Turkey 2024 Tour

(Continued)

This is the second part of the 2024 Road Scholar tour of Turkey

Travel to Kusadasi

Local market at Seleuk

Basilica of Saint John

We saw a fair number of storks at the top of pillars around the towns. Finally got a photo of their little ones. 

Our lunch stop included an enclosure with some very ‘friendly’ peacocks. 

Ephesus!

Got to get that perfect shot for sharing on instagram. 

The Library of Celsus in Ephesus. Probably one of the most impressive sites we visited was Ephesus. We were not alone – many tour groups (from the cruise ships?) also invaded the city. 

Sitting cheek to cheek. A WC/Bathroom in the old world. When the city has many thousands, you need a place to go.

They uncovered a high-end condo complex. About 7 condos with wonderful spaces and stories. (They did remodels during their time!) 

In one room in the condo complex was this well preserved tile floor. After a little color and perspective correction it makes for a delightful “painting.”

Kusadasi

Our hotel in Kusadasi had a delightful infinity pool. A bit cold for swimming (but that didn’t stop Barbara). What a view!!

We did a tour of a weaving shop. The time to make a rug is incredible. No wonder the hand made rugs are so expensive! 

Troy

I really found Try to be one of the most interesting places we visited. Seven or so layers of prior inhabitants just built on top of one another. So hard to figure out what belongs to which layer – and they are finding more. 

Move to Europe

Our full group! We visited ANZAC the location of the World War 2 battle where thousands of Australian and New Zealand lost their lives. 

A little fox visited the bus to beg for food.

Our ferry arrives to take us to Europe.

Our final farewell to Selim who was our partner for the trek.

Istanbul

Hagia Sophia 

Blue Mosque

Cistern next to the Topkapi Palace. Underground for water storage. Fully decorated with delightful art. The 6th century Basilica Cistern was built by Justinian the Great

There was a number of Medusa art pieces and one cast a shadow behind Pat. 

Recycle and reuse! At the bottom of two of the pillars were Medusa carving. All under the water when it was filled!

Topkapi Palace 

Topkapi Palace resident 

Blue Mosque

View from Topkapi Palace across the Bosphorus to Asia side of Istanbul

Hagia Sophia

Blue Mosque

Merve Yılmaz http://www.merveyilmaz.com.tr/ She joined us for a few days in Istanbul – a tour guide and a nice nerd (a good thing). Plus she likes cats…

Prayers inside the Hagia Sophia

Inside the Topkapi Palace – it’s good to be Sultan. Not so much to be brother of Sultan. Maybe even better to be mother of Sultan. So much control. 

On the plaza – “stolen” from Egypt. Part of the Hippodrome that is now a public area.

Hagia Sophia

Blue Mosque

Birthday Cruise!

We didn’t know how they would do a main course on the yacht – well they did “Dock Dash” and pulled up next to this couple getting their picture taken and someone dashed out and handed our crew a bag containing our dinner. Fish! How fun is that?

They only took cash for the adventure. It was $450 or about 14,000 Lyra. Well the machine were giving out some 200’s and some 50’s – that’s a lot of bills to get to 14K. 

Seems that I was one of three that had birthdays during this trip. We happened to have a free evening on my Birthday (nothing scheduled with the formal group), so we chartered a yacht for a cruise up the river and dinner. 

We started out at an hour before sunset and finished after dark. So the photos on the Bosphoras were varied and stunning!  

Buyuk Mecidiye Camii

Mihrimah Sultan Cami

A summer cottage? Kucuksu Kasri

Maiden’s Tower

Back to the tour of Istanbul

Yunus and Merve – out on the boat tour on the Bosphoras.

Blue Mosque from the Bosphoras

Istanbul Arkeoloji müzeleri – Turkish archaeological finds

Sokullu Mehmet Pasa Camii – Ottoman mosque

Rustem Pasa Camii – the TILE!!

We fell in love with all the elliptical lights. So many colors, so may ways to hang them. This photo was taken on one of the many isles in the market.

Cheese shops, spice shops. So many colors. (Maybe the Turks really like colors!) One of MANY spice shops.

Near our hotel we have the Cheap Market (good price on wine and beer) and the Trump laundry (that Yunus used!)  

The Seagulls were raising their young on the deck of the hotel 

Ann’s Bowl of Beer on the hotel deck

The (smart) crows came in the restaurant to get some food. Well the dumb small birds did the same thing. 

Yunus took us for a walk down a delightful street -İstiklal Avenue – took a ride on the trolly for a few blocks. 

Fish on display

Galata Tower is a popular instagram photo spot. These kids asked me to take their picture since they wanted a better-than iPhone photo. I gave it to them, but I’m sure it didn’t meet their expectations since I shoot RAW and it takes processing to get a good picture…

The Resim Müzesi – what spectacular rooms. A sultan’s palace and it exceeded expectations. 

I think this was the Suleyman Subasi Camii next to Golden Horn

Yes, a Super Mario themed restaurant and shops. Why not?

It was common to see dolphins in the Bosphoras. Not easy to get a good photo of them…

Day vs Night on the Asia side of Istanbul

Spencer and Lynn creating a photo in the Mosque 

Never mind that Spencer is missing part of his arm… Did he need it? No, he didn’t. 

We went to the Modern Art Museum. Some fun stuff (and some stuff I didn’t understand). A wonderful building and showplace. 

A really fun Photograph 

A 3D whimsical sculpture  

Views from the top floor of the museum.

Kucuk Ayasofya Mosque

I think this is the Rustem Pass Camii Mosque

So many fisherman. Our guide, Erin described the situation as husbands generally don’t have any hobbies when they are working, but the retire and they are “encouraged” to find something to do outside the home. 

Delightful color on the street!

Esin was our guide for a Culinary Backstreets tour called “Culinary Secrets of the Old City” What a delight!!

It would not have been my first thought to put a flower in the butt of a lamb…

A tiny shop that just sells gold coins…

Our favorite Donor shop and cook. Really tasty!

So many cats. So many calicos. We saw someone feeding them – probably chicken – and the fight was between the cats and the seagulls for who would get the food. 

Our last walk through the city past the Hagia Sophia

Bus drivers are very skilled. He made it down this street without moving (or touching) the motorcycle. Inches of clearance for all driving in the city seems common.

And our final dinner on the top of Seven Hills restaurant – what a delightful way to end the trip!

I have uploaded many more of my pictures. Go here if you want to be bored.

If you want ALL my 3+ rated pictures for your computer, download the .zip file linked above.