We made it safely to Istanbul. If finally got to sleep. Hotel is inside the Roman ruins of the old city walls. Breakfast in a few minutes followed by a flight to Gaziantep to see a mosaic museum. September 28 at 12:25am
I am in Urfa, Turkey near the birthplace of Abraham. Today we went to the Syrian border, Harran, and Gobekli Tepe a 12,000 BCE Temple
September 29 at 11:51am
I am in the cave suites in Cappadocia, Turkey listening to the call to prayer. Today we visited Hurrian and Assyrian sites from 1800 BCE. Yesterday I climbed Mt. Nemrud and was buffeted by wind, rain, hale and the flash of lightening. Zeus spared me from his thunderbolts but my poor tour guide kept praying to Allah because he was cold. I had a short sleeve shirt on. Thank goodness I am from Michigan and have been through worse checking the mail.· · October 1 at 11:44am
Hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia today. I've never been in one before. Our pilot's name was Sadi. We landed right on the trailer bed....now that is skill! I was chicken but there was no wind today. There were 60 balloons in the air at one time! · · October 2 at 2:10am
Today I fell for the oldest cliche in Turkey...I bought Turkish carpets...three in fact. I will be eating cheese sandwiches for the rest of my life to pay for them. We purchased through the Carpetium in Cappadocia which is subsidized by the Turkish government for keeping Turkish culture alive, so our prices were very fair considering what we bought. · October 3 at 8:34am
oh, I also visited a large underground city and some Christian churches in a cave from the 8th century CE October 3 at 8:44am
Today we watched some Sufis at a Caravan enact a whirling dervish ritual, watched potters make Hittite wine vessels and I bought something else...which means I will now be eating ketchup sandwiches for the next year to pay for this trip! Tomorrow is a travel day....likely no internet service!· · October 4 at 12:03pm
I am in Kasadasi Turkey, near the Greek Island of Samos. Our hotel is on the Aegean Sea. I've been to the House of Mary, Aphrodisias and Ephesus. Way more tourists in Ephesus than when I was there back in 1995!· · October 7 at 9:41am
Today I visited the Asclepion and Troy. I am in a nice hotel overlooking the Hellaspont near the Island of Lesbos. Tomorrow we will ferry over to Gallipoli. · · October 8 at 11:56am
Still in Istanbul. Ate lunch at famous orient express restaurant. Visited the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, The Chora Museum, Boat ride on the Bosphorus, Topkapi Palace, and the Spice Market.October 10 at 10:42am
Tomorrow is a free day and our last day in Istanbul before going home. It has rained for two straight days. We are planning on going to the Basilica Cistern, The Istanbul Archaeological Museum and the Grand Bazaar.October 10 at 11:00am
Some of the Eastern regions of Turkey have food that is a bit too spicy for my tastes, but the quality and variety of foods overall are excellent. I've become a fan of stretchy ice cream