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Middle East 2022

October - November 2022
Tour of the Holy Sites and ancient monuments of Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Egypt Read more
  • 168footprints
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  • TravelerMiddle East 2022
    Day 2

    Istiklal Street

    October 4, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Walked the main drag. Super crowded and super tired so did not make it up to Taksim Square, but I had seen it from the shuttle van last night on the way to the cruise. Decided to turn back, grabbing a Turkish coffee for 23TL on the way.Read more

  • TravelerMiddle East 2022
    Day 3

    Hagia Sophia

    October 5, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    The Hagia Sophia is one of those 'bucket list' sights. I joined up with a booked tour guide and after a long line, we had a short tour of what was the largest church in the world for many years.

    The Church of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) began as a Byzantine church, then it became a mosque during the Ottoman Era and today is a museum and is an architectural wonder. The structure today dates back to 532-537 when its construction was over seen by Justinian I. Although the church suffered from earthquakes and an attack by the Crusaders in 1204 it has retained its historic structure and decoration. From 1453 for 500 years the church became the main mosque of Istanbul during the Ottoman Era.

    The church features rich mosaics and a grand central dome with a diameter of 31 meters. The circular dome rests on a rectangular base all richly decorated with murals, Arabic calligraphy and mosaics. All the interior surfaces are polychrome marble in green, purple and white with gold mosaics. The marble mihrab has survived from the Ottoman Era.

    There are many magnificent mosaics., and like lots of church art, the rulers of the time incorporated themselves into the religious scenes.    Read more

  • TravelerMiddle East 2022
    Day 3

    Coffee break

    October 5, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    On the way from the Hagia Sophia to the Archaeological Museum was a shop called Han Baclava. Didn't have a lunch break built in to the day plan, so stopped. This was the fanciest Turkish coffee service yet, and a tiny piece of Turkish baclava. Not the cheapest coffee at 28 TL for coffee and 45TL for the treat.
    The other bite I had today was a bagel-thing they sell from carts all over town for 5 TL, or 10TL with either cream cheese or Nutella.    Read more

  • TravelerMiddle East 2022
    Day 3

    Topkapi Palace

    October 5, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Close to the Hagia Sophia is the Topkapi Palace. I was actually planning to go to the Archaeology Museum first and passed by the Topkapi Palace and noted a huge line to enter. When I got to the Museum, there was a line there too for the tickets but since I already had a pass I just needed to go through security and in, A group of people went to to the right through a security screening which I decided to use and suddenly I was in the Topkapi Palace via an unpublished side entrance!

    In 1453 Mehmed the Conqueror took Istanbul and in 1460 began the construction of his grand palace complex which was completed in 1478.The complex covers 70 hectares, over three times the size of the Forbidden City in Beijing, which it reminded me of with its series of courtyards one after the other, each leading to a more 'senior' level of authority. The palace was the administrative, cultural and educational center of the Empire as well as being the royal residence for almost 400 years.

    The Harem, which simply means the residence of the royal family, not the more salacious meaning, had more than 400 rooms, many quite pretty, and many different sections. This was the most interesting part of the palace and required a separate ticket.    Read more

  • TravelerMiddle East 2022
    Day 4

    Istanbul Wrap-Up

    October 6, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Left my hotel after 9 and got to the airport stupidly early for a 1325 flight but there was nothing else to do and I AM an airport geek! IST airport is impressive. Only opened 2019 and is Europe's largest and busiest airport. Top notch spaces, services and facilities. They even have a dedicated lounge for 'Special People ' (Down Syndrome, dementia etc listed) to provide a calm space and dedicated staff to assist.

    Istanbul is a fascinating place. All too short a visit, although I saw the main historic sights. It is quite a clean city. I don't know if Turks just don't litter, or if there is very efficient cleaning. You get the flavour of the 'orient' with the markets and the shops along the streets, but it is still a European city (not technically part of the Middle East) and the infrastructure is all up to date and maintenance levels are high. And so much history from the Roman Empire through the Byzantine era, then the Ottoman Empire, it was a leading city for some 1500 years.

    Day 1 Tuesday, Oct 3rd: Arrival day, so really travel time. But did get the one event in. Put in 8,028 steps , mostly in airports. It was partly cloudy on arrival and about 20.

    Day 2, Oct 4th: Long day today and saw a huge amount. Really experienced the hustle and bustle of this place and all its chaos. Was mainly a walking tour of the south bank and overdid the walking with 20,772 steps. The weird thing about Istanbul is that it is very hilly and they built all their main buildings at the tops of hills! Mostly cloudy and it wasn't too hot.

    Day 3: Oct 5th. Got up and was worried I couldn't do anything. After I got home last night I fell asleep for an hour then couldn't get back to sleep and was also really sore this morning. However, got a shower and breakfast and took a cab to the first stop to save my muscles for important stuff! Weather was a bit iffy too. Had really heavy rains overnight and it was cool cloudy and we had intermittent light rain. For me, though, better than 30 degrees! Ended up doing one museum less than planned but also managed to walk all the way back today. Today was basically the #1 and #2 sites on the tourist trail. Easy day of 12,350 steps in cool weather..    Read more

  • TravelerMiddle East 2022
    Day 4

    Cappadocia Arrival Neveshir Airport

    October 6, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Quick easy flight. Coming in to Neveshir you would be forgiven if you thought you were landing in Calgary. Farms, then grass rangeland and barren foothills with mountains in the distance.

    Hotel had a paid pickup service (200TL to the driver). Driver waiting outside and we filled the 12 pax van and hit the road 30 minutes after landing. Be faster if everyone just used carry on ! 😀

    Trip supposed to be 40 minutes but depends on what order the hotel drop offs are.    Read more

  • TravelerMiddle East 2022
    Day 4

    Caravanserai Hotel

    October 6, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    This is one the hotels carved into the rock face of the valley. Nice little place, just a few maintenance issues coming out of two years of the pandemic shutdown.

    After the sunset view, just found a Take out place and brought home a decent hamburger and a bottle of red and enjoyed the hotel's rooftop terrace.Read more

  • TravelerMiddle East 2022
    Day 4

    Goreme View

    October 6, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Just a short walk up to the Sunset View Point.
    There is a direct path from town that must use private property so the enterprising owner set up a ticket booth to collect 5TL to use the trail!
    Also a cafe and wine booths etc at the top if you want to have some refreshments while enjoying the view.

     Atmospheric conditions did not produce spectacular sunset but a pleasant view over town and valley.    Read more

  • TravelerMiddle East 2022
    Day 5

    Sunrise

    October 7, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    Well -- sunrise "time" -- it is very grey.

    Got out of bed about 6 and opened the curtains to see the day and there is a balloon hovering outside! They really come right down into the town.

    Went up to the terrace and got a great view of a sky filled with balloons. The weather was not the best with low cloud and you could see the balloons go into the clouds if the went up so that may be a reason why they were so close in.

    I have been told around 150 balloons operate from here and just looking in one direction I could count 40+ so that is believable.

    Looks like quite an experience to float over this incredible landscape.

    The lighting is poor, so these photos don't do it justice at all!    Read more

  • TravelerMiddle East 2022
    Day 5

    Goreme Panorama

    October 7, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Booked a tour for today. Chose a 'Green' tour that goes to the south. Will have about seven stops on this day. Pickup by one of the ubiquitous white 15 pax Mercedes vans and fought our way out of the traffic jams.

    First stop on the ridge on the west side of the valley opposite the Sunset Point.
    Again a very good perspective and close view of the fairy chimneys. These are made of the rock tufa that is formed underwater. A lot of ancient Rome was built of tufa. If they still have the black 'caps' these are volcanic basalt that was laid on top. In the valleys, water then eroded them and formed the towers.

    I have seen the 'evil eye' talisman a lot around here. It is a common superstition all around the Mediterranean but this blue jewelry is super common in Turkey.    Read more

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