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Turkey... by Kathryn Comeau  Mosques, carpets, rock castles, underground cities, the legend of Troy, whirling dervishes, kebabs, apple tea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, two continents in one country… Really, what more could you ask for? I arrived into Istanbul on Nov 4th at 2am incredibly knackered but wide awake with excitement as I watched the city lights pass by on the way to my hotel. The next morning I was ready to go at 3am. Got to love jet lag! Finally at 8am I decided to give my map reading skills a try and venture thru the streets of this city waiting to be explored by me. I took one step outside of my hotel and SNOW! I could not believe it. Nor could I believe that my first purchase in Turkey was an umbrella but then took cover in one of the 8 wonders of the world, Hagia Sophia. This cathedral is spectacular. Islamic symbols, mosaics, artifacts and cats fill this cathedral. You could spend hours in here and good thing too because the snow stopped by the time I left. Outside Hagia Sophia lays a footpath leading directly to the Blue Mosque. Half way between these two amazing buildings Hagia Sophia started what sounded like a chant over loud speaker. Two seconds later the Blue Mosque seemed to reply. Then off went Hagia Sophia once again. All of a sudden a third Mosque in the distance joined in. I stood there for about 20 minutes listening to what I later learned was the calling to prayer. It was incredibly calming and peaceful and took place five times a day. At the end of my day in Istanbul I went back to my hotel to meet my tour leader and other members of the 'Jewels of Turkey' with Imaginative Traveller. Day 2 started off with a brief history lesson and a guided tour of Istanbul. We learned about the process of evolution (cleansing one’s body before prayer) as well as the gift of the Egyptian Obelisk from the Karnak temple in Egypt where two pieces of this 100ft tower are still missing to this day. The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the eerie Basilica Cistern were also on the itinerary. That night…overnight train to Ankara. Day 3 we arrived in Ankara in time for lunch and then continued on to Cappadocia via Ataturk’s Mausoleum, the salt flats of Tuz Golu and a roadside caravanserai. Day 4… the moon! Cappadocia… there are no other words to describe the landscape of this area. Repeated volcanic eruptions over 40 millions years ago covered this area with layers of rock. Over time the elements have eroded the surface creating valleys, sculptures and fairy chimneys which have been transformed into towns, villages and underground cities. Today we visited Ulchisar’s Rock Castle and some of the most spectacular views of the valley. Day 5 I enjoyed the works of a traditional Turkish bath. Now I have only one question… why have we not opened one in Vancouver? I would go every week! Had a pottery and carpet making demonstration…and yes, I bought a carpet. It is so hard not to when the salesmen give you apple tea and make the carpets fly before your eyes. :) Day 6 we visited Konya and the museum of the Whirling Dervishes on the way to Egirdir in the heart of the Taurus Mountains. This town is small without much going on but lies on the shores of a beautiful freshwater lake surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. Day 7 we head towards the Mediterranean town of Kas via one of the most spectacular jaw dropping ruins I have ever seen. Thermessos is slightly out of the way were you drive up the windiest road in the world and then hike up the mountain a further 30 minutes but the trek is well worth it. Here you will find ruins of an amphitheater with a stunning backdrop, as well as what remains of the old town including an old gymnasium, remains of their water system and much much more. We spent the night in Kas, an ancient Lycian city lying on the Turquoise Coast. This is a great place to take a stroll thru the narrow alleyways, along the harbour or into some of the many shops and restaurants. Day 8 we drove to the small fishing village of Kalkan for lunch and then continued on to the beautiful town of Fethiye. Fethiye is located in a large sheltered bay surrounded by lush mountains, rock tombs carved out of the side of cliffs and a great bazaar where you can buy anything from tapestries to seafood. Fethiye is another great place to spoil yourself with a Turkish bath. Day 9 we visited the abandoned Greek town of Kayakoy. This is a must see! Here you can wander/hike the streets of this old town and explore the ruins of old houses, churches, school houses and chapels. Two Turkish families still live at the bottom of this village and will warmly greet you with their home made crafts and their delicious cheese and parsley pancakes. Day 10… Pamukkale and the ruins of Hieropolis. Hieropolis is home to one of the best preserved amphitheater in Turkey. The theater has been well restored and even has copies of the original statues that proudly stood at the back of the stage. It is very easy to forget that this town has been around since the 2nd century BC. Pamukkale wasn’t anything special for me but others think this is a must see. Pamukkale are the calcified falls which naturally formed pools of water and the ancient Romans believed this water could relieve ailments. Day 11 we explored St John’s Monument and the jaw dropping, mystical ruins of Ephesus. Give yourself a full day to explore these ruins and make sure to hire an experienced guide otherwise you will miss a lot. Everywhere you turn is another story to be told and do not be surprised if you run into a few ancient symbols which can now be seen daily in modern life. Ephesus is home to the spectacular Celsius Library and an Amphitheater which seats over 24,000 people. We spent the night in the great little town of Selcuk. Day 12 …time to hit the Aegean coastal town of Assos. Spectacular!!! So peaceful, so calm although I am sure it bustles in peak season. The cobble stone windy streets are fun to explore but the hotels, which are old mansions, are where the true beauty lays. Although the view doesn’t hurt either. Day 13 The legend of Troy. There is not much left of this ancient city and really there isn’t any real proof that this is the actual city of Troy but this is the closest set of ruins which match the descriptions. A wooden horse waits for you at the entrance but did a horse ever really make its way into this impenetrable city? I choose to believe it did. If you want to see a more realistic version of the wooden horse make your way into the University town of Canakkale. In the main square sits the horse from the most recent movie with Brad Pitt. It is quite a site. Canakkale is a lively town with many shops, restaurants and a gorgeous boardwalk. Day 14 we visited the National Park of Gallipoli. If you are Australian this is a must see. Day 15 back to where it all started; Istanbul and the Grand Bazaar. What a magnificent trip! Turkey is a country which has always been on the top of my list of places to visit and now, after being there, it has blown all of my other trips out of the water. The people, the culture, the food, the landscapes… this country will take your breath away. |
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