2012 Turkish Delights

september 2012
In September I took a group of 19 Ghostriders to complete a three week trip around Turkey. The trip was to combine cycling, challenging trekking and lots of active sightseeing. Meer informatie

Lijst met landen

  • Turkije
  • Australië
Categorieën
Geen
  • 17,3kafgelegde kilometers
Transportmiddelen
  • Vlucht14,6kkilometer
  • Lopen-kilometer
  • Wandelen-kilometer
  • Fiets-kilometer
  • Motorfiets-kilometer
  • Tuktuk-kilometer
  • Auto-kilometer
  • Trein-kilometer
  • Bus-kilometer
  • Camper-kilometer
  • Caravan-kilometer
  • 4x4-kilometer
  • Zwemmen-kilometer
  • Peddelen/Roeien-kilometer
  • Motorboot-kilometer
  • Zeilen-kilometer
  • Woonboot-kilometer
  • Veerpont-kilometer
  • Cruiseschip-kilometer
  • Paard-kilometer
  • Skiën-kilometer
  • Liften-kilometer
  • Cable car-kilometer
  • Helikopter-kilometer
  • Blootvoets-kilometer
  • 22Footprints
  • 21dagen
  • 243foto’s
  • 1Likes
  • Last Full Day in Istanbul

    27 september 2012, Turkije ⋅ 24 °C

    Today we visited the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, both very close to our Group Hotel and only a 10min walk away.
    The Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople of the Western Crusader established Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1931, when it was secularized.

    It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935. The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I.. The design of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is the culmination of two centuries of
    both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church development. It incorporates some Byzantine elements of the neighbouring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. The architect synthesized the ideas of his master Sinan, aiming for overwhelming size, majesty and splendour.

    We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the area of Sultanahmet.
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  • Goodbye to Turkey

    28 september 2012, Turkije ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Today marked the final day of our Turkish Adventure. I can honestly say that the trip had widely exceeded our expectations. The incredible combination of history, stunning landscapes and incredibly friendly locals, make travel here really special.

    This trip has so many highlights that I could never list them all, but here are a few that really stand out - the underground cistern in Istanbul, the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, the early morning balloon flight, the underground city of Derinkuyu, the Mediterranean coast, the impressive Roman ruins at Ephesus and of course the sacred ground at Gallipoli.

    Although our Turkish Adventure finished today, for 8 of our group, we still have another adventure coming up. This afternoon we will be flying to Athens to begin an 8 day trip around Greece. While we were in Turkey, we were repeatedly warned of how unfriendly the Greeks are. I guess we will find out if this is true.

    In order to get to the airport I ordered three taxis to pick us up from the hotel. I did not realise the the drivers must have had some sort of a bet as to which of them would get to the airport first. Over the next 30 minutes I think I had several near death experiences as our three taxis raced at high speed through the streets of Istanbul, swerving in and out of the other vehicles on the road. I cannot remember which taxi arrived first, I was just relieved when we all still alive at the end. It was a memorable finish to an exceptional trip.

    You can now continue to follow this trip by opening the 2012 Greece and Europe trip.
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