Turkey - A Look Back

I have to do a lot of digging back in my old photos to remember everything I did in Turkey, but I was catching up with a friend today and when I started talking about this trip, it made me so sad that the company I traveled with has paused their trips for the moment. I don't blame them at all. Turkey has been a volatile place over the last few years and I'm sure their tourism is suffering for it. But for a country that has lived on for so many years in so many different ways. 

Of course, it hasn't always been the Turkey we know it to be now. But the history of older cities like Constantinople still live deep below the surface. Quite literally, each new city was built on top of the older ones and the old city structures can be seen popping up in parks and the areas throughout. Some of the old structures remain - particularly the mosques which are absolutely mesmerizing.

Instead of your European landscape dotted by churches their campanile, you can see mosques with their minarets. You'll be woken by the call of the Imam on your first few mornings and then it will become second nature - and weirder when you're not hearing it.

The cities are stunning, but the countryside - WOW. As we drove through the mountains, every turn provided a new more stunning photo op. We spent a few days in a gulet on the Turquoise Coast - I have never seen water that color. You could see straight down to the bottom and looking back at my photos I can't even believe they're real. 

The people were friendly and welcoming. This was a few years ago and I'm sure things have changed, but it was such an incredible trip and I just wanted to reminisce a little. 

Unfortunately, I had only been bellydancing a few months when I went, so I didn't get anything related nor did I seek out dancers I know. But next time (and there will most certainly be a next time) this will be different. 

If you get the chance, treat yourself to a traditional Turkish bath. You might feel a little awkward, but the multi-stage process from relaxing on a hot marble slab, to being scrubbed down in bubbles up to your ears, to an outstanding massage and ending with the standard cup of tea - you will not be sorry. You'll walk out of there feeling like jello and it will feel amazing!

This was a trip of once in a lifetime experiences (and some of the best food I've ever had). The trip ended in Cappadocia - one of the most unique landscapes I've ever seen. The "fairy chimneys" are enchanting and only made more so when seen from a hot air balloon. Even if you're afraid of heights, challenge yourself to this. It's blissful and calm and you will not regret it. 

I could write about this for hours. I didn't even get into the details of Istanbul or Antalya or Ephesus - it was all amazing!! 

Okay...I promise to write more frequently as my next trip is coming in July to Colombia. But I had to reminisce a little. I just posted some photos on the Around the World page, so check those out too.