On a search for the deep history of Turkey

(108 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Gail Hummel

Madison, WI
Areas of Expertise...current favs!

Areas of expertise -

  • South Africa- Victoria Falls, Kruger National Park, Zambezi River, Capetown, Cape of Good Hope, Chapman's Peak, Table Mountain, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch (wine country), Mala Mala Game Reserve
  • Italy - ...
A Mosque on the Bosphorous Istanbul

Imagine a country that has the deepest history, most vibrant textiles and many different topographies. Mount Olympus is there! Troy! Ephesus! Istanbul straddles Asia and Europe and I visited a Hamam (Turkish bath) that was in a former sultan's hunting lodge, built in 1534. What a scrub down! The food has a Mediterranean flair and everything is so fresh. What surprised me most was that Turkey has been a secular country since 1923. Islam influence is everywhere, but how modern the whole country was was so interesting. The roads are great and the gas stations were new and clean. The historical sites were everywhere and in each story was the caveat that the excavations will continue long into the future. There are so MANY archaeological sites that I was beyond surprised. There is a portion of the country that borders the Aegean sea, and that border has gone back and forth between Greek and Turkish rule. The beaches are that Mediterranean aqua and blue, waves rolling onto the golden sands. That also was a surprise. There are thermal waters everywhere and vast fields of grape vines, lentil and tomato fields, with an occasional marble quarry dotting the landscape. After touring all over, I ended up at airport, which was only two years old. It was such a wow, with shops like Cartier, Longchamps, a rest area with loungers, a Starbucks and McDonald's. I only visited about 1/7th of Turkey. I would definitely go back for more exploration because there is so much to discover and places I want to return to, like the Silk Market in Bursa. I needed more time there!!

My Travel Albums

Maui Nui Trip June 2017
Hitting the beach on the north side of Maui.
The Netherlands Tulip Time Cruise and Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum Museum Park Amsterdam
Alaska and the Yukon with Holland America!
Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center
African Safari 2023
Brothers strolling along after breakfast.
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