Turkey

A 21-day grand adventure through a land of history, culture and food! Read more

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Trip start
May 27, 2022
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Day 1
Friday, May 27, 2022 at 8:43 AM
⛅ 11 °C
Altitude: 93 m
Australia John Doggett Park -42.87119, 147.3097542°52’16” S 147°18’35” E
Home in Hobart
May 27, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
Looking forward to this amazing adventure in this beautiful country
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Day 1
Friday, May 27, 2022 at 10:59 AM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Australia Hobart Airport -42.83748, 147.5062242°50’15” S 147°30’22” E
Hobart Airport
May 27, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Waiting for flight to Sydney
Two to TravelSafe travels. Looking forward to seeing Turkey through your eyes.
5/27/22Reply
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Day 1
Friday, May 27, 2022 at 5:14 PM
🌙 19 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Australia Alexandra Canal -33.93942, 151.1655533°56’22” S 151°9’56” E
Sydney airport
May 27, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
The flights were an hour late. We are at the gate.
Olivier RocheHave a safe flight !
5/27/22Reply
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Day 2
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 12:54 AM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Singapore Sungai Ayer Gemuruh 1.35107, 103.98411°21’4” N 103°59’3” E
Singapore airport
May 28, 2022 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
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Day 2
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 10:37 AM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02366, 28.9770141°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Yayyyy.....T U R K E Y
May 28, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Well, we reached! It's a long journey yet well worth it. The bags had arrived as well :)

We went straight to the hotel, freshened up and went for a walk along the Galata Bridge.
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Day 2
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 3:00 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02366, 28.97741°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
1
Walking around
May 28, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Every country, every city has a different charm. So does Turkey. We could experience and visualize the influence of both Europe and Asia.

We are staying a few minutes from the Galata Bridge. It's a "must do". Restaurants, bakeries and shops are a plenty. There are multiple restaurants along the Galata Bridge. Though it was very hot, it was wonderful to sit in the shade underneath and bridge for lunch.Read more
Traveler wow!
5/28/22Reply
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Day 2
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 3:03 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02366, 28.97741°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Mısır Çarşısı
May 28, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Mısır Çarşısı or the Spice Bazar is the place to be. Once you enter it is mind-boggling. The colours, smells, sights and sounds engulf all your senses at once. It is right out of the Arabian nights. The spices, condiments, honey, tea, dried fruit and nuts, jewelry are literally out of this world. We spent quite some time savouring the delights visually as well as tasting them (initially I thought I would write gustatorily...is that even a word?)

We were told that the Great Bazar is more of a tourist attraction as opposed to the Spice Bazar which is authentic.Read more
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Day 2
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 3:04 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02365, 28.9770241°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Lunch facing the Bosphorus
May 28, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
That's our lunch. I had a lamb sheesh kebab and Shyama had buttered prawns. One interesting thing: we had just ordered these two dishes. We were served bread and tea on the house. Yummmmmmmm
Olivier Rocheif you want to have a nice Indian and/or Turkish dinner, go for the Dubb, near Hagia Sophia. ask for a table on the rooftop (go there early). it's a 4-storey restaurant with no elevator and the waiters run up and down all evening long. good food and great view on Sophia 😉. When seated, you should be given both the Turkish and Indian menus. Ask for both if not!
5/28/22Reply
TravelerMerci beaucoup. C'est vraiment utile. Nous irons demain déjeuner là-bas. Nous allons à Hagia-Sophia demain.
5/28/22Reply
Olivier Roche👍🏻
5/28/22Reply
TravelerWe have just come back from Dubb. Amazing food amazing view. We are from the Turkish menu. Thank you for your suggestion.
5/29/22Reply
Olivier Roche👍🏻
5/29/22Reply
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Day 2
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 3:06 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02365, 28.9770141°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Amazing experience
May 28, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
The video cannot even come close to replicating our experience here.
Olivier Rochebeen there! great tasting of about everything tastable 😅
5/28/22Reply
TravelerTrue that!
5/28/22Reply
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Day 2
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 8:41 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02364, 28.9771141°1’25” N 28°58’38” E
Galata Tower
May 28, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) or with the current official name Galata Kulesi Museum (Galata Kulesi Müzesi) was built as a watchtower as a part of the Walls of Galata, the tower is currently being used as an exhibition place and a museum. It's one of the symbols of Beyoğlu and Istanbul..

The views from the top are amazing. You go up in an elevator but come down walking. The neighbourhood is extremely vibrant.Read more
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Day 2
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 8:48 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02374, 28.9770241°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Dinner
May 28, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The picture says it all!
Olivier Roche🤩
5/28/22Reply
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Day 3
Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 8:17 AM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02363, 28.9769641°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Breakfast in the hotel
May 29, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Stunning roof top view.

And the breakfast.
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Day 3
Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 2:50 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02345, 28.9774141°1’24” N 28°58’39” E
Hagia Sophia
May 29, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Hagia Sophia is unique.

Built in 537 as the patriarchal cathedral of the imperial capital of Constantinople, it was the largest Christian church of the eastern Roman Empire (the Byzantine Empire) and the Eastern Orthodox Church, except during the Latin Empire from 1204 to 1261, when it temporarily became a Roman Catholic cathedral. In 1453, after the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire, it was converted into a mosque. In 1935, the Republic of Turkey established it as a museum. In 2020, it was reconverted into a mosque.

Another unique feature are the huge number of Christian symbols including paintings of Jesus Christ and the Holy Cross.

I felt overwhelmed when I went in.Read more
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Day 3
Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 2:52 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02366, 28.97741°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Topkapi Palace
May 29, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
The Topkapı Palace ('cannon gate palace') or the Seraglio is a large museum in the east of the Fatih district of Istanbul in Turkey. In the 15th and 16th centuries it served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans.Construction, ordered by the Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, began in 1459, six years after the conquest of Constantinople.

There are 4 courtyards. Each very different since they were all built at different times by different rulers.Read more
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Day 3
Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 3:38 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02366, 28.9770241°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Around Haghia Sophia complex
May 29, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
The area around Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace is sometimes referred to as the Sultanahmet complex. Lovely area to be in. Lots of green, beautifully landscaped and filled with restaurants and bakeries around this place.Read more
TravelerI want to visit this place someday
5/29/22Reply
TravelerI'm sure you will and must
5/29/22Reply
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Day 3
Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 8:44 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02366, 28.9770141°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Dinner on a rooftop
May 29, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
This restaurant (Dubb) was suggested by fellow "findpenguiners" @waysandays situated right next to the Hagia Sophia. So a huge thank you to them.

This was an Indian and Turkish restaurant. We ordered from the Turkish menu. I had this amazing chicken dish. The views were great as well from the rooftop eating area.Read more
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Day 4
Monday, May 30, 2022 at 9:42 AM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Turkey Eminönü 41.01887, 28.9708841°1’8” N 28°58’15” E
Bosphorus ferry tour
May 30, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Bosphorus Ferry Ride is a must do when you come to Istanbul. There are plenty of rides that one can pre-book. We did not pre-book anything today. We went to Eminönü and took a ferry from there. An hour and 45 minutes of gentle ride; 60 TL; beautiful. Definitely would recommend. It's a great way to see both the Asian and the European part of the city. Beautiful buildings along the way.Read more
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Day 4
Monday, May 30, 2022 at 1:28 PM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02366, 28.9770141°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Interesting buildings
May 30, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
There are so many interesting buildings along the ferry ride on the Bosphorus. I have put a few here.
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Day 4
Monday, May 30, 2022 at 1:28 PM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Turkey Karaköy 41.02366, 28.9770141°1’25” N 28°58’37” E
Grand Bazaar
May 30, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
I must say the Istanbul e-kart (available at all tramway stations) is really a great way to explore the city.

We went to from Eminönü to Beyazit on a tram. And bingo, you are in front of Grand Bazaar. Though it is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops, I was disappointed. It somehow lacked what I experienced in the Spice Bazaar.

Grand Bazaar is a must do to check the box. For me at least, Spice Bazaar was the jewel in the crown.Read more
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Day 5
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 10:51 AM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 95 m
Turkey Altunizade 41.022111, 29.04800241°1’20” N 29°2’53” E
Crossing continents
May 31, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Today we started our journey into the interiors of Turkey. We are going to Beypazari. We also crossed from the European side to the Asian side.
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Day 5
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 2:11 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 585 m
Turkey Çamyurdu 40.583796, 30.91783340°35’2” N 30°55’4” E
Up the Kure mountain after lunch
May 31, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
This road side cafe can be one of the best restaurants/delis I have been to. The food is amazing and so inexpensive. Everything is prepared fresh. Great stop.
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Day 5
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 4:02 PM
⛅ 32 °C
Altitude: 484 m
Turkey Kızılöz Deresi 40.106977, 31.60111640°6’25” N 31°36’4” E
Nallıhan kuş cenneti
May 31, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
This is a bird sanctuary. The other fascinating scenery are the mountains. Have a look at the pictures.
Olivier Rochewow, beautiful
5/31/22Reply
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Day 5
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 4:57 PM
☀️ 30 °C
Altitude: 675 m
Turkey Beypazarı 40.167632, 31.92181240°10’3” N 31°55’19” E
Beypazari
May 31, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Beypazari is the very opposite of Istanbul. Quaint, quiet, and pretty. It was like stepping back in time... a long time! There is the new town and the old town. The pictures are of the old town/village. As you walk along, you are offered 'tastings' of grape molasses to different kinds to sweets. It is also a carrot-growing region, hence, the carrot structure bang in the middle of the roundabout.Read more
Two to TravelHoping that photos will be forthcoming for today's posts. P.S. The name of this town in Beypazarı ;-)
5/31/22Reply
TravelerYes. And thank you
5/31/22Reply
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Day 5
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 7:30 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 672 m
Turkey Beypazarı 40.167691, 31.92216540°10’4” N 31°55’20” E
Living museum
May 31, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Just after a quick refreshing tea, we went out to see this living museum. Basically, it keeps alive the traditions of ancient Turkey. We saw "marbling" - I have a long video but did not upload it. The attic has an amazing array of textiles including Turkish towels. To be honest, you can wear the towels as a scarf or shawl; they are so pretty.Read more
Two to TravelI visited this museum many years ago and did a painting like the one in your picture.
5/31/22Reply
TravelerThat's great
5/31/22Reply
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Day 5
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 9:01 PM
🌙 23 °C
Altitude: 660 m
Turkey Beypazarı 40.167342, 31.92550940°10’2” N 31°55’32” E
Dinner
May 31, 2022 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 23 °C
We went to dinner this quaint place. I cannot even start to describe the ambiance. It was charming. It was also the first time that I tasted reki - an aniseed drink from Turkey. Yummmmm....
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