http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Middle East , Turkey , Marmara en-us Sun, 06 Dec 09 10:56:16 +0000 Sun, 06 Dec 09 10:56:16 +0000 The past ten days have been truly amazing for me. I finally got to see my girl after 3 months of travelling and it was a much needed rejuvenation. Irsquove been happy throughout my travels but Maggz is able to take me to the next level of happiness that nobody else is able to do. We met up at the midpoint of the world between Boston and Nepal which is apparently Turkiye This is an amazing coun http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-457403.html Finally in Turkey the flight was fine. Turkish Airlines with the compulsory delay and the blunt staff. My seat wouldn't stay upright so I had to hold onto the chair infront and sort of lean in the crash position when we were taking off. This time the flight was delayed for only 20 minutes so I can't complain yipee. I don't know if it was the faulty chair but by the time I got to Istanbul by b http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-456282.html Istanbul is big much bigger than I imagined. I should have figured a city that was once the eastern capital of the Roman Empire a city that is in both Asia and Europe would be big but the part we toured was only the Old City where everything was surprisingly compact and if we had been on our own would have easily walked to all the places we went. On this trip and the next Ephesus our group jo http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-454725.html We had a fab time exploring this incredible city managing to pack in quite a bit without feeling at all rushed. Checked out Aya Sofya Blue Mosque Hippodrome Basilica Cistern Topkapi Palace Great Palace Mosaic Museum Beyoglu district Bazaars and just generally soaked up the atmosphere of life in Istanbul.Especially enjoyed the stories of time spoken by the layers types and states of arch http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-454570.html Hi I just came back from Istanbul Sep 1723 2009 and was really pleased with all the travel arrangement made by my travel agent ONE NATION TRAVEL AGENCY.Mr. Bilal the manager personally talks to you over the phone replies your emails. If you don't have time to scout around for transfers hotels tours then don't go any further One Nation Travel Agency is your choice...Their office is http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-453919.html Onward to Istanbul and the Cruise.Our overnight bus journey to Istanbul was relatively uneventful with several stops at roadside service centres catering to the Bus trade The highways in Turkey are modern and there are of toll roads as we approached Ankara and later Istanbul. From Goreme there were 9 Buses leaving within a 1 hour time frame and much to my surprise most were full. This is the very http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-453479.html Turkey has been a country that I will truly never forget and I might want to live in someday. I love the food the landscape the people and the culture. I have been blown away by everything.My first stop was in a same town called Goreme which located in the heart of the Cappadocia Range. This is very small town based on tourism. To start with this is one of the coolest hostels that I have st http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-453379.html A journey in the making. Milton Massachusetts to the People's Republic of china. Via Istanbul.I really donrsquot know where to start on this. It all started in Wales. My wife Cisca was in Hospital having her appendix out. I was at a bit of a loose end and so wandered down to a friendrsquos house to watch some TV. BBC2 were doing a program on the origins of the Chinaman. They went down to Guil http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-453350.html Our first day at sea aboard the Holland America ms Rotterdam we passed from the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea through the Turkish Straights the Dardanelles and the Bosporus with the Sea of Marmara in between.We went through the Dardanelles early in the morning with Europe on our left and Asia on our right with scattered cities and castles along the shores. The staff member I think his name is Chr http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/blog-452298.html httpwww.boutiquehotelsofturkey.comajiahotelBringing together the past and today Arsquojia welcomes you to a unique realm of pleasure. Arsquojia Hotel is a a mansion that is an incredible hideout where the mysteries of Istanbul come together. Arsquojia offers 16 rooms over 4 floors accesible with elevators. Each room characteristicly represents itself there are 10 deluxe rooms includ http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Bosporus/blog-451970.html from an original pera mansion...304stanbul Hotel Galata Antique had been built as a mansion in 1881 at that time Beyo287lu and Taksim was called Pera for a levantine french family named Decugis by the famous architect Alexandre Vallaury. Pera Palace Hotel Istanbul Archeology Museum Bosphorus Palace Academy of Fine Arts are some examples of his monuments in 304stanbul. 304n his http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-451969.html Every now and then the loud city and work pressure stress you out. Sometimes you would like to reward your welldeserved happiness peace or success. One of those times we recommend you to jump to a ferry rocked by soothing waves and cries of seagulls in the background for a relaxing journey away from the stress and towards Bykada. Panorama Hotel stands right across the pier affording the fin http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-451966.html httpwww.boutiquehotelsofturkey.comtomtomsuitesTomTom Suits treats its guests in a building that withstood the passage of Ottoman Empirersquos last century in Istanbul Galata as an oasis melting elegance in peace and the past within 21th century. Situated in the hub of cityrsquos historical and cultural texture hotel introduces an original interpretation to luxury accommodation where th http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-451964.html Bosphorus Palace Hotel Istanbul httpwww.boutiquehotelsofturkey.combosphoruspalaceA majestic example of NeoOttoman architecture prominently situated in Beylerbeyi had initially accommodated Vizer Damat Melek Mehmet Pasha. This landmark waterside mansion was bought by Debre Mebusu MP 304smail Hakk305 Pasha after 1890 and was renovated after the fire in 1983 based on old drawings and http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-451962.html Witt 304stanbul Suites Cihangir 304stanbul httpwww.boutiquehotelsofturkey.comwittistanbulsuitesVoted one of the world's best hotels by the Sunday times travel Comfort convenience and class all wrapped up in one Witt Istanbul Suites offer guests a cosy accommodation with modern facilities in the heart of the action. Located in the Cihangir district which has become a hot bed o http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-451961.html httpwww.boutiquehotelsofturkey.comsumahanLying on engelky shores in an unequalled position that dominates all Bosphorus attractions Sumahan features 20 suits affording the Bosphorus view and luxuriously decorated with a contemporary accent. It is an exceptional spot in a wondrous location capturing tantalizing glimpses of blue green and grey colors of the sea. Twostorey loft suits open u http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-451958.html Taxim Suites 304stanbul httpwww.boutiquehotelsofturkey.comtaximsuitesSituated on top of one of Istanbul's 7 hills these exclusive suites offer contemporary accommodation with modern comforts that include free wireless internet access and complimentary continental breakfast. Istanbul Taxim Suites offer a range of suites to meet the needs of executive travellers. Each of the suites offer http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-451957.html Yah351iBey Hotel Mudanya Bursa httpwww.boutiquehotelsofturkey.comyahsibeyCapturing traits of history with the Crete Neighborhood Armistice and Zeytinba287305 district and offering a breath of fresh air in a heaven for asthmatics cardiac and goitre sufferers is Mudanya the charming coastal village of Marmara Region admired for its scenic Gemlik Gulf view. And within Mudanya s http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Bursa/blog-451953.html ttoman Hotel Imperial is located just beside the Haghia Sophia museum resting at the heart of 304stanbul Sultanahmet. Built as a school and hospital during the mid 1800rsquos and later served as a ldquoEsnaf Hastanesirdquo Hospital for Artisans. In 20th century buildings were converted to accommodate youth and opened as the Ottoman Hotel Imperial in 2005 after renovation.Hotel offers a http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-451950.html One of the highlights for me was turkey.Turkey A Brief History of TurkeyTurkey's first known human inhabitants appeared in the Mediterranean region as early as 7500 BC and it has been ruled through the centuries by diverse cultures including the sunworshiping Hittites the Greeks who drove out the gentle Persians and the Byzantines including Constantine. King Constantine divided the Roman Empir http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-449757.html