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Istanbul (or, as I kept thinking of it, Constantinople)

Sunday, August 14th, 2005

I arrived in Istanbul tired on a dreary grey morning. And while this made my first day there a bit blah, the remainder of my stay was anything but.

The bus from Gallipoli arrived at 05:30 and despite the fact that I was the only passenger headed to the tourist centre of Sultanamhet, the free “servis” shuttle still made its appointed trip. On my arrival at 06:00 Sultanamhet was astonishingly quiet, especially in comparison with its previous appearance the day after the Champion’s League final.

My second arrival in Istanbul was a bit simpler, as I’d already found a hostel. This allowed me to head straight there and, almost immediately upon arriving, fall asleep.

By the time I woke, it was past noon, and though much of the day was gone I was keen to get something interesting, or at least useful, done that day.
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5000 Years of History: The Aegean Coast

Wednesday, July 6th, 2005

With more known Greek ruins than Greece and more Roman ruins than Italy, it’s unsurprising that Turkey’s Aegean coast is a history buff’s dream come true. And the region’s history isn’t all just ancient, having played host to significant events in the First World War, and the subsequent Turkish war of independence. A map of the region shows such famous names as Pergamum, Troy, Ephesus and Gallipoli whose historic significance span over 7000 years, from the beginning of civilization until modern times.

I began my visit with a trip to Selchuk, the modern town near the ancient Greek and Roman city of Ephesus. With a history dating back over 5000 years, Ephesus is home to the most spectacular ruins in the entire country.
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Heading for the Hills: Cappadocia and Turkey’s Lake District

Tuesday, July 5th, 2005
Despite the very comfortable Turkish night bus, the trip from Ankara to Cappadocia wasn't everything I'd dreamt of in the rest department, mostly because I arrived in the town of Neveshehir at 05:45 after a 0:00 departure. Upon arriving I was ... [Continue reading this entry]

Touching Down In Turkey: Istanbul and Ankara

Tuesday, June 7th, 2005
I'd had some difficult with my flight to Istanbul on the Bruxelles end, and unfortunately it didn't end there. The flight touched down not at Istanbul's main, Ataturk airport, but at Sabhia Gocken, a different one some 50km east ... [Continue reading this entry]