Jewels of Turkey May-June 99 Photos

I thought other forum viewers might enjoy seeing these photographs taken by two companions, Dede Haefele and Judy Kress, and myself during the May-June 1999 Jewels of Turkey trip. I've set a limit of one photo per day, so I have had to skip a lot of the sights.

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Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul

Our tour leader, Alf, took us on an optional evening walk up the hill from the Amber Hotel to the Blue Mosque for the free sound and light show which was being performed in English that evening. This photograph is with the lights full up after the performance.

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Day 2: Sightseeing in Istanbul

This photograph is of the interior of the dome of St. Sophia, showing a large scaffolding erected for repairs to the dome. If I remember the guide correctly, 1500 years ago the dome took 5 years to build. The repairs have been going on for 11 years now...

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Day 3: Gallipoli and the Dardanelles

This is a photo of the harbor in seaside town of Gallipoli where we stopped for lunch.

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Day 4: Troy & Assos

This is an old Roman bridge just outside of the village of Assos.

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Day 5: Pergamon and the Asklepion

A view of Pergamon from the Asklepion.

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Day 6: Ephesus

A wildflower amidst architectural elements at Ephesus.

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Day 7: Pamukkale

Looking down from a white cliff formed by the precipitation of calcific rock from hot spring water. The springs have been less productive in recent years and an attempt is being made to artifically assist the process.

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Day 8: Termessos and Antalya

Our tour leader being no fool, this pose upon ruins at Termessos may not be as precarious as the photo suggests.

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Day 9: Antalya at leisure

A picture of the harbor at Antalya, which is adjacent to the old section of the city. Photo by Dede Haefele

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Day 10: Konya

A passageway into the market area of Konya. Photo by Dede Haefele

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Day 11: Heading toward Cappadocia

A kervansarayi (caravan palace) along the Aksaray Kayseri highway built betwen 1231 and 1239. Somewhat more attractive than the truck stops of today and fortified against bandits. The covered portion shown was used in winter (and also remains pleasantly cool in the summer).

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Day 12: Cappadocia

If you are willing to get up at 4:30 a.m. and pay the additional fee for this optional excursion, you will have an opportunity to see the unusual geological features from an entirely different vantage point. Here is a link to the Kapadokya Balloons website

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Day 13: Ankara

This is the view from the restaurant where we had our evening meal after driving to Ankara and visiting Ataturk's masoleum and the Museum of Ancient Anatolian Civilizations and before catching the sleeper train. Tour leader Alf had a sure fire method of finding restaurants our group would like: Eat where the locals eat! (that is, eat where there are a lot of regular Turkish patrons!). Photo by Judy Kress

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Day 14: Istanbul at leisure

Most of our group took a Bosphorus river cruise or shopped in the Grand Bazaar, but for me it was a cab ride to the Askeri (Military) Museum at Harbiye in the former military academy. The photograph is from the daily performance of the Mehter or traditional Janissary band at the museum. I did not find this museum listed in any of the usual guide books, but was able to find out its location courtesy of our tour leader, Istanbul guide and the staff at the Amber Hotel.

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Day 15: Fly home

2:30 am: wake-up call; 3:00 am: leave for airport to arrive at 4:00 am for check-in for 6 a.m. flight... Photo by Dede Haefele

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All in all, we had a good, well-organized and enjoyable trip.

[This message has been edited by Lee Jones (edited August 12, 1999).]