It's been awhile
It's been awhile since I posted anything, so thought that I'd better do it! Now I just have to think what's happened since I last posted.
I have a new nephew - my sister's 5th child and 4th boy. I haven't had a chance to meet him yet, but hopefully I'll be able to manipulate my roster to get enough days off to pop home to New Zealand for a few days, plus a cheap fare.
Managed to get to my tour of Turkey despite the volcanic activity. I did have to change my plans slightly. I was originally going to spend 3 nights in London before flying to Istanbul, but when that was going to be impossible I went to Athens instead. Athens was brilliant! I had so much fun running around the ruins, and to see the Parthenon with my own eyes. Naturally I took heaps of photos. The weather was lovely, the motorbikes not so much, and there were dogs everywhere. I loved the early starts - so many places were open at 8.30am which fits in perfectly with my holiday style of getting up early and getting out of the hotel as quickly as possible so that I can explore. All too soon I was off to Istanbul.
The flight from Athens to Istanbul was only about an hour. Didn't take too long to get through immigration since being on a NZ passport I didn't need to stop and get a visa first. Got to the hotel - a little freaked at having to leave my passport at the front desk. Met others on my tour for drinks and then the welcome meeting. Met J. who was my roomate for the tour - she was lovely, even though it turned out she snored.
The Anzac Day dawn service at Gallipoli was all I hoped it would be. Very moving. The Gallipoli penninsula is beautiful and there is a peacefulness about it - even with thousands of people. It hard to believe that 95 years ago that it was filled with bloodshed. I didn't have a good spot to be able to see the ceremony from where I'd spent the night on the grass, but was able to see it on the big screens. After the ceremony went back to the bus. The Aussies on the tour dumped their sleeping bags and headed for the walk up to Lone Pine for the Australian service. We Kiwis got dropped off at Lone Pine and walked up to Chunuk Bair. It was a pleasant walk despite being up hill - lots of valleys so up and down - at least the down bits gave us a chance to catch our breath. Didn't get a good spot for the service - ended up in the stands behind the monument so couldn't see a thing. Our tour guide made the Aussies walk up from Lone Pine so that we could make an early start out of the area. Good planning! I think we all slept on the way to our hotel. I would love to go back and explore the area properly as we really didn't have time or the opportunity for a comprehensive tour of the area. My biggest disappointment was not being able to make it to the site where my great-great uncle was killed at Hill 60.
I really enjoyed the tour. Ephesus would have been my favourite place. We went really early before all the other tour buses, so got to explore on our own. Pretty amazing to think that I walked the same streets that the Apostle Paul would have. A beautiful place, although it's hard to imagine it as a busy city. Pamukkale was another place I enjoyed with it's gorgeous white travertines. It gave me an idea of what the pink and white terraces must have looked like before Mt. Tarawera erupted and destroyed them. I had a little paddle in the water - quite soothing.
The Cappodocia region was breathtaking. Many on the tour did hot air ballooning, but it wasn't my thing - even though the view would have been wonderful. I'm too scared of heights to have enjoyed it - I wouldn't have been able to look over the side.
Didn't have nearly enough time in Istanbul. We had a day tour which covered the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace and the underground cistern. It was all a bit rushed, and would have liked more time to explore fully. We did a cruise on the Bosphorus which gave an excellent view of the city.
I really enjoyed Turkey. I wouldn't mind going back to spend more time in Istanbul and Gallipoli. Loved the food - especially the bread and apple tea. Bought myself a wee Turkish carpet.
Then it was off to London for a couple of nights. Did a tour to Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle and Dover. The weather was a bit chillier than Turkey! Caught up with an old school friend - that was great! I hadn't seen R. in about 15 years. Went to a display at Victoria and Albert Museum of Grace Kelly's gowns. Beautiful! Did some shopping for the nephews, got my sister her Earl Grey tea from Harrods (she's quite partial to their blend) and visited the Sherlock Holmes Museum. As much as I was looking forward to home and my own bed, I wasn't ready to leave London - there's just so much I haven't seen yet! But, I'll definitely be back again.
Now it's all a matter of uploading my photos so I can share them, and plan for the USA - that's less than 3 weeks away! I can't wait to catch up with my dear, dear friends.
I have a new nephew - my sister's 5th child and 4th boy. I haven't had a chance to meet him yet, but hopefully I'll be able to manipulate my roster to get enough days off to pop home to New Zealand for a few days, plus a cheap fare.
Managed to get to my tour of Turkey despite the volcanic activity. I did have to change my plans slightly. I was originally going to spend 3 nights in London before flying to Istanbul, but when that was going to be impossible I went to Athens instead. Athens was brilliant! I had so much fun running around the ruins, and to see the Parthenon with my own eyes. Naturally I took heaps of photos. The weather was lovely, the motorbikes not so much, and there were dogs everywhere. I loved the early starts - so many places were open at 8.30am which fits in perfectly with my holiday style of getting up early and getting out of the hotel as quickly as possible so that I can explore. All too soon I was off to Istanbul.
The flight from Athens to Istanbul was only about an hour. Didn't take too long to get through immigration since being on a NZ passport I didn't need to stop and get a visa first. Got to the hotel - a little freaked at having to leave my passport at the front desk. Met others on my tour for drinks and then the welcome meeting. Met J. who was my roomate for the tour - she was lovely, even though it turned out she snored.
The Anzac Day dawn service at Gallipoli was all I hoped it would be. Very moving. The Gallipoli penninsula is beautiful and there is a peacefulness about it - even with thousands of people. It hard to believe that 95 years ago that it was filled with bloodshed. I didn't have a good spot to be able to see the ceremony from where I'd spent the night on the grass, but was able to see it on the big screens. After the ceremony went back to the bus. The Aussies on the tour dumped their sleeping bags and headed for the walk up to Lone Pine for the Australian service. We Kiwis got dropped off at Lone Pine and walked up to Chunuk Bair. It was a pleasant walk despite being up hill - lots of valleys so up and down - at least the down bits gave us a chance to catch our breath. Didn't get a good spot for the service - ended up in the stands behind the monument so couldn't see a thing. Our tour guide made the Aussies walk up from Lone Pine so that we could make an early start out of the area. Good planning! I think we all slept on the way to our hotel. I would love to go back and explore the area properly as we really didn't have time or the opportunity for a comprehensive tour of the area. My biggest disappointment was not being able to make it to the site where my great-great uncle was killed at Hill 60.
I really enjoyed the tour. Ephesus would have been my favourite place. We went really early before all the other tour buses, so got to explore on our own. Pretty amazing to think that I walked the same streets that the Apostle Paul would have. A beautiful place, although it's hard to imagine it as a busy city. Pamukkale was another place I enjoyed with it's gorgeous white travertines. It gave me an idea of what the pink and white terraces must have looked like before Mt. Tarawera erupted and destroyed them. I had a little paddle in the water - quite soothing.
The Cappodocia region was breathtaking. Many on the tour did hot air ballooning, but it wasn't my thing - even though the view would have been wonderful. I'm too scared of heights to have enjoyed it - I wouldn't have been able to look over the side.
Didn't have nearly enough time in Istanbul. We had a day tour which covered the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace and the underground cistern. It was all a bit rushed, and would have liked more time to explore fully. We did a cruise on the Bosphorus which gave an excellent view of the city.
I really enjoyed Turkey. I wouldn't mind going back to spend more time in Istanbul and Gallipoli. Loved the food - especially the bread and apple tea. Bought myself a wee Turkish carpet.
Then it was off to London for a couple of nights. Did a tour to Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle and Dover. The weather was a bit chillier than Turkey! Caught up with an old school friend - that was great! I hadn't seen R. in about 15 years. Went to a display at Victoria and Albert Museum of Grace Kelly's gowns. Beautiful! Did some shopping for the nephews, got my sister her Earl Grey tea from Harrods (she's quite partial to their blend) and visited the Sherlock Holmes Museum. As much as I was looking forward to home and my own bed, I wasn't ready to leave London - there's just so much I haven't seen yet! But, I'll definitely be back again.
Now it's all a matter of uploading my photos so I can share them, and plan for the USA - that's less than 3 weeks away! I can't wait to catch up with my dear, dear friends.