| Page Views: 5,616 Last Visit to Turkey: March, 1995 | Turkey: Spans Both Europe and Asia by deecat - last update: Mar 6, 2007 |
Charming Country, Kind Locals, Fascinating History In March of 1995, I joined my sister-in-law, Jayne Glass, on a tour of Greece and Turkey. Before we began this trip, I thought for sure that I would love Greece & tolerate Turkey. How wrong I was about Turkey. To tell the truth, I think I enjoyed Turkey the most of the two countries. Why? The fascinating history, the kind people (dignified and helpful), the varied and beautiful country, the cleanliness, the wonderful ruins, and the unique locations that we visited.
This trip was called, "Following in the Footsteps of Paul" and was comprised of church members from the Methodist Church in Munster, Indiana. I was the only one who did not live in Indiana and did not belong to the church. I went as my sister-in-law's guest.
I discovered so much about this incredible country. The big and little Meandering Rivers run through Turkey, making it a very fertile country. People from all over come to live here, combining cultures and customs. The Turks originally came from central Asia.
On the plains, olive, apricot , and almond trees abound. Cotton, vegetables and tobacco are also grown.
At the time we were there, trouble was surfacing....many banks had been bombed, and the military and their guns were obvious everywhere we traveled. Ironically, I never was frightened. |
| Hippodrom, Blue Mosque, & St. Sophia |
Istanbul: Remarkable Architecture Istanbul is quite a remarkable city. I had no idea that it would be so beautiful, so vibrant, so modern. This picture captured three of the most famous sites in Istanbul: The Hippodrom, The Blue Mosque, and St. Sophia Museum.Anyone who visits Istanbul, I feel, is impressed by the mixture of cultures, architecture, and the scenery. It's definitely a combination of antiquity and modernism.%f*%s* |
| Our Tour Guide & our Group in Istabul |
Tours Can Be Fun I was very reluctant to make this trip because I always thought that I would HATE organized trips. However, I really wanted to see Greece and Turkey, and this was my opportunity.
I'm so glad that I was flexible enough to change my mind and go. It was a small group...in Turkey, there were only eleven of us, which made it great on that huge bus, at mealtime, and on the tour itself.
Our guide told us this interesting information about Turkey. He said that the Turks believe that an Oracle told the head of the tribes to take their people near the land of the blind. The people came here (what is now Turkey), but the Greeks had already settled on the Asian side, so they crossed the strait to settle on the other side.
They could not understand why the Greeks settled where they did as this side was better...THEY MUST BE BLIND! Thus, the Oracle was correct.
In the second century, Istabul was a Roman city. In 325 to 330, Constantine the Great reconstructed the city and its walls. It was made the capital and called Constantinople. In 1453, the Ottomens from central Asia conquered the city. The Ottoman Empire lasted 600 years.
Jayne and I were the youngest on the tour. The whole time of our trip, Jayne and I were referred to as "the girls". Imagine, a retired school teacher with a college graduate daughter and a grandmother of six being called "girls". We get no respect! |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Beauty of nature and man-made momuments" | | Cons: | "Tension within the country of a political nature" | | In A Nutshell: | "Both Asian and European in its Culture and Style" |
deecat's Turkey Travel Tips
 deecat's Turkey Travelogues | | | |
|
 Comments for deecat about Turkey | | | | |
starship Wed Aug 26, 2009 19:38 UTC
Back again for a quick peek at this page. Love the history, but the shopping and cuisine added to it make an unbeatable combination! Hope to see Turkey again next year! | misterrabbit Fri May 29, 2009 22:08 UTC
Sure changes my mind about tours. This one is small, comprehensive, and fun. Wonderful information and photographs. | nicolaitan Tue May 26, 2009 02:29 UTC
finally getting to visit your impressions of turkey and you certainly have the people right - they are hospitable and so very decent. a belated thanks for reading thru my cappadocia page too. | jillzi Sun Apr 26, 2009 21:16 UTC
Comprehensive tips about Turkey, but what makes these tips so good is the respect and joy you exhibit in your writing. |
|
|
email me
add as friend
