Sunday, October 2, 2011

Let's talk Turkey!


Dave and I recently returned from a nineteen day tour of Turkey. Dave had spent some time there forty years ago and has always wanted to return, so when we got an email last February about an alumni trip to Turkey, we signed up right away. It was a dream of a trip!

We enjoyed time in Istanbul; traveled down the western coast, stopping along the way to visit Troy, Pergamon, and Ephesus; spent four nights on a small boat called a gulet sailing in the Aegean; traveled across the southern coast to Antalya; visited Myra and Perge; and spent four days in Cappadocia. Whew!

We had wonderful traveling companions (there were 24 of us including a professor,) and a terrific guide.

Here are some highlights:

The courtyard of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul




The Library at Ephesus





Under sail in the Aegean





We had cabins on the gulet, but it was cooler to sleep on deck!






The view from our hotel room at dawn in Cappadocia


We took a balloon ride, too!
These images are courtesy of one of our fellow travelers, Dean Aulick.


Blowing up our balloon



Up, up and away!



Our balloon over Cappadocia




Back to earth!

A good time was had by all!

In the next post, I'll show you why Turkey is a quilter's paradise.