Page 2 of GaryandGai Travel Blog Posts


Middle East » Turkey » Aegean » Ephesus May 25th 2011

Visited the ancient city of Ephesus with many magnificent Greek and Roman ruins. Visited by the apostle Paul in the first century in his attempts to convert the Ephesians. Also the place where the apostle John was buried, after bringing the Virgin Mary to live her last days in this area. Visited the Virgin Mary's house. Lastly onto the site of the Artemision - Temple of Artemis - one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Only a couple of columns left standing to mark the site.... read more
The Odeon at Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus

Middle East » Turkey » Aegean May 24th 2011

Visited the ancient ruins of Troy. Learnt that the Troy of Homer's fame is known as Troy VI, the sixth of nine settlements on this site, starting from 2900BC. Many ruins from all ages, work goes on to expose more. A brief stopover at Izmir on the Aegean before our overnight stop at Kusadasi... read more
Ruins at Troy
Gate at Troy
More ruins at Troy

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Gallipoli May 23rd 2011

Left Istanbul this morning and drove alongside the Dardanelles to the Gallipoli peninsular. First visited Anzac Cove, where the Aussies first landed in April 1915. Walked along the narrow beach with the high dunes behind and wondered at the folly of attacking at that spot when flat land was so close by. A very moving experience. Then up to Lone Pine and the Australian cemetery. For so many lives lost, so little ground made. Then onto Chunuk Bair and the New Zealand cemetery, the highest point and furthest inland made, even if only for a few days, during the campaign. Leaving Gallipoli, we travelled across the Dardanelles to Canakkale for our evening stop... read more
Anzac Cove
Lone Pine
Chunuk Bair

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul » Sultanahmet May 22nd 2011

Caught a local bus into Sultanamhet area of Istanbul. Wandered through the Beyazid Mosque, then the Grand Bazaar before heading down to see the Blue Mosque built in the 17th Century, and famous for the millions of blue tiles inside and the six minarets. Then walked passed the Haghia Sophia, the supreme church of Byzantium and over 1400 years old. Will visit inside when we return to Istanbul in 2 weeks, as we spent the rest of the day visiting the Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottaman Sultans for over 400 years. Built in 1459 as the new seat of government, it was also home to the Sultan's Harem, with up to 500 concubines living there. Magnificently tiled interiors are a feature, as well as the wealth of treasure and relics of the Empire.... read more
Inside Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque
Haghia Sophia from Sultanamhet Square

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul » Sultanahmet May 21st 2011

Arrived in Istanbul late this afternoon, population 15 million and the only city straddling 2 continents. Old capital of the Eastern Roman Empire (as Constantinople) until 1453 then the Ottaman Empire, now a city of mosques. Had a walk to Taksim square to stretch the legs and look at the shops near the hotel. Views from the hotel over the Golden Horn towards Sultanamhet.... read more
Icecream anyone
More sweet treats
Some colourful lights for sale

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Brisbane May 17th 2011

Bags are just about packed, just the last minute things to add. Then we are away Thursday night. Hopefully will find enough internet access in Turkey to keep the blog up to date.... read more

Europe » Ireland » County Kerry » Killarney April 27th 2009

We skirted the town of Limerick to arrive in Adare, a village known for its prize-winning thatched cottages. Then onto the Dingle Peninsula with some spectacular scenery as the sun appeared for the afternoon. Around to Slea Head and views of the Atlantic. Also saw some of the beaches used in the movie "Ryan's Daughter".... read more
Adare
Dingle Peninsula
Dingle Peninsula

Europe » Ireland » County Clare » Ennis April 26th 2009

First stop at Knock, a village that attracts pilgrim from all over the world since the townsfolk saw apparitions. Then on to see some Connemara marble before getting to Galway and Galway Bay. By now the weather had gotten pretty bad. Then we crossed the barren limestone plateau of the Burren before arriving at the spectaular 668 foot Cliffs of Moher. The wind was quiet fierce here. ... read more
Galway
Galway Bay
The Burren


An excursion today into Northern Ireland. First stop at Drumcliffe to see the grave of WB Yeats, then into Northern Ireland and a visit to the Belleek Pottery factory. Then through Omagh and onto Derry. A drive through the Bogside, scenes of much sectarian violence during the Troubles, and a walk around their city walls. On the drive home, a visit to Donegal... read more
Derry
Derry
Derry

Europe » Ireland » County Sligo » Sligo April 24th 2009

An early morning start in the bus into the green countryside, first stop at the legendary Hill of Tara, seat of the High Kings of Ireland. Once a thriving community, now just mounds and standing stones. Lunch stop at Carrick-on-Shannon, at the head of the Shannon River. Past Lough Key to Sligo, our overnight stop. We had an afternoon excursion out to Parkes Castle on Lough Gill , once a Plantation Estate of the early 17th Century. On the way home we had a stop at a Holy Well. ... read more
Tara
Trim
Carrick-on-Shannon




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