Blogs from Turkey, Middle East - page 8

We made it back to Marmaris after a “little” delay on our Easy Jet flight from Gatwick airport. It was scheduled to leave at 3:30PM but we had gotten a message on our phone that it was postponed for 1 ½ hours. That wasn’t too bad and they notified us about 1:30 pm so we decided to take time to have a combination lunch/dinner at the airport. They actually don’t provide you with the actual gate that you need to go to until close to the time of departure. We were told by one of the staff that we should probably start to go through security about an hour before our flight as they would then have the gate assigned. That would mean we wouldn’t have to go until about 4PM based on this information. We ... read more

We arrived in Turkey the end of May and have been concentrating on things that needed to be done on the boat. Now we decided we needed to take time to see someplace other than Marmaris. We had originally planned to take a few months to travel extensively through Turkey, but as we have known from past experience, plans can change in a minute. With Bob trying to turn on the navigational computer “just to check it out”, he found out that even though it was getting 12V of power, it would not turn on. Not good at all. The company we had bought it from has always had great customer support, therefore Bob touched base with them and found that they suggested sending it to their facility in the UK. We could indeed send it ... read more

Google maps has been invaluable at helping us find our way between destinations and also providing some ‘enrichment’ in the routes chosen. Today's adventure started off well with another delicious breakfast in the courtyard, but things went somewhat downhill from there. First descent was when child #1 noticed in an absolute panic that she had left her favourite toy in the bed at the hotel, precisely 3 seconds after we had entered the freeway system. Tried to navigate our way out of it, only to head 20 mins in the exact wrong direction with no exit in sight. Finally made it back to the hotel to collect the attempted escapee. Exactly one hour behind schedule and we headed to Pamukkale for some restorative soaking. It was a long trip, mostly on freeway (where we experienced an ... read more

Having been to Gallipoli twice before, both times just before Anzac Day to visit the historical sites and then for the Dawn service, I wasn’t sure whether a third visit would be a bit same same. But visiting in summer, when it’s hot, and away from Anzac Day, when it’s far less crowded and more peaceful, brings a different perspective. Bringing kids (I’m hot, how much longer, can I have icecream) also changes things slightly. We arrived in Eceabat after an early start and long drive from Istanbul. A few refueling stops along the way and we were pleased to see that conditions were overcast with a very strong breeze whipping up the Dardanelles keeping the temperature reasonable. A quick lunch stop before we collected all the other Aussies and, inexplicably, an Italian and headed for ... read more

Travelling in the post pandemic world is full of stress and uncertainty- cancellations, staff shortages, queues. It is, then, a miracle to behold that two travelling parties, their origins on two separate continents can agree to meet on a third continent and arrive within 30 people in the passport queue. Particularly when one of those parties can answer with genuine ignorance when he’s asked upon boarding his flight from Tanzania what his onward travelling arrangements from Turkey are. So, we have arrived in Istanbul, pleasantly stress-free compared to the last trip, but not lacking in vomit. After settling in to our apartment and admiring the view, we had a wander around Sultanahmet, refuelled the tanks, rekindled our love for Efes and enjoyed some warmth. A Turkish feast in a beautiful garden before the whinging about fatigue ... read more