Turkey 2010

TURKEY Our 14 day journey through western Turkey in October 2010.

Our 14 day journey through western Turkey in October 2010.

Istanbul Canakkale Kusadasi Pamukkale Antalya Konya Cappadocia Ankara

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Istanbul Canakkale Kusadasi Pamukkale Antalya Konya Cappadocia Ankara

Conrad Istanbul Kolin Hotel Charisma Hotel Pam Thermal Hotel Sheraton Voyager Rixos Hotel Dedeman Nevsehir Crowne Plaza

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Conrad Istanbul Kolin Hotel Charisma Hotel Pam Thermal Hotel Sheraton Voyager Rixos Hotel Dedeman Nevsehir Crowne Plaza

2010

OCT 7 – OCT 20, 2010

Istanbul Canakkale Kusadasi Pamukkale Antalya Konya Cappadocia Ankara

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Conrad Istanbul Kolin Hotel Charisma Hotel Pam Thermal Hotel Sheraton Voyager Rixos Hotel Dedeman Nevsehir Crowne Plaza

Istanbul

Our first day was raining and cold as we had a day touring Istanbul prior to meeting up with our tour group that evening.

From Taksim Square we walked down Istiklal Caddesi and passed the Galata Tower.

The following day with our tour group we visited several sites in the Sultanahmet area – St Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the underground cistern.

In the evening we had a group dinner with a variety of folk dancers, belly dancers and a comic entertainer.

Gallipoli

Our drive to Gallipoli took us to the Aegean Sea and along the Dardenelles.

We stopped at several memorials including Anzac Cove and Lone Pine.

Late afternoon we crossed the Dardenelles by ferry for our overnight at the Kolin Hotel in Canakkale.

Our room in this new upmarket hotel overlooked their outdoor pools and views across the Dardenelles.

We had a short walk by the water then bought some nibblies from the large supermarket across the road which even sold motorbikes.

Troy

We visited the site of the historical town which no longer is by the sea as the deposits of silt have created much extra land which in time reduced the importance of the city and led to its demise.

This was a long day in the bus – we drove past entire fields of olive trees for most of the day.

At every town there are so many large apartment blocks and satellite dishes on every balcony and rooftop as well as many tiny chimneys that come from barbecue ovens.

We had some Turkish pizza at our lunch stop with the restaurant owner coming onto our bus as we were leaving and sang to us.

Pergamon

Continuing on from Troy our next stop was at Pergamon to visit the Asclepion, a fascinating ancient healing spa with natural springs, special healing rooms, tunnels and a theatre.

Ephesus

We drove to the upper gate at Ephesus at 8.30 am where we walked downhill stopping frequently for information about each area and occasionally being shown prints of what each area would have looked like when it was in tact.

It was a procession of tour groups but not as busy as it would get when the masses arrive from the large cruise ships that arrived this morning.

In the afternoon we drove back up into the hills to visit the Virgin Mary’s house. Only the base of the house was original and it was clearly visible that most of it had been rebuilt.

After queuing for some time everyone just walked in then out and back to the bus passing the wall where people place tissues with their wishes.

Perge

We toured the ruins of Perge which is the process of restoration. It was very warm and we were quite hot walking in the open sun.

We entered through the gates of the Roman built walls that followed the original fortifications and Hellenistic towers inside.

The building walls extremely thick and the Roman baths well preserved with the underground heating chambers visible.

Long colonnaded streets and the nymphaeum, and ornamental water fountain at the end of the street.

The massive horseshoe shaped stadium surrounded with domed enclosures.

Pamukkale

Along the walkway to the entrance to the limestone terraces were ancient ruins all around and a theatre still standing, natural thermal pools and a museum.

After a quick look at the thermal pools we headed straight for the terraces where we spent most of our time. The area we walked down is man made however the thermal water that flows over it has created the limestone formations similar to the natural terraces beside them.

Everyone had to be barefoot to walk here as to not damage the limestone. There was flowing water and lots of pools on the long walk downhill.

This area is quite unique and one of the highlights of our trip.

Antalya

Started the day at the old harbour surrounded by old Roman walls and boarded a Turkish gullet for our cruise, it was overcast, the distant views of the coastline with the rugged mountains in the background.

We hugged the coastline of tall and cliffs, some with interesting formations and past several waterfalls before stopping for a swim.

Then to the fascinating Anatlya Museum with displays of statues and sarcophagi that were quite something to see.

Aspendos

About an hour from Antalya was the Roman theatre at Aspendos, extremely well preserved and unlike the Greek theatres has a backdrop to the stage, arches at the top of the theatre to improve the acoustics and tunnels beneath the seating area.

After leaving Aspendos we drove through the mountains for about two hours, rocky and interspersed with cedar trees before stopping for a lunch break.

Konya

After arriving in the large city of Konya, we stopped at the Mevlana Mausoleum which also serves as a museum to the Dervishers sect of Islam.

We had to wear blue plastic covers over our shoes to enter. There were lots of historic artifacts, old Korans, one miniature version, tombs with hats on them.

Many visitors with hands clasped in a particular way as they prayed.

Next stop was the Karatay Koran School, then to the Rixos Hotel, about 6km out of town.

We were lucky enough to get a superior room on the tenth floor with larger bathroom and on the corner of the building with extensive views from the bedroom and bathroom.

Cappadocia

On the way to Cappadocia we stopped at a (Aksaray) caravansary, which were like roadside stops along the Silk Road to offer protection and supplies along the journey. Next the underground city at Saratli.

We then stopped for lunch at Nevsehir before checking in to the hotel Dedeman.

Early next morning ballooning over the amazing landscape with Goreme Ballooning.

Next to the Goreme Open Air Museum, a large religious complex of caves. On entering the small cave entrances reveal the churches with domes and pillars carved out of the rock and painted with frescoes. Some caves have stairways leading to other chambers.

Ankara

We left for Ankara with clear blue skies awash with hot air balloons.

Unlike most of our trip the countryside was quite flat and passed two very large salt lakes.

We arrived in Ankara early afternoon with our first stop at the Ataturk Mausoleum then to the Ankara Museum.

The museum is in a beautiful old building that was originally used as a bazaar.

Unlike the previous museum this contained mostly items predating the Greeks and Romans.

Shortly after we checked in to the Crowne Plaza.

Bosphorous River

The traffic was a nightmare on our way to our Bosphorus River cruise, taking some 50 minutes to reach the Galata Bridge area which could be walked in less time.

The boat was just for our tour group with Aidyn and Tibet giving commentary along the way as we left the Golden Horn into the Bosphorous – it was quite different looking from the river, mansions, palaces, mosques, restaurants and lots of people enjoying the waterfront.

After the cruise we went to the spice market at the end of the Galata Bridge.

This evening we had our farewell dinner at The Citadel, on the waterfront next to the ancient city walls.

The End

TURKEY Our 14 day journey through western Turkey in October 2010.

Our 14 day journey through western Turkey in October 2010.

Istanbul Canakkale Kusadasi Pamukkale Antalya Konya Cappadocia Ankara

       

Istanbul Canakkale Kusadasi Pamukkale Antalya Konya Cappadocia Ankara

Conrad Istanbul Kolin Hotel Charisma Hotel Pam Thermal Hotel Sheraton Voyager Rixos Hotel Dedeman Nevsehir Crowne Plaza

       

Conrad Istanbul Kolin Hotel Charisma Hotel Pam Thermal Hotel Sheraton Voyager Rixos Hotel Dedeman Nevsehir Crowne Plaza

2010