Raki Attack in Cappadocia, Turkey
Greg gently shakes me at 7:00 a.m. The bus is at the station. I discover that Greg and I have had the best night’s sleep of our group. Others have gotten off the bus are various stops through the night, have watched the police go...
Blaming The Gods
We have our Turkish breakfast this morning in the garden of the hotel. I say breakfast but it is more like lunch for us westerners. Black olives, a slice of feta, a hard boiled egg, cucumber, and tomato slices, all washed down...
Looking Down the Dardanelles Towards Gallipoli
There is confusion at 6:30 a.m. Haluk tells us this is the Turkish way. The shuttle that has arrived to take us to the public bus station is too full to fit the 8 of us. We stand around waiting while mobile calls get made and...
A Last Night in Mykonos
We sleep in as late as possible today, for 2 reasons. First, we indulged last night in our normal Mykonos routine. Second, we are traveling today to Istanbul, where we hook up with the small tour of Turkey that we are taking, and...
Diving Day in Dalyan, Turkey
Saturday, May 15th, 2004: Dalyan, Turkey A free day. Most of the group head for the beach, followed by the mud baths. They collectively decide to take a pass on the ruins – we have all been feeling a bit ruined out, and there are...
Antalya: The Jewel of the Turquoise Coast
Monday, May 17th, 2004: Kas to Antalya, Turkey N 36° E 030° We head today to the jewel in the crown of the Turquoise Coast, the city of Antalya, for a full two days of sightseeing and some downtime. Antalya is a big city nestled...
No Schedule Today Except Updating the Blog and Reading the Herald Tribune
Thursday, May 20th, 2004: Cappadocia, Turkey Yesterday was cool and wet. Today is sunny and, protected from the wind, warm – but we are on the Central Anatolian Plateau, which ranges from 800 to 1,200 metres above sea level, and...
Returning to Istanbul: Dinner Out in Taksim
After our 23+ hour bus ordeal, we arrive at our hotel at 8:30 this morning. We have said goodbye to all of the group except Haluk, and when we arrive it is time to say goodbye to him. Haluk has been a joy to travel with: his...
Up the Bosphorus, Almost to the Black Sea
Wednesday, May 26th, 2004: Istanbul, Turkey At 10:00 we are at the ferry piers along the Golden Horn, the long, narrow bay that bisects the European side of Istanbul into 2 parts, and forms a perfect natural harbour. We have...
Bye Bye Istanbul: Hello Athens
Friday, May 28th, 2004: Istanbul to Athens N 37° E023° Turkey has been wonderful, beautiful, inspiring, angering, frustrating; in other words, all of the things that make a voyage interesting. But all good things must end, and it...