Bodrum

Just one Arabian night & day in Bodrum and ready to board the gulet for a week.
Unbelievable views of the Aegean, fish and breakfast from the same.

Pictures later...

Our Day at Ephesus

After a fortifying breakfast at Nisanyan House, we spent the day at Ephesus.

The Library

Great calligraphy 

Hadrian's Gate

Moving to the country...

Today we flew to Izmir, rented a car and drove to our place in the country near Ephesus. It looks like Tuscany and Greece, in a Turkish sort of way. 

The marble infinity pool by our cottage.

Old farm implements ??? Saw these on our walk after dinner.

Last Day in Istanbul

We had to go back to Hagia Sophia before we left. And it was worth it. 

Then we finally found Orhan Pamuk's Museum of Innocence, based on his novel of the same name, in a neighborhood near his home. It is an art installation movingly depicting the context and obsession of the love Kemal has for Fusun.  The exhibit is moving and original. It could only be in Istanbul.

Beautiful views and Vittles

From the Byzantine Galata Tower and it's views of the Bosphorus to Ciya in the Asian district of Istanbul, we ate our way to satisfaction and more.

People and places

Our leader Reyan, passionate Turk and Istanbuli.

The Greek Patriarchate church in Istanbul, center of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Emily Johnson, American friend teaching in Istanbul.

Sinan gem, the Rustem Pasha Mosque.    

Tourists in town.

Holidays and Holy Days

 Children happily preparing for Khitan or the Islamic male circumcision rite of passage.Hmmm.

Seventh century Chora church with amazing 12th century mosaics.

A beautiful day on the Bosphorus

Wonderful weather for a cruise and visit to the historic places on the water.

Domes & Homes

Today we visited the mosque and harem designed by Turkey's greatest architect, Sinan, an Armenian.

He was a genius working for the Ottoman sultans. Amazing spaces with beautiful proportions and decorations.

 

                                         

Marty my partner in touring.

                                                   

Mosaics & Iznik tiles. B.C. To A.D. Constantinople to Istanbul

Today was filled with beautiful ancient art and architecture.

Turkish Delight

Arrival at the Palazzo Donizetti very weary but excited to see this beautiful, vibrant city. Took this ancient "cage" elevator to our room to rest before dinner. 

Thursday we go to Hagia Sofia, underground cisterns, Hippodrome and the Archeological museum with lecturer from the Istanbul Technical University School of Architecture.

Turkish Delights 2013

Getting ready to go tomorrow a m. What did I forget? I'll soon know!

Follow me to Istanbul
Helen