The Ackos European Adventure

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The Ackos European Adventure Traveler
Ephesus - Last home of the Virgin Mary
September 28, 2023 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
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Entering the Dardenelle Strait Turkey
September 29, 2023 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Quite moving looking out at this region, imagining what occurred between 19 February 1915 to 9 January 1916 during the Gallipole campaign of WW1.
The Dardanelles, also known as the Strait of Gallipoli and in Classical Antiquity as the Hellespont, is a narrow, natural strait and internationally significant waterway in northwestern Turkey that forms part of the continental boundary between Asia and Europe and separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey. Together with the Bosporus, the Dardanelles forms the Turkish Straits. One of the world's narrowest straits used for international navigation, the Dardanelles connects the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean and Mediterranean seas while also allowing passage to the Black Sea by extension via the Bosporus. The Dardanelles is 61 kilometres long and 1.2 to 6 kilometres wide. It has an average depth of 55 metres with a maximum depth of 103 metres at its narrowest point abreast the city of Çanakkale. The first fixed crossing across the Dardanelles opened in 2022 with the completion of the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge.Read more
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Intriguing Instanbul
September 30, 2023 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Our early start in Instanbul was somewhat interesting. Going our own way and arranging for a private guide we ventured off the ship first up to follow our nose to the meeting point to join "Ludwig" our guide. So waiting at a tram stop that had not started operation yet was not the best start but with the help of a great taxi driver, he advised us what to do and in return he ended up with a good fare and delivered us to our starting point in plenty of time. Our tour started with Lütfullah FINDIKOĞLU or Ludwig for short, and from there, it was a day of laughter, smiles, amazement, beauty and falling in love with Instanbul. East meets West in this fantastic city of about 22 million, and I think they were all out and about with us. We visited the Hagia Sophia, the Bluemosqu, the Topkapı Palace, the Cistern, did a river cruise on the Bosphorus, walked one street in the Grand Bazaar (there are 68 in total) brought a box of the most amazing Turkish Delight (Cadburies never again) drank Turkish Tea, enjoyed a delicious lunch and then dinner in Turkish restaurants and watched a Dervish Religious Ceremony. After all this at 9.30pm, we successfully navigated the busiest tram network in the world on our own and collapsed into bed back on the ship to rest our weary feet and attempt to sleep after the most exhilarating day. Istanbul and Turkey are amazing.Read more
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Hagia Sophia ISTANBUL
September 30, 2023 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Hagia Sophia (lit. 'Holy Wisdom'; Turkish: Ayasofya; Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, romanized: Hagía Sophía; Latin: Sancta Sapientia), officially the Hagia Sophia Mosque (Turkish: Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi),[3] is a mosque and a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. The last of three church buildings to be successively erected on the site by the Eastern Roman Empire, it was completed in 537 AD. It was an Eastern Orthodox church until the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, then a mosque until 1935, then a museum and then from 2020 a mosque again, as well as being a Catholic cathedral for some decades after the Fourth Crusade of 1204.[4]Read more
Traveler Who has been buying you or Darren.
10/1/23Reply
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The Ackos European Adventure Traveler
The Blue Mosque, Istanbul
September 30, 2023 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, also known by its official name, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultan Ahmet Camii), is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. It was constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I and remains a functioning mosque today. It also attracts a large number of tourists and is one of the most iconic and popular monuments of Ottoman architecture.Read more
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The Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
September 30, 2023 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The Topkapı Palace (Turkish: Topkapı Sarayı;[2] Ottoman Turkish: طوپقپو سرايى, romanized: ṭopḳapu sarāyı, lit. 'Cannon Gate Palace'),[3] or the Seraglio,[4] is a large museum and library in the east of the Fatih district of Istanbul in Turkey. From the 1460s to the completion of Dolmabahçe Palace in 1856, it served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, and was the main residence of its sultans.Read more
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Basilica Cistern, Istanbul
September 30, 2023 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica (Greek: Βασιλική Κινστέρνα, Turkish: Yerebatan Sarnıcı or Yerebatan Saray, "Subterranean Cistern" or "Subterranean Palace"), is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The cistern, located 150 metres (490 ft) southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.[1] Today it is kept with little water, for public access inside the space.Read more
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More Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
September 30, 2023 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
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Monreal in Sicily
October 4, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Beautiful day spent in Palermo with a drive up to the mountainside village of Monreal. Paulo our Guide, and Stefano our Driver, as 2 proud Sicilians, took us on an adventure telling stories about their home, and pointing out locations used in 'The Godfather 2'. Beautiful church on the town square of Monreal and a stunning view across to Palermo.Read more
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Palermo in Sicily
October 4, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Down the mountain we drove with our group and Paulo and Stefano back to Palermo for a walking tour through the old section of town. Another beautiful city with amazing buildings dating back centuries.
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More Palermo, Sicily
October 4, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
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3 Coins in a Fountain...back in Rome
October 5, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Quick trip on the train from Civitavecchia to Rome and a walk to the Trevi Fountain. MSC Poesia was berthed at Civitavecchia for the day, so with 2 days left on the Eurail Pass we jumped on a fast train 🚄 for another walk around Rome. Threw a coin over my left shoulder and made the Fountain ⛲️....now for the wish to arrive. Just beautiful, even with 1,000s of people all trying to get the perfect photo. A lovely lunch was had in a cute Cafe just off the square. Another perfect day.Read more
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Amazing Times. Memories Made.
October 5, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 22 °C
Docked in Genoa and disembarked. One final train journey for our flight home from Milan. Lovely friendships made on this final cruise leg of our trip. Overnight in Milan before departing with 5 kilos extra luggage (=€250 $396 ouch)
2.5 hr delay leaving Milan after truck would not disconnect from the plane after we were all boarded and buckled in, then 12.5 hrs to Singapore, 10 minute dash to flight to Brisbane that was held up 1/2 hour for us, then 7hrs to Brisbane. Turkish Delight purchased in Istanbul, and cheese and relishes from Denmark safely through Australian Customs, so we can enjoy in the days to come.
Our dinner neighbours, Carol and Khalil from Maryborough, and our waiters Gin, Loka and Naz from Indonesia. Thanks for making the cruise a fun adventure. Making memories for a lifetime. Our best trip so far.Read more
TravelerWelcome Home glad to know you are safe ❤️❤️❤️
10/13/23Reply
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Trip end
October 8, 2023