This is a model of the old city in Damascus that I wanted to post. You can view straight street that goes straight through the area, and the green spot is where the Mosque is located. The Citadel is in the upper left hand corner with the covered market place. Today I arrived in Antakya [...]
The Archives of Traveling Turkey
I traveled Turkey for 2.5 months starting in the southeast, east, northeast, the black sea coast. Then traveled through the interior and up the coast to Istanbul. Turkey was the 5th country to travel.
Enjoy the 67 posts starting from the arrival in Turkey to the departure. I returned one year later from Bulgaria for 10 days with 3 more posts.
The pictures are of Antakya. I arrived in Gaziantep (Antep) today from Antakya, a three-hour bus ride. The route was very beautiful driving along the mountain landscape. Driving into town the temperature was 31 degrees Celsius, although much dryer than Antakya. The amount of people that can speak some English is less than a handful. [...]
The history of Anatolia dates back to the Hittite Empire before the start of the Iron Age of 1200 BCE, the seas people conquered the Hittites after 1200 BCE. The Hittites was a tribe and the son of Canaan, thus Canaanites. Gaziantep is a province that was continuously inhabited starting from the Palaeolithic age. The [...]
Tuesday, I arrived in Sanliurfa (Urfa) by bus, a mere two-hour ride. Today I just arrived in Mardin. When I was at Palmyra, in Syria, a woman gave me a card to a guesthouse here in Urfa. I called upon my arrival, and the person picked me up from the bus station. The guesthouse is [...]
Mardin is situated on the slope of a high hill where the eye can gaze into the distance of the Mesopotamian plains. The populace of Mardin began under the rule of the Hurri-Matani Hittites and experienced the directive of all the major kingdoms of history. Today, the dominating castle serves as a military base.Many buildings [...]
I rolled into Diyarbakir on Friday from Mardin. The hotel in Dirarbakir is the nicest hotel I have stayed at so far in Turkey for 20 YTL a night, the room is comfortable with air-conditioning; I have gone without AC since I left Beirut. I will be departing for Tatvan tomorrow. Diyarbakir is a pleasant, [...]
The first three pictures are of Tatvan, the next four are of a small town in this area called Bitlis. I arrived by bus to Tatvan that sits on the west side of Van Lake, the largest Lake in Turkey. This area is considerably cooler residing at a higher elevation. I survived the extreme heat [...]
Quick update: Traveling South East Turkey has been hassle free with very few tourists. The Middle East Lonely Plant guide is slightly worthless, although I am doing fine without a detailed travel guide. From Van I will be heading north, Van is the last town of the Kurdish area of Turkey. After visiting Van I [...]
The town of Van is the most Eastern town in Turkey situated on the eastern shore of Van Lake. The explosion of Nemrut volcano led the formation of Van Lake. Nemrut volcano in this area is not the same as Nemrut Mountain. Van was the ancient Urartian capital of Tuspa. It is situated in a [...]
I arrived in Dogubayazit yesterday from Van, I took a minibus and met some nice people from Iran on the bus. Dogubayazit is sitting at the foot of Mount Ararat. A beautiful mountain as you can see from the pictures standing at 5,165 meters. Turkeys highest mountain that is a dormant volcano; the last eruption [...]
The Pasa Palace stands on the mountainside 6 Kilometers from Dogubayazit. It is a magical setting; the castle perched on a small plateau that overlooks the valley.The palace has its roots dating back to 1685 by Colak Abdi Pasa that found its completion in 1784 by a Kurdish chieftain named Ishak. The architecture is splendid [...]
I am heading to Kars today. I decided to stay three days at this hotel here in Dogubayazit. I washed all my clothes in the hotel room, I use the trash can for a wash bin. The bathroom in this hotel has regular western style toilets, less strain on the legs compared the the squat [...]
Kars is situated in NorthEastern Anatolia near the border of Armenia. Throughout the years Kars has its influence from Russian, Kurdish, Turkish, and Azeri. Kars has a more modern feel than the south, women are walking in the streets expressing themselves without a head covering. The young couples will hold hands.Kars once provided a stronghold [...]
Ani is a site that is not as common as Palmyra in Syria, or Petra in Jordan, even so, the visit to Ani is a must if the traveler finds themselves in Kars. Residing 45 kilometers from Kars, the ruins of Ani sits on the border of Turkey and Armenia.A person on the street in [...]
All the pictures posted are of Ani. While visiting Dogubayazit, I ran into a Christian Group of the Seventh-day Adventist branch of Christendom that is researching the Noah’s Ark reality. I met them while I was getting dinner and I joined them at their table. First, they reacted with amazement concerning my travels; the first [...]
I arrived in Yusufeli from Kars on Wednesday. The ride through the Georgian Mountain valley is spectacular. The road follow the Oltu River through gorges and valleys. I took a bunch of pictures from the bus traveling on the road, some of the pictures are tainted from the dirty bus window, although I really wanted [...]
The first three pictures are of Yusufeil.Today, I arrived in Trabzon. I decided to skip heading to Barhil because of the lack of transportation up the hill from Yusufeil. I took a Domlus (minibus) to Artvin and transfered onto a Pullman bus to Rize and stayed one night.The drive was spectacular—as we got closer to [...]
The Sumela Monastery is called the Monastery of the Virgin Mary. Built upon a sheer rock wall, high above a river valley, the setting is outstanding and absolutely beautiful.I went to a hotel that is in the guide book to find transportation to the Monastery that is 45 kilometers away from Trabzon. There was a [...]
Trabzon is a complete contrast from the towns that I have visited since I left Antep in Southeastern Turkey. What a complete head rush. There is an immense amount of beautiful women on the streets. Indeed, Trabzon is an area with the most attractive women in Turkey so far, and since I left Beirut.Trabzon is [...]
The Ana Sofya Museum is the top tourist site in Trabzon. Originally titles Hagia Sophia or church of the divine wisdom, the building was built between 1238 and 1263. Like many other religious building there was once an temple and then a church built upon the foundation and converted into a mosque once the Ottomans [...]
Giresun is not a town any tourists stop at, although it is a nice modern town with the old charming atmosphere. Giresun produces Hazelnuts and Cherries, the area is known to have the best orchards in Turkey.The subject I find interesting is that among the legend of Jason and the Argonauts searching for the Golden [...]
Here is a couple pictures of Giresun taken from the bus on the departure to Unye. I will have some pictures of Unye posted soon. Today, I am heading inland to Amaysa, a few people have mentioned that it is worth visiting.I really liked the energy of Giresun.
Unye is a very delightful, relaxing town that sits on the coast of the Black Sea. This area of Unye claims the fame to hazelnut orchards as in Giresun.Uyne and Giresun are the nicest towns between Trabzon and Samsun. Arriving into the towns in the morning allows me all day to explore the town. Even [...]
Amasya, a picturesque town that is located along the Yesilirmak river with mountains rising high above. The setting is spectacular, the compact narrow mountain valley produces an energy beyond compare. There are many picturesque Ottoman wooden houses that Amasya can boast and claim to be one of the most charming, delightful towns in Turkey.Dating back [...]
I have updated Shutterfly with over 200 pictures of Turkey. The above picture is of Sinop. I arrived in Sinop yesterday from Amasya; I connected through Samsum. Sinop dates back to the seventh century BCE, the peninsula provides an ideal harbor and trading post for the Black Sea. The peninsula narrows and then widens with [...]
A little change in the plan occurred, heading out of Sinop there was no bus heading to Amsara, only one bus a week makes the route. The best place to go was Kastamonu. Also, the three days after Ramadan is a holiday for everyone, and Amsara is a resort area for the Turkish—the hotels increase [...]
I departed Sinop for Kastamonu on a Dolmus that traveled through the rainy, foggy mountains. The three days after Ramadan is a holiday and the Dolmus was over packed. A Dolmus seats about twenty people that includes the front seats—including the children, I counted 35 people riding in the Dolmus. The children always sit on [...]
Hattusa is the location and ruins of the Capital city of the Hittite Kingdom dating back to 1400 BCE, although the first settlement began around 1900 BCE. In 1200 BCE, the Hittite kingdom was reduced because the arrival of the Iron Age. The people of the Aegean Sea called the Phrygians inhabited the land. Hattusa [...]
I arrived in Kayseri, a town about 70 kilometers from the main towns of Cappadoica, I transferred buses in Kirikkale. The only bus heading this way that was not full was heading to Kayseri which is OK. Kayseri has an impressive walled citadel that was originally built from the Emperor Justinian around the sixth century, [...]
I arrived in Urgup yesterday from Kayseri, only a 60 kilometer trip. Urgup is a wonderful small relaxing town in Cappadocia. The hotel I am staying is like staying at grandmas house, the older lady is a delight, and my room is cozy with wooded knotted walls, a down blanket, with a private bathroom. In [...]
I decided to walk around town and thought of just walking up the hill to the Northeast side of town where the high class hotels are located. I continued walking (up hill) to the back end of the town and look what I found. There is a trail that goes around the large hill (more [...]
The town of Cavusin is one of the oldest inhabited areas of Cappadocia, a slow relaxed town, a delight to spend a night. However most people stay in Goreme and take a day trip to Cavusin and the surrounding valleys. Goreme is only 2 kilometers down the road. Many tour buses come and go here [...]
Being based in Cavusin is ideal for trekking around the different valleys of Cappadoica. Today I hiked around the Rose, Red, and the Kizilcukur Valleys. There were very few tourists, I did not run into any in the first two hours.These valleys are spectacular and diverse in color. I found some spots that created echos—my [...]
Yesterday I went trekking from my base in Cauvsin to an open air museum, although I was above on the mountain of the area while all the tourists from the tourist buses were down below, from that area I hiked to another open air museum that there were very few tourists. This area was wonderful—I [...]
The village of Ortahisar is well worth the visit that resides only six kilometers from Urgup and three kilometers from Goreme. The high stone citadel dominates the non-touristic village.Ortahnisar is indeed a worthy option as an alternative base for Cappadocia, although conservative, but relaxed without the tourist syndrome. Ortahnisar is a quite farming village where [...]
Well, you’re looking at it—the love valley of Cappadocia, the land of giant erected penises. I am not to sure if the reader can discern a little Divine direction in the natural sculpture work of these giant erected penises, but I do. This can be kind of strange for some, I mean really, Mother Nature [...]
The panorama view from Uchisar is outstanding. The hotel I am staying at is icing on the cake that will end my independent tour of Cappadocia. I decided to splurge because of the incredible view and the room is the cave style room.Mount Ercyies in the background and the castle at Ortahisar can be viewed. [...]
The pictures are of the sunrise and Mount Erciyes from the view of the hotel I was staying at in Uchisar. I arrived in the town of Tarsus on Tuesday, which is the birth place of the Apostle Paul. This area is near the Mediterranean Sea and considerably warmer than Cappadocia. I arrived around 6 [...]
I have four posts loaded for the next four days. This new scheduling feature on blogger I find to be wonderful. I really like Silifke, I could stay here longer, but I must move on, I guess I have a deadline having to be in Athens by mid November. I will be heading to Konya [...]
Visiting Cappadocia, a couple of the underground cities should be added to your tour. The Hittites began the process of underground dwelling and defenses around 1800 BCE. There are 200 underground cities in the area of Cappadocia and 9 are open to the public—many or these underground cities connect through tunnels.The two underground cities I [...]
Taking a day trip from Silifke I decided to visit Heaven and Hell. How many of you knew that heaven and hell resided right here in Turkey? The sign shows the way, take your pick, choose wisely. Amazingly enough, heaven and hell is only 100 meters from one another. I’m surprised, I would of thought [...]
Near the caves of heaven and hell, there resides an amazing cave called the cave of Asthma.The legend tells the story—people believed that the cave can cure Asthma. I find it interesting what people will believe.The descent is 20 meters down into the cave. The cave itself is about 200 meters long. A beautiful wonderland [...]
The Maiden’s Castle is a stunning view from the coast. The beautiful blue water makes this castle as if it’s floating on the sea.The above picture is the Mainland Korykos Castle on the shore, a causeway connected the two castles. The above picture is taken from the Korkos Castle with the sun facing its right-side.This [...]
Konya is the place that Rumi produced the mystic branch of Islam, although many Moslems of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria have never heard of Rumi. However Rumi’s tomb in Konya receives 1.5 million visitors a year, mostly Turkish Moslems and Western tourists. Rumi and his writings are popular in the West. Rumi attained enlightenment [...]
Quick Update: I took the bus from Konya through Antalya and I stayed in Olympos for two nights, this time of the year the area is slow, although I would never visit Olympos during high season. Yesterday I arrived in Kas, this area of Turkey from Antalya to Fethiye (the coast of Lycia) is truly [...]
The ascetic is one who sees the hereafter, while the worldling sees only the stable. But the chosen ones of God, who have knowledge, see neither the hereafter nor the stable. Their eyes are fixed on the first principle, the source of all things. When the chosen one sows wheat they know the wheat will [...]
Quick Update: For some reason blogger has been block in the last two towns that I have visited, which are the two most popular tourist towns in Turkey. I have traveled all over Turkey with no problem, very strange. You-tube is block in the whole country. Blogs from blogger are block in Syria, although I [...]
Kas is a beautiful area that is situated on the Mediterranean, and was once an area where the country sent political dissidents. Historically, Antiphellos is the Lycian town that was located here and only the theater remains. Though, the theater provides good views of harbor and the town of Kas.In the summer this place is [...]
Afrodisias is an archaeological site that many tourists have not heard of and is less crowded than Pumukkale. A city that dates back with continue settlements 5000 BCE—this isolated area, around the time of the 6th century, produced the temple of Aphrodite the love goddess, which correlates with Mut of Egypt, and Ishtar of Babylon….the [...]
Just wanted to send a quick update where I have visited and where I am at in my time table. I left Kas after a three night stay and transferred through Fethiye to Pumukkale, I decided not to stay in Fethiye, although it is an area that is popular with tourists. In Pumukkale I spent [...]
Pumukkale is well known for its brightly white calcium formations that are call the Travertine pools. Pumukkale means “Cotton Castle”, which is proper, the white hill viewed from a distance is unique. Tourism ruined the pools from the 1980’s and 90’s and now the Travertine pools are empty, many people are disappointed visiting the site. [...]
Selcuk is the town that the tourists stay to see Ephesus. Ephesus is only about three kilometers away from Selcuk. The Apostle Paul lived in Ephesus for three years. The story, also, explains that John and Mary the mother of Jesus lived in Ephesus. The tomb of John is just below the castle of Selcuk, [...]
During my stay in Selcuk, Gram the English guy, and I took a day trip to Didyma where the Temple of Apollo once existed. The ruins are spectacular within this singular Temple of Apollo where the oracle, similar to Delphi in Greece, once existed. Alexander the Great stopped here at the Temple of Apollo to [...]
I arrived to Bozcaada two nights ago, one of the two inhabited islands belonging to Turkey. It is a pleasant, relaxed island. The tourism season is over, although a few pensions are open. This time of year Bozcaada is very lazy and quite, I can feel that my body needs rest, which I did take [...]
I just added over 300 pictures to shutterfly. Along with visiting Didyma and the Temple of Apollo, Gram and I stopped at Miletus, once a major Roman city. A grand city is was that served as a harbor, the seashore is much further away today. During the time of the first century the great theater [...]
Someone said: “I have neglected that true purpose.”Rumi replied: When this thought enters a person’s mind and they criticize themself, saying, “What am I about, why do I do those things?” When this happens it is sure proof that God loves them, and cares for them. “Love continues so long as reprimands continue,” said the [...]
I have had some situations develop lately. I have contacted the organic farm by phone in Israel for the month of December. We have confirmed the situation and I will have my own space with wireless Internet. They have had other Americans on their farm in the past, too. The farm is about twenty minutes [...]
Heading out of Selcuk, I contemplated to visit Pergamum, conveniently, Gram was heading that way and we invited a couple from California that lived in Oman for the last 13 months. After visiting the site, Gram dropped us off at the bus station and I caught a bus to Behramkale. I can say, Gram, who [...]
Assos is an area where the sole Temple of Athena stood which was built in the Doric style. The top of the hill of the town provides excellent views of the coastline of Turkey. Along the hill there are good solid remains of the city walls. The theater is built at the bottom of the [...]
Heading out of Behramkale, I thought that visiting an island would be relaxing, and since there are only two islands of Turkey, I should visit one of the two. Bozcaada is one of the two islands that are of Turkey in the Aegean Sea. The boat trip is only 3 YTL, which is a big [...]
I am sure most of you know the story of Troy. Because of the historian Homer and his poetic writing, the war between King Priam and the Achaeans is a story that has existed down to our era. Situated on the shores of the Dardanelles (in that era), strategically, Troy grasped control of the trade [...]
I have arrived in Istanbul, at last. The landscape of Istanbul among the water is very delightful, everything I expected, even so, I am not a big fan of large cities, I do prefer the smaller towns. There is some hassle with people selling their goods, although it is much calmer than Egypt. Nobody bothers [...]
The big dog—Zeus, the Archaeology Museum is the best of the Museums, except for in Egypt. Today is my one year anniversary from when I departed California, I have admit, time flies—it doesn’t seem like a year. Even so, I am very satisfied upon my progression of traveling. Although, I have only visited five countries—rich [...]
I left Lebanon August 24 2008, I stayed in Syria for five nights transferring through to Turkey. From Aleppo I entered Turkey on August 29 2008. I hired a taxi in Aleppo for 500 SP to travel to Antakya; there was a 500 SP departure fee out of Syria. In Turkey I paid $20.00 for [...]
I crossed over the border to Turkey on Wednesday and arrived in Istanbul. I stayed two nights at a very loud hostel and took the 12 hour bus to Cappadocia. The border crossing was comical. The customs decided to check all the bags of the buses, we were held up at the border for two [...]
Many readers might remember when I was in Urgup last year I posted a review on the Ailanpa Cafe & Wine House. I am back here enjoying grandmas home cooked traditional turkish cuisine.
Yesterday I arrived in Konya enjoying some excellent cuisine. I met a nice guy from Belgian that travels a month at a time to different locations. He traveled Iran and loved it, and interesting enough, visited Somalia aside from other locations. Taking the tram into town from the bus station, I met a very beautiful [...]
Since I left India I have been at a crossroads concerning international travel. As I mentioned prior, I experienced and saw the countries I have always wanted to visit. I lived in several places such as Bulgaria. At this point my international travels are ending at the end of August. I have been going over [...]
Known officially as the Republic of Turkey, this country is located in Western Asia in the Anatolian Peninsular in the continent of Eurasia. The official language is Turkish and most of its people are Muslim. Turkey is a country that has seen so many different cultures come through its borders that when you see all [...]
