Turkey

Hello! Turkey was wonderful. Can't wait to go back, and we will! There is so much to share about our quick 9 day visit to the Aegean Coast and Istanbul. Highlights: We made a wonderful friend on the ferry from Greece, Shule, and she insisted that we spend an extra day in Bodrum so that she could show us the beauty of the area. I was trying to make up for the 'lost' week stuck on the Greek islands, but Anna, Michael and Shule pleaded so I said, 'What the heck?! This was meant to happen, time to meet a wonderful new friend! We're on nobody's schedule but our own. Let's get to know this place!' She and her partner, Zafar, welcomed us into their home, shared a delicious Turkish dinner, breakfast and lunch with us, and drove us all around to see the sites - places we never could have gotten to or known about on our own. Michael had so much fun with Zafar playing guitar and learning backgammon from Shule. We visited Zafar's work with a foundation for physically challenged children (he's a physical therapist). It was an amazing introduction into an amazing country. Thank you Shule and Zafar!!

We left Bodrum and traveled north on one of the great buses of Turkey (they're like airplanes: super friendly attendents, food and drink service, comfortable, timely, inexpensive - actually I guess much better than airplanes!) We arrived in the town of Selcuk where we visited the Roman ruins at Ephesus; and one can hardly call them ruins as there is much of the formerly 300,000 populated city left. Also in Selcuk we visited our third Wonder of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis - or what is left of it. (we've also passed through the former standing ground of the Colossus of Rhodes and the Great Mausoleum of King Mausolus in Bodrum) The storks are enjoying nesting on what remains of Artemis' Temple nowadays.

From Selcuk we took an overnight bus to the Dardenelle Straits and visited Gallipoli. A very beautiful place now which belies its violent and sad past. Very interesting for me as my grandfather and two great uncles fought, and luckily, survived here in World War I. Michael liked playing on the beach at Anzac Cove; fortunately the Australians we were with didn't mind and actually enjoyed watching him enjoying himself. I think it lightened the mood a bit. Didn't have time to stop in Troy, but we drove past, and we thought of it, and also thought 'that's one less ruin to roam around. Phew!'

Then by bus around the Sea of Marmara to Istanbul. Here we met up with my sister Anne and her husband, and all the cousins had a great time exploring this interesting city together for a few days. Lots of mosques, bazaar shopping, hookah smoking (the herbal variety), site seeing, whirling dervishes. The highlight, though, had to be the deluxe Dan Bodansky Bosphorus Transit Tour on which we were ably guided by my brother-in-law, guidebook in hand and nose in the air to sense the trail, up the Bosphorus toward the Black Sea and back to Istanbul in time for a little evening shopping at the Sunday Ortakoy market, cafe backgammon, and dinner. We enjoyed 7 different modes of transportation in fewer hours: taxi, ferry, feet, bus, 100 year old trolley, cable car, and tram. What a memorable and funny journey!

Our last day was cut short by President Obama's historic visit to Turkey - his first official overseas visit, and to a Muslim country no less! Way to go him for reaching out a friendly hand! However, for us, it could not have been more ill-timed. The security was so tight that the whole city movement was stopped: roads closed, transportation shut down (and Istanbul has amazingly efficient public transport, but not on this day). No taxis, no shuttles, no trams - ugh! We were able to get out of the city early in the morning and spent almost 7 hours at the airport waiting for our flight - but at least we made it.

Back to England now to spend some much looked forward to time with friends in Devon.