Page 6 of explorerkeith Travel Blog Posts


Middle East » Turkey » Mediterranean » Olympos September 1st 2007

We were sitting in the sun room of the pension eating a leisurely breakfast. While we ate, we discussed where in Turkey we wanted to go that day. I was unsuccessful in my attempts to talk Errol into heading further east with me - He seemed intrigued by the sights to the east, but he was on a limited schedule and he still had several must-see sites in the west. Since I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about going east by myself, I decided to head west with him. We were torn between going to Konya or to the coast at Olympos, so we decided to see what was available in the bus station in Kahta. We had finished breakfast and were checking out by nine o’clock in the morning, so we were a bit surprised when the ... read more
The Breath of the Chimera
The Monumental Arch
The Citadel


So there it was in the distance. I was the first to spot it, so my friend Errol called it, “Keith’s Discovery”, though it had not really been lost for over a century. The two of us were standing on a deserted two lane road that, for all intents and purposes, was in the middle of nowhere. The tiny symmetrical talus summit I had spotted still seemed like it was miles away across some lovely, but somewhat foreboding desert landscape. The brown, boulder-strewn hills that separated us from our destination rose steadily towards the summit, but there were a few deep ravines that sliced across their barren undulations, which would have to be dealt with. Luckily, the sun was getting low in the sky and the scorching heat that had accompanied us for most of the ... read more
Keith
A Lion and an Eagle
The Heads of Gods and Kings

Middle East » Turkey » Southeastern Anatolia » Urfa August 26th 2007

One of the things I love about traveling without an itinerary is that plans can change on a moment’s notice. My plans were to leave Cappadocia on an early bus to Kahta, near the base of Mt. Nimrut, with my Canadian friend Errol and then continue on to the mountain. We packed our stuff up in the morning and checked out of the hostel. Then we headed down to the bus station to buy some tickets. The man at the counter informed us that every bus (they were not that regular) to Kahta was full for that day and the next. We briefly considered a tour to the area, but the thought repulsed us both. We asked the man what other destinations were available that day and in the general direction we wanted to go. He ... read more
The Spiral Staircase
The Ancient Fortress
Through the Hole in the Wall

Middle East » Turkey » Central Anatolia » Cappadocia August 23rd 2007

Any traveler that has ever considered a trip to Turkey has at least heard of Cappadocia. It is a famous place because of its strange, early Christian history and unique, subterranean architecture. It is a sparse landscape of unsurpassed beauty and boundless mystery located in central Turkey and it is the perfect place for any adventurous tourist to explore at a leisurely pace, provided that they are not too claustrophobic. Everything I had heard about Cappadocia excited me greatly. Being a troglodyte at heart, the stories of intricately decorated rock-cut churches, mysterious subterranean cities reaching several levels underground and the virtually unknown, thousand year old culture that built it all made my imagination run wild. My excitement began to build when the maniacal bus driver slammed the bus into a lower gear, throwing us forward in ... read more
A Surreal Landscape
A Hiding Place Suitable for a Tortoise!
The Canyon Land

Middle East » Turkey » Black Sea » Safranbolu August 17th 2007

It had been a bit of an adventure to find the cushy, blue seat I was sitting in. I had managed to find my way to the gate that the bus company representative told me to go to. I discovered there that the ‘gate’ was only a very general description of where I may find the bus that I had purchased a ticket on. I stepped out into the group of people crowding around a few buses, none of which were marked with a destination, and, like a parrot, I began reciting my rehearsed sentence, “Otobus Safranbolu ne zaman kalkar?” After a few blank stares, a laugh or two and a smile that is universal the world over for, “I don’t have any idea what you are saying” I abandoned my attempt at speaking Turkish and ... read more
Ottoman Homes
Morning in Safranbolu
Sunset over the Black Sea

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul August 14th 2007

My first three days in Istanbul went by at such a quick pace that they had all blurred together. I had taken in three huge tourist attractions as well as countless others. All of the exotic sights and sounds, which were unlike any I had ever experienced, had worn me out and I was approaching sensory overload. All of the sightseeing had been wonderful, but I needed a break, so I decided to slow it down a bit. On my third morning in town I ate another leisurely breakfast at the hostel and I talked about several of the sights in the city with some fellow travelers. I was intrigued by one of their descriptions of the archaeology museum, so I set my sights on it - I know, spending all day in a museum is ... read more
The Dragon
Medusa
Reflections

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul August 10th 2007

If I close my eyes and allow the wonderful stories from ‘A Thousand Nights and a Night’ to flow into my mind I form a fantastical image of graceful domes and minarets that pierce the sky, of lovely pointed arches and intricate tile work and lush gardens hidden behind towering stone walls. It is a land filled with flying carpets, genies in lamps, beautiful, veiled princesses and unimaginable riches. It is a world where magic and mystery are the norm, where every man wears a bejeweled turban and wields a scimitar and heroes are regularly made from ordinary people. It is a beautiful picture of a fabled land that only exists in the deepest recesses of my overactive imagination, or so I thought! On my third day in Istanbul I found an amazing place that, until ... read more
The Mirhab of the Blue Mosque
Imperial Gate
Beneath the Dome, Again

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul August 9th 2007

It was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. A slight breeze flowed in through the large windows beside my table and filled the room with the scents of the sea. I woke up well rested and ready to start my day. I had been initially shocked when I walked up to the breakfast room and saw the food spread out in front of me. It was my first introduction to a Turkish breakfast and, I must admit, my first impression was not favorable. Of course, after I had spent a few minutes getting acquainted with the food we became fast friends. My plate was piled high with cucumbers and tomatoes and fruit and olives and a big slab of feta cheese. Off to the side was a basket full of ... read more
Pergamum's Urns
Reflecting on History
The Grand Doorway

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul August 8th 2007

I watched the green Irish countryside fly by beneath me. It wasn’t long before darkness obliterated the view, so I pulled out my guide book for the Middle East and I turned to the section on Turkey and I started reading about Istanbul, a city I knew virtually nothing about. I quickly learned that the city had started its life as Byzantium in 667BC. From the banks of the Sea of Marmara, at the mouth Bosporus, Byzantium grew to be a very prosperous city. Roman emperor Constantine chose Byzantium to be the site for the capitol of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire in AD330. He then changed the name of the city to ‘New Rome’, but Constantinople was what it became known as. The city continued to grow and prosper due to its strategic location at ... read more
Haghia Sophia
In the Park
Aya Sofya

Europe » Ireland August 7th 2007

Southward we went into the luxuriant Irish countryside. My mom was at the wheel of our little red rental car and Ken, my stepfather, was navigating from the passenger seat. I was in the back seat with my camera gear and all of the overflow baggage from the trunk - It was definitely a tight fit, but, compared with all of the mini-bus rides I had had in Africa, it was a comfortable and roomy ride. We were embarking on a week long journey through southern Ireland, from Dublin to Limerick. We were following a route that my parents originally dreamed up for themselves as they planned their yearly vacation. I was there as an afterthought and at times a moocher. Dublin’s busy streets quickly gave way to open highways and then to two lane country ... read more
A Forest Stream
Waterford Castle
Kilkenny Castle




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