And some final comments

July 31st

What is it about Turkey?

So if I had to sum up in one word what I like about Turkey, that word would be

EVERYTHING!

We had such a great time here. But let’s get a bit more specific. First the top ten things I like about Turkey (in no particular order).

1. The people are very friendly
2. The food is very good
3. The wine is nice
4. The history is phenomenal
5. The prices are very reasonable
6. The water is crystal clear
7. The rugs are beautiful
8. The weather is warm (and sometimes hot)
9. The Canadian dollar goes a long way here
10. The people are very friendly (I know I said it twice, but it’s true)

Recommendations to others planing to go to Turkey.

• Visit Ephesus and picture yourself back during the Roman Empire
• Visit Pumukkale and swim in Cleopatra’s pool
• Visit Cappadocia and tour the caves and if possible stay overnight in one of the cave hotels
• Visit Istanbul and tour the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Cisterns, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. If you stay at the Faros Hotel, all these are within walking distance. Also consider doing a boat cruise on the Bosphorus.
• Buy a rug, the merchants will ship home and it will arrive (ours got home before we did)
• Eat the local food, it’s great
• Spend some time in Marmaris and just relax. Also take  a boat tour and enjoy some swimming and/or snorkeling
• Go with friends and share the experience

Things you don’t necessarily have to do.

• Cleopatra’s beach, you’re can only see if from a distance
• The Spice Market, it’s busy and unless you’re going to buy some spices, better to spend more time at the Grand Bazaar
• No real need to bring your snorkel gear to Marmaris (bring goggles though), the fish are close to the surface and the water is not too deep.

THANK YOU MINE!

We were very fortunate to be invited to go to Turkey by Mine and John (and Asena). Mine spent hours organizing everything and making sure everything ran smoothly. And if there was a bump in the road, she was on it and things moved forward. I know this trip wouldn’t have been the same without her. Thank you so much Mine.

And John thanks you too.

Mine, John and Asena

AND FRIENDS

We also got to enjoy this trip with our Westingham friends, Steve, Leean, Kylor and Nya

And we got to meet two new friends in Murat and Charlene. We very much look forward to spending more time with them back home.

THE MAP

So one month in Turkey and we got to see a small portion of this great country.

And we'll be back to see more of it, guaranteed!

Be sure to check out our next Blog

TURKEY 20??

One last day in Istanbul

July 30th

So our friends are on a plane back to Canada but we have one more day in Istanbul.

This morning Sheryl and Samantha did a tour of the Jewish district. Below are some photos which Sheryl has commented on.

Samantha really wanted to do a new tour called the Jewish District so we headed off in the morning.  There are not many Jews left in all of Istanbul (if I can remember only 20,000 remain) This tour allowed us to go inside the last Ashkenazi synagogue.  It was beautiful.  Samantha loved the stained glass windows and chandeliers.  An interesting fact is that this synagogue houses 21 torahs since the other 2 Ashkenazi synagogues closed.  Apparently we learned that Ashkenazi synagogues are supposed to have 7 torahs each.

  

We passed (but couldn’t go in) the synagogue above that experienced two attacks, one in the 1940’s and the other in 2003 (Al Qaeda took responsibility for this one).  It is only identified by megan davids on the on the outside.

We were taken to a monument that was built in honour of the 37 dead (34 Jews and 3 Muslims) and they explained that the 3 hands symbolize Muslims, Jews and Christians united.  To this day, all the shops in the area close for a moment of silence on the anniversary of the bombings. In this picture you can see two of the three hands and the word Baris which means peace.

There is a beautiful but small museum that have many artifacts from unique torahs, pointers, clothing and letters from several famous people.  We were not allowed to take pictures of anything inside.

 

Samantha signing the guest book.

In the afternoon I did a Turkish coffee tour. The tour was ok. I Saw the oldest coffee house in Istanbul and the oldest candy store. The tour ended with me making a cup of turkish coffee.

Tomorrow we return to Canada.

Our day in Ankara

July 29th

Rode back on the bus from Cappadocia last night arriving at the hotel around midnight. We only had a part day in Ankara today as we had to catch a flight be to Istanbul in the late afternoon. Spent the morning enjoying a local park and the afternoon touring the Ataturk Mausoleum. I previously did a short post on Mustafa Kemel Ataturk so won't repeat myself, but suffice it to say this was truly a great man. I suspect with what is happening with the current government, Ataturk is not resting that well. Hopefully the democracy and reforms he brought to Turkey will not be lost.

We were not allowed to take photographs inside the mausoleum but I did get a few pictures outside.

Entrance to the mausoleum

 Ataturk rests in this building

 beneath this tomb (had to take a photo)

 The changing of the guard

 Army

And Navy

And now we head back to Istanbul.

We've gone full circle and are now cavemen (cavepeople?)

July 27th and 28th

Yesterday (July 26th) was a travel day. We said goodbye to our friends (they were much more than staff) at Three Brothers and made our way to the airport where we flew to Ankara. Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the most modern city we've been to so far in this country. Had a great meal as every meal to date has been and then hit the sack for an early start on the 27th.

And early it was. Woke up at 4:30, stubbed my toe trying to find the washroom, got cleaned up, dressed and made my way to the bus station for a 5 hour ride to Cappadocia.  Although it was a long ride with only one stop, we found it quite comfortable. The seats all have individual TV's with several channels (all in Turkish). I discovered that when you're watching movies with lots of gun play and fighting it really doesn't matter what language they are speaking to still enjoy the movie. Also the bus companies run similar to the airlines in that there were two attendants who offered sweets and tea throughout the ride. Greyhound could learn something here. We also met a lovely lady from Germany who was doing a solo trip to Cappadocia and she joined us for this portion of the trip.

The history of Cappadocia goes back to 600BC. The people who lived here were constantly being invaded and as such moved to the mountains and beneath the cities to hide from the various invaders. I probably took over a hundred photos of this area and still it will be difficult to describe this place, but here it goes.

So this is me standing in from of a village (or maybe a city). Can't really see much in the background.

After an earthquake, part of the mountain falls away revealing the village behind it. 

I added this photo to give an idea of the size of the mountain village behind us.

Throughout these mountains there are villages which still haven't been discovered. It wasn't till 1960 when a small earthquake brought this village to light (so to say).

Typical family dwelling. The hole in front of us is for cooking and heat (not sure where the bathroom is)

Some rooms like this are communal spaces. Here up to 50 people can sit and eat. Also looks like a primitive bowling alley but that was invented in a different century.

When the Christians occupied these caves, they added spaces as churches and painted the walls and ceilings accordingly.

With the addition of our new friend Judith (pronounced Udith - the J is silent), I now officially have 111 friend on Facebook. Judith works for the Coca Cola Company in Germany so I no longer drink Pepsi (not that I ever did).

The larger cities were above ground but they built caves below where they could hide for up to 5 weeks when there was a war or invasion. Some of these underground cities would extend five or six stories below ground.

The start of our underground tour.

If there was an invasion, everyone would head below ground and the last few people would roll this stone across the various cave openings so that no one could follow behind.

And then you just keep heading down. Animals (and bathrooms) were on the first level. Grains and vegetables were kept on the second level along with the kitchens and throughout the rest of the levels where various communal rooms and family homes.

Most of the walkways had very low ceilings and you had to crouch to get through (well most of us did anyway).

 Although there were wells throughout with water at the bottom, like me these people enjoyed their wine. Large clay containers of grapes would ferment here.

And be drained into this basin once ready.

We were only allowed down to the third level. Not sure how many feet below ground we are but would guess  around 30 feet.

An idea of what it's like moving around down there.

Our first night was also a treat in that we got to sleep in one of the many Cave Hotels in Cappadocia. We were a little worried at first what this experience might be like but were pleasantly surprised when we saw our room

 Welcome to our suite

 Which also includes an outdoor seating area

For those of you in construction, here is the before picture. The owner is adding three new suites below ours.

A labour of love chiseling away at this rock.

PS, did I mention the food in Turkey is great!

Tomorrow, back to Ankara.

Happy Birthday Mine

July 24th

Got to sleep in today, then sleep by the pool and later slept by the sea. Also ate and drank. And then went to bed.

July 25th

Same as above except for the evening when we celebrated

MINE'S BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,...

John arranged a dinner for everyone at Three Brother's, then we walked down the beach to another hotel where front row seats were waiting to hear this band.

No birthday is complete without a cake and some Raki to help digest.

Tomorrow we leave for Ankara and Cappadocia

Most expensive sand in the world

July 23rd

And another boat trip and swim-fest. Today was a short history lesson and a then some swimming.

First the history.

We headed for Sedir Island, which is more commonly know as Cleopatra's Island. Here is where Cleopatra and Mark Anthony vacationed. Cleopatra wasn't fond of the sand here so Mark Anthony ordered 7 boat loads of sand from the Sahara Desert in North Africa. What some guys won't do eh! There was a time when tourists were allowed to walk on the sand but now the government has roped it off to preserve this treasure of sand.

You can't walk on it but you can walk around it and swim up to it.

The rest of the day was spend at a number of bays. I forgot the waterproof camera so the only shots we have are from Sheryl's iPhone from the boat. Too bad as we found a large sea shell inhabited by a sea slug (we think) and a small octopus.

Also found one starfish there in the middle.

Happy on the outside but on the inside a little sad I forgot the camera, sorry about that.

Our day in Greece

July 22nd

So another early morning to catch a bus, to catch a ferry, to go to Rhodes for the day (and get another stamp in our passports).

Rhodes has an interesting history. Originally a greek island, a number of countries have laid claim to this piece of earth. During the Medieval period, the island was purchased by some Knights. In 1522 the Turks occupied Rhodes. They were given the boot by the Italians in 1912. Then a fellow by the name of Hitler decided he wanted it, but that was short lived and Greece was given back the island after the second world war.

There are a number of ruins here, but not as well kept as some of the sites we've seen in Turkey. What is referred to as the Old City of Rhodes is behind a stone wall with two dry moats which are in fairly good shape. Inside the walls is the Palace of the Grand Master which is in very good shape but we're told that was because a fellow by the name of Mussolini wanted a summer place here and had the Palace rebuilt in the 1943. Anyway enough history, here are the pictures

The entrance to Rhodes from the sea. It is said this is where the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, once stood here.

One of the dry moats surrounding the city

The Palace of the Grand Master

And the Grand Master

The Street of Knights. Apparently there were about 800 Knights, most of who lived along this street.

A video from the town square.

Had a great day (again)