May 3rd Flight to Vancouver
View of Mt. Vernon at the Skagit River - just in front of the propeller is Mt. Baker.
Upper left is Clear Lake where Terry & Donna live, the I-90 bridge at the lower right was hit later by a oversized truck in May and collapsed.
Vancouver airport - our first view of an Airbus A380 that seats from 500 to 800 passengers.
ISTANBUL May 4 - On our own - we arrive at 10:30 PM and reach our hotel before midnight.
The first call to prayer from the Blue Mosque wakes us at 4 A.M. from the many loudspeakers.
First short walk takes us to the Hippodrome area (once an arena but now a plaza with a couple of obelisks and other Roman remains.
Jean purchases a silk scarf at a small bazaar.
The Blue Mosque
Hotel Turkoman where we stay for two nights, downstairs far left with barred windows.
Hagia Sophia, not far East of the Blue Mosque.
As we stagger around, we meet "friends" who are happy to escort us around as long as we first stop at a carpet shop!
We make are way to the Archaelogy Museum, that has a great collection including many huge sarcophagi.
Cuneiform carved in stone. A form of writing dating from 3400 BC to about 200 AD.
Owning a small tablet created under the rule of King Sulgi dated 2043 BC we were intrested seeing this one dated 2046 BC. From the same period is a tiny tablet receipt for Sesame-oil.
Pieces of the Ishtar Gate in Babylon from Nebuchadnezzar's reign.
Called the Alexander Sarcophagus but actually a different king.
It originally was colored.
An unfortunate from the Roman era.
A lot of sculpture all around.
Next stop, the Basilica Cistern - where James Bond was rowed in "From Russia with Love"
Photo by Neil.
Medusa head used as pillar support for the Cistern.
Photo by Neil.
ISTANBUL May 5 - On our own until 2 PM when we meet our Rick Steves Tour Group
Blue Mosque again.
Greetings at Breakfast.
Car made a lot of squealing tire noise late in the night - parking problem?
Interesting sign on the wall of a parking area. "I carry books since years but could not stop to be a donkey!"
Grand Bazar early in the morning as we walk through in order to see Suleiman's Magnificent Mosque.
Inside the mosque.
View from outside the mosque. Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn to the Bosporus.
Victory football team banner being carried through the Grand Bazaar.
Interior of the Grand Bazaar
Tram we rode to the Grand Bazaar area, Magnificent Mosque in view.
Basic areas we visited on our own or on the tour. Dotted line the boat path we took in the afternoon.
DAY ONE of our Tour
After our 2:00 meeting at the Azora Hotel (about 8 minute walk from our Hotel) we go to the Spice Market.
Jean purchases Turkish Delight candies.
Next a boat tour starting on the Golden Horn (inlet) and into the Bosporus.
We go under the bridge that crosses to the Asian side of Istanbul.
Castle along the way.
View of Santa Sophia and the Blue Mosque
Boat traffic is heavy as we return.
Cast of Characters on out tour
Taken on day 11 by Bill - names by Tom
DAY TWO of our Tour
Our guide Cemil begins our full day in Istanbul
We vist the Blue Mosque
Jean next to one of the many massive pillars
Cemil talking about the Hippodrome area.
Dogs roam free as do cats in Turkey, they believe animals deserve their own freedom.
Only personal pets we saw were a parrot and a monkey!
Walking up the ancient ramps to the balcony in Hagia Sophia ("Holy Wisdom"), built in 537 AD as an Eastern Orthodox Cathedral.
It was mosque from 1453-1931, but a lot of the Christian art remained. The Arabic signs are wood. Now it's a museum. Photo by Kerry.
Scaffolding for some project, on the right end you can see some white figures below the top level.
They were taking flash photos and had a laptop for entering information.
Next a bus ride to Istiklal Street - got off the bus at Taksim Square where the protest's started.
Lunch on our own in a side "alley".
We didn't choose the Fried Brain - think I had Shish Kebab.
Walking on Istiklal Street to meet our tour.
Chris, Bill and Tom with their Tilley Hats. Tom's hat lost later that day.
We visit the Chora Church, early 5th Century.
Amazing art work, much of it detailed mosaic.
Tiny mosiac tiles make up this portrait of Jesus.
We walk up to the old wall that surrounded Istanbul.
We proceed down cautiously on the steep and narrow steps, as we did coming up.
Tom & Jean 3rd and 4th from the top.
DAY 3 Istanbul then to Asia
Azade Hotel our room on the right of entrance.
But first a tour of Topkapi palace & Harem.
In the Harem, Tom not taking many photos this day.
Photo by Kerry
Then on into Asia for the rest of our tour.
DAY 4 Ankara & beyond.
Anatolian Civilizations Museum.
Tom's resting on ancient marble with his new Museum hat.
School groups at Ataturk's Mausoleum and museum.
He is buried far below this stone platform.
It's a huge plaza, museum of Ataturk's belongings and history on the right.
Avenue of lions - Jean in pink shirt.
On our way to Cappacocia
The Old Greek Hotel in Mustafapasa, village in Cappadocia
Jean & Janice
The Fellman Sisters talk to their mother.
Three views of our room.
DAY 5 Cappadocia
Our breakfast at the Old Greek House - good each morning.
Not all is in good shape, sign on ridge: For Sale - Cave House
Not cooking but how wool is dyed.
Cemil talks to retired stone carver on our village walk.
Continuing on our walk.
By bus on the way to the Goreme Open-air Museum we stop to learn about the basalt capped formations.
One of the churches in the carved out volcanic tufta.
Interior of one of the churches. Photo by Kerry.
Entrance to one of the several churches.
Kimberly checks out an outfit with advice.
We travel by bus to Orthisar for our lunch at Fahriye's house.
Fahriye's daughter and granddaughter.
A couple of interesting doors.
Now to the carpet place.
Jean and others get a lesson in carpet weaving - the woman is working on a small very detailed silk carpet.
Silk thread from silk worm cocoon's being unraveled for thread. Each cocoon can provide from 300 to 900 feet of thread.
The beginning of the expensive show!
Carpet's thrown everywhere.
The small silk in foreground was (I think) $30,000!
The music begins after dinner.
Nancy dancing - photo by Kimberly.
Our room, just off the dining area - our two windows are left of our door.
DAY 6
Jean takes an early morning hot air balloon ride.
Jean facing away in black windbreaker.
Above photos by Kerry
Pan by Kimberley.
Meanwhile, Tom gets up at a normal hour, takes a walk down to the town square and is followed there and back by this dog probably looking for a handout.
The ballooner's return.
Next our hike in the hills of Cappadocia.
Some flowers along the way.
In the distance is a city.
Michelle in her neon sneakers takes a photo - the pillar in the background had stairs.
Erosion over time erodes the tufta, especially those that have lost their basalt tops.
Michelle takes a photo of Nancy as we hike down the "chute".
Very steep slope, food and drink available in the stand on the road.
Farmer couple.
Next, option to visit a ceramic's shop and demo.
He turned the bowl, then turned the cap and it fit perfectly..
Very detailed work on a wine jug.
Medium to huge wine jugs, arm is passed through the opening to pour.
Kaymakli Underground City - one of 36 Cities.
Date back to Hittite times, used up thru the Christian era.
Eight floors, with ventalation shafts, cellars, stables, wineries.
Large rock was rolled across doorway to stop invaders.
We visit about 4 floors, the caves were mainly used
as protection from invaders.
Another large stone.
Another bazzar.
Machine to make spiral potato "chips" that are then fried.
Not bad!
Home again at Old Greek House (built 1890's) when this was a Greek village.
Day 7
We leave Cappadocia and head on the old silk road to Konya.
Another old door...
First to the village of Guzelyurt, and a visit to a mosque.
Cemil introduces us to the history of the old Christian Church (St. Gregory of Nazianzus), now a Mosque - the minaret was added when Islam took over.
Almost all of us ask questions of the Iman.
Turkey has separation of church and state, however mosque building and salaries for the Imam's is provided by the Turkish government. Photo by Kerry.
Part of the Iman's family.
Kick ball/soccer game in background.
Tour member Neil noticed the balls being used were not very good, so after returning from our tour, he (with the help of Chris) arranged for three soccer balls to be delivered to the mosque by Cemil on a later tour. Photo by unknown tour member.
Does Cemil have eyes in the back of his head?
Mountain's again.
A stop at a medieval caravanserai (camel parking) on the path of the old Silk Road.
Detail above the entrance.
View out from the stables to the courtyard.
Another non-pet.
You have heard of Whirling Dervishes? That's only part of the story of Sufism and Mevlana Rumi (1207-1273) who inspired this belief.
He is buried in Konya, and this is the site of his tomb, mosque's, and museum.
Danielle visiting with kids, accompanied by Kimberley.
In one of the museum's, manikins demonstrate spinning training. Pivot foot is on a raised spot.
On to Konya where we get a short walking tour and are on our own for dinner.
We eat with Kimberly and Jeff in this restaurant - looks like a milk shake but isn't!
The meal is great! The plate on the left is their version of pizza.
Day 8
We leave Konya, and are on our way over the Taurus Mountains
Last glimpse of the Konya Mosque complex.
Interesting lumber yard.
New Mosque, new apartments. Most apartments have solar heating for water on the rooftops.
(Remember to click for closer view of any of these pictures.
Plenty of room on a Rick Steve's tour bus, this time we sit in front. View of Taurus Mts.
We have the option to visit Tinaztepe Cave, the longest in Turkey.
Photo in cave by Kerry
Below the Cave entrance a stream goes underground,
Tarus Mountains.
Village in the mountains.
Cemil finds the best bananas at the second place he tries - small and sweet.
We are now in a Mediterranean climate.
View of the Mediterranean Sea - boat trip tomorrow.
DAY 9
Breakfast on the patio of our nice hotel.
Sun! What we were hoping for.
A cat suddenly leaps up a tree, the cat's are not pets.
Off for the bus - hotel is on a narrow lane - Road Trap means bollard's - often requiring a pass or fee to have them lowered.
Antalya Docks.
Many resorts as we motor south on the Mediterranean, we are told a lot of Russians travel here.
Quite crowded beaches.
Went about 15 miles Southwest along the coast to a cove.
Jean prepares to swim.
Jean on the right.
Climbing out.
Then a great meal!
"Pirate" ship with plenty of music and drinking arrives.
On the way back.
Tom and a couple others do a quick trip to the Antalya Museum.
Next was the Turkish Massage experience many of us opted for. No photos available.
"Journey to the Underworld"- Title of a poem Tom wrote about the experience and read at our last dinner three days latter.
"Descent was quick to the inner chamber
"Laid flat like bacon on sizzling platter..."
Complete poem available by request.
Later that evening, doorway to our room that overlooked the breakfast area.
DAY 10
On the way West towards the Aegean Coast
In larger cities, there were wedding dresses displayed (usually on the second floor) usually along the same section of street.
View from bus.
Farmers market in the town of Korkuteli - huge amounts of produce, a very busy place.
Including live fish.
Ataturk & Tom.
After more bus time, we stop to visit Hierapolis.
It's famous for the calcified clifs below thermal springs and the extensive Greek & Roman ruins.
Map of Hierapolis as it was.
Small bus takes us to the impressive ruins of tombs that are there.
Ancient Tom and younger friends.
Tom among the Tombs.
Above the city area is a large theater.
Tom wades.
Jean and Melissa
Pan of the travertine deposits.
DAY 11 Aphrodisias to Kusadasi
Required to ride to the site pulled by tractor!
Introduction to Aphrodisias
Group Photo in front of gateway.
Next the traditional race in the Hippodrome - Jean and I both ran so no photo - this was the scene at the end.
View at the finish.
Looking out of the tunnel at the finish.
You can see the end point in the distance - Jean ran half-way.
Cheering crowds - length we ran: about 1800 meters.
Lecture in the small theater.
Tom is far left, Jean down in front row, white hat. Kerry photo.
Girls and a guy with missing parts.
Larger theater.
Excellent museum - this sculpture had a rider at one time - part of thigh remaining.
When feral cats get friendly.
Very good dinner on at a roadside resturant.
View from our deck in Kusadai - dinner on our own tonight.
Rather large but hollow piece of bread where we ate dinner along the waterfront.
Nightime view from or deck.
DAY 12 Ephesus and final photo
Morning view, no cruise ships in sight which is good news - less crowded at Ephesus.
Ephesus is about 30 miles from Kusadasi, at one time was on the coast but silting of a river has left it landlocked.
Cemil gives us the finer points of ancient plumbing - Clay tile here.
More cats among the ruins. We walk from the upper area down.
The beginning of our walk
God Mercury on this marble piece.
On the path down, extensive mosaic floors. A commercial area.
Far in the distance the Library is barely in view - usually shown in most views of Ephesus.
Jean checks her pack and quickly has a curious visitor.
At least two-thirds of the site have yet to be excavated. Was once a very large city.
You can probably guess what this was.
The famous Library.
Got to get the right angle?
On the way down, we reach the terrace dwelling area, still being excavated, and undercover.
Inside - tables and tables of plaster from the walls, a giant jigsaw puzzle.
Close-up of the work being done.
We saw a lot of mosiac tile cleaning going on.
Terry attempting a better shot of a mosiac tile below.
My compilation of mosiac's, edited for more contrast.
It's a large structure.
View from the top of the terrace apartments.
School group.
Jean...
... and Tom at the Library. It was built to store 12,000 scrolls, and be the burial place of Roman Senator Celsus. Destroyed in earthquake and fire of 262 AD.
Inside the library...
Older school group.
In the large theater at Ephesus.
Theater in the background.
We saw sign's like this quite often.
Last walk on the waterfront of Kusadasi.
Our hotel is far in the distance.
"Hmm... Charged to your account?" Sign on our hotel.
Kusadasi in the evening.
Last dinner of our tour group. Tom read his poem here.
Day 13 Photo
Bus photo - Chris & Dorothy say good-by to Cemil.
And we are off for Ireland!
