10/9/24
Early start for our 6.05am flight to Istanbul from Luton. Flight time is 3 and a half hours. Istanbul airport is massive. Took us ages to get to passport control, but at least our bags were waiting for us at baggage collection. Mini bus transfer to La Quinta by Windham our base for the next two nights. We were really tired after our early start, so after meeting the rep to get our itinerary, we had a shower and ate in the hotel. Surprisingly, nice cheese burger, pizza and Efes local beer. Early night as were being picked up at 8am for a tour of Istanbul the next day.
11/9/24
Istanbul
Very hectic breakfast as I think everyone in the hotel was being picked up at 8am, all 400 rooms! First stop the very impressive Suleyman Mosque. We then walked to the Grand Bazaar which certainly lives up to its name, it’s massive. Istanbul is a beautiful city, full of history and culture. We had a fabulous 3 course lunch at Serberthane restaurant in the walls of the Blue Mosque. After exploring the Blue Mosque, we passed the impressive Hagia Sophia before our final stop at Topkapi Palace. The palace complex is very large and you could easily spend a whole day there. We had a long, hot day with 15000 steps, so were ready for a shower and a beer before the start of a new adventure tomorrow.
12/9/24
Ankara
7am start for the drive to Ankara. We met Mehmet our guide and Ismail our driver for the duration of our tour of the Turkey circle or Treasures of Anatolia as it is known. After lunch in a local restaurant, we visited the Ataturk Mausoleum. Ataturk was the founder of the Modern Turkish Republic. The title means father of Turkey. The mausoleum is very impressive and dominates the skyline of Ankara. We spent the afternoon wandering around the museum of the War of independence. At the end of the day we watched an impressive display of the changing of the guard. This involved lots of marching and shouting. We then transferred to our hotel for the night the Radisson Blu Ankara. Hotel was a little dated, but ok for just one night. We went for a stroll past Ankara Palace and an impressive mosque, before heading to the hotel bar for a night cap.
13/9/24
Cappadocia
After leaving Ankara at 8am we stopped enroute at Tuz Golu. This is a salt lake and the 2nd largest lake in Turkey. Being summer time there was very little water and we walked across the salt flats. Lovely lunch stop in Avanos, we decided against the set 3 course lunch and strolled around the village and riverside. Absolutely, beautiful place and we found a lovely coffee shop for a beer and shared a dessert. Stopped off at a carpet weaving centre, beautiful, but not really our thing. Hotel for the next 2 nights was the Mustafa Cappadocia Resort, best yet, very recently refurbished and a very high quality. 5.30pm pick up for sunset Jeep safari. Jeep safari was amazing a real off road white knuckle ride with our mad driver Ahmed. Stopped off a few times for panoramic photo opportunities, the fairy chimneys and cave houses are out of this world. We celebrated sunset over Cappadocia with a glass of fizz before heading back to the hotel for dinner and a night cap.
14/9/24
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is famous for its sunrise balloon flights. We gave it a miss as a little worried about Turkish health and safety! But our fellow travellers made it back in one piece and the pictures were very impressive. Tour of Goreme open air museum this morning to see the cave houses and churches. We then stopped at a jewellery showroom to see Sultanite a colour changing stone only found in Turkey. I bought a Pandora hot air balloon charm as a memento of Cappadocia. Next stop was a ceramics factory, beautiful art pieces but very expensive. Brief panoramic stop to see the fairy chimneys, before lunch in Cavusin. We found dog bar for a beer. Back to the hotel for a swim and chill out.
15/9/24
Pamukkule
Early start for a long drive - 385 miles!!!! Finally arrived in Pamukkale at 5.30pm. The plan was to see the Cotton Palace at sunset. The Cotton Palace is a travertine terrace which sparkles white with calcium deposits. There is an area where you can walk barefoot on the terraces and paddle in the hot springs, we did dip our toes in and walk a little way, but it was very busy and very slippy! This is also the site of the ancient city of Hierapolis. The theatre was very impressive and worth the steep climb up to the top. Finally, we watched the sunset over the terraces. Our hotel for the evening was the Richmond Thermal. Bit of a scrum for dinner and as we didn’t arrive until 8pm there wasn’t time to enjoy the thermal pool and spa facilities.
16/9/24
Ephesus and Izmir
First stop today was an artisan leather shop. We saw a fashion show, before looking at the jackets in the showroom. Very good quality leather, but expensive. However, I was surprised how many people purchased them from our tour, counted at least 7 carrier bags, which was a lot considering they were at least 400-500 dollars. Second stop was the House of the Virgin Mary. Legend suggests that she spent the last 7-9 years of her life with in Efes. Whether it is true or not is debatable as it’s based on a 7 year old girl having a vision. But we lit a candle and I crossed myself with holy water just in case!!!! Final stop was the ancient city of Ephesus. Ephesus is a massive archaeological site. Most impressive sights are the library of Celsus, the theatre and the mosaic floors. Over night in Izmir at Hampton by Hilton.
17/9/24
Pergamon & Troy
After breakfast, we went a stroll along the sea front before recommencing our tour. 1st stop Pergamon and a visit to the Asklepion, an ancient hospital where Galen practised. It was the first psychiatric hospital. Treatments included trepanning, hallucinogenic drugs, dream analysis and spa treatments. A sort of ancient Priory, only for the rich and mostly placebo effect treatments. After a stop for lunch we made our way to Troy. Troy was rebuilt about 10 times, so archaeologists have discovered many different layers. Unfortunately, Victorian treasure hunters from Germany did a lot of damage, so not as impressive as Ephesus. But there is a huge Trojan horse. My second disappointment was that Brad Pitt and Eric Banna were no where to be seen!!! After checking into the decidedly average Remida Hotel we skipped the included buffet dinner and went to a local taverna. The taverna had a beautiful view over the Dardanelles straits to Gallipoli. We watched the sunset with a nice Meze and a bottle of wine.
18/9/24
Bursa- Istanbul
Early start for our journey back to Istanbul via Bursa. Brief stop to see the Trojan horse used in the film Troy which is beside the sea in Canakkale. Our last visit with our great tour guide Mehmet was to Bursa, known as the green city. We visited the main mosque, the green mosque and the green mausoleum (green because of the green tiles decorating them). We then visited the silk market. After Bursa it was back on the road for our return to Istanbul. Back to La Quinta by Wyndham where we began our tour for our last two night.
19/9/24
Istanbul
Final day in Istanbul. Picked up at 8am for half day tour of Istanbul. We started with the spice market and then had a cruise along the Bosporus. We then decided to explore independently with two of our fellow travellers, Maria and Claire. First stop was lovely cool courtyard for coffee and cake, a real oasis in the middle of the chaos of the bazaar. We then walked to the Cistern Basilica, which was amazing. It was the original water storage system built for the city by the Romans. It has lots of art installations and wonderful lighting emphasising the massive space and grand architecture. We strolled around the cobbled streets of Istanbul and enjoyed a beer in a rooftop bar with views over the Bosporus. We then took a taxi back to the hotel as we had missed the 4pm pick up. But taxis very cheap, an hour’s journey only cost £15 between the four of us. More beer in the hotel bar before heading back to our room for a shower. Final dinner in the hotel with Deb and Steve fellow guests from Oregon before turning in for the night. Being picked up at 9am in the morning for our flight home. An exhausting, but amazing trip around Turkey would highly recommend #exoticca
20/9/24
Civilised pickup at 9am after breakfast for our flight home. As I reflect on our adventure I’ve learnt so much about the history, culture and politics of this amazing country. The infrastructure is amazing, although Erdogan is often criticised outside of Turkey, he certainly has modernised the country and improved standards since our first visit in the 90s when it was still very much a developing country. Istanbul airport is immense and has ambitions to be the largest airport hub in the world. Medical tourism is very big. At the airport I amused myself by playing guess the surgery. Lots of Turkey teeth, hair transplants, nose jobs, boob jobs, tummy tucks and bariatric surgery, judging by the bandages and surgical stockings! Smooth flight home #whizzair. Home in time for tea!
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