Akbuk is Perfect for Anyone Looking for Peace and Quiet

Akbuk is one of the most perfect holiday locations for anyone looking for a little peace and quiet in beautiful surroundings. The scenery here is absolutely breathtaking as the resort is set against a beautiful mountain backdrop and is surrounded by pine forests. The blue waters of the Aegean are beautifully clear, and the environment is renowned for being extremely healthy due to its low humidity and high oxygen levels.

Although it is a peaceful little resort, it still has all the amenities to offer holiday makers a trouble-free and enjoyable break. There is a good selection of local shops selling everything you need for day-to-day living, as well as a weekly market which is held every Friday, and which is great for purchasing super fresh and super cheap fruit and vegetables.

If you feel the need to visit larger shops then the resort of Altinkum is just 15 minutes’ drive up the road. Akbuk enjoys around 300 sunny days a year, and although temperatures can reach into the 40s during the summer months there is almost always a cooling breeze from the surrounding mountains.

Although it might be tempting to spend your whole time relaxing on one of the lovely beaches, it would be a shame not to explore the surrounding area as it is pretty interesting. There are numerous historical sites nearby including the Temple of Apollo at Didyma, Ephesus and The House of the Virgin Mary.

There are also lots of boat tours available from the harbour during the summer months so you will never be bored. In fact many people choose to return year after year, or even buy property here because they love it so much.

Why visit Altinkum?

There are such a huge number of resorts in Turkey to choose from, so why pick Altinkum? In fact there are many valid reasons for picking this resort. Firstly it is set in one of the most beautiful parts of the world but is conveniently close to Bodrum and Izmir international airports both of which have numerous budget priced flights from the UK.

The weather in Altinkum is extremely pleasant and it’s renowned for its high oxygen content making it perfect for anyone with asthma or other respiratory disorders. If you translate its name then you'll find it actually means Golden Sand which is a clue to the superb beaches here.

The resort has three main beaches and they are perfect for families and children as the beach gently shelves into the water. The beaches are also ideal for anyone who just wants to relax and take it easy, and there are always plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas available to rent for a reasonable price.

If you are easily bored by lying on a beach all day, then you'll also find a great selection of watersports which include banana boat rides, jet skis, windsurfing and the more sedate pedalos. It's one of those places where you can choose to do a lot or very little, so it's ideal for families or groups where everyone is looking for something different. There are plenty of bars and lively restaurants, but at the same time it's easy to find quieter spots where you can simply get away from it all and recharge your batteries.

Attractions on the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands is a luxury upmarket destination which is renowned for its beautiful beaches and good year-round weather. It's fair to say many of the attractions on the islands are beach centred, but there are also a good choice of activities for those times when you feel like seeing a little more of the scenery.

One of the best-known beaches is Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman which is frequently named as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. There are numerous beach bars and restaurants located here, and you'll find most of the resort hotels on the island are situated on this beach.

Perhaps the best-known attraction on Grand Cayman is Stingray City which is renowned for being one of the top places in the world for shallow dives and snorkelling. If you visit the spot then you'll have the chance to hand feed these amazing creatures as they are incredibly tame.

If you are looking for some of the best snorkelling and diving in the Caribbean then Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman is one of the best sites around. Cayman Brac also has some great dive sites and the opportunity to visit wrecks. It's also the least visited of the Cayman Islands, but has the most dramatic scenery and is great for anyone who likes walking, bird watching and of course diving.

Back on dry land another very popular attraction is Queen Elizabeth the second Botanic Park which is on Grand Cayman and displays the islands native flora and fauna and includes a lake area which is a natural habitat for the Cayman Blue Iguana.

Millennium Challenge Corporation Signs Five-Year, $66.2 Million Aid Agreement with Cape Verde

The Millennium Challenge Corporation has just signed a five-year agreement with Cape Verde which is worth $66.2 million. The money will be used to help reform the nation's sanitation, water and land management sectors, and will also be used to aid economic growth.

Some $41.1 million of the money will be used to help Cape Verde’s national regulatory institutions to become more financially sound and transparent. In addition money will be used to help utilities become commercial organisations and will improve the reach of sanitation and water services to households and businesses.

One of the problems faced by Cape Verde is the scarcity of water, and this latest project is expected to benefit around 278,000 people.

Another $17.3 million of the agreement is to be used to help improve the investment climate in the country for small investors. This will be achieved through strengthening the protection of land rights, decreasing land registration time and costs and refining the legal and institutional environment to make the process more transparent.

This isn't the first Millennium Challenge Corporation agreement, as the first $100 million agreement was signed in 2005 and completed in October 2010, and was extremely successful. The aim of that agreement was to help transform the economy into one led by private sector growth, and it focused on improving infrastructure so citizens had better access to jobs, social services and ports and airports.

The agreement also saw substantial improvements in Cape Verde’s agricultural sector, as well as reforms in its financial sector. There is no reason to think this latest agreement will not be just as successful.

Cape Verde, a Well-Kept Secret amongst Those in the Know

As yet not many people have heard about Cape Verde, but that is all set to change. It's an archipelago formed of 10 different islands in the Atlantic Ocean just a few hundred miles off the coast of West Africa. The islands origins are volcanic, but each has its own very different personality.

You'll find Sal, Boa Vista and Maio to be flat, sandy and dry. In contrast most of the remaining islands have far more vegetation and are much rockier. The islands are quite dry, so there isn't that much green vegetation, but this does mean that holidaymakers are almost assured of a nice sunny break.

Cape Verde was originally discovered and colonised by the Portuguese in the 15th century but achieved independence in 1975. The population is around half a million with a quarter living in the capital city of Praia. The country is very stable and democratic and is often held up as being a good example amongst African nations; it enjoyed substantial economic growth between 2000 and 2009.

Its economy is very much service oriented and increasingly focused on tourism and this industry is one of the fastest growing in the world. It is being hailed as the new Caribbean or Canary Islands but is much more affordable.

Cape Verde also has the advantage of being just a few hours flight away so it's perfect for long weekends or week long breaks. It's beaches are utterly stunning, especially on the island of Sal where there are miles of white sandy beaches, perfect for anyone dreaming of a desert island getaway, but be sure to get here fast before everyone finds out.

The Peaceful Attractions of Akbuk

Akbuk was originally a small fishing village and is in a beautiful location as it is surrounded by mountains and pine forests, giving the village its enviably healthy air with a high oxygen content. Anyone choosing to live or holiday here is assured of a peaceful and relaxing time as it is not somewhere to come if you are after a lively nightlife.

The small town centre has a good selection of shops where you can buy everything you need for day-to-day living, and there is also a good weekly market which is well worth a visit for its super fresh fruit and vegetables. If you want a bigger selection of shops then Altinkum is just a short drive away.

It's the kind of place where people return year after year, and many have retired here from much larger cities. Tourism has become much more important to Akbuk in recent years, and former fishing boats now take holidaymakers on trips along the coast during the summer months. However it's not in any danger of being overdeveloped as planning laws are quite strict so it should remain a tranquil and relaxing destination.

If you feel like having a break from relaxing then Lake Bafa is only a few miles away. It's a great spot for keen birdwatchers as it is one of Europe's biggest bird refuges. It's a beautiful place to explore and is great for hikes. Akbuk is also an excellent location from which to explore historic sites, visit local villages and learn a little more about the rich culture of Turkey.

EU Grants GSP+ Status to Cape Verde

Last month the EU granted Cape Verde Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) + status. This is a trade scheme which gives the archipelago preferential access to the EU market provided certain conditions of good governance are fulfilled.

Any country benefiting from GSP+ must adhere to 27 core international conventions that implement good governance, which respect human and labour rights, as well as conventions which respect the environment. Cape Verde has fulfilled all these provisions to benefit from the enhanced access to the EU. In addition Cape Verde can continue to enjoy this preferential access after its graduation from the "Everything But Arms" (EBA) initiative.

Cape Verde is the first African nation to sign up to this scheme which should help the country continue on its path to sustainable development. GSP+ and EBA currently give preference for exports from 176 developing countries into the EU. Until 2008 Cape Verde was classified as being a "Least Developed Country" and after graduating from this status was given a three-year transition period, which expired at the end of last year in order to allow market operators to adjust to a different tariff regime.

Cape Verde is involved in negotiations for a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between West Africa and the EU. This agreement would give West African countries much greater development prospects as it not only allows goods to be traded more freely but also services and investments which are quickly becoming a major part of Cape Verde’s economy.

The GSP scheme is due to expire on the 31 December 2013 and the present system is already being discussed by the European Parliament to enhance the attractiveness of the scheme and ensure better compliance to the 27 conventions. At the moment the EU is Cape Verde's main export and import partner, as in 2010 Cape Verde exported €36 million worth of goods, most of which were foods and textiles.