Turkey tour week 1

Day 1 Istanbul 13th August

Mufasa from the abnb in Karaburun on the Black Sea drove us to the airport, where we got a Turkey sim card for our phone and some cash from the ATM, and then we got a taxi to the Golden Horn Sirkeci Hotel Istanbul city not far from the Bosphorus. In the afternoon, we met up again with Reg and Mary after their trip to Scotland and our arrival in Turkey a few days ago. Mary had been to Istanbul before and recommended the Basilica Cistern, part of the ancient city's water system. Built in the Byzantine era, many cisterns supplied water to the city. This one is the largest and open to the public.  

The Blue Mosque - the famous Muslim mosque in the heart of Istanbul and adjacent to the other famous mosque, the Sophia Hagia (that we visited later on our return to Istanbul at the end of the tour).  The artwork of tiles that decorate the mosque are just beautiful, and huge lighting wheels hang from the ceiling. As with Muslim culture, shoes are removed before entering, and women must cover their heads and shoulders and have clothing covering their legs. 

At 6 pm, we met with the other people on the tour - Kiwis, Aussies, and from the USA. Our tour leader Gonca, led us through the streets to a restaurant for dinner. The temperature here is very hot even into the later part of the evening - the air con is our friend. 

The Blue Mosque inside the Mosque below

Inside the Basilica Cistern, built in 532 AD.

Back with Reg and Mary

 

Day 2 Istanbul/Bolu 14th August

In the morning, we did an Istanbul Orientation Walk with Gonca, our guide, starting in Gülhane Park, near the hotel near the city walls from the Roman times and ending in the Grand Bazaar. Jim wandered, looked at another local Mosque, and then down to the waterfront and the Bosphorus.

Entrance to the Grand Bazaar

Our tour group in front of the Blue Mosque

In the afternoon, we drove in the van from Istanbul to Bolu, approximately four hours, and stayed at the Soylu Hotel Bolu.

Our drive to Bolu

Day 3 Bolu to Cappadocia 15th August

We drove from Bolu to Cappadocia in our van, stopping along the way to visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk, the father of the Modern Turkish Republic. His Mausoleum is in Ankara, the modern-day capital of Turkey. Another stop along the way was at Tuz Gölü salt flats or lake. It was very hot, 40 degrees plus. Overall, the drive was about five and a half hours. Our hotel for the next few days was the Grand Uchisar Hotel. (lacking in air AC very hot)

In the evening, we traveled to a spot for sunset photos at Devrent Valley called Imagination Valley. This landmark valley has a variety of rock formations. Then we went to a nearby village and enjoyed dinner with a local family. This turned into quite a dance party.

The Mausoleum of Atatürk

The salt flats at Tuz Gölü

Sunset at Imagination Valley

Having a party with the locals.

Days 4–5 Cappadocia 16th 17th August

On the morning of the 16th, we visited one of the underground cities in Derinkuyu that were famously used as hiding places for Christians escaping the persecution of the Roman Empire between the fifth and tenth centuries. There were cellars, rooms for food storage, kitchens, churches, stables, wine and oil presses, and shafts for ventilation. Everyone was amazed at how they were constructed, and we all had some fun underground.

In the underground city church

Maree is in one of the many underground corridors.

Driving around, we stopped near Tekelli and had a look at the houses that had been carved out of the rock landscape. One house was still in use, as was the Police Station. Photos below

We then visited the Göreme Open Air Museum for a few hours, a complex of medieval painted cave churches carved out of rock by Orthodox monks. More than 10 cave churches are up to 1,000 years old. We wandered around very hot, probably plus forty degrees. Photo below.

That night, it was off to Whirling Dervishes, the dance-like worship/meditation practiced by followers of the Mevlevilik Sufi order, a part of the Muslim faith. The Whirlers were accompanied by music and chanting/singing. Photo below.

On the 17th, Maree started early with a balloon ride. We drove to the takeoff area after being picked up from the hotel. There appeared to be lots of balloons being inflated at one time in different locations, and once we were loaded into the basket, we and several other's balloons were up and off together at one stage.  It was so peaceful, just the soft noise around us of balloons being gassed up to lift and kept airborne.  The view over Cappadocia was amazing, as the landscape is unique.  We watched as over 100 balloons were flying throughout the area simultaneously.  With the early start, we watched the sunrise from the balloon.  After an hour's flight, we landed on the trailer of the pick-up team, and we popped the bubbles - albeit sparkling fruit juice! It's one of the best bucket list experiences for sure. Photos below.

Later on in the morning, we went to a pottery outlet, and the owner showed us how he created his pottery. One of the team Leia had a go and created her own masterpiece. 

In the afternoon, Maree and the other ladies went for a Turkish Bath - a scrub like no other, followed by a traditional foam massage. For Turkish women, this is a very social place where they will spend time together and once finished with the bath experience, they drink tea, relax and chat.  

That evening, Jim climbed one of the local attractions, the Uchisar Castle, and got some sunset photos. Cappadocia is a great place for a sunset photo.

The Uchisar Castle.

Some of the unique landforms around Cappadocia.

Cappadocia sunset.

That night, we attended a "Turkish night" meal and entertainment of traditional Turkish dance with audience participation - James and Caitlyn belly danced for the G-adventures team. Then even a bit of disco for everyone.  

Day 6 Cappadocia/Güneysınır - Konya 18th August

We left Cappadocia in the morning heading for Güneysınır - Konya see map above. Along the way we stopped at a caravanserai a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across the network of trade routes covering Asia, North Africa and Southeast Europe, most notably the Silk Road. Often located along rural roads in the countryside, urban versions of caravanserais were also historically common in cities throughout the Islamic world. Gonca said that travellers could stay for three days free of charge. We stopped at Sultanhani caravanserai a large 13th-century Seljuk caravanserai located in the town of Sultanhanı. It is one of the three monumental caravanserai afortified structure was built in 1229. its now a museum and place where people exhibit.

The team heading into the caravanserai.

When we were there they had an exhibit of carpets.

We then visited the Mevlana Museum and mausoleum of Mevlana Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic who was the leader of the mystic Islamic sect known as the Whirling Dervishes who we visited earlier in the week.

The Museum and mausoleum of Mevlana Rumi, it was a Mosque and
a lot of the local visiters still pray there.

His actual resting place there are also many of his original followers there as well.

We then went to explore the Neolithic proto-city settlement of Çatalhöyük originally settled in 7500 BC. There were no streets, and the houses were closely clustered with access from the rooftops. The remnants are being slowly excavated and you can see them there today along with a museum. Photo below of some of the excavations.

That night we stopped at Güneysınır - Konya where we stayed in a homestay and had a meal with the family. Great to spend time with the local people. The husband was away working and Mum daughter and grandson were there to host us. Our driver made a friend with the grandson who was one year old. Before team we went for a walk aroundtown the locals were very friendly and one lady offered us pears that she had just picked.

The small town of Güneysınır. There are lots of Mosques even in the small towns.
There are three Mosque mineretes in this photo.

Day 7 Güneysınır - Konya/Antalya 19th August.

After our homestay visit in the morning we drove through the mountains some goos scenery and landscapes that I didn't expect to see in Turkey. Rocky mountains and pine and fur trees. We stopped for morning tea at a roadside cafe and Maree had a bit of a disaster and cut her foot on a piece of furniture in the store. We spent time cleaning up her cut and bandaged it up. Some photos from the mountains below.

Jim and James got dropped off and went for a look at the Roman theater built arround 100AD. It was in reasonably good condition for something that had been built 2000 years ago. It was still used today for some concerts and performances. Photos below. More info on Aspendos

We stopped in Aspendos for lunch at a roadside stall and had what Gonca called pancakes. They were more like a flat bread with some veges mixed in. In the middle of lunch the Johnsons rang up Maree from Renwick they were having a party for Alans 60th.

Along with some Roman ruins in the area there were also some remains of substantial water aqueducts.

Aspendos Theater

After our visit to Aspendo we drove on to Antalya by the Mediterranean Sea. Had tea in a restaurant above the water - very fancy.

Sunset in the Mediterranean

End of week 1. 😀