Istanbul, Turkey to London, England

Istanbul, Turkey

Amy @ Cistern, Istanbul

Cistern, Istanbul

Cistern, Istanbul

Blue Mosque, Istanbul

What I remember (in 2024)

After 7 weeks, our last 2 nights were spent in Istanbul, seeing a couple of things we had yet to see, such as the Cistern.  We stayed at the same pension as when we first arrived in Istanbul, across the street from the Four Seasons.  We also ended up seeing The Weather Man at the movies, in the Taksim neighborhood, one hot afternoon.  I know there was a lot more we saw in Istanbul, but after so many years, I can't recollect them all.

Sarkoy, Turkey to Istanbul, Turkey

Sarkoy, Turkey

What I remember (in 2024)

While in Gallipoli we met an older couple, Stan & Jackie, from Melbourne.  We hung out with them in Canakkale and they told us about going to Sarkoy to celebrate Stan's 60th and if we'd like to join them.  We were headed in that direction, so we did.  Sarkoy is like a resort town for people from Istanbul.  We spent days on the "beach" and evenings hanging out and drinking.  Good company for a couple of days.

Canakkale, Turkey to Sarkoy, Turkey

Canakkale, Turkey

Gallipoli, Turkey

Memorial @ Anzac Cove, Gallipoli

Me @ Gallipoli

Lone Pine Cemetery @ Gallipoli

Tour Guide, TJ, in front of Turkish Soldier Statue, Gallipoli

What I remember (in 2024)

The hostel's owner, TJ, was also a tour guide.  He is a Turk, married to an Aussie.  Friends had done TJ Tour's and it was known as the best around.  AND IT WAS AMAZING!  All day we were given a history lesson on what happened around the Anzac's landing in Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.  I knew a little about World War I and Gallipoli, but what I learned today was amazing.  At this point, I have no known family that fought here (turns out there is a Fay that fought and survived here), but the lessons learned brought everyone to tears, especially at the end of the day, hearing The Last Post.  We spent the day walking around the area where battles took place.  We were up on the hill where the Turks lie waiting for the Anzacs were going to land on the beach below.  We went down to the beaches, the now named ANZAC Cove, looking up the massive hill the Aussies & Kiwis were tasked to get up, at the cost of too many lives.  We stood in trenches 10 feet apart where opponents fought.  We picked up shell casings, still around after 86 years.  And most importantly we paid respect to all soldiers buried on the peninsula, us and them.  Lone Pine in particular was pretty emotional.  Today there is a mutual respect between the Turks, Aussies & Kiwis, stemming from the fact that while they were at war against each other, each new they were doing the work of others, and not personally hating on their opponents.  I actually hope to bring my boys here one day and do this tour.

Ayvalik, Turkey to Eceabat, Turkey

What I remember (in 2024)
Stayed at TJ's Hostel at the recommendation of others.  He also runs the Gallipoli tour that we would do the following day.  The Hostel was a disaster.  Electricity cutting in and out, the room was as hot as blazes and to top it off our bathroom clogged (after periods of intermittent water).  We stayed just one night and then moved over to Canakkale, across the peninsular.

Ayvalik, Turkey

Samos, Greece to Ayvalik, Turkey

Samos, Greece

What I remember (in 2024)

Samos was a cruisy week.  We caught the ferry over from Kusadasi in the morning and landed in Samos Town without a plan.  We were approached by a gentleman who stated he and his parents had a hotel and offered us a room.  He took other guests up and came back and drove us to this hotel on the water.

We spent most time around Samos City.  dining in town was an adventure as sometimes we couldn't order certain foods because the boat bringing them in had broken down.

Another hotel down the road had a cocktail happy hour at sunset, so we were there frequently.

I had a problem with my stomach so I went to the hospital to get help.  The hospital was under construction and floor boards were missing everywhere.  It took 3 doctors, who spoke a mixture of Greek, Italian and English, to get me a diagnosis and medication, which, while I don't know what it was, seemed to walk.  At one point I was lying on a bed and looked up at the doctors, remember this is in a hospital, and all 3 of them were discussing whatever, while smoking.

We rented a car one day and aimlessly drove around the island.  We drove up to the highest peak, as well as a beach, where we spent the afternoon.  It was just nice to have no plans and relax.

Samos, Greece

The Beach, Samos

Me @ The Beach, Samos

Samos, Greece

Samos, Greece

Amy in Samos

Another Sunset in Samos (from the bar)

Samos, Greece

Samos, Greece

Sunset in Samos

Selcuk, Turkey to Samos, Greece

Ephesus, Turkey

Ephesus

Library @ Ephesus

Amy & I @ Great Theater, Ephesus

What I remember (in 2024)

Ephesus is not far from both Selcuk, where we are staying, and the port town of Kusadasi, where cruise ships dock for tourists to do day trips.  So this ancient site was busier than any other we'd been to so far.

Spectacular ruins to see.  Highlights being the Library, the Amphitheater.

Spent most of the day here, and stopped in Kusadasi to look around, be harassed for carpets and tours, and booking a ferry out to Samos in a couple of days.