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Saturday September 13th
After an amazing breakfast with a view we were met by our tour guide for day of viiting Istanbul's main attractions. The Hippodrome, Blue Mosque. Haghia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar
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Breakfast with a view |
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The ancient Egyptian obelisk in the Hippodrome |
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The awesome Blue Mosque |
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Haghia Sophia Museum |
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Topkapi Palace |
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Grand Bazaar |
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Some views of the Blue Mosque from the hotel roof terrace |
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Sunday September 14th
A lazy day having a wander around the city and taking some happy snaps of the sights. In the evening it was dinner at the Orient Express Restaurant and a show by the Whirling Dervishers
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Monday September 15th
An early start today with a 5 hour bus trip to the Gallipoli Peninsular to visit the ANZAC memorial sights. After the tour it was a ferry trip across the Dardanelles overnight at Canakkale on the Asian side of the peninsular. |
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Tuesday September 16th
Today's tour itinerary included visits to the ancient cities of Troy and Pergmagon. Overnight in Kusadasi. Unfortunately the photo's don't do justice to these awesome ruins.
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Troy |
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Pergmagon |
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Room with a view |
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 Our hotel was behind the cruise ship |
 Beer'o'clock at the hotel terrace |
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Kusadasi is a resort town and cruise ship port in the south west of Turkey. |
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Wednesday September 17th
Today it was visits to visit the House of Virgin Mary (where she is thought to have spent her final years), The Ancient City of Ephesus( the best-preserved Greco-Roman city in the world) and finally the ruins of the Temple of Artemis. Another overnight in Kusadasi.
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The house of the Virgin Mary |
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An ancient Roman carving of Nike - The Nike symbol used for today's sports gear is derived from this carving (from a fold in the skirt)
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The Ancient City of Ephesus |
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The ruins of the Temple of Artemis |
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Thursday September 18th
Today's visit was to Pamukkale to see the "Cotton Castle" (A natural wonder resulting from the calcium spring waters tumble down the mountain from a height of 100 meters, forming a myriad of pools. Cream-colored stalactites are formed as the water overflows from the pools) and the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its basilica, theatre, Roman Bath and Necropolis.
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The "Cotton Castle" |
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Ruins of the City of Hierapolis |
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