Travelling `round Turkey

We were a bit reluctant flying into Istanbul due to the recent bombing, not to mention that our friend Kristy spent $100 on a taxi just getting from the airport to the hotel. Fortunately, we caught public transport and it only cost us $4. In general, prices were significantly higher than during the trip Renee made to Turkey 4 years ago (following Turkey's economic crash and tourism crisis post terrorist bombings). Recollection of Turkey having awesome food must be somewhat distorted as the food (for vegetarians) this trip was absolutley terrible in most places.

Here we met up with Renees long-time friend Kristy who was travelling the area between London hops, as Aussies seem to be doing so much over here!! After spending a couple of days in Istanbul visiting the main sites such as Aya Sophia and the Blue Mosque (and miraculously avoiding being dragged into even one carpet shop!!) we travelled by yet another overnight bus to Goreme (Cappadocia) in central Turkey.




This has already been touched on in our previous post, but hot air ballooning was only one of our Goreme activities. The view was much more spectacular from the air, but a ground tour of the region was also good. Clambering through the Underground City was interesting. (Built by early Christians who needed to hide from who ever was invading at the time! ...Such a turbulent/dynamic history.) We clammered through similar cave houses and churches carved in the walls of the Ihlara Valley - which was very picturesque with its little river running through the middle.


Renee and Kristy at the end of the Ihlara Valley.


What are you thinking??... naughty girl!


Renee, Kristy and Tim outside the rock monastary.


Renee, snuggled up in our "cave dorm"!


The engagement was obviously a highlight especially combined with the Balloon ride but I'm sure you've already read that bit! ;o)





Next stop was a little beach on the mid-south called Olympos. Apart from its beach with ancient ruins scattered around it, at night we explored an interesting volcanic formation called the Chimera. Flamable gasses escaping from the volcanic mountain side in a number of spots are alight, making very interesting effects.





Olympos is famous for its "Tree houses", which to us looked like badly constructed cubby houses. They are only a tourist thing... (and budget at that), but considering we bought tickets for a 4-day boat cruise, (and it was low season) we were given a free night in a much more "luxurious" bungalow that we took advantage of, rather than freezing for night on purely experience value.





From here, we decided on a mediteranian cruise. No, not the $$$$ multi-storey all inclusive trip thingos... this is a small twin mast "sailing" yacht called a Gulet. The Gulet cruise was to replace the planned Felucca sail on Egypts Nile.
In similar form to the Felucca, I say "sailing", as despite the fact that there was enough wind, they decided only to use the sail once in the four day cruise. That was for about 10 minutes.... I think just to prove to us it had sails! It was only the spinnaker on a short downwind leg. Their excuse for not using sails was "you have to zig-zag too much!". Sheesh. So a twin mast motorboat ride was enjoyed instead. It was very relaxing and we saw some magnificent bays, beaches and waters of turkeys southern coast.



(Renee forgot to check if she had put her pants on!!)


Our boat anchored in one of the magical blue bays.


Butterfly Valley. (Which has become a "back to nature" hippie commune, featuring naked chicks posessing only armpit hair and ipods!!)


The lovely view out of our rooms port hole! (Lifes tough when you have to endure this each morning huh??)


Once landed, we moved further round the southwest coast to a lakeside village called Koygez. Very peaceful and had a great home-made Icecream place! As we were still adjusting to getting our "land legs" back, we opted for a small boat day-trip across the lake to Turtle beach. Didnt see any turtles here, but we did see lots on the way back, when we stopped at the hot springs and mud-baths! So thats how they live for so long!



Here we are at Pizmo beach, and all the clams that we can eat...., oh no, its Turtle beach. With a distinct lack of turtles.... and Tourists according to the number of umbrellas set up!


Next stop was of Biblical proportions! The ancient city of Ephesus. (as referred to in the book of Ephesians) They were as cool as Renee hyped them up to be! Preserved (and restored) to the point where it seemed almost as if you could see the people still walking down the streets and going about their everyday business.... as it was a couple of thousand years ago!


Tim going about his every day business as they did in Ephesus! Public dunnies, all seated in a circle, with musicians playing pleasant melodies to cover up any less pleasant noises! (plus the rich had their servants warm up the marble seat for them before they used it!)

The (partially reconstructed) ancient library, second only in size to the one at Alexandria.


A reconstruction of one of the ancient statues that lined the streets.


Before heading across to Greece, we decided that I (Tim) had to see Gallipoli and the ANZAC sites while we were here. Very glad that we made the trip, despite it being two consecutive overnight bus trips!

The stories of war are always hard to imagine, but to visit the actual terrain the soldiers had to endure made it seem more real and added an extra sense of awe and sympathy for the young men (boys, really) who were unfortunately there. To see the cliffs and gullies that had to be climbed, while carrying heavy backpacks, guns and ammunition, all whilst being wet, and not least of all, being shot at! The trenches that were later dug on secured grounds were at some points, only 8 metres from the Turkish trenches. There were some very inspiring stories from soldiers on both sides, that helped restore some faith in the human spirit, despite the context of war and killings.


Lone Pine memorial for Australian troups who lost their lives at Gallipoli.

The story behind this solitary pine on this Turkish hill:
An Australian soldier had the unfortunate experience of finding his brother dead on the battle field. A pine cone was resting on his body, so he decided to send that back to their parents in Australia in memory, until bodies could be collected and buried properly. The mother planted the pinecone in the garden of their family home, which successfully grew into a large tree. After the war, when peace had settled and memorials were being constructed, this story was revealed. The land was still laregely bare from the battles, so it was requested that a pinecone be sent from the tree still growing back in Australia. That pinecone was planted and is now the "lone pine" tree near the cemetary that accompanies the Australian section of the ANZAC memorials.