism and service industry as the country has few natural resources. The service sector represents around 75% of GDP, while tourism accounts for around 25%. The country had 400,000 visitors in 2010, but this number is increasing rapidly due to ongoing construction of a number of resorts and developments.

In 2008 Cape Verde was only the second African country after Botswana to be promoted by the United Nations from the list of the 50 least developed countries. It is also likely to be one of the few African countries who will meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Exciting and Vibrant Hurghada

Hurghada attracts thousands of visitors each year and is one of the top resorts in Egypt, but it has only undergone this transformation during the last few years, as it used to be a small fishing village. Although it has grown substantially over the last decade or so it has still managed to retain much of its historic charm, and it still feels authentically Egyptian.

It is perfect for anyone looking to completely relax on holiday, and is a great year round destination, packed full of amenities designed to appeal to international tourists from around the globe. Demand for accommodation here has increased substantially over the last few years, and there have been many new luxury developments designed to cater for second home buyers and buyers looking for investment property, and as such there is plenty of rental accommodation to choose from.

Egypt is just five hours away from the UK, and there are numerous charter flights and flights with low-cost airlines from most UK airports. The international airport at Hurghada is just a short transfer away from the main resort. Average temperatures here are well over 30°C, and it remains warm all year round.

While the excellent weather and beautiful beaches are part of a major attraction here, there is still plenty to do and see inland. You don't have to travel far from the resort before you are in the desert, and there are lots of exciting trips which allow you to explore this beautiful but hostile landscape. You can also choose to book longer trips to see some of the major historical sites in Egypt, or of course you could choose to just relax, which is of course the whole point of going on holiday.

Exploring the Cape Verdean Island of Santo Antao

Cape Verde consists of several different islands, and not all of them are inhabited, however all of them offer breathtaking scenery. The island of Santo Antao is particularly good for sightseers, as it is the most northern island in the archipelago and is also one of the most rugged. It makes a great break for a couple of days from the livelier island of Sao Vicente, and while the ferry takes just under an hour from Mindelo, it could be a world away.

It is a collection of volcanic mountains which is ideal for keen hiker's as the peaks rise to more than 1,500 m in several places, and the very highest peak, Top de Coroa is an impressive 1,979 m high. The terrain here is perhaps some of the most beautiful in the world, as there are lush tropical green valleys and sheer mountainsides. One of the valleys is called Janela, and there are inscriptions on the ancient rock dating back to the 1400s which strongly suggest that the island was inhabited by a civilisation before the Portuguese arrived.

If you choose to visit this island you'll also enjoy a spectacular car journey over the spine of the island to the town of Ribeira Grande. The road is 26 km long and was built from volcanic stones lifted from the mountains and laid by hand. The mountains dominate the landscape either side of the road, and the road is lined with eucalyptus and pine forests.

Santo Antao is the second largest of the Cape Verdean islands, and has the third largest population with just over 47,000 people living here permanently. It may not have the exclusive resorts which attract so many people to these islands, but it does make a nice escape for a couple of days at least.

Buying Property in Didim Altinkum

Didim Altinkum is one of the most popular holiday resorts in Turkey, and it's easy to see why as it enjoys a mild climate all year round, it has excellent beaches and crystal clear waters, and enjoys a huge amount of sunshine, so it's no wonder the people here are so friendly and cheerful.

The area has excellent amenities and a number of important archaeological sites including the Temple of Apollo which isn't to be missed. There are a number of daily tours from the resort which include boat trips and sightseeing excursions. If you love snorkelling there are some great secluded bays which are only accessible by boat, and there are also some great spots for scuba divers to enjoy.

The international airport has good connections with all major European airports, and this has made it one of the most popular resorts in which to buy property during the last decade or so. There is a huge range to choose from here, which ranges from apartments to detached villas, and the prices can vary according to each resort.

Anyone thinking of buying property here is advised to take their time and explore all the options. It's also a good idea to talk to foreigners who live here for much of the year or even year-round, and to ask their opinion of the different areas. It's also worth checking to see how close a property is to local amenities and public transport, and something which is often neglected is to check which way the property faces to see how much sun it will receive.

Advantages of Holidaying in Hurghada

Hurghada is a relatively new resort but is fast becoming an international centre for aquatic sports. Obviously the most popular on-water activities here are snorkelling and diving, but it's also possible to do deep sea fishing, sailing and windsurfing. The warm waters here make it ideal for all kinds of watersports, and are extremely conducive for the large numbers of rare fish and coral reefs, which can also be observed from glass bottom boat if you really don't want to get your feet wet.

There is a huge choice of accommodation in Hurghada, which includes four and five star hotels, although a lot of people choose to rent self-catering accommodation as much of it is new, and is often quite luxurious.

Hurghada has a reputation as a party town, particularly amongst Europeans as there are many clubs here, but the resort is also popular with older Europeans who come here for family holidays as it is easy enough to find quieter parts of town.

The resort is still developing, and facilities will only get even better in the future, and there are various communities being developed just outside the main resort. These include El Gouna, a resort community constructed along 10 km of the beautiful beachfront to the north of Hurghada, and offering visitors a wide choice of activities.

It is an internationally certified diving centre, but also offers kite surfing, and it has the distinction of being the first professional centre in Egypt to do so. It also has an 18-hole US PGA golf course should you get too bored of lying on one of the gorgeous beaches. In short Hurghada has something for everyone and caters for all ages.

Cape Verde Voting in New President

Cape Verde is currently voting to decide who will be the next president of this tiny Archipelago which consists of 10 main islands and eight islets. It is considered to be a politically and economically stable country, in spite of having little natural resources.

The current president Pedro Pires, who is a member of the ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV)was first elected in 2001 and is stepping down after two terms. During these terms he has seen a decade of growth averaging 6% annually, the construction of three international airports and a huge improvement in infrastructure.

A vote on the Sunday saw the former Foreign Minister and law professor, Jorge Carlos Fonseca from the opposition Movement for Democracy (MFD) pull slightly ahead of his rival Manuel Inocencio Sousa for the PAICV. Fonseca gained 37% of the votes while Sousa gained 33.9%.

The second round of voting takes place on August 21 and Sousa is confident of gaining more votes while Fonseca is equally confident of winning the presidency for the opposition party. These two parties have dominated politics in the Archipelago since multi-party elections were first held in 1991, and both have ruled for around 10 years.

The whole voting process was overseen by an 80 member observer mission from the Economic Community of West African States, and was proclaimed to be calm and orderly with no irregularities recorded. In February the PAICV won a majority in parliament, and legislative polls saw the current Prime Minister Jose Maria Neves re-elected as head of government.

Things to do near Fethiye

Fethiye makes an excellent base for holidays or longer stays as there is plenty to see and do nearby. The area is rich in archaeological sites and on the most impressive is at nearby Patara. At the moment archaeologists are busy working at the site which contains the world’s first democratic parliamentary building, and it's even easy to recognise the ruins as such.

The ruins show that the first Parliament, which was where the Lycian League met, had semicircular seating. The earliest evidence of this League dates back to around 205 BC, but it's thought to have been operational a long time before this date. The League continued to rule well in to the first millennium, as it was even allowed to continue governing after the Romans moved into the area.

As well as containing the first democratic parliamentary building it seems likely that this area also has the oldest lighthouse in the world. Restoration work is currently ongoing, but it's likely to date back to around 60 A.D. and was dedicated to Emperor Nero. Although ancient ruins might not be everyone's cup of tea, it does make a pleasant trip out before returning back to Fethiye to enjoy one of the spectacular sunsets.

You'll find that many people congregate around the newly extended promenade and it does make a lovely spot to have a drink or a meal, or simply to enjoy a stroll. In fact there are many spots along this particular stretch of coastline which are pretty beautiful in the early evening sun, and it's easy to see why so many people choose to buy property here, or simply return here year after year for their annual summer holidays.

Cape Verde Attracted $111 Million in Foreign Investment during 2010

According to a World Investment Report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Cape Verde received around $111 million in foreign direct investment during 2010, and although this is $8 million less than the previous year it is extremely respectable considering the world financial crisis. The African Development Bank has issued a report called "Economic Outlooks in Africa," and this noted that Cape Verde's focus on public investments had enabled it to buck the trend which has seen foreign direct investment fall in many countries over the last year or so.

According to the report the economy in Cape Verde cannot generate sufficient funds to enable its continuing development, as the Archipelago has a lack of natural resources and a balance of trade deficit. The report goes on to say that foreign direct investment is key for the development of Cape Verde, and helps to compensate for some of the deficiencies within the economy.

Although tourism remains the sector which generates the most investment, there are clear signs that this investment is diversifying, and there are now far more investors from northern Europe in comparison to southern Europe. Prior to 2006 the majority of investment came from Portugal, Italy and Spain, but during the last few years investments from the United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium and Ireland have become far more important.

A recent report from Rightmove Overseas sound that searches for property in Cape Verde have increased by a massive 46% over the last month or so, which may be partially due to the availability of low-cost direct flights.