Turkiye 1

Since I’m still new to the blogging game, I’ve written a practice blog from a trip I did in 2014. I enjoyed Turkey immensely and despite the current DFAT advice, I would still visit, although I would be checking my travel insurance.

Turkey is intoxicating with its incredible historical and geographic sights, a zillion beautiful mosques and bazaars, a strong culture of tea and coffee making and taking, the freshest food, efficient transport and friendly people – the list goes on.

We arrived in Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur on a Malaysian airlines flight, a few months after a second Malaysian plane met its fate; this time over Ukraine in 2014. Malaysian Airlines offered us a refund and to be honest, for a brief time we considered it, but at the time we were working insane hours and time was at a premium. On board, we were the sole westerners amongst a sea of black clad burqa wearing Muslim women and equally sombre men. Westerners were sending a clear message. Our flight was faultless, the crew stoically committed to their ‘stay strong’ mantra. Our hearts went out to them.

We were spending six weeks in Turkey and I had prepared a jam packed itinerary which began and finished in Istanbul. I quickly realised that one doesn’t just like Istanbul, one falls head over heels for this vibrant, heady, historic city once called Constantinople and Byzantium.

The Bosphorus Strait splits Istanbul into an historic area (Sultanahmet) and a modern area (Beoglu) and it’s worth staying in both to get a grip on where this moderate Muslim capital city and indeed the country came from and where it’s headed.

I’ve trawled through hundreds of pics and picked the best!

That’s the Blue Mosque in the feature photo. Here’s the inside – stunning

Istiklal Caddesi

Hagia Sophia – built between 532 and 537. Once a Christian church, then a mosque and now a museum.

Cooking mussels

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar

Straight out of Ancient Egypt is the Obelisk of Thutmosis III in the Hippodrome of Constantinople.

Below is Istanbul’s ancient water supply – Basilica Cistern

Ortakoy Temple along the Bosphorous. The call to prayer 5 times a day is heralded by loud music and wise words from a muezzin through a loud speaker – it’s loud!

Istanbul’s famous Spice Markets

The ubiquitous freshly made pomegranate juice – a Turkish staple

Turkish delight – the genuine stuff.

Very easy to eat healthy in Turkey. Fresh food markets everywhere.

Galata Bridge across the Bosphorous. Restaurants on the lower deck.

We ate enough gozlemes to sink a battleship. Turkish flatbread filled with feta, spinach, mushrooms, minced lamb and zucchini- delicious.

Turkish towels galore at Jennifers and they offer shipping

Out and about on the Bosphorous Strait which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea. A wealth of history along its banks as well as plenty of cafes.

We thoroughly enjoyed Istanbul and when the Syrian issue settles, we aim to return and stay awhile in this enchanting city.

After Istanbul, we bussed to Amasra on the Black Sea. Our mode of transport for all our travelling in Turkey was by bus. Turkey’s bus system exceeded our expectations. A number of bus companies operate and the buses we chose were modern and sleek with uniformed and competent staff. TV screens in the back of seats and a food and drink service plying the aisles completed a comfortable travel picture. We didn’t have to book too far ahead. A day or two before departure, we found a bus station and booked forward tickets.

I really liked Amasra. For the 4 days we spent here, we never heard English spoken. Lucky we like talking to each other! Amasra is a seaside town and a popular holiday choice for Turkish families. The town lends itself to walking; we walked and walked. Swam too, although the Black Sea which is actually a brilliant blue, is quite cold, even on a hot summer day in August! Lots of fish restaurants dominate the culinary scene and there are some good bars to enjoy an uplifting raki. Interesting how anyone can speak the language of food and drink!

I’d booked a fabulous apartment with a balcony that looked out over a small but active town square as well as the harbour. This is the view from our apartment in Amasra.

Downtown Amasra – really lovely

Swimming in the Black Sea

From Amasra we bussed to Safranbolu, a UNESCO heritage listed Ottoman town with winding cobbled streets and stone/timber houses. The very attractive town is photogenic and would look beautiful in winter. It is quite relaxing here but a tourist spot it is and the tourist buses roll in and out with regularity. We stayed a couple of nights in an authentic Ottoman house complete with lots of Turkish rugs on timber floors. Very comfortable.

Freshly brewed Turkish coffee

Ankara, Turkey’s capital was our next stop. It lacked the charm of Istanbul, but we were here for two reasons. First, Ataturk’s mausoleum and second, the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations. Australians are very familiar with Mustafa Kamil Ataturk. He was the man whose strategy and courage led his Turkish soldiers to victory at Gallipoli against our ANZACs. He was also the humble man whose moving tribute to our dead diggers still makes the heart skip a beat:

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives … You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours … You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.

When the Ottomans lost their power after World War I, Ataturk initiated his transition to president of the newly established Republic of Turkey. His mausoleum stands high on a hill overlooking Ankara and it covers a vast area. The atmosphere here is a reminder of the high esteem in which the Turks hold Ataturk; respectful and reverent beyond measure.

The Museum of Anatolian Civilisations is world renowned and contains many Turkish treasures from centuries past. Half a day is easily spent here. My photos don’t do justice to this fabulous museum.

Caravanserai were popular choices of accommodation for Ottomans travelling trade routes in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Tired horses were housed downstairs and weary traders upstairs. The horses have long gone, replaced by open and comfortable lounges, bars and dining areas. The caravanserai below fitted the bill for us and we spent a few very comfortable nights here.

Ankara’s fresh food market

Very close to our hotel were a number of Turkish tea and coffee houses. We liked the simplicity of this one.

Turkey Moments 2 coming soon…….