We had one stop on our very long drive which was at Thermopylae, the site where the Battle of 300 occured. Yay for me. Go the Spartans!!!
The next morning we were up at the crack of dawn and off again, finally leaving Greece and making our
way over the border into Turkey. We had a pretty emotional day, I guess you could say, as we spent a good few hours driving around and walking around Gallipoli and ANZAC cove. It was very humbling for the spirit to be there on a site, to see where the soldiers landed, and to see what they would have seen but with more shooting. I was also awed by how hopeless they must have felt when you see the huge cliffs and clay mountains that would have been so easily defended. We went to some memorials as well as some graves and I took some photos but the message on this one really got me going. I had to choke back a few sobs.
At one of the sites where they have a dedication to the Turkish and New Zealand soldiers they even had some of the trenches left so that you could see and climb into them.
After visiting Gallipoli we headed to the campsite which was right on the beach front. It was lovely but it was also a haven for bugs. Ewww.
The next mornin though, we were up and moving yet again, heading off for a full day. Our first stop was actually in the wrong direction to where our final destination was going to be. We went to Troy.
I was super excited about going to Troy and finally seeing the multiple ruins, to see Troy and to see The Troy from all of the stories.
They had a gigantic wooden horse outside, a replica of course. Our guide was amazing and he had even written academic books on it, so his knowledge was great and his sense of humour dry and funny.
From Troy we headed back the way we came and in the late evening arrived into Istanbul (what was once known as Constantinople. Woohoo!
We had two hotel nights in Istanbul so we made the most of being central by heading out to a bar for a drink. I wasn't feeling crash hot and was tired so I had a drink then crashed into bed. On the upside, I was chatted up by the restaurant manager who offered 100 camels and 1000 chickens for me. I am worth quite a lot. Hahaha. Will, Marica's partner, told me I should hold out for 500 camels.
Istanbul is a very vibrant city but I was sure to cover up my body as much as humanly possible without dying of heat so that I didn't get leered at by the Turkish men.
We had a walking tour in the morning and we went into the Blue Mosque. Each tile in there is hand painted. I couldn't believe the details involved. Stunning.
We also went to the Spice Markets and the Turkish baths to book in a treatment. I spent 199 Lira ($123
NZD) and got a sauna and scrub, a full body massage, a facial, a manicure and a pedicure. Not a bad
deal! We also went to a Turkish rug seller where they tried to see us hand made rugs for outrageous money. The rugs were beautiful and it is true they are an heirloom piece but really, what backpacker young person has that kind of money. The smallest rug was table mat sized and cost 220 US dollars. They were going to offer all their rugs for 50% off but that is still a lot for a little. All the while they were rolling out rugs we were busy drinking Turkish tea which is a the most diving apple tea you will ever taste. Mmmmmm. Our final stop was the Grand Bazaar.
I have never seen so many shops together. Sadly, Cherie, no goats. There were heaps of watches and jewellery shops but no goat shops.
After the markets I headed back to the Turkish bath house. It was an experience.
We were given a towel and a pair of disposable knickers and stripped down. We then headed down to the steam room. Women were separate from men so there was no need to be shy and I think it is fair to say I have never been known to be shy about baring it all so when we headed into the sauna room, I whipped my towel off and lay down on the marble slabs bare but for a pair of knickers.
The room was very beautiful. It was a domed room with a octagonal low set marble step in the middle for everyone to lie on. Around the outside was water for rinsing off. Also around the outside were some rather large Turkish women whose job it was to scrub us down. Bring. It. On.
I lay there for around 40 minutes, sweating out all the dirt on my skin and then was called over to one of the women who literally scrubbed me down, front and back, head to toe, to remove dead skin and dirt. She then soaped me up and washed and then I was rinsed off and my hair washed.
Next was the massage. Holy crap, it certainly was a massage! I have never had someone's elbow in my back but now I have. I loved every moment, even the moment when my hands curled into fists to stop myself from moving away from the pummelling. I had a mud mask put on and then, finally, my finger and toes were painted prettily.
After the bath I just wanted to sleep. It took about 3 hours all together but I imagine it would be very easy to stay there longer. Obviously there are no photos as it was naked time in the bath house.
That night we all headed out for a Turkish dinner where we watched belly dancing and ate Turkish food. Watching the dancers has given me a new desire to learn. I want to be able to vibrate my stomach the way they do. It is beyond imagination what they can do with their bodies. Cherie, you will have to come with me. You can already roll your stomach! You must teach me how.
Some people headed out after the dinner but I crashed out. I was feeling really tired and wanted to enjoy my night in a hotel after 25 days of camping.
At one of the sites where they have a dedication to the Turkish and New Zealand soldiers they even had some of the trenches left so that you could see and climb into them.
The next mornin though, we were up and moving yet again, heading off for a full day. Our first stop was actually in the wrong direction to where our final destination was going to be. We went to Troy.
I was super excited about going to Troy and finally seeing the multiple ruins, to see Troy and to see The Troy from all of the stories.They had a gigantic wooden horse outside, a replica of course. Our guide was amazing and he had even written academic books on it, so his knowledge was great and his sense of humour dry and funny.
From Troy we headed back the way we came and in the late evening arrived into Istanbul (what was once known as Constantinople. Woohoo!
We had two hotel nights in Istanbul so we made the most of being central by heading out to a bar for a drink. I wasn't feeling crash hot and was tired so I had a drink then crashed into bed. On the upside, I was chatted up by the restaurant manager who offered 100 camels and 1000 chickens for me. I am worth quite a lot. Hahaha. Will, Marica's partner, told me I should hold out for 500 camels.
Istanbul is a very vibrant city but I was sure to cover up my body as much as humanly possible without dying of heat so that I didn't get leered at by the Turkish men.
 |
| Blue Mosque |
We also went to the Spice Markets and the Turkish baths to book in a treatment. I spent 199 Lira ($123
NZD) and got a sauna and scrub, a full body massage, a facial, a manicure and a pedicure. Not a bad
deal! We also went to a Turkish rug seller where they tried to see us hand made rugs for outrageous money. The rugs were beautiful and it is true they are an heirloom piece but really, what backpacker young person has that kind of money. The smallest rug was table mat sized and cost 220 US dollars. They were going to offer all their rugs for 50% off but that is still a lot for a little. All the while they were rolling out rugs we were busy drinking Turkish tea which is a the most diving apple tea you will ever taste. Mmmmmm. Our final stop was the Grand Bazaar.
I have never seen so many shops together. Sadly, Cherie, no goats. There were heaps of watches and jewellery shops but no goat shops.
After the markets I headed back to the Turkish bath house. It was an experience.
We were given a towel and a pair of disposable knickers and stripped down. We then headed down to the steam room. Women were separate from men so there was no need to be shy and I think it is fair to say I have never been known to be shy about baring it all so when we headed into the sauna room, I whipped my towel off and lay down on the marble slabs bare but for a pair of knickers.
The room was very beautiful. It was a domed room with a octagonal low set marble step in the middle for everyone to lie on. Around the outside was water for rinsing off. Also around the outside were some rather large Turkish women whose job it was to scrub us down. Bring. It. On.
I lay there for around 40 minutes, sweating out all the dirt on my skin and then was called over to one of the women who literally scrubbed me down, front and back, head to toe, to remove dead skin and dirt. She then soaped me up and washed and then I was rinsed off and my hair washed.
Next was the massage. Holy crap, it certainly was a massage! I have never had someone's elbow in my back but now I have. I loved every moment, even the moment when my hands curled into fists to stop myself from moving away from the pummelling. I had a mud mask put on and then, finally, my finger and toes were painted prettily.
After the bath I just wanted to sleep. It took about 3 hours all together but I imagine it would be very easy to stay there longer. Obviously there are no photos as it was naked time in the bath house.
That night we all headed out for a Turkish dinner where we watched belly dancing and ate Turkish food. Watching the dancers has given me a new desire to learn. I want to be able to vibrate my stomach the way they do. It is beyond imagination what they can do with their bodies. Cherie, you will have to come with me. You can already roll your stomach! You must teach me how.
Some people headed out after the dinner but I crashed out. I was feeling really tired and wanted to enjoy my night in a hotel after 25 days of camping.
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