We started the day at 5 am and met in the lobby after only a few hours sleep as yesterday was a long travel day! Off 16 of us went in a van about 30 minutes away on a hill to go hot air ballooning! We watched them fill up the balloons which was impressive and we had to climb over and into the basket compartments -4 with four in each. Oh wow so. Cool! It is like afire breathing dragon and we just glided through the air rather silently when he wasn't breathing his fire which we could feel! I cannot describe the experience but it was awesome! We were up for an hour and floated up and down at the. Beck and call of a light wind! One of the men counted 77 balloons up there with us and he says there were more! Took lots of photos! We landed in a field and our pilot Ismail gave us a certificate and had drinks and pretzels for us and photo ops!
Too tired will write about the rest of the day which ended at the Whirling Dervishes tomorrow.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Swimming in the Mediterran Sea
Today was a spectacular day as we drove an hour from Antalya up the coast a bit and climbed aboard a 35 passenger boat with a covered deck, actually two decks! We went swimming in crystal clear blue warm but very salty water, so of course we could easily float! We were served a lunch of fish, bread, salad and some other local food all prepared and cooked on the boat which had a crew of four.
We moved about cruising and witnessed other tour boats and fantastic scenery! We stopped to swim off of the boat two more times! The second time, the waves were I. Little swells ans we bombed along like sea otters. In this cove there were warmer spots and we floated in them. The last cove we went to was called Heavenly Cove and it was!
Off to bed now and we leave early in the am for about a9 hour trip to our next stop in Cappadocia. We are there for three nights and on the Saturday very early we go hot air balloning,
Night all.
We moved about cruising and witnessed other tour boats and fantastic scenery! We stopped to swim off of the boat two more times! The second time, the waves were I. Little swells ans we bombed along like sea otters. In this cove there were warmer spots and we floated in them. The last cove we went to was called Heavenly Cove and it was!
Off to bed now and we leave early in the am for about a9 hour trip to our next stop in Cappadocia. We are there for three nights and on the Saturday very early we go hot air balloning,
Night all.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Catching Up
Wow, what a great country Turkey is for sights, history and I do mean old history as well hospitality, food and commerce! Today we will have a three hour bus trip to another hotel, our third and it is at the hot springs! There are some more ruins there and not sure if they are on our agenda!
I am sitting at a table on a balcony overlooking the Agean Sea and in the distance I can see the islands of Greece! The sun is shining and the ocean is several shades of blue!
Yesterday when we arrived the Peace Boat was in harbour! Debra was on it and coincidentally the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas was in port which made Ephesus a sea of humanity just as knits past!
Going for breakfast now and off to Pamukelle for one night and hot spring treatments!
More to come!
I am sitting at a table on a balcony overlooking the Agean Sea and in the distance I can see the islands of Greece! The sun is shining and the ocean is several shades of blue!
Yesterday when we arrived the Peace Boat was in harbour! Debra was on it and coincidentally the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas was in port which made Ephesus a sea of humanity just as knits past!
Going for breakfast now and off to Pamukelle for one night and hot spring treatments!
More to come!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Hotel Changes and Travel Plans
Haven't left yet but we are in some different hotels now!
Sept. 19 - 22 Sura Hotel
Divanyolu Cad Alemdar Mah
Ticarethane Sk No 45
Sultanahnet, Istanbul
Tel 011 90 212 513 6666 www.surahotels.com
Sept. 22 - 24 La Vista Hotel
Yilanci Burnu Mevkii No. 41
Kusadasi, Turkey
Tel 011 90 256 614 1235
www.lavistahotel.net
Sept. 24 Pam Thermal Hotel
Pamukkale, Denizli
Tel 011 90 258 271 4140
www.pamthermal.com
Sept. 25 - 27 Mediterra Hotel
Kilincarsian Mh Zafer Sokak 5
Kaleici, Antalya
Tel 011 90 242 244 8625
www.mediterraarthotel.com
Sept. 27 - 30 Lale Saray Hotel
Uchisar, Cappadocia region
Tel 011 90 384 219 2333 www.lalesaray.com
Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 Sura Hotel as above
From Vancouver, we are flying Lufthansa to Frankfurt and back again. When we fly domestic we are using Turkish Airlines!
Leave Sept. 18 and arrive back in Canada on Oct. 2!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Off to Turkey, a gateway to Europe and Asia
In just over a week, I leave Canada to fly to Turkey!
Here is our route while in Turkey!
We arrive in Istanbul on Wednesday, Sept. 19 and overnight there with sightseeing. On our agenda is an historical tour, the Hagia Sophia museum, Topkapi Palace (watched a National Geographic show in it), the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome Square and the Grand Covered Bazaar! www.andhotel.com
Saturday we fly domestic to Izmir and then drive to Kusadasi! Liz-Anne Eyford, whom some of you know from badminton is currently living there and will touch base with us. She also has a fellow retiree on our trip! Small world! www.charismahotel.com
While in the Kusadasi area for two nights, we will travel to Ephesus and wander the area and see the amphitheatre, the Celsus Library. We will visit the Temple of Diana which is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Liz-Anne put 55 photos of the Temple on Facebook the other day. It is a temple without a roof and it is slowly being rebuilt.
www.lavistahotel.net
Monday we go from Kusadasi by van to Pamukkale. The drive will be through seaside fertile valleys! We will visit Hierapolis and the enjoy thermal pools and spa facilities at our hotel. www.pamthermanlhotel.com
Tuesday we drive to Perge in Antalya. Explore the city!
Wednesday we explore Antalya at leisure. This seaside area will allow us to experience a cruise on the Mediterranean Sea with a possible stop at Phaselis, a coastal ancient city along the turquoise coast! Can hardly wait to see the color of the ocean there!
www.atelyahotel.com
Thursday, we depart for Konya via Aspendos to see an ancient theatre and then drive through a magnificent mountain range to Konya and visit the Mevlana Mausoleum. We overnight in Cappadocia.
www.yusufky.com and www.lalesaray.com
Early Saturday, we go hot air ballooning! Yeah! We balloon over the famous Cappadocian Valley. This part of the trip is said to delight any photographer!
Later that day we visit Goreme, Avanos, the Red Valley and attend a pottery workshop! We have the afternoon and evening to ourselves to explore Cappadocia!
Sunday, we fly domestically again to Istanbul and have a Bospherous cruise and visit the Spice Market! The afternoon, evening and next day are free to explore Istanbul!
www.andhotel.com
Tuesday, we fly back to Canada!
I will try to update and share anecdotes as we go along!
Can hardly wait to go!
Here is our route while in Turkey!
We arrive in Istanbul on Wednesday, Sept. 19 and overnight there with sightseeing. On our agenda is an historical tour, the Hagia Sophia museum, Topkapi Palace (watched a National Geographic show in it), the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome Square and the Grand Covered Bazaar! www.andhotel.com
Saturday we fly domestic to Izmir and then drive to Kusadasi! Liz-Anne Eyford, whom some of you know from badminton is currently living there and will touch base with us. She also has a fellow retiree on our trip! Small world! www.charismahotel.com
While in the Kusadasi area for two nights, we will travel to Ephesus and wander the area and see the amphitheatre, the Celsus Library. We will visit the Temple of Diana which is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Liz-Anne put 55 photos of the Temple on Facebook the other day. It is a temple without a roof and it is slowly being rebuilt.
www.lavistahotel.net
Monday we go from Kusadasi by van to Pamukkale. The drive will be through seaside fertile valleys! We will visit Hierapolis and the enjoy thermal pools and spa facilities at our hotel. www.pamthermanlhotel.com
Tuesday we drive to Perge in Antalya. Explore the city!
Wednesday we explore Antalya at leisure. This seaside area will allow us to experience a cruise on the Mediterranean Sea with a possible stop at Phaselis, a coastal ancient city along the turquoise coast! Can hardly wait to see the color of the ocean there!
www.atelyahotel.com
Thursday, we depart for Konya via Aspendos to see an ancient theatre and then drive through a magnificent mountain range to Konya and visit the Mevlana Mausoleum. We overnight in Cappadocia.
www.yusufky.com and www.lalesaray.com
Early Saturday, we go hot air ballooning! Yeah! We balloon over the famous Cappadocian Valley. This part of the trip is said to delight any photographer!
Later that day we visit Goreme, Avanos, the Red Valley and attend a pottery workshop! We have the afternoon and evening to ourselves to explore Cappadocia!
Sunday, we fly domestically again to Istanbul and have a Bospherous cruise and visit the Spice Market! The afternoon, evening and next day are free to explore Istanbul!
www.andhotel.com
Tuesday, we fly back to Canada!
I will try to update and share anecdotes as we go along!
Can hardly wait to go!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Soon I will be off on another travel adventure! This travel will be different in that it is just for fun and no badminton involved! I will be going on a tour with Kim of Island Fever travel to Turkey! We leave on the 18th of September and return on the 2nd of October! I am getting excited! More to come later!
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