Travel Blog by Trafalgar

Midway through our 14 Day Best of Turkey trip we visited Sarhatli, an underground city hollowed out of volcanic rock – pretty interesting and quite cool inside. For the next two nights we stayed in Cappadocia and in the evening we went to an optional show put on by the Whirling Dervishes. They whirl around in long white robes to connect with their God. Fascinating stuff!

While in Cappadocia, we visited a Turkish carpet making school where wool and silk carpets are intricately woven with hundreds of knots per square inch. No wonder some of these carpets take years to finish! We stopped at market stalls selling local crafts and chatted with the stallholders, and later enjoyed wine tasting at a local winery. The Cappadocia area is littered with mushroom-shaped hills. In many places these hills have been hollowed out to form caves and houses.

Our next destination was Ankara where we visited the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, and we were lucky enough to see the changing of the guard ceremony. The mausoleum is quite impressive architecturally.

Then it was off to Gordian, where Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot in 333 BC. We went along a narrow tunnel which took us into the burial mound of King Midas (the one with the golden touch) and a museum displaying ancient artefacts.

On our way to Bursa we stopped for lunch at a local restaurant. The prices are amazing in Turkey. My wife and I shared a Turkish pizza and each had an apple tea for 7 TL (about AUD3.50). We went to the Grand Mosque and the octagonal Green Tomb with its richly tiled cenotaphs of Sultan Mehmet I. And visited the Silk Markets selling every imaginable item made of silk.

Arriving by ferry in Istanbul the next day, we made our way to the Spice Markets, a colourful complex of stalls selling all kinds of spices as well as a great variety of jewellery, pottery, Turkish delight and other sweets. That afternoon, we took a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait which was a great opportunity to take photos of the many mosques and palaces of the Ottoman sultans that line the strait.

On our last full day, we went to the Blue Mosque which is one of the biggest mosques in Turkey. The cascading domes and six slender minarets dominate the skyline of Istanbul. Inside, the high ceiling is lined with 20,000 blue tiles, which is where the name comes from. We then went to the sultan’s palace – Topkapi Palace, again magnificent, especially the treasury displaying jewelled daggers, headpieces, rings, necklaces and thrones.

We visited the museum of Hagia Sophia – formally a church and mosque, it is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture, rich with mosaics and marble pillars. A walk through the Grand Bazaar capped off the day’s sightseeing, before we all got together for our farewell dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Bosphorus.

It was a great end to a fantastic trip, thanks to Trafalgar’s value-packed itinerary, our Travel Director’s excellent local knowledge and a fun group of travellers.

Nev from Brisbane, Australia

To read Nev’s full Best of Turkey travel tale, visit the Trafalgar Community Forums here.

Nev and Marilyn in Cappadocia, Turkey

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

Arriving in Istanbul for our Best of Turkey trip, my wife Marilyn and I settled into the hotel before meeting with our group that evening. The welcome briefing was so comprehensive and our Trafalgar Travel Director, Ozan, was eager and proud to share his great knowledge of his home country with us.

First on our itinerary was Gallipoli, site of the WWI battle where so many Australian and New Zealand soldiers fell. We visited Lone Pine Cemetery, the New Zealand Cemetery, the statue of the Gallipoli hero and then walked along the beach at Anzac Cove.

The next day, a short drive took us to Troy, focus of the legendary war in the Greek epic, ‘Iliad’. We saw the ruins of the ancient city, the highlight being a replica of the Trojan Wooden Horse. Moving on to the ancient Greek city of Pergamon, we visited the Sanctuary of Asclepius, with its healing springs and treatment centre.

In the morning, we were off to Ephesus, stopping on the way to visit the house of the Virgin Mary, where she spent her last years after the death of Jesus. The ancient Greek city of Ephesus (which became a major Roman city) was for many years the second largest city of the Roman Empire, ranking behind Rome. It was famed for the Temple of Artemis – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Here we visited the Temple of Hadrian, the Great Theatre and the Library of Celsius. A very interesting city!

Another highlight for me was visiting Hierapolis – believed to have been founded by the god Apollo. It is famed for its sacred hot springs and snow-white terraces of pools and cascading water.

For the next two nights we stayed in Antalya at the hotel Divan Antalya Talya, which sits on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We visited a leather factory where coats from sheepskin are made so soft and light, they call it ‘silk leather’; and the Antalya museum with its extensive collection of Greek, Roman and Turkish artefacts. We explored the old town walking through narrow lanes of market stalls down to the picturesque harbour and then back up through laneways of restored Ottoman houses.

We passed through the Roman town of Aspendos, which boasts the best-preserved Roman theatre in Turkey. Still used today, the theatre really allows you to imagine what it was like to attend a performance in Roman times – complete with marble seats!

We then travelled over a very high mountain range to a small Turkish village and experienced authentic Turkish food on a Be My Guest lunch hosted by locals at a 100 year-old traditional Ottoman house.

Next stop Konya, home of the Whirling Dervishes!

Nev from Brisbane, Australia

Trojan Wooden Horse replica in Troy

Library of Celsius in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus

After more than a year of planning, my husband and I were eager to start our Spanish adventure with Trafalgar.

We were instantly in love with Spain right from the beginning. It was truly a feast for the eyes and spirit as we visited one beautiful place after another. After admiring the awesome Islamic architecture of southern Spain, we were ready to immerse ourselves in everything Gaudi when we arrived in Barcelona, our last stop.

The most memorable experience for me was the optional excursion to Montserrat. It has been said that Gaudi’s finest works were inspired by its vertical rock formations. I was unprepared for the spectacular sights that awaited us there. The natural beauty was breathtaking! Thick morning clouds hovered around this beautiful mountainous area. As we gazed down to view the beautiful Catalonian countryside thousands of feet below, it felt surreal. One felt peaceful and serene.

Montserrat truly is a slice of heaven here on earth. As I looked around me I believed I understood why Gaudi chose this place to express his genius. This definitely was my Spanish WOW moment!

By Virginia Whitfield from California

Virginia Whitfield's WOW moment in Montserrat, Spain

I know it’s rare to have your child suggest visiting historic cities, but that’s what got us to Washington D.C. My daughter Alex was a huge American Girl doll fan and thus at a young age grew an affinity to early American history.

When Alex was 10 years old, we visited the top presidential monuments in the city of Washington. From famous landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Capitol and the White House – we saw them all. And so can you on Trafalgar’s Trails of Liberty Family Experiences trip!

After you’ve seen all the headliners with Trafalgar you’ll enjoy some free time to explore D.C. further with your family. Not every child or teenager possesses Alex’s passion about history, so here are my top picks for what to do. While still historically oriented, they are interactive and will hold most family members’ interest.

1. International Spy Museum
Perfect for teens and is quite atypical of most museums. The interactive experiences here are not to be missed: Spy in the City is a GPS-based espionage and includes walking outside in a one mile radius; and Operation Spy provides plenty of opportunities to try your hand at cracking safes and decoding secret messages.

2. National Air and Space Museum
Three, two, one…blast off! My son was just a toddler when we first went to this unique museum. He was so into viewing the space ship and early modes of flight that we had to drag him out of there.

3. National Museum of American History
“Click your heels and repeat after me: There’s no place like home!” If anyone in your family is a Wizard of Oz buff like I am, then this museum is a must. On display are Dorothy’s original ruby slippers used in the film and there are other cool historic artefacts to see, such as Lincoln’s top hat.

4. Museum of Natural History
While this museum’s massive dinosaurs are one of its most popular exhibits, don’t miss the Sant Ocean Hall – an interactive exhibit that explores ocean life and what lies beneath.

5. National Zoo
The National Zoo is synonymous with giant pandas. After you see the star celebs, head to the Kids’ Farm where younger children can interact with gentle animals.

By Luisa Frey

Luisa, an accomplished travel writer is a regular contributor to www.trafalgarblog.com

Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.