Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Gobble Gobble Welcome to Turkey

Turkey welcomes us with amazing scenery, ancient ruins, crazy rock formations, spectacular cliffs surrounded by the mediterranean sea, traditional music and dances.
Turkey has energy and spirit.

Cappadoccia - The Grand Canyon on steriods
This place has pretty mountains, huge spiky rock formations poking straight up out of the ground.

These rocks have been formed naturally due to different layers of volcanic rock corroding over thousands and thousands of years. People have dug out houses, graves, heavily decorated painted churches, pigeon houses from the rocks.



Cammel Rock



Hard to believe that all these rocks have been formed naturally.


You can hike thru the valleys and explore these fairy chimneys or maybe get a ride on a camel.


We explored underground cities ........as if those crazy above ground pointy rock city werent strange enough, in the same area people built entire cities - some of them 10 stories down underground!


Got a light?


Thats worth getting up early for.



Yip, even get certificates and Champagne


Amy inside ancient catholic Church


Turkish lady picking grapes for wine


Pottery Time


Oludeniz Beach.
The 3rd most beautiful beach in the world in 2006........
well thats what the travel agent told us?




I'll take that one


Turkish Delight Selection


Turkish Crepe making


Turkish Crepe Eating


4days, 3nights boat cruise. We loaded up onto a Turkish wooden sailboat along with 9 other lovely guests and all we had to do was Relax!



Every few hours we would stop, the crew would feed us yummies, and then we would swim, read in the sun or just sleep all the way to Fethiye.


Kas - a little village looking out to the Mediterranean sea









We arrive in Fethiye time to say our goodbyes and get a Group Photo.


Team Adventure being silly!


Olympos Beach


Olympos Ruins


Pammukale - White Terraces. Just in case you are thinking snow in turkey??? it is hard calcium that has formed pools, fed by natural spring water. You can bath in the pools.


Ruins at Ephesis- you can become tired of ruins but this place was a great sight. The two story white marble facade is an old library - majorly reconstructed.


Amy eating simply Si sandwhich - very good


N.Z memorial at Gallipoli


ANZAC Trench


ANZAC Cove, Where ANZAC's landed on the first day


Istanbul really lived up to its rep as a bridge between east and western cultures. Its got some of the most beautiful mosques and muslim architecture, side by side with modern shopping districts, and a more european street culture.

Blue Mosque





Whirling Dervishes- mesmerizing ceremony to symbolise providence and love in the hearts and minds of people.


Just in case you are thinking.... did simon purchase a rug? the answer no not this time round.



Eating corn for an afternoon snack.



Gand Bazar Istanbul is truley bizarre




Disco Turk