Turkey 2

A 20-day adventure by skip's retirement travel Read more

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Trip start
October 26, 2020
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Day 2
Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 4:00 PM
☀️ 10 °C
Altitude: 3,964 m
Turkey Doğubayazıt İlçesi 39.68696, 44.283439°41’13” N 44°17’0” E
Mt Ararat
October 27, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
In eastern Turkey very near the borders with armenia and Iran (about 20 km to each). This is the place connected to the biblical Noah story. And no, I didn't find the ark either.
The bleak surrounding landscape consists of lava fields. Mt Ararat is a volcano (who knew?). I'm told the last eruption was in the 1850s.Read more
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Day 3
Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 9:52 AM
⛅ 12 °C
Altitude: 1,939 m
Turkey Ishak Pacha 39.52, 44.1339°31’12” N 44°7’48” E
Ishakpasha palace
October 28, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
The 2nd largest palace in Turkey after Topkapi (see post from last year) and built on a similar plan. Mostly a restoration due to earthquake damage and cannon fire from a war with Russia.
The architecture contains numerous elements. The gate in the 1st pic is in Seljuk style. The mosque dome in the 3rd pic is in Shafi style. I think the wall carvings are exquisite and quite unique. For all you engineering types, the last pic shows the central heating system. Hot water was piped through the floors and walls. Also, the building had running water, piped in from the snow melt from Mt Ararat.Read more
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Day 3
Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 1:16 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 1,605 m
Turkey Doğubeyazıt 39.545, 44.08539°32’42” N 44°5’6” E
Urartu Hall, Van
October 28, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
A significant carpet conservatory. Not just a sales business. They support the many carpet weaving villages around Van as well as serving as a school to teach carpet weaving. The 1st picture looks at the central courtyard. 2,3,&4 are in the training area, showing partially finished carpets on the looms. The last 2 are of a couple show rooms with carpets and killims. Carpets are double knotted and thick. Killims are single knitted and flat which allows more detail. I found these more interesting, even though I had never heard of themRead more
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Day 4
Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 9:46 AM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 1,644 m
Turkey Dokuzağaç 38.31, 43.0416738°18’36” N 43°2’30” E
Akdamar Island, Lake Van
October 29, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey. Akdamar Island is a beautiful place, famous for the Armenian Orthodox Church and monastery that heave been preserved (see Holy Cross Church post).
The pictures are all of the lake and the island. In the 3rd picture, you can find the church if you look closely enough.
While there isn't much vegetation, the trees here are mostly olive and pistachio.Read more
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Day 4
Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 10:05 AM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 1,643 m
Turkey Akdamar Adası 38.34, 43.0366738°20’24” N 43°2’12” E
Holy Cross church
October 29, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Armenian Orthodox churches are traditionally cruciform with all 4 section of equal length. They are tall relative to the footprint with the central barrel shaped upper section full of light. The exterior is covered with beautiful carvings of biblical scenes, and the interior walls are covered with frescoes, also all recognizably biblical. The place has an almost mystical feel, even though it is not longer functioning as an active church. Although I'm told that Armenian Orthodox priests do conduct worship here once it twice a year on special holidays.Read more
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Day 4
Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 5:17 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 668 m
Turkey Sur 37.91167, 40.2366737°54’42” N 40°14’12” E
Diyarbakir Grand Mosque
October 29, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
An unusual 2 mosque complex in one facility, one Sunni, one Shafi and a madrassa for each. The interior pics are all of the Shafi mosque as prayer time began. So we didn't visit the Sunni mosque. I'm told that the building is designed after the Grand Mosque of Damascus.
Like much of Turkey, cultures come together. In this case, it is mostly Kurdish and Syrian as this is not too far from the Syrian border. The double mosque reflects that the Kurds are generally Sunni, while the syrians are generally Shafi.Read more
TravelerHi Skip. Anne here from the Borneo Sarawak trip, January 2020. I can't believe you are travelling. I live in Victoria, Australia and we have been in hard lockdown since March with restrictions just eased this week but interstate and international travel banned for us. I am craving some travel and very jealous of you. Stay healthy, bye Anne
10/31/20Reply
skip's retirement travelgood to hear from you. I had gotten to and past that point and simply decided I needed to find someplace to go. turkey is open. so here I am
10/31/20Reply
skip's retirement travelbest to you both
10/31/20Reply
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Day 5
Friday, October 30, 2020 at 12:28 PM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 779 m
Turkey Göbekli Tepe 37.22333, 38.9216737°13’24” N 38°55’18” E
Göbeklitepe
October 30, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
A highlight for me. I found nd archaeology fascinating.
This is a 12,000 year old (carbon dated) site located on high ground at the northern edge of the fertile crescent. It's generally understood as a ritual center, but no one has yet definitively figured the site out. Note that this is 6,000 years older than Stonehenge. It predates the advent of agriculture by about 4,000 years, according to the generally accepted time line.
Note the T-shaped monoliths, carvings of animal figures. It's a small site, but has lots to teach us.Read more
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Day 5
Friday, October 30, 2020 at 2:50 PM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 378 m
Turkey Harran 36.86167, 39.0336°51’42” N 39°1’48” E
Harran
October 30, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Abraham's home town but not his birth town. It is said that this is where he left from to eventually get to the promised land. Harran is only 18 km from the Syrian border.
The 1st two pictures look at traditional "beehive" houses. These are mud brick constructions that are naturally well insulated with the chimneys providing air circulation in addition to smoke removal. Pictures 3&4 are inside one of these that has been repurposed into a shop. You can see the corbel work in the chimney. 5th is a picture of what remains of a 4,000 test old castle said to have been built by the Hittites. The last picture looks over what they call the oldest university ever founded, dating back over 2500 years ago. There is some restoration work to show an old city gate.Read more
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Day 6
Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 9:18 AM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 503 m
Turkey Birket İbrahim 37.14783, 38.7838637°8’52” N 38°47’2” E
Urfa and Abraham
October 31, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Here is where Abraham was born. It is said that he would as born in a cave (1st picture) as King Nimrod is said to have ordered a slaughter of the innocents. Somehow, Abe was presented to the king who adopted him. Later, Abraham became anti-idolotry and defaced some of the king's idols. His punishment was to be a thrown into the fire from the top of the castle (between the columns in picture 2). When he landed, the fire turned to water and the logs to fish (pictures 3&4 are if that). The entire complex today houses a mosque, madrassa, library and Hammam.
I suspect been by tossed was enough incentive for Abe to get out of town. (See Harran post.)Read more
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Day 6
Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 12:20 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 851 m
Turkey Fevzi Paşa 37.07667, 37.38537°4’36” N 37°23’6” E
Mosaic Museum, Gaziantep
October 31, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
A spectacular display of 2nd and 3rd century mosaics discovered in an old Roman city, unearthed during dam construction. As they would have been flooded, they were removed to this museum.
The 1st picture is of "Gypsy Girl," the most famous piece in the museum, followed by 3 more random examples. I have too many pics to choose from.
Besides the mosaics, the museum has a roman bath and frescoes from the town (pictures 5&6).Read more
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Day 6
Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 4:45 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 846 m
Turkey Şekeroğlu 37.06333, 37.38537°3’48” N 37°23’6” E
Gaziantep markets
October 31, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Traditional market, bazaar, souk, whatever you call it, I thoroughly enjoy these markets with all their glorious chaos. Here, the people are incredibly friendly, warm and generous. Many offering to try their products and then refusing payment. Great visitRead more
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Day 8
Monday, November 2, 2020 at 11:07 AM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 43 m
Turkey Aspendos 36.93833, 31.1716736°56’18” N 31°10’18” E
Aspendos
November 2, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
2nd century Roman theater. One of the best preserved. This is partially reconstructed. N surprise, as this is an earthquake zone. This is one of the few Roman theaters where the wall behind the stage stands.
These are various looks at an astounding structure. Picture 5 is in the backstage area within the stage wall. The last pic is a nearby aqueductRead more
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Day 8
Monday, November 2, 2020 at 4:00 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 79 m
Turkey İhsaniye 36.96929, 30.8539936°58’9” N 30°51’14” E
Perge
November 2, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
A large and important Greco Roman city that served as the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor before Ephesus. 1st is the main city gate. The next 2 look at monumental parts of the city, includng one of the colonnaded streets. 4th looks at the remains of the acropolis, while the 5th is in the Roman baths, one of the largest I've seen.
The last is for you church history types. In the back of the photo, to the right, lower on the hill is s light colored structure. Local tradition holds that this is the spot where the apostle Paul first preached in Perge during his 1st missionary journey. It's a new experience for me to be walking on the very stones someone as important as Paul would have trod.Read more
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Day 8
Monday, November 2, 2020 at 11:00 PM
🌙 19 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Turkey Side 36.77918, 31.4036336°46’45” N 31°24’13” E
Side
November 2, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
A waterfront city and Roman port. 1 is the temple of Apollo which overlooks the old inner harbor. The 2nd is how the inner harbor looks today, taken from near the temple. 3rd is the agora/forum. The remaining pictures are in the theater. In 4 you'll see the stone work set on an angle above the arch to match the slope of the seats. Then a look at the seating from above and finally down to the floor where gladiators fought. NB. In the Aspendos post, the floor had been backfilled. This one is more typical.Read more
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Day 9
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 9:34 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 38 m
Turkey Barbaros 36.885, 30.7083336°53’6” N 30°42’30” E
Antalya Old Town
November 3, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Antalya is often called the Riviera of Turkey. The old part of town dates back over 2,000 years. The 1st two pictures are of Hadrian's Gate, the main gate into the old city: the arches and one of the watch towers. 3rd shows the original road surface where it passes through the arches of the gate, well worn by chariot and cart wheels. 4th is another Roman era watch tower. The Romans had some amazing technology, but the clock was added by the Ottomans. The last 2 pictures are of typical narrow old city streets.Read more
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Day 9
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 11:09 AM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 41 m
Turkey Varlık 36.88833, 30.6783336°53’18” N 30°40’42” E
Antalya Archaeologicsl Museum
November 3, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Excellent archaeological museum, focused on finds from this region. Most of the statuary is from the theater at Perge (see other posts about Perge and the theater at Aspendos). The 1st 4 pics are from the theater. I have trouble trying to visualize what such places must have looked like. Just stunning. Also in the collection here are sarcophagi (5th), icons (6th), plus coins, seals, pottery and other artifacts from this region.Read more
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Day 10
Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 12:34 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Turkey Demre 36.245, 29.98536°14’42” N 29°59’6” E
St Nicholas Church
November 4, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Yes, that St. Nick. The actual saint is from here and lived in about the 3rd century. The church that honors him dates to his time, but the oldest portion of what exists today dates to about the 6th century.
Nicholas was known as a patron of the poor and of sailors and children. The 1st picture is a statue of the saint. 2nd is his sarcophagus that was damaged by crusaders in the 11th century. 3rd is the nave and apse from the 6th century. The rest are frescoes on walls and domes.Read more
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Day 10
Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 2:03 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Turkey Dikmen Deresi 36.25833, 29.98536°15’30” N 29°59’6” E
Myra Old City
November 4, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Myra is an ancient city where St. Nicholas ministered (see other post). This is a Greco- Roman city, as much of what is here predates the Romans. The most important part of this site are the rock hewn tombs, typical of Lycian burials. Several pictures look at these. The 4th picture is of an arch at the theater. The importance here is the stonework. It is finely dressed and placed without mortar, typically hellenistic. 5 looks up to the location of the acropolis.
The last picture is another for church history types. This is nesrby Andriake harbor, albeit with 2,000 years of erosion and sedimentation. This is the port where Paul changed ships on his way to Rome. It amazes me to be in places I read about in history.Read more
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Day 10
Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 5:13 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 90 m
Turkey Sarıbelen Adası 36.23, 29.4483336°13’48” N 29°26’54” E
On the road to Fethiye
November 4, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
We travelled about 300 km along the coast road from Antalya to Fethiye. The road runs along with the Targus Mountains to the right and the Mediterranean on the left. Some parts of the road are cut into the vertical cliff up from the sea. I can understand why so many people are attracted to the Mediterranean coast.
I don't think I need to comment beyond simply saying that, if anything, these pictures are an understatement of how beautiful this area is.
The last is looking down on a secluded beach, tucked in among cliffs.Read more
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Day 11
Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 10:41 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 55 m
Turkey Xanthos 36.35667, 29.3183336°21’24” N 29°19’6” E
Xanthos
November 5, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
City that dates to the Hittite era. It is best known for committing mass suicide twice. Once when attacked by Persia and once by Rome. Rather than surrender, they chose to commit mass suicide, all men, women and children. Each time it was re-established.
The 1st picture looks across the commercial agora to the theater. 2nd shows the theater with a good look at the orchestra/pit and how that was typically built to keep spectators safe from gladiators, wild animals, etc. 3rd is a 2,000 year old Roman road that was colonnaded, with shops on both sides. 4th is an unusual Lycian tomb located in the city rather than a necropolis. 5th is a church building that was likely converted from a previous pagan temple. Last is another street.Read more
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Day 11
Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 12:29 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 17 m
Turkey Patara 36.26, 29.31536°15’36” N 29°18’54” E
Patara
November 5, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
This is the town where the guy we know as St. Nicholas was born, and it is another port where Paul changed ships, this time on the 3rd missionary journey.
The most important site here is photos 1-3. This is said to be the 1st parliament building in the world. The pics are outside, inside looking at part of the dais, and inside looking up at the seats.
4th is a Hellenic theater. We know this from the stone work and from the (now missing) temple to Dionysus at the top center. Greek theater began at temples. Roman theaters didn't have them.
5th is the city gate.
Patara is historically important, but it also has s great beach.Read more
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Day 11
Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 1:23 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Turkey Letoon 36.33167, 29.2883336°19’54” N 29°17’18” E
Letoon
November 5, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
This is an unusual place. There is no city wall, no fortifications, etc. What makes this place has unique is its 3 temples. Most small town had one temple to the god to whom the town was dedicated. The 3 pics are the ruins of temples to Apollo, Leto and Aphrodite, in that order. It seems to me to make sense to think of Letoon as a cultic center or pilgrimage site.Read more
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Day 11
Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 3:29 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 183 m
Turkey Kayaköy 36.575, 29.0916736°34’30” N 29°5’30” E
Kayaköy
November 5, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
After lots of ancient history, here's s bit of 20th century history, 1923, to be more specific. For centuries, Turks and Greeks lived together, both in Greece and Turkey. After a war between those 2 countries, both Greece and Turkey decided to repatriate those of the other heritage that were living among them. The two countries called this a population exchange.
Kayaköy is a former Greek town where all the residents were kicked out and sent to Greece. The town of about 700 houses sites abandoned.Read more
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Day 12
Friday, November 6, 2020 at 1:27 PM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 283 m
Turkey Laodikeia 37.83667, 29.1137°50’12” N 29°6’36” E
Laodikeia
November 6, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Major trading center and site of one of the seven churches in Revelation. That church is long gone. The ruins of the remaining building date to the 6th century and after.
The 1st picture is the main street. 2nd looks into the church ruins that are unfortunately closed now. 3rd is a fountain adjacent to the church. 4th is the agora. 5&6 look at a wall at the agora. It is rare to find this much of a painted wall. It gives a sense of how much color was used at the time. I guess all the white we see remaining wasn't just white 2,000 years ago.Read more
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Day 12
Friday, November 6, 2020 at 2:14 PM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 361 m
Turkey Hierapolis 37.925, 29.1233337°55’30” N 29°7’24” E
Hieropolis
November 6, 2020 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Near Laodikeia. This is known as a healing city as the natural hot water springs contain 17 minerals, I'm told. Probably the most famous feature is the travertine, hot water deposited calcium carbonate (see the 1st picture). The 2nd picture is taken from Laodikeia, 10 km across the valley, to given a sense of the extent of the travertine deposit. 3 looks at the natural hot pool. The columns under the water remain from an earthquake destroyed temple. 4 is a temple to Apollo (they think). 5 is the tomb and place of martyrdom of St. Phillip. The last looks down into the theater, giving a good sense of how these buildings actually were.Read more
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