A fantastic Trip to Turkey Part II
I love going on bus rides as you get to
gaze at the fabulous land around you. With
most of Turkey’s landscape being gorgeous, I was thrilled to be on a bus going
towards the coastline. The views were
wonderful and the bus was comfortable; offering snacks and drinks about every
hour. So, the 10 hours it took to get to
the Antalya, a city overlooking the Mediterranean coast, went by in a breeze. I only spent a couple of leisure days in
Antalya, basking in the turquoise water, as it seemed to be more family
oriented. However, I was fortunate
enough to be invited to a Turkish wedding and got to dance the night away
before I was off to the small hippie village of Olympos.
The city of Olympos is an original
Lycian settlement dating back to 300 BC, which stretches along the southern
Turkish coast. It is an isolated beach
with a string of tree-houses and camping sites surrounded by ancient Lycian
ruins. Olympos had more of a rustic and
natural feel to it since it was devoid of large developments and mass tourism. It was the perfect place for
swimming/snorkeling, hiking, and relaxing.
Also, they have natural flames burning from the side of the mountains at
night, which are interesting to watch knowing they have been burning for
thousands of years. While staying in
Olympos, I met a woman who was interested in seeing Mount Nemrut and visiting Şanlıurfa
in East Turkey. After a few chilled days
on the coast we packed our bags and were off on the next bus headed towards the
town of Karadut.
I
was super excited to make it to Şanlıurfa, having heard it housed the newly
excavated Göbekli Tepe,
allegedly the world’s first temple dating roughly from 12,000 years ago. Also, this is where the Prophets, Job and
Abraham, left their mark. As we walked
through the neighborhoods, we noticed the strong Arabic and Kurdish influence. The architect, dress code, language, and
bazaars were all distinctly different from all the other cities I had visited
in Turkey. What stood out the most,
though, was the friendly atmosphere. Many people stopped to invite us in for tea or
just to have a friendly chat to welcome us. While traveling through Turkey I was told
Kebabs are made exceptionally well in Urfa, so I dove in and gorged on enough Kebabs
to last me a lifetime. I couldn't
believe how big the portion sizes were and how small the bill was. After exploring some and eating my way through
town, it was time for us to go see Göbekli
Tepe. But to my dismay, it was closed for more
excavations. We were disappointed, but
not all was lost, since there was plenty more history to see including the well
informative Şanlıurfa museum that had a replicate
of the Göbekli Tepe. After
spending several days immersed in the cities rich history it was time to take
off, again, and part ways with my friend. I headed back towards the West to stay in
Selçuk, to see the famous Ephesus Ruins
I arrived to Selçuk, Turkey by train and
immediately loved the authentic charm of this quaint town. Now that I had been
in Turkey for a while, I had several recommendations on where to stay and what
to see in Selçuk. And the main attraction was Ephesus, one of the largest
open-air archaeological museums in the world. When tourism was at its highest
in Turkey, Ephesus would be slammed with tourists, but I was lucky enough to
walk through the ancient ruins with about half as many as normal. I could
marvel at the intricate craftsmanship of the well-preserved statues, edifices,
and inscriptions without having to wedge in-between people. The grand theater,
which at its height, seated 25,000 people. I sat there imagining all the plays,
concerts, political and philosophical discussions, and gladiator fights that
went on through the years. Even though the city has seen acts of war, an
earthquake, and only a small percentage has been excavated, you can still
appreciate the beauty and detail of this ancient city. The next few days I
ventured out to the House of the Virgin Mary, Cave of the Seven Sleepers,
Basilica of St. John, fortress on Ayasoluk Hill, and a few neighboring towns. I
ended up staying in Selçuk for two weeks due to its relaxed atmosphere, nearby
beaches, hiking trails, and friendliest people I had come across in Turkey. At
the end of my two weeks stay, in this delightful town, I felt like family
rather than a guest. It was heartbreaking to leave, but I was hopeful knowing I
would return.
Many people asked about my safety during
the duration of my trip and without a doubt I felt safer in Turkey than I did
in my home country, the USA. Countless locals
went out of their way assisting me with directions, rides, and information. I
often accepted invitations for tea/coffee and dinner and wound up talking for
hours about life. An old Turkish tradition says “a stranger at one’s doorstep
is God’s guest for at least three days.” Hospitality is the heart of Turkish
culture, and they believe visitors should be treated as guests, no matter what
country you are from. Every day was exciting, so many diverse landscapes, kind
and loving people, scrumptious food, and a wealth of history. I was romanced
and captivated by this beautiful country and wildly eager to go back.
war, an
earthquake, and only a small percentage has been excavated, you can still
appreciate the 
Second part finished here and thanks again Andrea for that amazing story and hope that again can come to Turkey and visit that amazing country.
THE END
Share this
EmoticonEmoticon