Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Lets begin again
Hi well its a while since I was here. Ive decided to keep this running rather than hae multipul blogs so here we go.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Glad to be home
Hi we are home now and it is very cold.
We left Turkey with some sadness. This is a beautiful place with such an amazing mixture of history, religion, culture and occupations and new friends.
We stopped of at Dubai on the way home and I wondered if I was in another world. The Arab people have a national costume. The men wear a white cloak and a veil like head dress and a lot of the womwn wear a black dress and veil. At the airport there were some beautiful African women dressed in their natural dress which has big puffy sleeves with a long skirt often worn with a layer of shawls and a headress made from matching fabric The earthy colours of these garments are spetacular.
The heat was in the high 30s so we caught a bouble decker bus the next day and did a tour of the city.This was surposed to take 2 hours and ended up being 4 due to heavy traffic congestion in the downtown city area. The builders working on the site by our hotel worked all night. The guide told us that on one particular building site there was 3000 workers working a 24hour shift. They had hoped to build a floor on the tall building of 75 floors in 4 days. Everything had to be big and the best in the world. It seemed a waste of enviromental resources. Sea water is recycled to water the trees in the city about 30,000 gallons is used so people forget it is a desert and it looks green and lovely. This place is built on sand. Our hotel receptionist told us to do indoor activities as they were expecting a sand storm.
Im so glad to be home and hope you have all enjoyed sharng our trip with us.
We left Turkey with some sadness. This is a beautiful place with such an amazing mixture of history, religion, culture and occupations and new friends.
We stopped of at Dubai on the way home and I wondered if I was in another world. The Arab people have a national costume. The men wear a white cloak and a veil like head dress and a lot of the womwn wear a black dress and veil. At the airport there were some beautiful African women dressed in their natural dress which has big puffy sleeves with a long skirt often worn with a layer of shawls and a headress made from matching fabric The earthy colours of these garments are spetacular.
The heat was in the high 30s so we caught a bouble decker bus the next day and did a tour of the city.This was surposed to take 2 hours and ended up being 4 due to heavy traffic congestion in the downtown city area. The builders working on the site by our hotel worked all night. The guide told us that on one particular building site there was 3000 workers working a 24hour shift. They had hoped to build a floor on the tall building of 75 floors in 4 days. Everything had to be big and the best in the world. It seemed a waste of enviromental resources. Sea water is recycled to water the trees in the city about 30,000 gallons is used so people forget it is a desert and it looks green and lovely. This place is built on sand. Our hotel receptionist told us to do indoor activities as they were expecting a sand storm.
Im so glad to be home and hope you have all enjoyed sharng our trip with us.
Monday, June 4, 2007
A Day Doing Nothing
Well today has been a real day for doing nothing. All the weekend visitors had gone when we got up for breakfast and the place certainly looked deserted.. We watched the little fishing boats go in and out. Fishermen cleaned the crabs from their nets and local restauranteers came down to buy some red mullet, a small fish like a sprat and sea bass which looks like our mullet. A fish meal costs 15L.
Yesterday we bought a loaf of bread for 00.25, a couple of bananas and a bottle all for 5L and that was lunch. I'm surprised there are no sea gulls here. I've seen one and a shag. Today we walked out to the coast army post about 2km away and were surprised to find 50boats waiting to go through the straits.
The little village of Kilyos has approximitaly 12 places to eat, 2 vege shops, 2 small grocery stores and 3 shops selling swim wear. Tomorrow we return to Istanbull to pack our bags ready for home.
I forgot to tell you about the 2 tortoises we saw trying to cross the road. Our driver stopped the car and lifted them across!
Yesterday we bought a loaf of bread for 00.25, a couple of bananas and a bottle all for 5L and that was lunch. I'm surprised there are no sea gulls here. I've seen one and a shag. Today we walked out to the coast army post about 2km away and were surprised to find 50boats waiting to go through the straits.
The little village of Kilyos has approximitaly 12 places to eat, 2 vege shops, 2 small grocery stores and 3 shops selling swim wear. Tomorrow we return to Istanbull to pack our bags ready for home.
I forgot to tell you about the 2 tortoises we saw trying to cross the road. Our driver stopped the car and lifted them across!
Gateway to the Straits
Well this is meant to be 3 nights rest and recouperate before we head for home. Getting out of Istanbul was a mission - it was Saturday midday and traffic jams were every where with people heading for parks, shopping and to watch an airshow overhead. We have a hotel room over looking the sea. It was 20l cheaper with no view.
The beach front directly infront of us is stony and an anchor place for the small fishing boats tied up to a concrete wharf. There is a hole through this to the other beaches which are cordoned off and you have to pay 30l to swim there. However the water inside the area is so shallow people all swim outside the bouys. There is a rusty old ship in the bay which I may endeavour to walk out to later. It's not a case of walking along the beach but walking along the bouys in the water as the sea has little difference in high and low tide.
Today the water is dominated by young teenage boys and noisy music which is needed as the water is so cold you have to do aerobic exercises to get wet. Last night there was one ship waiting to go through the strait - this morning there are about 20 out there. Not short of entertainment..
The beach front directly infront of us is stony and an anchor place for the small fishing boats tied up to a concrete wharf. There is a hole through this to the other beaches which are cordoned off and you have to pay 30l to swim there. However the water inside the area is so shallow people all swim outside the bouys. There is a rusty old ship in the bay which I may endeavour to walk out to later. It's not a case of walking along the beach but walking along the bouys in the water as the sea has little difference in high and low tide.
Today the water is dominated by young teenage boys and noisy music which is needed as the water is so cold you have to do aerobic exercises to get wet. Last night there was one ship waiting to go through the strait - this morning there are about 20 out there. Not short of entertainment..
Back in Istanbul
Well we feel as though we are home. It was a funny feeling coming over on the ferry from Yalvas into Istanbull - we all felt the same. It had been an absolute action packed 6 nights. Our gamble with a car and driver certainly paid off.
We had left Pamukale about 11am and it was about 500km to Istanbull if you followed the straight roads: however our driver was reluctant to do this due to his experiences in the army when you only drove on main roads for security reasons. Thankfully some local men persuaded him it was pefectly safe saving us another 200km. The road was similar to our roads so our rally driving driver slowed down a fraction. Once again we were looking at farm lands of wheat and poppies this time. And a few tea and cotton fields. We stopped to také a photo of a young lady following a donkey home from the hills. When she saw Braydon and Bill in the car she picked up her donkey stick and truned to go the other way. She relaxed when I got out of the car but the donkey then decided to run off on its own without her. In all the confusion we all forgot to find out what the donkey was carrying. I think it was cut grass in sacks for the animals at the farm house. It seems that most people travel out from a central farming village to their work place. Plastic houses to grow tomatoes in dominated one village we passed through.
Back in Istanbull we went out to dinner with Braydon and his wife who spoke no english. They were giving us a special Turkish food meal which I can describe but not name the dishes. We started with an awesome hot bread bun baked in a wood fired oven. To go in this was butter and a small square of blue vein cheese with walnuts in the centre. Oh it was delicious. Along side this was a rice dish with an egg topping served from a small dish the size of a breakfast cup. Next came a diamond shaped meatball with yellow cheese in it. As the meat wasn't quite cooked in the middle I passsed this on. We then had a piece of mutton served with a green chilli and a tomato. Following this we had a desert of coconut shredded and soaked in honey encasing cheese. It was very rich but the taste was delicious. I think we have made a long lasting friend in Turkey.
We stayed 2 nights in Istanbull and are now in Kilyos a small fishing village on the Black sea. After over 2 weeks being on the go daylight to midnight it was time to také a break.
We had left Pamukale about 11am and it was about 500km to Istanbull if you followed the straight roads: however our driver was reluctant to do this due to his experiences in the army when you only drove on main roads for security reasons. Thankfully some local men persuaded him it was pefectly safe saving us another 200km. The road was similar to our roads so our rally driving driver slowed down a fraction. Once again we were looking at farm lands of wheat and poppies this time. And a few tea and cotton fields. We stopped to také a photo of a young lady following a donkey home from the hills. When she saw Braydon and Bill in the car she picked up her donkey stick and truned to go the other way. She relaxed when I got out of the car but the donkey then decided to run off on its own without her. In all the confusion we all forgot to find out what the donkey was carrying. I think it was cut grass in sacks for the animals at the farm house. It seems that most people travel out from a central farming village to their work place. Plastic houses to grow tomatoes in dominated one village we passed through.
Back in Istanbull we went out to dinner with Braydon and his wife who spoke no english. They were giving us a special Turkish food meal which I can describe but not name the dishes. We started with an awesome hot bread bun baked in a wood fired oven. To go in this was butter and a small square of blue vein cheese with walnuts in the centre. Oh it was delicious. Along side this was a rice dish with an egg topping served from a small dish the size of a breakfast cup. Next came a diamond shaped meatball with yellow cheese in it. As the meat wasn't quite cooked in the middle I passsed this on. We then had a piece of mutton served with a green chilli and a tomato. Following this we had a desert of coconut shredded and soaked in honey encasing cheese. It was very rich but the taste was delicious. I think we have made a long lasting friend in Turkey.
We stayed 2 nights in Istanbull and are now in Kilyos a small fishing village on the Black sea. After over 2 weeks being on the go daylight to midnight it was time to také a break.
Backdating to Antalya
Antalya is a city of over 2 million people which reaches over 3 million in the summer season as it is the exit and entry point for those people wanting a Mediterranean holiday. One look at the crowded beaches lining the coastline was enough to put me off. High rise tourist hotels, umbrella and beach loungers covered the sand. All types of pleasure craft and leisure craft boats lined the beach front as well.
The city was founded in 158!BC It was a regular staging post for the Crusaders on their way to the holy lands. In the 1930s control was handed to the Ottomans and remained with them until it was occupied by Italy in 1919 and 3 years later handed back to the Turkish people. We drove round the inner city and as said previously went out on a boat from the city looking back at the old Roman wall that protected the Roman people from invasion thousands of years ago. Our first stop was to look at a beautiful waterfall that cascaded down the cliffs into the sea. Next stop was - yes, you guesssed it - another museum.. There was a room for children to see how life was in roman and Ottoman villages and it was the first I'd seen where children could understand the history surrounding them. We had been surrounded many times by bus loads of children and I wondered many times what they were taking in and how good their pre-visits were. There was a hall for Greek Gods and the most enormous marble statues. Even one of Alexander the Great. At least I felt I knew a little.
Bill climbed up to the Chimaera at Olympos where there occurs an extraordinary natural phenomenon of belching small flames which flicker among the rocks. Apparently the result of leaking methene gas. The guide book tells me this is thought to be the origin of the Greek myth of the Chimaera, the fire breathing monster with a lion's head, goat's body and serpent's tail that was finally destroyed by Bellerophon.
We wandered along to the pebbly beach and joined hundreds of tourists dropped off from a daily sightseeing trip to visit the ancient ruins here.
Our next destination was Pamukkale where we arrived early in the evening and were able to wander over these magical terraces. They have been formed by limestone laden hot springs cascading and forming terraces and stalacitites and potholes . The water is reputed to be beneficial to ones health. Surrounding these terraces was another Roman ruin called Hierapolis. This ruin spread over 2 km. It was levelled by an earthquake in AD17 but rebuilt in the 2 and 3 century. Once again you are reminded of an enormous civilisation that lived so long ago.
The city was founded in 158!BC It was a regular staging post for the Crusaders on their way to the holy lands. In the 1930s control was handed to the Ottomans and remained with them until it was occupied by Italy in 1919 and 3 years later handed back to the Turkish people. We drove round the inner city and as said previously went out on a boat from the city looking back at the old Roman wall that protected the Roman people from invasion thousands of years ago. Our first stop was to look at a beautiful waterfall that cascaded down the cliffs into the sea. Next stop was - yes, you guesssed it - another museum.. There was a room for children to see how life was in roman and Ottoman villages and it was the first I'd seen where children could understand the history surrounding them. We had been surrounded many times by bus loads of children and I wondered many times what they were taking in and how good their pre-visits were. There was a hall for Greek Gods and the most enormous marble statues. Even one of Alexander the Great. At least I felt I knew a little.
Bill climbed up to the Chimaera at Olympos where there occurs an extraordinary natural phenomenon of belching small flames which flicker among the rocks. Apparently the result of leaking methene gas. The guide book tells me this is thought to be the origin of the Greek myth of the Chimaera, the fire breathing monster with a lion's head, goat's body and serpent's tail that was finally destroyed by Bellerophon.
We wandered along to the pebbly beach and joined hundreds of tourists dropped off from a daily sightseeing trip to visit the ancient ruins here.
Our next destination was Pamukkale where we arrived early in the evening and were able to wander over these magical terraces. They have been formed by limestone laden hot springs cascading and forming terraces and stalacitites and potholes . The water is reputed to be beneficial to ones health. Surrounding these terraces was another Roman ruin called Hierapolis. This ruin spread over 2 km. It was levelled by an earthquake in AD17 but rebuilt in the 2 and 3 century. Once again you are reminded of an enormous civilisation that lived so long ago.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Bits and Pieces
Well here we are back in Turkey and I'm sorry I'm a couple of days out of sequence now due to catching some thing rather nasty: Had to happen with all the hand shaking and different foods. However we appear to have stabilised for the moment and had a good nights sleep in pamukale last night We are staying the next 2 nights here in the old part of Instanbull with thousands of other tourists. We have traveled nearly 4000 km since we left. It has been a long day today since we left Pamukale. The terraces were truely amazing and being with 16 bus loads of tourists all wading in the so called healthly water springs in various clad bodies was a sight in itself. However I'm going to spend this blog on some tid-bits and come back to serious stuff tomorrow.
As we have spent time traveling through country towns we have noticed that people use their tractors like cars. Whole families can be seen sitting up on the mudguards travelling to and from their house to farm, special carryalls on the back for people to sit on and their hoes, scythes and sickles. During the week women alone or groups of women can be seen hoeing with their backs bent over using a small hoe weeding and mulching crops.
As animals are housed indoors at nights sometimes small holes in the wall are used to push the manure through which is gathered up and used in the fields. Carpets are often seen hanging from houses. I'm not sure if it is for cleaning or to seal the dies and colours used in the making of them. People hang their washing from the balcony. All white garments are together and hung from smallest the the largest and all coloured clothes are hung together. There are very few chooks anywhere and I wonder if they got taken with the bird flu?
Today we passed 2 nuclear power plants. There is no shortage of technology. Cell phones are everywhere, all the security guards have walkie talkies, internet is widely available, not always the latest model though. Few people walk aroung with ipods like you see at home. Today when we stopped for lunch the waiter came out and washed our car window. Imagine that happening in NZ. Thats it for now. Talk to you tomorrow.
As we have spent time traveling through country towns we have noticed that people use their tractors like cars. Whole families can be seen sitting up on the mudguards travelling to and from their house to farm, special carryalls on the back for people to sit on and their hoes, scythes and sickles. During the week women alone or groups of women can be seen hoeing with their backs bent over using a small hoe weeding and mulching crops.
As animals are housed indoors at nights sometimes small holes in the wall are used to push the manure through which is gathered up and used in the fields. Carpets are often seen hanging from houses. I'm not sure if it is for cleaning or to seal the dies and colours used in the making of them. People hang their washing from the balcony. All white garments are together and hung from smallest the the largest and all coloured clothes are hung together. There are very few chooks anywhere and I wonder if they got taken with the bird flu?
Today we passed 2 nuclear power plants. There is no shortage of technology. Cell phones are everywhere, all the security guards have walkie talkies, internet is widely available, not always the latest model though. Few people walk aroung with ipods like you see at home. Today when we stopped for lunch the waiter came out and washed our car window. Imagine that happening in NZ. Thats it for now. Talk to you tomorrow.
The Mediterranean
Today we left Konya and have travelled down to Anatayla by the deep blue Mediterranean Sea. We passed through productive looking wheat fields and then some barren land as we passed over the mountain range. Im assuming it snows here in the winter as the hill tops were barren. The trees were a variety of fir trees all shapes and sizes and the rocks looked as though someone was making grey pancakes and didn't know how to stop so just threw them all over the place.
Akseki was an industrial town with a huge steel mill and other unnamed buildings. We stopped to get petrol and as we are on the highway we are allowed to use the broom and water to wash our car down. While this was all happening I sat in the car and next thing one of the men from the petrol station tapped on the window with a glass of apple tea. Wow imagine that happening at home!
We visited a couple of waterfalls before setting out to find a place to stay for the night. Apparently there is a stretch of 12km with hotels. We have a 2star room for 50L which included dinner and breakfast. Dinner consisted of a oily mushroom soup and dry fish which had lots of bones. It has been our worst meal so far. After choosing this hotel we went to the tourist end of this subburb called Lara and walked through the really narrow streets lined with sellers and their wares. This led down to a small fishing harbour and we ended going on a 45min cruise for 5L each. It was beautiful out on the ocean looking back at the Roman fortress and a waterfall. Hotels and houses were built right out on the rocks. There was no beach here, just cliffs to the ocean. We had stopped on the way at Side for pizza lunch with a breathtaking view of the tourist section of the coast. To look along at the string of high rise buildings, unbrella beaches, tourists charter boats and tourists themselves you wouldnt believe there was another Turkey where we had come from.
Akseki was an industrial town with a huge steel mill and other unnamed buildings. We stopped to get petrol and as we are on the highway we are allowed to use the broom and water to wash our car down. While this was all happening I sat in the car and next thing one of the men from the petrol station tapped on the window with a glass of apple tea. Wow imagine that happening at home!
We visited a couple of waterfalls before setting out to find a place to stay for the night. Apparently there is a stretch of 12km with hotels. We have a 2star room for 50L which included dinner and breakfast. Dinner consisted of a oily mushroom soup and dry fish which had lots of bones. It has been our worst meal so far. After choosing this hotel we went to the tourist end of this subburb called Lara and walked through the really narrow streets lined with sellers and their wares. This led down to a small fishing harbour and we ended going on a 45min cruise for 5L each. It was beautiful out on the ocean looking back at the Roman fortress and a waterfall. Hotels and houses were built right out on the rocks. There was no beach here, just cliffs to the ocean. We had stopped on the way at Side for pizza lunch with a breathtaking view of the tourist section of the coast. To look along at the string of high rise buildings, unbrella beaches, tourists charter boats and tourists themselves you wouldnt believe there was another Turkey where we had come from.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Domestic Birds
Well we left Urgip and were heading for Konya when I spied a lady in a field near the road. My photo stop proved to be quite a learning experience. She was kneeling over a small fire with an aubergine cooking in the coals and a large green pepper cooking in a pan. Along came an elderly gent and his wife in a car with some bread and onions. They asked us to join them and share their lunch but as we had not long had breakfast we declined. The soil was like pumice sand and looked as if it wouldn't grow anything. He was growing grapes for wine, pumpkins and tomotoes. They looked so healthy we asked what fertlizer he used. My secret bird manure he replied and asked us if we would like to see his domestic birds. I thought this would be a poultry farm. We drove back to the small village where his home backed onto the wall of a cave house which had small bird holes beside a door way. His pidgeons flew in and out of here to nest and he collected the manure. He said he had a couple of hundred birds. We proceeded on our way. This time the county side as far as the eye could see was very poor land, almost like scrubby desert. We passed a family moving a couple of dozen sheep with donkey and cart. We passed a village with houses made from mud and straw.
We then passed through Aksaray which was an industrial town with a huge steel mill, car (merceeded benz) factory, sugar refinery and many others. On arriving in Konya I was surprised to see many people from different cultures out on the street. Here is famous for the whirling dervishes. Their history is fascinating. This group of people were founded around 1231 to find a mystic union with God through music and dance. Once again the history that is preserved in the Mosques is unbelievable. It is said that St Paul visited here in AD50. Alcohol is banned from resturants here due to the religious beliefs of the people.
We then passed through Aksaray which was an industrial town with a huge steel mill, car (merceeded benz) factory, sugar refinery and many others. On arriving in Konya I was surprised to see many people from different cultures out on the street. Here is famous for the whirling dervishes. Their history is fascinating. This group of people were founded around 1231 to find a mystic union with God through music and dance. Once again the history that is preserved in the Mosques is unbelievable. It is said that St Paul visited here in AD50. Alcohol is banned from resturants here due to the religious beliefs of the people.
Visit to Cappadocia
If I ever thought I wanted to live in a cave, I've changed my mind. We have been in Cappadocia and what a photographers paradise - all these funny shaped hills with interlinking caves where people lived are just magic viewing. The main area for them is Goreme but we drove round and crawled in and out of them all day. I was amused by the table and the seat that had been dug out of the stone. These houses interlink with each other. The most amazing was the underground city linked with another city atleast 10km away. I couldn't stand up in the linking tunnels. We went down 8 levels of caves. It was quite cold and I felt scared in case we got lost down there. People lived in these during the 11th century. They had big round stones they rolled accross the doorway so they could keep safe. Churches were made and decorated with pictures of stories from the bible of Jesus and Mary and the crucifician. Some in perfect order - others wearing out. Outside the city we came across our first set of beggars.
As this has so much history I think a search online for some more information would be a good thing as I'm off to bed.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Pauline
As this has so much history I think a search online for some more information would be a good thing as I'm off to bed.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Pauline
Cappadocia
Here are some photos Pauline has sent through of her visit to Cappadocia. Below is a link to a site I came across with some interesting information about the area.
:-) Louise
Travelling in Turkey
Well it is Sunday morning and we are in a sleepy fishing village called Amastra on the Black Sea. We watched the small fishing boats go out with their nets for red mullet. Tiny fish we would call sprats. Coast guard boats come into a navel military base by our hotel. Breakfast consisted of white cheese, tomatoes, boiled eggs, cucumber, cake and beautiful bread. I thought we would have apple tea at meal times but they give you earl grey unless you specially ask for it. Believe you me it is yummy. All tea is served in small handless glass cups on a saucer with a couple of sugar lumps. Sometimes it is yellow and other times its red depending on the apples it's from. Apparently it is made from a powder so I'll have to go looking.
In Amastra once again the evidence of a Roman fortress was apparent. We spent time wandering the markets. Women were selling homemade walnut, strawberry and loqurt jams. Lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, onions and grape leaves by the bag full. Another interesting thing was bags of pink roses for people to make rose jam. We bought some strawberries held in small baskets. As we didn't want more than a handfull the lady weighed them and put them in a plastic bag and charged us 2lL. We washed them with our drinking water and ate them. They were a bit tasteless.
Our next stop was Safronbolu where we found an ancient cave home that had been used by the Ottamans. It was hidden up in the hills and quite a climb up a flight of stairs. The township is famous for its old style Ottaman housing which looked like mud poked into a wooden frame and covered with mud. Most houses are 3 stories high so the animals are kept in the bottom.
From here we travelled 6 hours and approx 600km to Urgup. Almost all of this time we passed fields of wheat. It looked like a patchwork quilt of small fields all at different stages of growth. There were no fences, no animals and very few houses apart from the cities we travelled through. Traffic was good, roads were mostly 2 or 4 lane highways. Travel speeds were fast. Our driver likes to travel very fast but so do all the other people. There are very few old cars just a tractor or two going the wrong way up the street. We by-pass Ankara.
In Amastra once again the evidence of a Roman fortress was apparent. We spent time wandering the markets. Women were selling homemade walnut, strawberry and loqurt jams. Lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, onions and grape leaves by the bag full. Another interesting thing was bags of pink roses for people to make rose jam. We bought some strawberries held in small baskets. As we didn't want more than a handfull the lady weighed them and put them in a plastic bag and charged us 2lL. We washed them with our drinking water and ate them. They were a bit tasteless.
Our next stop was Safronbolu where we found an ancient cave home that had been used by the Ottamans. It was hidden up in the hills and quite a climb up a flight of stairs. The township is famous for its old style Ottaman housing which looked like mud poked into a wooden frame and covered with mud. Most houses are 3 stories high so the animals are kept in the bottom.
From here we travelled 6 hours and approx 600km to Urgup. Almost all of this time we passed fields of wheat. It looked like a patchwork quilt of small fields all at different stages of growth. There were no fences, no animals and very few houses apart from the cities we travelled through. Traffic was good, roads were mostly 2 or 4 lane highways. Travel speeds were fast. Our driver likes to travel very fast but so do all the other people. There are very few old cars just a tractor or two going the wrong way up the street. We by-pass Ankara.
Istanbul to Zonguldak
Hi all, yesterday we left Istanbul at 7.00am and headed for Zonguldak on the Black sea arriving just after mid day. We past thru Eregli which is huge ship building port with coal and steel prouction as well.
We have hired a car and driver/guide for 6 days and will go from the Black Sea down thru Capadocia to the Mediterainan and back to Istanbul. He is proving very good value, we took a bit of a gamble having engaged him from using him as a taxi driver one night in Istanbul.
Whilst wandering around Zonguldak a english speaking teacher approached and offered to take us to visit his private school with 350 children. Of course there was no holding Pauline back so we ended up by being mobbed by hundreds of screeming kids (just like home). We then headed for Bartin and onto Amasa where we stayed the night. On the way we saw farmers making hay the old way - cutting by hand, loading it dried and unbaled onto trailers and thhen hand stacking. We stopped to take photos and were asked home for a drink of sour yogurt which we accepted of course, although I somehow managed a sore tummy on the way - no way was I going to drink that! But Pauline bravely managed some - and survived. What friendly people, within no time the almost whole village (300) joined in.
Next thing the cows started wandering up the street, being returned from grazing in the nearby hills. (everyones in the same herd) They all knew which house they belonged to, turning into the dirves without direction where they would be hand milked and spend the night under the house.
These people are very poor - no tractors or cars for most, but they share what they have. The women and old men do all the work, the young men just seemed to wander about watching. The Black Sea seems to be very foggy most of the time, but the countryside is very green and quite steep and hilly. Its hard to imagine it snows here in the winter.
Regards Bill
We have hired a car and driver/guide for 6 days and will go from the Black Sea down thru Capadocia to the Mediterainan and back to Istanbul. He is proving very good value, we took a bit of a gamble having engaged him from using him as a taxi driver one night in Istanbul.
Whilst wandering around Zonguldak a english speaking teacher approached and offered to take us to visit his private school with 350 children. Of course there was no holding Pauline back so we ended up by being mobbed by hundreds of screeming kids (just like home). We then headed for Bartin and onto Amasa where we stayed the night. On the way we saw farmers making hay the old way - cutting by hand, loading it dried and unbaled onto trailers and thhen hand stacking. We stopped to take photos and were asked home for a drink of sour yogurt which we accepted of course, although I somehow managed a sore tummy on the way - no way was I going to drink that! But Pauline bravely managed some - and survived. What friendly people, within no time the almost whole village (300) joined in.
Next thing the cows started wandering up the street, being returned from grazing in the nearby hills. (everyones in the same herd) They all knew which house they belonged to, turning into the dirves without direction where they would be hand milked and spend the night under the house.
These people are very poor - no tractors or cars for most, but they share what they have. The women and old men do all the work, the young men just seemed to wander about watching. The Black Sea seems to be very foggy most of the time, but the countryside is very green and quite steep and hilly. Its hard to imagine it snows here in the winter.
Regards Bill
Sunday, May 27, 2007
ANZAC Cove
Its hard not to shed a tear for all those young men and their famlies who suffered so much as a result the First World War. We saw replicas of thr trenches they faught in and listened to horrific stories of hardship and bravery from our soldiers and the comradeship with the Turks who were in trenches sometimes not more than 10 meteres away. It soundes like they talked to each other in the night and shot at them during the day. Ithink the words inscribed by Ataturk on the Turkish memorial unveiled on April 25, 1985 is so true of the feelingd between the Turkish people and us. Iwonder if someone could find this verse to share with us all.. It ends by saying. They became our sons as well.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Continuing last day.
We both put on our very best clothes and along with all the others headed for the bus to také us to the Ciragan Palace where a red carpet took us upstairs to the most luxourious place ive ever seen. It was refurbished in 1874 and now operates as a hotel.
Students had dressed up in a variety of Ottoman costumes and mingled among the 700 conference delegates. The chandaliers hanging from the ceiling were bigger than our dinninng room table
Once again food was everywhere. But the entertainment was spectacular. Colourful folk dancers mixed with a modern orcherester and belly dancers. A tea seller mingled withthe crowd with his pot on his back filled with cherry juice. Dont know what his pot is calledm however no spoondancers were to be soon
For me the highlight were the whirling dirvish dancers. They wore camel felt hats and long while dressess which they keept swirling like a top. They didnt get dizzy. Ive some small video so when im able ill get them to you.
We danced to the music for a while then home to bed round 11pm
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Students had dressed up in a variety of Ottoman costumes and mingled among the 700 conference delegates. The chandaliers hanging from the ceiling were bigger than our dinninng room table
Once again food was everywhere. But the entertainment was spectacular. Colourful folk dancers mixed with a modern orcherester and belly dancers. A tea seller mingled withthe crowd with his pot on his back filled with cherry juice. Dont know what his pot is calledm however no spoondancers were to be soon
For me the highlight were the whirling dirvish dancers. They wore camel felt hats and long while dressess which they keept swirling like a top. They didnt get dizzy. Ive some small video so when im able ill get them to you.
We danced to the music for a while then home to bed round 11pm
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Posh events on the last day
Yesterday was our last day of the conference and we were treated like royality. The day began with organising our travel guide and car to travel with for the next 6 days.
A trip to the. Konnan Shopping mall to test our navigation skills on the underground again. This mall was for people wanting to buy designer label clothes. However there was a group of intermediate aged students in the centre making a desigh fron empty water bottles. Thw bottles were shrink wrapped for transpoting. We saw a huge giraffe that had been made.
Lunch was a beautiful spread of food on the strait. I wish i was able to send photos to back this up. The band played softly in the background while ships sailed up and down the river in dozens. The food table was decorated with carved water melons, wait till you see the photos!!- need to find a food book to tell you what we ate. Stuffed pumpkin flowers, rice mix wrapped in fig leaves, lima beans, stuffed aubergine, lamb on a spit and deserts of different balika whic are so rich as they are dripping with honey. They even had cooked pumpkin sprined with nuts as a disert. A quince shortcake and a smolina square with rasberry sauce. A selection of the most beautiful cherries ive seen yet, grapes, applesan pears and huge loqurts. Im soon going to have to look at serious exercise programme
The afternoon was a treasure hunt for me as well as showing other conference ladies to the mall. I always enjoy a mall as you get another view of life in the city you are visiting. I spent an hour in the supermarket. 5 lire for a magnum ice block and 5.2 lire for a litre of icecream. At least 30 different types of beer, cheese is mostly bought loose along with so many breads and buns you couldnt imagine.
Then it was back to change for the Presidents Dinner.
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A trip to the. Konnan Shopping mall to test our navigation skills on the underground again. This mall was for people wanting to buy designer label clothes. However there was a group of intermediate aged students in the centre making a desigh fron empty water bottles. Thw bottles were shrink wrapped for transpoting. We saw a huge giraffe that had been made.
Lunch was a beautiful spread of food on the strait. I wish i was able to send photos to back this up. The band played softly in the background while ships sailed up and down the river in dozens. The food table was decorated with carved water melons, wait till you see the photos!!- need to find a food book to tell you what we ate. Stuffed pumpkin flowers, rice mix wrapped in fig leaves, lima beans, stuffed aubergine, lamb on a spit and deserts of different balika whic are so rich as they are dripping with honey. They even had cooked pumpkin sprined with nuts as a disert. A quince shortcake and a smolina square with rasberry sauce. A selection of the most beautiful cherries ive seen yet, grapes, applesan pears and huge loqurts. Im soon going to have to look at serious exercise programme
The afternoon was a treasure hunt for me as well as showing other conference ladies to the mall. I always enjoy a mall as you get another view of life in the city you are visiting. I spent an hour in the supermarket. 5 lire for a magnum ice block and 5.2 lire for a litre of icecream. At least 30 different types of beer, cheese is mostly bought loose along with so many breads and buns you couldnt imagine.
Then it was back to change for the Presidents Dinner.
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Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Shoppinng mall
Yes we mastered the underground railway and found this mall. It is like St lukes in Auckland. For those of you who may ahve been there. A bit more glitsy than Chartwell Square. There are 4 floors all joined with escalators. An amazing selection od Barbie dolls in the tot shop for 29lire each. Most of the clothes prices are like NZ. Shoe colours and designs are really neat. Reds, browns, greens and Yellow. A coffee costs 6lire. T shirts are in bright greens, yellow and purple. A great selection of patterened stockings and footless tights.
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Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Shopping in the Bazaar
Whow what can one say to 4000 small shops and 25000 workers. Dont think they all work here at the same time. If it tourist souviners this is the place. Ceramic tiles, belly dancing outfits, shoes, leather goods, jewlwey oh the list goes on. I was scared id get lost as it was just a maze of shops all looking verymuch the same. There was a mumbering system but I didnt figure that out. I did buy a braclet with pretty beads for 2lira. Its hard to get used to bargining for a price. If the shop keeper says one price you half it then work up to an agreed price.
We also visited the spice market. Im sorry there were so many different types i cant name them.the mixture of smells was confusing mayge because ive fallen for turkish delight. Ohh its yummy. Good quality is ment to be chewym some are mixed nuts, almonds and pischeo, not sure how to spell that one and of course the pink rose smelling flavour. It costs 12"ira for 500grns. The best part is you get to taste it all before you buy it.
I bought some Apple tea which is a speciality.
Outside the market was the colouful tea seller only he was selling cherry juice which is so popular here in his pot on his back. He has small plastic cups in his pocket and when he bends over the drink goes down the tube into the cup.
Better go now. Ive still to tell you about the Sohiia Museum.
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We also visited the spice market. Im sorry there were so many different types i cant name them.the mixture of smells was confusing mayge because ive fallen for turkish delight. Ohh its yummy. Good quality is ment to be chewym some are mixed nuts, almonds and pischeo, not sure how to spell that one and of course the pink rose smelling flavour. It costs 12"ira for 500grns. The best part is you get to taste it all before you buy it.
I bought some Apple tea which is a speciality.
Outside the market was the colouful tea seller only he was selling cherry juice which is so popular here in his pot on his back. He has small plastic cups in his pocket and when he bends over the drink goes down the tube into the cup.
Better go now. Ive still to tell you about the Sohiia Museum.
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Topkapi. Palace
This is located near the Blue Mosque.This palace was the main centre for the Ottoman Empire for 400 years. New Zealand is such a young country. This now stores the jewelery of the Sultans including a 16carat diamond. Whow what a beauty.
At one time 50,000 people lived and worked here all wearing their own distinctive uniforms .Apparently it even had its own zoo and public baths
There are 3 distinct areas. The Outter Palace, Inner Palace and the :Harem
Apparently the diamond we saw was in the film Topkapi.
For those of you who would like to research life in a Harem makes interesting reading. The sultan was only allowed 4 legal wives.
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At one time 50,000 people lived and worked here all wearing their own distinctive uniforms .Apparently it even had its own zoo and public baths
There are 3 distinct areas. The Outter Palace, Inner Palace and the :Harem
Apparently the diamond we saw was in the film Topkapi.
For those of you who would like to research life in a Harem makes interesting reading. The sultan was only allowed 4 legal wives.
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Visiting the tourist spots
Wow you wont believe the histry we have seen in the past 2 days. Its has been too much to také in and alot of the time its hard to hear our guide who often has to shout above other guide groups often speaking in a different language.
Firstly there was the !Blue Mosque built between 1609 and 1616. Its walls are clad in exquisite blue tiles. The blues have been hand painted with turquise powder. There are260 windows. Most mosques have 4 minarets but this one has 6. Does anyone know why?
The carpet in the mosqu is designed in rectangles so each person has a space tp pray.
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Firstly there was the !Blue Mosque built between 1609 and 1616. Its walls are clad in exquisite blue tiles. The blues have been hand painted with turquise powder. There are260 windows. Most mosques have 4 minarets but this one has 6. Does anyone know why?
The carpet in the mosqu is designed in rectangles so each person has a space tp pray.
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Cruise ship
Im sitting looking out the window watching the biggest cruise boatgoing out of the Strait. I think she was called the Queen Princess. She is carrying 5,000people on board. 2500 of these people were trying to visit the Sophie Musem today with us.
Turkey has 14million tourists a year and takes 14billion lira from tourism in a year.
Maybe some one could compare the size of NZ against turkey and the amount of maney NZ makes from tourism
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Turkey has 14million tourists a year and takes 14billion lira from tourism in a year.
Maybe some one could compare the size of NZ against turkey and the amount of maney NZ makes from tourism
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Security
Hi just in case you are wondering about our safety, security is pretty good. At the airport we had to put all our bags through the xray machine. In our hotel their is a security door to go through each time we come and go. I manage to set it off all the time with my gold bangle. However at the car entrance there is an automatic road block that comes up and down from under the road so the guard can put a bomb detector under the taxi and look in he boot for bombs. Im glad he hasnt found any!.
We are always reminded to hold tight to our handbags and cameras as some people like to steal them
One day we saw alot of police men about and of course they all carry gunsm bothe hand guns and automatic rifles.
Inspite of this I feel safe and mmake sure I stick with the crowd and dont go off on my own.
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We are always reminded to hold tight to our handbags and cameras as some people like to steal them
One day we saw alot of police men about and of course they all carry gunsm bothe hand guns and automatic rifles.
Inspite of this I feel safe and mmake sure I stick with the crowd and dont go off on my own.
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Monday, May 21, 2007
Ephesus
Well this is a bit late but I needed to write alot this time and my hand held wwas a bit slow. Well I got into the workroom this morning but due to time difference no one was there. Shame. Ill try again at a diferent time.
Well the Roman city od Ephesus was truely amazing. We were there on Friday and Saturday. Parts of this ancient Roman city is over 5,000 BC. The sea had caused this city to move nad was evacuated due to the sea becomming amash area with mosquitos and people began to die of Maleria. Only a small section has been excivated. Obsiden arrow heads and knives and tools for making jewlery have ben dug up helping people to create a picture of what went on in this time. the Famous King Adrian had a temple that had to have the porch removed to another part of thecity due to the encroaching sea. The marble statue carvings need to be looked at in books ans inm not sure my photow will do them justice. The real carving shave been taken tot he musem for preservation while a fake set are in the city. We visited the excavated terrace hiused where the peopl live. Thewy were like brick boxes all on top of each other. One room buildings with painted moascic and painted walls which are still there today. The theatre where they had entertainment has been dug up and seated approx 1500 people. There was another ampithehaeatre that was where people went to watch the charriot races and blood sports. It took us 2 hours to walk through. Im not doing it justice here. Lets see what you can research for your selves. Well worth the time to gathere some more facts and pics.
We also visited the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was up in the hills away from the town of Kasadusi. It has now been turned into a chappel where many people go to ask for special favours of the Virgin.
Well the Roman city od Ephesus was truely amazing. We were there on Friday and Saturday. Parts of this ancient Roman city is over 5,000 BC. The sea had caused this city to move nad was evacuated due to the sea becomming amash area with mosquitos and people began to die of Maleria. Only a small section has been excivated. Obsiden arrow heads and knives and tools for making jewlery have ben dug up helping people to create a picture of what went on in this time. the Famous King Adrian had a temple that had to have the porch removed to another part of thecity due to the encroaching sea. The marble statue carvings need to be looked at in books ans inm not sure my photow will do them justice. The real carving shave been taken tot he musem for preservation while a fake set are in the city. We visited the excavated terrace hiused where the peopl live. Thewy were like brick boxes all on top of each other. One room buildings with painted moascic and painted walls which are still there today. The theatre where they had entertainment has been dug up and seated approx 1500 people. There was another ampithehaeatre that was where people went to watch the charriot races and blood sports. It took us 2 hours to walk through. Im not doing it justice here. Lets see what you can research for your selves. Well worth the time to gathere some more facts and pics.
We also visited the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was up in the hills away from the town of Kasadusi. It has now been turned into a chappel where many people go to ask for special favours of the Virgin.
Dining Out
Last night we caught a taxi to an unknown part of town for dinner. No one in the resturant spoe English. The menu translatiions were scarce. However my meal of a suasage, a chicken and beef kebab was ok so were the potato wedges. The first time we have had potatoes since we arrived.
The turkish people have mezes before a meal. The bring out breads and small dishes of perhaps a tomatoand cucumber mix, yougurt and a green vegetable, a seaweed dish and maybe one with cheese. These are free and enough to be a meal. Fresh fruit for desert is common. Tonight we had bananas sliced in honey comb. Our mains were red mullet a tiny sprat fish, bass and another type. We went out the back and chose them. The fish market is accross the road so if it wasnt right i guess they would run and buy some more
A man swept the crumbs off the table withh a small silver broom and shovel
A special treat are ripe cherries which Are everywhere. Not as tasty as ours though. Talk to you tomorrow.
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The turkish people have mezes before a meal. The bring out breads and small dishes of perhaps a tomatoand cucumber mix, yougurt and a green vegetable, a seaweed dish and maybe one with cheese. These are free and enough to be a meal. Fresh fruit for desert is common. Tonight we had bananas sliced in honey comb. Our mains were red mullet a tiny sprat fish, bass and another type. We went out the back and chose them. The fish market is accross the road so if it wasnt right i guess they would run and buy some more
A man swept the crumbs off the table withh a small silver broom and shovel
A special treat are ripe cherries which Are everywhere. Not as tasty as ours though. Talk to you tomorrow.
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Sunday, May 20, 2007
An introduction to Turkey
Well we have been her for 3 days now. They have passed so quickly. I have to write this on my phone as the key board in the hotel is in turkish mode and many keys dont work. So heres a short message till tomorrow.
The county side is a dull brown colour with many green trees which are eithr peach trees or olive trees which are cultivated or grow wild. Our guide told us that when they pick the peach tress in the orchards they leave an unpicked tree for the birds abd one by the road side so passers by can pic themnational flags are flying everywhere cause it was a celebtrationday last week and also the people have been doinh a protest against the government. Thy hang from buildings, cars and people waving them.
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The county side is a dull brown colour with many green trees which are eithr peach trees or olive trees which are cultivated or grow wild. Our guide told us that when they pick the peach tress in the orchards they leave an unpicked tree for the birds abd one by the road side so passers by can pic themnational flags are flying everywhere cause it was a celebtrationday last week and also the people have been doinh a protest against the government. Thy hang from buildings, cars and people waving them.
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Thursday, May 17, 2007
We have arrived
Hi everyone it is 8.30am on Friday morning. Weather 21 degrees. It has been 20 hours flying time and 6 hous in transit time. My first visit to Dubai and on walking into the airport was astonished to see so many people choosing to sit on the floor and chatting to each other.
Our first glimpse of Turkey was snowy mountains from out the plane window. Where do you think our flight pathe was? Mountains, dirt tracks through them then out to the sea presumably the Brophus Strait. Container ships and small boats sailed the sea as we flew in and landed.
Talk to you all again soon.
We catch a 11am flight to Ismir.
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Our first glimpse of Turkey was snowy mountains from out the plane window. Where do you think our flight pathe was? Mountains, dirt tracks through them then out to the sea presumably the Brophus Strait. Container ships and small boats sailed the sea as we flew in and landed.
Talk to you all again soon.
We catch a 11am flight to Ismir.
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Monday, May 14, 2007
Photos at Flickr.com
We have just created a photo spot for lots of exciting pics from Turkey (once we get there) at flickr.com. You can follow this link to get there but the access is restricted to invited persons only - see if you can ask to be invited in (unless you have already recieved an invite via email from us to you).
The link is - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8282829@N03/
The link is - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8282829@N03/
Try this out
Im testing to see if you get this message from my phone. If so i will be able to send messages direct to my blog. Exciting ah
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3 sleeps to go
It's countdown time with only 3 more sleeps to go before we fly out to begin our adventure, starting Instanbul.
We have just been experimenting with Google Earth (you can download this for free - although you need a broadband connection for it to be any good). Zooming in on Istanbul clearly shows the old and new parts of the city. I wonder if you can find the Grand Market and the Sultan's Palace?
Talk to you again soon.
We have just been experimenting with Google Earth (you can download this for free - although you need a broadband connection for it to be any good). Zooming in on Istanbul clearly shows the old and new parts of the city. I wonder if you can find the Grand Market and the Sultan's Palace?
Talk to you again soon.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Travel to Turkey
Hi everyone, well its almost a week to go before we take off. Im beginning to feel excited especially when I read your questions and I begin to wonder about what Im about to experience.Ive been out visiting schools and one student asked what was the man carring on his back. He was looking at Joes picture of the tea seller. Wonder what type of tea he sells. When will I meet my first tea seller?
I have been keeping up with your questions as much as I can but would like you to begin reading each others and see if you can help one another to find the answers.
Im really intersted in going down to Capidocia to see the fairy houses.Has anyone been able to find an economical way to get down there from Instanbul?
Talk to you again soon
Cheers Pauline
I have been keeping up with your questions as much as I can but would like you to begin reading each others and see if you can help one another to find the answers.
Im really intersted in going down to Capidocia to see the fairy houses.Has anyone been able to find an economical way to get down there from Instanbul?
Talk to you again soon
Cheers Pauline
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