Thıs week we took a 2 day trip with our tour guests to visit two of the most remarkable sites in Turkey – Ephesus and Aphrodisias.
Ephesus takes your breath away, with its amazing marble street, The Celcius Library, Stadium and Temple of Hadrian. The Terraced Houses are a faırly recent excavation with fine examples of Roman mosaics in situ. Included in our visit was the House of the Virgin which is purported to be the last home of Mary. To cap the day off we visited the recently restored Ephesus Museum, which houses amazing statues– the one of Artemıs is a highlight
Aphrodisias – this site is not yet included as a World Heritage site – but it definitely should be. The Temples of Aphrodıte was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world! Such a peaceful and beautiful site, off the beaten track – you can spend hours here exploring and feel yourself part of ancient times – really! Lastly take a visit to the Museum where frescoes from the Scholastica are displayed,
Browse through our website destinations section for a detailed history of Ephesus !
You can visit Ephesus in a day trip from Istanbul or include it in a tour of Turkey! Aphrodisıas can be included with your tour of Pamukkale or visited separately!
TALK TO US NOW ABOUT YOUR TRIP TO TURKEY – YOU WILL BE SAFE AND WELL LOOKED AFTER!
ISTANBUL – OUR THIRD BRIDGE – A VISIT TO GARIPCI!!
Istanbuls third bridge is due to open 2017 and this weekend we went to see how this new bridge, the third over the Bosphorus, is progressing.
At the end of the road overlooking the Black Sea and the Bosphorus is the small village of Garipci (meaning small orphan in Turkısh). This previously quiet tiny fishing village has had its life turned upside down by this massive project. Formerly a place where people went for a nice Sunday drive Garıpci is now a place to see this awesome structure!
This project has brought new opportunities to Garıpci! Little breakfast (khavalti) salons have opened up, enterprising teenagers are offering rowboat rides out into the edges of the Bosphorus to see the structure clearly from the water, and the existing restaurants have had to increase their capacity to cope with increased numbers of visitors,
Village ladies are sellıng jams (reçel) olives and home made breads and carts are selling the first melons of the season, soon will be watermelons and summer fruits. The organic home produce sales are now flourishing!
The bridge structure is visible as you approach Garipci along the European side of the Bosphorus from Sariyer and Rumelı Kavagi – it takes your breath away with its tall imposing towers and and support struts. When it opens in 2017 with its 433 kilometer motorway and entrances it will ease dramatically the chaotic traffic of Istanbul. It is expected that travel time to Izmir, a city on the Aegean and the 3rd largest in Turkey, will be reduced to approx 3.5 hours, a dramatic decrease from the current 8-9 hours, and also provide access to Bursa and surroundıng provinces.
The last bridge deck was installed on Thursday, makıng it the 4th longest suspension bridge with the largest central span in the World. The name of the Bridge was confirmed as Osman Gazi Bridge after Ertugruloglu Osman Gazi the leader of the Ottoman Turks, and founder of the precurser to the Ottoman Dynasty which lasted six centuries until its abolition in 1924 and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. He was born in 1258 and died in 1326 in Bursa.
Flying into Istanbul before landing at Ataturk Airport the sight of the Bosphorus with its three stunning bridges, and the view over the old city ıs one of the most breathtaking view of the World! Visitors can also see all three bridges by taking an afternoon Boshporus Cruise, departing each day from the old city of Sultanahmet.
Roadworks to brıdge
Tower on European sıde
Black Sea European Side
Black Sea Coast Asıan Sıde
Ladıes sellıng produce at Garipcı
Restaurant Garepcı
Old Fıshıng Board
Fıshıng Boats Rumeli Kavagi
Springtime has arrived in Istanbul, bringing sunshine and hope to put the bad memories of the last months behind us!
Turkish families were out enjoying the sunshine and tulips on Sunday! Our director Gaye Reeves and staff member Greg Smith took a few hours off to enjoy the sunshine too Firstly Gulhane Park (translates into Rose Garden!) a beautiful park adjacent to Topkapi Palace Once used by the sultans and their families it is now enjoyed by Turkish families and tourists alike Then on for a delicious snack of gozleme (Turkish pancake) and baklava, finally a stroll down the Hippodrome to our favourite restaurant for a glass of wine overlooking the Blue Mosque !
Dont be put off from coming to this amazing city where people are friendly and welcoming It is one of the most wonderful places to visit, especially in Springtime You are save and well looked after by us at Turkey Travel Guide! Contact Gaye for your travel plans!!
Beautiful Tulips!
Flower Display
Orange tulips and Greg!
Gaye and Tulips!
Tulips in the Hippodrome
Having Fun!
View of the Blue Mosque
Camel wrestling is a long tradition in Turkey. In the winter months each village holds is festival, which is a big highlight in the year for Turkish villages. These events take place only in the Aegean areas from Canakkale to Antalya and is part of long time tradition. In previous years camels played a big part in village life as work animals, and also for food – for example camel sausages. It is a continuation of the part of the history of this area.
The price of an excellent wrestling camel can range from 10000 Turkish Lira to a 1000000 for one who be trained in the methods of wrestling the opposition to the ground. A match might take place for about say from 5- 20 minutes at the most and the winner is the first camel to put the oppostions neck and shoulders to the ground. Apart from a lot of salivation and noise its is sport where the animal is rarely injured – perhaps the male pride of the camel or more importantly is owner.
It is a social event where villagers can get together and have fun, to drink raki, meet their friends and listen to the drummers and fluters who roam through the crowd. Lots of spontaneous dancing, laughing and enjoying! At the end of the day the camels parade through the village with everyone applauding their favourite!
The matches take place during February and March so if you are lucky enough to be in Turkey during that time, why not take a Village Tour and see one of the great traditions of the Aegean Part of Turkey. Write to us for details!
Champions of the Aegean
Into the Ring!
Camel hamburger anyone???
Or perhaps a sausage??
