May 13, 2013 - Topkapi & The Grand Bazaar then a flight to the Topaz Coast & Gulet (our sailing yacht)

We rose early to avoid the crowds and the van took us directly to Topkapi Palace. While photos were prohibited inside the building where the famous jewels were on display, there were some chambers that exhibited the splendor of the Ottoman Empire that could be captured on "film." We experienced our first and only rain on the entire trip. It was only a light shower and made the grounds look even more exotic with reflections in the wet pavement. We visited the Harem where the Black Eunuchs guarded the harem and saw the courtyards where the...

May 12, 2013 - Classic Journeys - Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia & Basilica Cistern

Everybody in our group of 13 was on time for the beginning of a really big day of exploring two mosques, and an extra attraction, the Basilica Cistern. Our tour leader, Yasemin, outlined the day and we headed out to the van for a ride to the old part of Istanbul where the attractions are located. Both were very crowded since it was a weekend and there were a number of religious ceremonies with young boys at the Blue Mosque. In his attempt to photograph one of these boys, Tom got separated from the group but after a couple of cell phone...

May 11, 2013 - On to Turkey!

We got up early and took a cab to the airport. The flight to Turkey from Amsterdam is about equivalent of a trip from Rochester to Denver - a 3 hour hop. We flew on KLM and the service was first class. Clearing customs was not bad and we remembered to obtain a Visa (some people did not and had to go back and then stand in the passport line all over again!). After a long cab ride from the airport that faced many stops and then very fast treks (to the next bottleneck), we got to the Hotel Rixos where we checked in and then chose a restaurant...

Mar 2, 2013 - Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey DAY 1 – WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2013 7:06 A.M. ISTANBUL – SULTENHAMET DISTRICT (REAL OLD) This morning we awoke at five to the muzzien’s call to prayer from one of the friggin’ massive mosques that are practically right outside this door. It was a pretty cool and a little eerie. Eerie because a lifetime of US propaganda ain’t easy to rinse out of your mind. We have been taught to think of moslems as terrorists. Truthfully, we weren’t really sleeping anyhow. Jetlag kicked our asses and we both woke before four. On the flight yesterday,...

Jan 29, 2013 - instanbul

prichod do istanbulu ISTANBUL SIGHTSEEING Visit the impressive Topkapi Palace, one of the greatest palaces of the Ottoman period, which has a superb position overlooking the Bosphorus. Explore the magnificent St. Sophia’s Basilica built by Constantine the Great. After lunch, discover the wonders of the Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets and beautiful blue Iznik tiles. Finally, tour the Byzantine Hippodrome, where chariot racing and other sporting events were held.

Dec 8, 2012 - Shopping in Turkey

Shopping experiences in Istanbul can be as varied as the products on offer. As a tourist, and potentially shopping for carpets, the experience involved numerous cups of çay or apple tea and being shown many dozens of beautiful carpets – wih the owner sitting with you trying to figure out what you want the the “help” unrolling carpet after carpet on a mound in from of you and (if a silk carpet) twirled to catch the changing color. A totally relaxing expereince until you either start bargaining or try to get out of the store. Leather coats...

Nov 30, 2012 - Istanbul by boat

Nice day for a boat ride today. Decided to do a ferry trip up the Bosphorous channel. Not much to say except that it was a relaxing few hours, just chugging up the strait, admiring the views along the way. Went to to the Grand Bazaar after we got back (one more city's public transport system deciphered). It's huge. Neverending. Seems to go on forever. And so do the touts and hawkers. Knock-off flavour of the month seems to be perfume. Every 10 meters we are being accosted by all manner of unsavoury characters, trying to sell us everything...

Nov 29, 2012 - Istanbul by foot

Today was our first day of real exploring. Our citywide alarm clock woke us promptly at 5:30am - the early morning call to prayer ringing out over the city. Initially it seems rather annoying, but as you are lying there listening to the rise and fall of the call, it has a rather calming effect (no, we're not being converted). After a lazy start to the day (including breakfast of cheeses, meats, and breads being delivered to our room), we did a quick google search and decided on where to go and what to see. Two of the must sees of Istanbul...

Nov 28, 2012 - Istanbul

Finally made it to Istanbul, albeit 4 hours late. Hopefully the airport pickup we had arranged is still waiting for us. After we parted with 90euros (about $112) for entry visas, we made it to passport control (along with a few hundred others). Surprisingly the process was fairly quick and efficient. Couldn't say the same about the baggage system though. By the time we retrieved our bags and made it through to the arrivals gate, it had been over an hour since we had landed. A quick search for someone holding a sign with our name on it...

Nov 9, 2012 - Istanbul

Istanbul was one of our favorite stops of all our tours. There is such an ancient feel to it even though it is a modern city. We had a small group (8), which was led by a guide who was a history major, so we got loads of details about the history of the places we visited, plus she gave us insights into the everyday life of the Turks. We went first to the Blue Mosque (which our guide thought was misnamed as it isn't blue) The name comes from the mosaic tiles which are predominantly blue. A couple of the distinctive features of the mosques...

Oct 12, 2012 - Mt. Nemrut

On our last night in Cappadocia we joined a tour group to visit Caravanseri to watch a religious ceremony by Whirling Dervishes. Caravanseris were built by the Ottomans to provide a bed, food and animal care for merchants traveling the Silk Road. The Dervish ceremony was loaded with symbolic movements and music. Two of the dervishes were particularly hypnotic - their motions incredibly graceful - a religious ballet. On the ride over, we met a fun couple from in Utah. The four of us got along very well and chatted well after the event in the...

Oct 12, 2012 - Kalkan

We awoke in Kalkan refreshed and ready to start our "quiet day." Going upstairs to the terrace for breakfast we both gasped as we cleared the last step and saw the view. Kalkan is nestled in a loosely U shaped harbor. The hill sides covered in a mixture of white and red limestone, olive trees and small shrubs tumbled down to the water's edge. The crystal blue water was lightly sprinkled with white and polished teak boats heading out for the day. Outside the harbor two small islands were all that we could see until the sea met the sky. As...