Saturday 19/01/13 - Our last day!

Back at the Sirkeci Konak .... I would recommend this hotel to anybody visiting Istanbul.  The hotel is in the old city and very well positioned just a couple of minutes from the tram stop which will take you directly to the either the Grand Bazaar or over the water to the new part of Istanbul.  For 3TL you can buy a token at the Jetonmatik for travel anywhere on the tram, the machine will also give change, it's very easy.  The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are also within walking distance.

This is my last chance to shop!  I know there is a Zara a few tram stops away so I am on a mission!  We head in the general direction but have been sent in a couple of different pathways......Gordy is losing patience....success!  Historia is up ahead and we walk into a brand new shopping centre not unlike any of our big shopping centres in Australia.  We make our purchases then head to the Grand Bazaar for bracelets.  Back at the hotel we repack our four suitcases to distribute the weight, head to a local restaurant for dinner, then play 'spy' games on the way home to avoid the local carpet merchant!  It's all good fun!  Istanbul.... we've had a ball and will be back one day.

Pammukale

All the sights we've seen over the past day or two have required quite a lot of driving but unfortunately there is no way around that situation.  Today is no different, and after picking up five other people we are off to Pammukale.  After a couple of hours driving we stop for morning tea and then a further stop at an "Onyx" show room where we are shown how the onyx is cut and shaped and, of course, we are then shuffled into the showroom.  Although I don't buy anything, we have a mini lottery when back in the car and I win the "egg" we saw crafted.

Pammukale is a thermal spring that emits calcium, sulphur and iron and over the centuries has created a deposit of white calcium on the hills and created natural pools of spring water which has all sorts of therapeutic benefits.  There is also a sensational example of a Roman theatre and a museum that houses artefacts from the museum and also a number of sarcophagi.

 

Roman Theatre

Swissotel

Amuse bouche

The day finishes for us back near Kusadasi where we change cars and Gordy and I are transported to Izmir.   It's about 80 kilometres away and the initial drive is easy, although it's raining most of the way, but by the time we hit the city, the traffic is unbelievable.  Bumper to bumper for part of the way but we finally make it to the Swissotel.  Security guards check under the car and you enter through airport style screening.  The hotel is beautiful and we decide to 'eat in'.  A wonderful meal and very reasonably priced.  Unfortunately we only have an overnight stay and we are soon out at the airport on the 9.00am flight to Istanbul, which is about an hour's flight.

Crispy duck 

One of the delicious desserts

I have arranged with the hotel or a car to pick us up.  Note to self...50TL for this service, 50 Euros when I arranged our initial pick up through the travel agent.    

Ephesus

This morning we have a young female guide and we are off to see Ephesus.  She first takes us to the house of the Virgin Mary.  This area was home to the Virgin Mary and St John who weren’t able to live in the township as it was a ‘pagan’ community.

Next stop, Ephesus, which was rebuilt five times…this is the third settlement.  The majority of Ephesus is still buried as the excavation didn’t start until 1870, however they are making an effort to step-up their excavations so there will be a lot more to see in another 10 – 15 years.   You can see quite clearly Hadrian’s Temple, the three part bathing system, the latrines, the huge Roman Theatre, the Agora or market place even the brothel!  The whole place is remarkable.

Our next stop is the Temple of Artemis, which today is only one column.  Many statues and artefacts are spread around the world in places like the British Museum.

Lunch is at a large restaurant.  These meals are all buffets offering chicken, meatballs, eggplant, salads etc.  Our last stop is the obligatory “carpet” merchant where we are shown how they collect the silk and weave it, then how the carpets are made by hand on a loom.  It is quite an art but one which is dying out as many young people are not interested in continuing such a handicraft.

The Virgin Mary's house

The Library at Ephesus

Back to our hotel and after a short break we go for a walk down the boardwalk to the marina.  This is really a thriving city and you can imagine what it would be like in summer, there are cafes and hotels everywhere, right on the water.

Troy and Pergamum

Today we are picked up from our hotel for our tour of Troy and Pergamum.  A lovely young guide takes us to view the Troia for which there is no evidence that the Trojan Horse ever existed.  The “Hollywood” version is on display at Cannakale.  It was donated to the city after the movie with Brad Pitt was made.

We stop for morning tea and then our driver, without the guide, transports us a further two hours or so to a restaurant for lunch.  Then he takes us the remainder of the journey to Pergamum where we meet our next guide, who used to be a teacher and is a very interesting gentleman.   This guide takes us around the Acropolis.  Pergamum was built by the Greeks (300 – 200BC) then rebuilt by the Romans (133BC) and the architectural styles are quite different.  The ‘Lidyans’ first settled this area 500BC and it was where Craissius invented money and became the richest man in town.  When Alexander arrived in 334BC he apparently had 9000 talons (?) each talon was equivalent to 25.92 grams of gold.  He never returned (he died aged 33) and the treasure has never been recovered.

The Trojan Horse from the movie

The Trojan Horse on site

The Acropolis

Walking through the ruins

After Pergamum, and leaving our guide, our driver is going to take us to Kusadasi.  It’s a quiet ride as he doesn’t speak English.  This has been a huge day of driving and it’s beginning to tell …. Let’s just say we are happy to finally arrive at Efes Hotel.

15/01/13 - Gallipoli

Anzac Cove

Lone Pine

Remains of the trenches

We were picked up from our hotel at about 6.45am and after stopping to pick up one other couple we were off to Gallipoli, which is about a five hour drive.  We did stop for morning tea and our next stop was in Ecabai  where we were served lunch – soup, chicken or lamb meatballs with salad and an apple.  The next two or three hours were spent visiting Anzac Cove, the various monuments and several graveyards which are marked by many headstones, however nobody is sure who is actually buried in which plot.  Further onto Lone Pine and finally the 57^th  Battalion graveyard which is the only graveyard for the Turks.  We have also seen many trenches that would have sheltered the soldiers nearly one hundred years ago.

Turkey - 14/01/13

It was a late start today but when we finally got going after breakfast we were off to Taksim Square, which is across the Bosphorous in new Istanbul.  A five minute walk from the hotel is the tram station where you buy your tokens for 3TL each (you can ride for as far as you like with one token).  The tram  is an easy ride to the end of the line, Kabatas, where you then board the funicular to climb to Taksim Square, which marks the start of the main shopping street.  The whole place is on sale and Gordy is delighted with his purchase of two pairs of jeans, four pairs of jocks and a shirt for the equivalent of about A$65!  I'm still struggling to find anything I really like but have ended up with a pair of ridiculously high, leopard print shoes which matching bag.... doesn't sound like me does it?

At Taksim Square

One of the shopping centres

We walk all the way down passed the Galata Tower and board the tram again to the Grand Bazaar.  This is totally overwhelming!  There are so many shops selling jewellery, carpet, leather jackets, handbags, food, porcelain, scarves..... it all looks much the same after a while but such fun.... well Gordy doesn't think so :(  This is the sort of place you need to shop with another woman who understands the "art of shopping"!  Mmmmm....good title for a book, I might consider that :)




I am having a ball but I can see "man of the moment" is getting more irritated by the minute.  Has also announced to me that, one way or the other, he is going to the gym on our return.  There is a cooking class on at 5pm so I concede to an early return.  The cooking class is most enjoyable, chicken and vegetables and a delicious salad and the best part is, we get to eat the spoils in the dining room accompanied by some local wine (which isn't all that bad) when we have finished!  A lovely way to end the day for me as it looks like we are not heading out for dinner... there is far too much interesting TV on!

A juice bar along the man shopping street

Walking down passed Galata Tower

Grand Bazaar

  

In the Grand Bazaar

Istanbul - 13/01/13

Istanbul.....what an amazing place!

Today after breakfast our guide arrived to take us on a tour of this fascinating city.  Our car transported us to the Hippodrome where we first hear about the incredible history of Anatolya/Constantinople (name change in 325).  In the Hippodrome there is an obelisk that is 3500 years old, weighing 800 tons. Next we visit the Blue Mosque, which started construction in 1609 and took seven years to complete.  It is amazing with a dome 46 metres high and 27 metres wide.  The reason for the colour blue is that is represents the Mother Mary.  There are 7,700 tiles decorated with tulips.





Morning Turkish coffee break with Turkish delight and the best baklava I've ever had....yum!

Hagia Sophia, or more commonly referred to as the "pink" mosque due to it's colour, is the original cathedral and served as such for 936 years before becoming a mosque for the next 481 years.  It is now a museum with a larger dome than the blue mosque at 56 metres high and 43 metres wide.  There are many mosaics on display that are centuries old.
Authentic Turkish lunch at a local restaurant.  I have "giro", which is a kebab - meat served on a plate with rice, pita bread, lettuce and tomato.




Next stop....Topkapi Palace Museum.  Quite an experience hearing about the harems and the adopted children. Topkapi Palace houses the world's largest diamond - 68 carats - amongst it's treasures, not to mention a selection of historic artefacts including Prophet Moses' rod and Prophet Joseph's turban which is reportedly 3,500 years old.

Our guide took us to the local leather manufacturer....supposedly 'best' prices....mmmm.

Last stop is the Spice Market where we are escorted to a 'friend's' store.... nearly 700 Turkish lira later we leave laden with lots of Turkish delight, spices and brightly coloured bowls.   Another mmmm.....

Gordy is now engrossed in an English speaking movie so I will have to work on extricating him from the 'remote' to go out for dinner!

Olive anyone?

Spices and tea