This past weekend, I ventured out to Foça, a picturesque seaside town about an hour's drive from Izmir. It was the perfect Sunday escape from the city's heat. First we drove through Yeni Foça (New Foça), which wasn't much, just a bunch of summer homes. As we drove along a winding coastal road, the view of the sea was stunning, with its deep blue water and gently sloping cliffs.
This past weekend, we explored the ancient Roman ruins of Pergamum, which are located in the modern city of Bergama, about two hours from Izmir. This place was similar to Ephesus, but without the congestion of tour buses, thus making these ruins instantly more enjoyable. We spent a few hours in the Acropolis, climbing through underground passageways, admiring the flawless stone architecture, and trying to imagine what kind of life we would have if we were born as Romans.
Acording to Dido Sotiroyo, Şirince is a part of a paradise. Now we are talking about this paradise. It is a
very small and old greek village in İzmir. You can find lots of tohing in this place such as old greek architecture delicious fruit or spicy wine, natural and substantial Turkish breakfast...
If you think that a day is not enough for roving Şirince, you can stay boutique hotels in this place.
7/20/12
This weekend, I finally ventured somewhere in Turkey outside of Istanbul- Izmir! It’s a pretty big city about an hour plane ride south from Istanbul, and we were in the Basmane neighborhood, so another half hour from the airport.
We stayed at the Hotel Baylan, and it was a great place to stay. Nana, Gabby, Alicia and I were in a quad room, with the beds split between two rooms and a private bathroom.
Irfan Orga, Portrait of a Turkish Family (©1950, Eland & Galeri Kayseri 2004)
This was my letting-go-of-Turkey read. We bought it at Galeri Kayseri English Bookshop right next door to the McDonalds within shouting distance of the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya. Evidently the Galeri Kayseri had decided it was ideal for tourists wanting to read an Istanbul story, as there were big piles of it near the counter.
No Ricco, the Pilgrims did not settle in Turkey. That would be America...
Hi Honey! We're home!!
Where to start, where to start.
I've run into people since I've been back who have asked "why Turkey?" That's a legit question as it is off the beaten path. "Vacation" and "Middle East" don't exactly roll off the tongue. Then there have been those who ask with a sneer "what's…
The entrance to the Mosaic Museum in Istanbul is through the Arasta Bazaar in Sultanahmet. Descending to a couple of levels below that of the bazaar, you find yourself faced with some remarkable mosaics from the Byzantine Imperial Palace that occupied most of what is the modern Sultanahmet area of Istanbul.
The mosaics, first discovered in the 1930s, are believed to have been part of the colonnade between the Imperial apartments and the Imperial enclosure on the Hippodrome.
Everyone knows Ephesus and its iconic library. Maybe you even know Troy or Alexander the Great's Pergamon. These are wonderful archaeological sites, but if you are in Turkey and love classical ruins, you absolutely have to visit Aphrodisias. A mere side-note in most guidebooks, I found that Aphrodisias had some of the most impressive architectural and sculptural pieces in Turkey and was completely devoid of tourists when we visited.
Sipping apple tea at a ceramics shop in Avanos, Turkey
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevsehir Province.
In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine.
Cappadocia, in this sense, was bounded in the south by the chain of the Taurus Mountains that separate it from Cilicia, to the east by the upper Euphrates and the Armenian Highland, to the north by Pontus, and to the west by Lycaonia and eastern Galatia.
Built on the orders of Sultan Ahmed I in the 17th century, the Blue Mosque of Istanbul was designed to rival the beauty of the Aya Sophia, which was constructed by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century AD. You'll never forget your trip to the Blue Mosque. Enjoy more of my photos of the Blue Mosque.
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During my Mediterranean trip last fall, the last port we stopped at was the Turkish seaport of Kuşadası, on the southwest side of the country. Skeptours hired a private coach and guide, who took us straight to the ancient city of Ephesus.
I really enjoy ancient ruins! Our guide, who was a secular, Westernized Turk, was not only able to fill us in on the history of this coastal area, but willingly answered all of our questions about the Turkish government, the role of religion in the country, and local tidbits you can only get from living in a place or getting off the beaten path.
Istanbul was one of my favorite cities on the whole trip, if not my favorite city, full stop.
Turkey Pavilion is working to spread the country’s culture to people by directly going to ‘the field’., and it is now also offering On corners of Yeosu Expo, there are Turkey food carts providing Kebab and Turkey Ice cream. According to Ali Gureli, the CEO of IKON firm, Turkey is not waiting for customers or visitors; rather they are reaching to people directly, one by one to spread culture of Turkey.
Lone Pine Cemetery and Memorial, Anzac, Gallipoli. A single pine tree stands amongst the memorial and the graves to the fallen Anzacs in this beautiful and haunting place.
Kaleiçi is the historic city center of Antalya, Turkey. Until modern times, almost the entire city was confined within its walls. It has structures dating from the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman and modern Turkish republican eras. The Kaleiçi area is located in the centre-eastern portion of the city along the mediterranean coast fronted by the yacht harbour that dates to the Roman era.
