The Turkish foreign exchange students we met were such a delight. One in particular, Gulden Alp, who was a close friend of our 1999-2000 Venezuelan student, Adriana Hernandez-Moron, and who spent at lot of time at our house kept telling us that we should come to Turkey. We did. I must say my eyes were opened to a new understanding of world history in this land where literally east meets west.
Map of TurkeyMay 1-7, 2001
Antalya
Antalya is Gulden Alp's home city.
It is located on the south coast of Turkey on a bay of the Mediterranean Sea
The city was founded around 150 BC. It was a naval port
and a regional capital during the Ancient Roman period.
These days, Antayla is a major tourist area destination and business center.
Since Gulden still had classes at Marmara University in Istanbul,
Gulden could not come with us.
Her parents became our guides and host.
We also used tour guides.
It is located on the south coast of Turkey on a bay of the Mediterranean Sea
The city was founded around 150 BC. It was a naval port
and a regional capital during the Ancient Roman period.
These days, Antayla is a major tourist area destination and business center.
Since Gulden still had classes at Marmara University in Istanbul,
Gulden could not come with us.
Her parents became our guides and host.
We also used tour guides.
Antalya's old harbor area which used to shelter Roman fleets.Today, it is a popular yacht marina.
View across Antalya's harbor.Taurus Mountains in the back ground.
Gulden's family at their Antalya apartment.Neli, mother; Guldeen, sister; Memehet, father; ??? ,brother.
Have granola bars, will travel.I brought a large supply of granola bars,
an excellent way to make friends.
With Gulden's parents at Phaselis, an ancient Roman city, with a lovely cove.Wooden sailboats are a popular with tourists who spend nights on them
as they visit the numerous bays, cove, and beaches .
The resort town of Kemer.Great beaches, marinas, posh hotels, beautiful scenery.
The ancient city of Olympos.Another Roman city just a few miles from Antalya.
Nobody knows just how many ancient Roman cities are buried in the hills.
Duden River falling into the Mediterranean at Antalya.
Perge, a Roman city just on the outskirts of Antalya.Walkway is to the old marketplace or agora.
Flat mesa in the background was the city's acropolis.
Hadrian's Gate at PergeThe Roman Emperor, Hadrian, visited the cities of this region.
Each city built a mammoth gate to welcome him.
AspendosThis amphitheater is used for plays and performances today from its stage.
The acoustics are remarkable.
We could easily hear the person talking to the group below.
Aqueduct ruins by Aspendos.
Amphitheater at the ancient city of Side.The theater is being reconstructed.
It originally had staged naval battles by flooding the central area.
Ruins of a Roman home at Side.Mary liked it because of the sunny rooms.
Temple to Apollo at Side.The temple faces the Mediterranean.
Istanbul
Istanbul from space
Istanbul from space
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge over Bosporus connecting Turkey's European and Asian sides
With Gulden Alp
Street near our hotel.Wonderfully crowded as we search for a street vendor selling pretzels.
Dinner at restaurant overlooking the Bosporus with Gulden's friend, Ece.
Dressed to enter a mosque.Head scarfs, long sleeves, cloth wrapped as a skirt, and no shoes are required.
Although non-Muslims are not allowed in a mosque,
we must have fit it and attended Friday prayers.
The sermon was about upcoming Mother's Day, a major holiday in Turkey
The Hagia SophiaBuilt in 360 A.D. it served as the Christian cathedral of Constantinople. It's massive dome was the largest enclosed area until the 20th century. In 1453 it was turned into a mosque when the Ottoman's conquered Constantinople. Its architecture has served as a model for many of the great mosques. Since 1935, it was secularized and turned into a museum.
Sultanahmet or "Blue Mosque" MosqueThis is a spectacular building both from the inside and outside.
It may be grandest of all the grand mosques in Istanbul,
built at a time when the Ottoman rule was supreme.
The Blue in the name comes from the blue tiles inside.
Eastern style toilet.Takes strong legs and a good aim.
One of the many ferries transporting people across the Bosporus.We took this one to visit Gulden on the Asian side.
The Bosporus is lined with these homes.Expensive real estate.
The Bosporus, one the world's busiest waterways.View from Eminonu ferry dock.
View from our Hotel Prince room looking out over the Bosporusand the roof of Topkapi Palace.
Topkapi Palace view from Bosporus.This was the residence for the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1856.
Famous for its harems.
Touring Dolmabahçe Palace, the last of the great Ottoman Palaces.
Dolmabahçe Palace from Bosporus
Mesa is like an appetizer course.The only problem is has some much and such good food,
you never seem to get past it to order the main entree.
Turkish food is wonderful.
A fitting end to our Turkish holiday.
