Europe Trip: Gecko's Turkey Tour

26 July - 13 August

Turkey the country that inhabits both Europe and Asia and has eight countries as neighbours, and yep you bet there is some history here. Dating back to the Neolithic period 10,200 BC so as you can imagine our brains occasionally through the tour were all a little boggled by the age of the ruins we have visited.

Istanbul - left had side is Europe the seas is the
Bosphorus sea and the right had land mass is Asia.

Arrived into Istanbul late at 11pm customs were easy and our trip into town uneventful as we followed all the locals to catch a Havatas bus to somewhere! From the bus stop we nabbed a taxi with complementary tour guide which took as through Taksim Square. For those asking yes the taxi is yellow and we were pleased ours had safety belts!!

Welcome to Istanbul population 15 million.

The tour planned is a Gecko's 18 Day starting in Istanbul and finishing in Şanlıurfa (Urfa). To check out the tours info try their web site http://www.geckosadventures.com/europe/turkey/turkey-meat-and-stuffing-2013

Day 1 and 2

Istanbul - the smell of fresh or burnt corn on the cob, street vendors polishing your shoes, the heat of the city and the people. We had two full days here cruising around the old part of town checking out the Hippadrome**, Sultana Ahmend Mosque (Blue Mosque) Grand and Spice Bazaar, Topaki Palace and a very very cheap trip of 10 Turkish Lira (NZ 5 dollars) for a hour and a half boat cruise on the Bosphorus Sea which is the worlds narrowest straight used for international navigation.

**Throughout the Byzantine period, the Hippodrome was the centre of the city's social life. Huge amounts were bet on chariot races, and initially four teams took part in these races, each one financially sponsored and supported by a different political party (Deme) within the Roman/Byzantine Senate: The Blues (Venetoi), the Greens (Prasinoi), the Reds (Rousioi) and the Whites (Leukoi). The Reds (Rousioi) and the Whites (Leukoi) gradually weakened and were absorbed by the other two major factions (the Blues and Greens). The rivalry between the Blues and Greens often became mingled with political or religious rivalries, and sometimes riots, which amounted to civil wars that broke out in the city. The most severe of these was the Nika riots of 532, in which an estimated 30,000 people were killed.

Day 3

Allied Trench close to Chunuk Bair

Departing Istanbul we cruised our way down through sunflower fields to the battle fields and cemeteries of Gallipoli. Which are just as moving as I expected them to be and it is incredible to view the slopes where our soldiers fought. It is here that we really appreciate our connections with the Turkish and that New Zealand and Australia are very well respected.This message is on a memorial prior to ANZAC Cove.

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours... you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.
- Ataturk 1934

There is also a well done movie called Gallipoli produced in 1981 Australian film directed by Peter Weir you maybe interested in watching.

Day 4

Troy - the legend from Homer's The Iliad which turned out to be true after it was rediscovered in 1868. The city well I don't want to give you a history lesson but if your interested have a read of the legend from Homer (in all good libraries) and check out the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy or http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/606871/Troy then again if your not into reading and you really do like your movies have a watch of the Hollywood produced Troy its not as good as your imagination but will do I. History and Classical studies were my favourite subjects at school and it is nice to be able to put the knowledge to use and to see these sights!

Day 5

Another few hours drive today in our van to Esphesus and Selçuk. We have spent lunch trying out Turkish pancakes - not my favourite quite bland cheese and spinach in a wrap and boy does it sit like a rock in your stomach. Visited a site referred to as the seven sleepers - which did have us confused with the differences between Islamic and Christianity poor tour guide. But Ephesus - I have never seen so much marble in one place before and yes I know some parts are reassembled but walking around the city of ruins in a 38 degree temperature with the sunlight shinning off it and viewing the statues free growing pomegranates, olives and figs - I just cant describe.....

We are hot and sweaty not so hungry rock is still in stomach and decide this is the perfect opportunity for Turkish Bath. Which I have been keen to visit since I spent a day in Bath England. I had no expectations and after the experience my back was rather good and minus one bruise on the inside of my arm I think I'm in better shape than the guys from the group who attended.

Day 6

Up on time this morning to catch the last few sights in Selçuk before heading over to Pamukkale.

Love this place! not only did I have a fantastic lunch after yesterdays Turkish pancake but Pamukkale roughly translates to Cotton Castle and when see the nature it sure makes sense why they called it this. The city contains hot springs and travertine, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water.** Where you can bathe!! So cool to be sitting up on the terraces looking out over the valley and I don't worry about the temperatures as I have now acclimatised and the sun is not as strong as at home.

**The deposits of calcium carbonate covers a section of hillside 70m long and expanse of 240m wide. The water is supersaturated with calcium carbonate and when it reaches the surface, carbon dioxide degasses from it, and calcium carbonate is deposited. The depositing continues until the carbon dioxide in the water balances the carbon dioxide in the air. Calcium carbonate is deposited by the water as a soft jelly and this eventually hardens into travertine.

The ancient city Hierapolis is also situated here and used the hot water in their baths. The city was destroyed in major earthquakes the remains have been reassembled and the amphitheatre provides a great vantage point to sit with a cup of wine and watch the sunset.

Day 7

Today we travelled over to Fethiye and the Blue Lagoon. Beautiful and after lunch Teresa and I go for our first ever paraglide! Our jump is from 2500m and after we have run off the side of the mountain and I mange to keep my shoe on we cruise down over a hour and a half to the remainder of the group who a swimming at the beach. So cool - love the play ground in the air. Three of us also spent the late evening its dark after 11pm the visitors sites are closed but not locked checking out the Tombs of Amyntas.

Days 8 and 9

Are spent cruising the Turquoise Coast . Swimming, sunbathing, sunburning, swimming with turtles and enjoying the down time. We also managed to visit the sunken city at Kekova Island check out the Simena Csstle and Lycian Rock Tombs. All in all very enjoyable!

Day 10

Hercules Farnese, Anatalya Museum

Travelling to Antalya . We miss out on visiting Mt Olympus and its dancing flames but at 42 degrees and the flames being invisible due to todays heat we all feel a swim is the best option! We stop at the ancient city Phaeselis and spend our time walking through it before our final swim of the trip in one of the cities bays We have a reasonable drive but nothing like the upcoming one to Cappadocia.

Antalya has nice beaches a neat old city which strangely enough we all find it a little european with trams running up to the local museum which although small has beautiful statues from the surrounding areas of Alexander the great, the famous Hercules Farnese, Athena etc.

Day 11

Bus trip long.......... although we did get to stop and visit a historic camel house. Arrival into Cappadocia 8pm food and bed.

Days 12, 13 and 14

Cappadocia the land of fairy chimneys the only Australian coffee shop I have seen with the best latte/cappuccino I have had since leaving NZ.

Here we have spent three days which we have needed to view all the sites. Our first morning saw us up out of bed at 5am for a hot air balloon ride. Spectacular, 100 balloons all floating in the air at sunrise viewing the red valley the land formations which have been made due to volcanic ash and the elements. This is what has caused the chimneys in the area especially in the Red, Rose and Love Valleys. Although we have been up early our three days are not to be spent sleeping with visits to the underground city Derinkuyu, Uchisar Fortress, walking through the Rose Valley, spending time with a generational Turkish family (who say I look Turkish) they live in a rock house and made us traditional evening meal - yummy attending a Turkish night where we are entertained with local food and dance . A morning at the Goreme open air museum is fantastic with some beautiful frescos and a lot of history about the Christians that lived here. From Cappadocia a lot of people that were part of the group leave as they were only doing a 15 day tour and there is just Anita and myself left for the remanding days. The poor tour guide is going to earn his money with the amount of questions that will be asked about agriculture, politics, culture....

Day 15

Another very long drive towards the east of Turkey where we head to Mt Nemrut 2150m where it is said King Antichis had his tomb built in 62BC along with 30ft tall stone statues which had their heads decapitated by earthquakes. We stayed up watching the sunset and on our decent came across a wedding party. The site is beautiful and is well worth coming east to view.

Day 16

We leave Mt Nemrut and travel further east to Sanliurfs (Urfa) which is 60 kilometres from the Syrian border. On entering the city I do note there are anti tank guns but other than this I feel very safe. Urfa is believed in the Quran to be the birth place of Profit Abraham and there is a large area sacred fish pool which people pilgrimage to. Very cool a lot of fish and it is now it is confirmed I need to do more research on Muslim practicing Islam because I don't really understand it at all.

Day 17

Spice Bazaar

We had a early flight from Urfa back to Istanbul to complete the end of our journey the following day. Have seen a lot from the bright and finely sculpted marble to the carpet shop around the corner.
The history and landscapes have astounded me and with a summer temperature of 42 degrees and a winter temp in the negatives this country is certainly a place of extremes. I have never felt or been unsafe we have been respected at every turn and found there to be no issues with street vendors. I have enjoyed Turkey immensely and recommend it to anyone that is interested!!