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Hey Guys,
How are you all? Well it's been a while since my last enrty. Work is going well and the days are longer and lighter which is a big bonus! Apart from good weather Kade Anna and I were lucky enough to spend 9 days in Turkey from the 1st to the 9th of May, Loved Turkey!!
:-) So here's the lowdown..
Day 1: Istanbul. After thinking we'd missed our flight and running through the airport like headless chickens (even though we'd arrived there nearly 3 hours early!) turned out we were right on time but just a little jaded. Got the 3 hour flight to beautiful hotel in Istanbul. Had a great day drinking Beers in the sunshine and smoking Sheesha (flavoured tobacco) on one of the many colourful cushions at a really nice Turkish Restaurant. We also made a friend out of one of the Waiters and he ended up singing songs to us on his guitar 'love of my life' and 'i'm yours' by tiki tane (clearly he'd had a few tourists there if he knew that song! My fav was La Bamba though and lots of other turkish songs too. Anna, Kade and
I ended going to another pub with him and got home around 3.
Day 2: Istanbul. Up for the bus at 6am oh joy! After breakfast we strolled through the old town of Istanbul visiting the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia Museum. Feeling a wee bit jaded after our late night so an early night after a hige Buffet meal at our really lovely Hotel.
Day 3: Gallipoli. Up early for the bus and after another delicious buffet breakfast we visited all the important memorial sites in Gallipoli including the Kabatepe War Museum (where we saw the human skull of a Martyr with the bullet still in it), Anzac Cove, Chunuk Bair and Lone Pine, it was a really hot day and lots of time on the bus but good to see where an important part of history took place.
Day 4: Troy, Pergamum, Selcuk. After breakfast we headed to the ancient city of Troy, the setting of Homer's epic, Iliad, involving a giant wooden horse. We then continued to Pergamum, and the remains of the Temple of Athena, Temple of Trajan, Library and theatre cut into the hillside. Another beautiful sunny day
and at the end of it we arrived in Selcuk where we indulged in a traditional Turkish Bath. Although i'm not sure indulging is quite the right word. We lay on a hot concrete slab in the middle of a stinking hot smelly 'wet bath' type room and one by one we were scrubbed down by a pot bellied sarong clad Turkish Man with a dirty mo. Not only did he scrub us all down with the same large mit, he then soaped us up and poured water over our heads and a few got a tap on the bum when it was time to finish. Not something i'd rush back for but hey 'when in Rome'.
Day 5: Ephesus, Pamukkale. Up at 7am and on the bus to see the best preserved ancient town in Turkey, Ephesus. In the afternoon we departed for Pamukkale to see the amazing terraces (formed by running spring water). Time for a Beer and some chill out time in the sun and then onto the next Hotel. The accomodation on the tour was seriously 5 star and the buffets were like nothing i've ever seen before. Very impressed!
Day 6: Cappadocia. Today
we departed for Cappadocia where we visit the Underground City, the city was 8 storeys underground and the tunnels so narrow that if you were going through one with people behind and in front of you, you couldn't see a whole lot! Did I mention you couldn't stand upright either? Needless to stay I stayed right up close behind the tour guide at every opportunity! We visited the rest of the region of natural and man-made rock formations which you can see in the photos, characterized by fairy chimneys and unique historical and cultural heritage.
Day 7: Cappadocia. After breakfast we checked out all the important sights in Cappadocia including the Goreme Open Air Museum (with amazing fresco paintings of Jesus, the last supper etc), Cavusin, Uchisar and Pigeon Valley. We also got a riveting tour of a Carpet Place and got shown how Turkish Carpets are made. Turkish Carpets really don't do it for me but the 'Turkish/American' accent of the dude that did the presentation was entertainment enough even if was he was saying didn't interest me. Tonight we had Turkish Night. We watched some dancing and drunk lots of red Wine. Kade did a fabulous impression
of the Turkish Carpet Man too!!
Day 8: Back on the bus for a long day of travelling back to Istanbul. Traffic was Chaotic so a few of us walked to the Grand Bazaar (huge indoor market type area, was very cool) and a bustling area oF Istanbul. Back for showers and then straight to our favourite Restaurant that we dined at on the first night for more Turkish Food, Singing and Beer.
Day 9: Istanbul. The tour officially ended today and we spent the day wandering around Istanbul then having our last long lazy Turkish lunch in the sun, was a really nice end to the trip.
Highlights of the tour.. Kade searching everywhere for the Bacon at one of the Buffet breakfasts for us only to be told the following day that Turkey is a Muslim Country and that Pigs are sacred therefore, no bacon.
Anna singing 'Love of my life' every opportunity and the tour guide Baris's (pronounce Bar-eesh) song 'If you want a bit of turkish delight i've got it for you..'
Always being late back on the bus no matter how hard we tried, even if we were on time
we were still last, I think Baris had it in for us.
Low lights of the tour: The amount of time spent on the bus and the amount of information we were given on each place (it was all a little overwhelming at times and i'd rather have just sat down and had a beer in the sunshine). All in all though the reason we chose to do a tour is because there's alot to see in Turkey and it was a cheap way to do it.
Anyway guys think that's about it. Apart from Turkey have lots of things to look forward to. The London Sevens next weekend and Kieran's arrival to London the following. We have a great month ahead planned for him including Paris and while he and Nicola are at Download i'll be going to the Ascot Races so i'll try and upload some pics of upcoming events.
Hope you're all well, Lots of love xxxxxxx
P.S There are more pics from Anna and Kades Camera i'll put up later just thought i'd better send this cause otherwise i'd never get around to it!!
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