Category — Turkey

A series of accommodation choices that came with no or really bad internet (as well as me swanning around doing little more than look at the view) has meant this blog is now quite a bit behind where we actually are.  So I thought I better get updated – also because it seems the internet isn’t getting any better!!

Wandering down the Turkish coast
Last time we talked, we had done our Aussie national duty and paid pilgramige to the Gallipoli battlefields.  We crossed the Dardanelles to see the horse used in the movie “Troy” but alas there was no sign of Brad in his skirt and took one of the very nice Turkish buses to Selcuk (pron. Sellchook).  Selcuk’s claim to fame is that it’s right next to the ancient city of Ephesus (yeah those guys that Paul the apostle wrote to).  Well the ruins were… ruins.  They were quite interesting actually but probably set us up to be over Greek or Roman civilisation ruins from there on in.

We stayed in the ANZ Guesthouse, run by the fast-talking, Turkish born Aussie, Harry and ate kebaps (by now our staple dinner) at his mate Ali Baba’s restaurant.  We also met fellow Aussie travellers Hanna & Ryan from Sydney.  Hanna is a writer and her blog has both inspired me to get back to keeping it up to date, but also tempted me to just put a link to her blog and let you read her more professional musings.  They were, after all visiting most of the same places as us! (see the website link on the left). [Read more →]

All my life, Gallipoli has been on my list of places I wanted to visit and so when we finally set off on our bus from Istanbul to the Dardanelles, I was really excited to finally fulfill this dream.

I won’t go on and on about the history – but it certainly does come alive when you’re standing in the middle of the Lone Pine cemetery, which is smaller than a football field and realise that in this rediculously small space, a battle claimed 8000 dead or wounded.

We spent five hours doing a tour of the battlefields and cemeteries and it was brilliant.  Even the kids were interested and just like when we went to Hellfire Pass in Thailand, I spent most of the evening and next day answering questions.

If you would like to learn more about the Gallipoli campaign or visiting the area, click on this website for fantastic pictures, stories, diaries etc.

If you’re wondering why Anzac is so special, even in defeat; I think this sums it up:-

Turkey has been a bit of an eye-opener for us.  It has always been on my list purely because of Gallipoli but of course there is so much more to it.

Istanbul was fabulous.  What a great city!  It’s vibrant and colourful and kind of European, kind of Middle Eastern.  The people are possibly the friendliest we’ve encountered on our travels.

Instead of hassling us, the shop vendors plyed us with freebies.  From our hostel, we walked past all the al fresco restaurants looking for a reasonable kebab.  Of course, they all met us out front and tried to woo us into their establishment, as we’ve experienced before – only this time it was “try my meatballs” or  “Oh Madame!  You must try our chicken!  It is the best around!”

We almost didn’t have to sit down to eat because we had been given so many pieces of meat and various other bits, we were nearly full!  The restaurant we chose, did give us a delicious lamb meal but then insisted that we try his apple dessert, followed by hot apple tea in those tiny Turkish glass cups – on the house. [Read more →]