Turkey
The Walleighs’ first trip to Europe since 2004 was to Turkey and Greece, the heart of the old Ottoman aka Byzantium Empire. Any invader within thousands of miles of Turkey conquered it. Turkey’s diversity is especially impressive because for the most part, all religions are still tolerated–a shining example for both Europe and the Middle East, which Turkey straddles! Greece was nice, pretty, and had good food but Turkey was EXOTIC and fascinating. Rick and Wendy were impressed by how the three major religions seemed to get along for so many centuries, except during the Crusades, and ostensibly still do today. So there are multiple web pages that reflect the artistic, cultural, and religious diversity they enjoyed in these travels. Wendy’s favorite things from this trip were in Turkey: Iznik tiles and ceramics, Istanbul’s Rustem Pasha Mosque and Kapadokya’s Fairy Chimneys.
Turkey & Greece’s Artwork: Beauty Everywhere
One of Wendy’s favorite aspects of the trip to Turkey and Greece in October 2010 was the artwork—fine arts to folk arts to utilitarian and crafts. There were such lovely details all the places she visited, in many different media: Iznik tiled walls or ceramics,...
Ephesus, Turkey: Impressive despite sometimes being overrun by large cruise ships
The Walleighs’ drive up the coast from Bodrum ended in Seljuk, which is near Izmir the ancient ruined city of Ephesus as well as the major cruise ship port of Kusadasi. In fact after two days in Seljuk, it was in Kusadasi that they embarked to on a three-day Greek...
Turkey’s Turquoise Coast in Fethiye to Bodrum to Didyama to Seljuk
The lovely blue and turquoise colored water in its harbor, along the Mediterranean, and to the east, is part of why Bodrum is considered the start of Turkey’s Riviera. It is where the very rich and well-to-do pretending to be rich like to play. The classes of...
Turkey’s Fairy Chimneys & Rock-Carved Churches in Kapadokya
However it is spelled, Kapadokya (or Capadoccia or...) in the middle of Turkey is a whimsical landscape that has shaped and been shaped by local culture and the region's various religions. Many layers of volcanic ash have been compressed into Tufa rock then eroded to...
Turkey’s Istanbul is a Fascinating Bridge Between Europe and Asia
The exotic city of Istanbul is fascinating for so many reasons, but especially for how it has successfully sustained its diversity of cultures and religions for 1000s of years. Rick and Wendy were there for 4.5 days, so the photos and descriptions below are just some...
Turkey & Greece Travel Journal Sept. 23 to Oct. 18, 2010
TURKEY WAS ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING: Greece was nice, pretty, and had good food. Turkey was EXOTIC. I was fascinated by how it seemed as though the 3 major religions were able to get along there for so long, except during the Crusades, and ostensibly still do today....
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