Niika Kristia's Turkey Travel Story

Niika Kristia's Turkey Travel Story

My name is Niika Kristia and I am a South African and Croatian YouTuber that travels whenever life gives me a chance. Turkey was one of the main places I have had on my list for a long time. I never thought I would get a chance until the day came that Turkey was my travel destination. 

Turkey is a country filled with gorgeous architecture every corner you turn to, amazing food with both European and Arabian touches and it is a nation with some of the friendliest faces you will meet on your travel journeys. 

Istanbul is like a beautiful maze easy to get lost in but is a complete adventure in itself. A city filled with so many different corners and sides to it that you will be sure to gain some Instagram goals throughout your trip!

Some of the must do’s of Istanbul would be to: Visit the Spice Bazaar, see a whirling dervish show, eat a kumpir (a loaded baked potato), take a boat tour down the Bosphorus, go underground at the Basilica Cistern and of course see the Blue Mosque and the Haya Sophia! 

There is just so much to do in Istanbul it truly is a city full of variety

and adventure! Don’t forget to try Turkish Lakum (Turkish delight), Baklava and Turkish tea!

Aside from my trip to Istanbul, I advise anyone who can and has the time to take a flight or over night bus to Cappadocia. Cappadocia is one of the most interesting, laid back but fun places you will get to see while in Turkey. I even got to have my first hot air balloon ride!

As history says, “Cappadocia’s region was formed 60 million years

ago by erosion of soft layers of lava and ash from Mount Erciyes, Mount Hasan and Mount Güllü composing with wind and rain over millions of years. Houses and churches carved into the caves and rocks turned the region into a huge heaven for Christians escaping from the dominance of the Roman Empire.” 

Incredible! Ihara Valley consisted of beautiful streams flowing through the region and a canyon like area filled with trees. I discovered murals of Mary and Jesus in some of the church carved caves there too. It was definitely an experience I could never forget.

I also got to go 50 meters underground to explore the Kaymakli Underground City where thousands of people used to hide for protection from the Romans. It was incredible to think of how they carved so far deep into the ground and succeeded in forming churches, temporary graves and numerous rooms that all had a water irrigation system!

Turkey is a country filled with extraordinary activities, an abundance of history and culture. I would recommend Turkey as one of the most go to destinations in the world.

If you would like to see my travel journeys feel free to visit my channel through the link down below and let me know if you have any questions for your trip to Turkey as I would be happy to help advise you on your journey!

Thanks Niika for that nice article I hope that it will help for future toursits.If you want to watch Niika's Turkey trip videos can visit

ISTANBUL TRAVEL VIDEO

CAPPADOCIA TRAVEL VIDEO

My Turkey Travel Story

TRAVELLING TURKEY

As a Catholic, my husband and I have joined pilgrimages in both local and international destinations.  Aside
from being able to travel with pilgrims of our own "age group"  meeting people in all walks of life, pilgrimages is spiritually fulfilling as it indulges you to have a different kind of rest and relaxation.

Our most recent pilgrimage is "The Steps of St. Paul" where we got the chance to be in Greece, Turkey, and Malta.

I will focus and share with you our trips in and around Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul is the city that connects Europe and Asia, one of the major cities of Turkey located in the Marmara region working out its function as a bridge between the Eastern and Western.

Hippodrome Obelisk

The oldest obelisk of Istanbul is on the spina of the Hippodrome.  This monument is constructed of monolithic stone was erected circa 1500 B.C.  in front of a temple in the city of Hireapolis in ancient Egypt honoring the Pharoah Tutmosis Iii.

COLUMN OF CONSTANTINE

Although the  Column of Constantine Porphyrogenitus bears the name of an emperor, our tour guide said it is not  exactly known by whom it was constructed.  The obelisk has a massive appearance made of dressed stone.  Indeed, impressive!

Hagia Sophia Museum

Located at the Sultanamet Square opposite the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia is one of the most beautiful construction I have seen in my lifetime and a MUST SEE to anyone who wants to visit Turkey,  With its glory and magnificence, it is one of the greatest examples of early Byzantine architecture and the Eastern art.   Hagia Sophia has the features of a longutudinal classical basilica plan of Byzantine archirecture with  a rectabgular shape 69.50 meters in width and 73,50 meters in length and  as the third in the world  in terms of its size after the Cathedral of St. Pierre in Seville and the cathedral of Milan. With decorated mosaics, the Hagia Sophia  with marbles , vaults,   half domes and top coverings have magnificent mosaics more beautiful than the other decors.  One can only admire with disbelief how these mosaics and marbles were done and maintained up to this time.

Basilica Cistern... Underground Palace

Also xalled the underground Palace is the largest of several other cisterns that still lie beneath the city.   According to our guide, the cistrrn was named Basilica because of the Illius Basilica  that was once located nearby.  Water of the Basilica  comes from Egrikapa  Water distribution center  through Bosdogan and Malova  aqueducts. The Cistern contsins 336  marble columns , each 5 meters high.  The columns are arranged in 12 rows each row consisting of 28 columns, lined up st 4 meters intervals and majority of the columns appeared to have been taken from older buildings and which were engraved from diverse types of marbles and granite.

Oh, there are big fishes swimming in the water, which we found to help ease our fear...

The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque has a special place among the various Ottoman buildings constructed in the Sultanahmet Square.  This, I consider the  masterpiece of architecture because of the grandeur of the building itself, inside out.  The interior details are breathtaking that words are not enough to describe its beauty.  It is a must see!

Located on a vast rectangular courtyard appears closer to be closer to a square shape, has eight different  gates with three opening to the square.  The magnificent tiles in the mosque indicates that the Ottoman tile art which reached its zenith of power in the   16th century maintained its power in this century.   The tiles in blue, green, and torquise colors were mostly used.

Museums

Among the museums that one should visit are:   Turkish and Islamic Arts,The Great Palace Mosaic,  Istanbul Archselogy, and many more.  These museums houses many collections including the works  of art belonging to different cultures within the boundaries of the Ottoman empire extenfing from Balkans fpto Africa and ftom Anatolia  to Mesopotamia, Arabian peninsula and Afghanistan.

Topkapi Palace Museum

This is located in Sultanahmet of Eminonu district of Istanbul.
With so many sections consisting of the Harem section,  Sacred relics, where we saw the BIG diamond and Topkapi Dagger,  and other treasures.

Grand Bazaar

One can definitely get lost if unaccompanied by somebody who is familiar with its entrance snd exit gates.  I would have loved to buy all the beautiful Ottoman lamps, turk eyes, spices, and a lot more, but we do not have time to look around.  Thst is why, I want to go back and "get lost" shopping at the Grand Bazaar.  God willing, I will come back agsin, soon.

The House of Mama Mary at Ephesus

There's an unexplainable feeling  I felt when I got inside the house... serene, spiritual, and holy!  Our pilgrimage chaplain celebrated mass in the chapel and we capped the day walking in the vast ruins of Ephesus.

Our tired body and feet were totally vanished! The experience we had after the Holy Mass was exhilirating! There were so many things to do, so many other places to visit, so many other foods that we should taste, so many souvenirs that were not bought... We should really go back to Turkey

Thanks a lot Angie M. Canlas for that good article hope that we can see you and your husband in Turkey again.

Turkey trip routes

Mike's Turkey Travel Story

LOVE your blog!

A U.S. Citizen I first visited Turkey after multiple deaths in the family found me searching for a far-away holiday.  The experience with the people, the land and the food was so exceptional that I've returned at least once each year for extended holidays in every area of the country.

Bodrum city on the peninsula of the same name was my first destination and remains my favorite place for fun in the sun, relaxation, nightlife and boat excursions on chartered gulets.  

      The stunningly blue waters of the Turkish Aegean and Mediterranean coasts never fail to exhilarate me.

      Gulets arriving for the annual Bodrum Regatta as seen from Bodrum Castle

 Bodrum Harbor viewed from the site of the ancient watchtower

     

      A two-day, one night commercial tour to Ephesus and Pamukkale during this first holiday demonstrated   not only the ancient history but the amazing geographic diversity of Turkey.  I remember commenting that the landscapes we saw between Pamukkale and Bodrum were akin to crossing the entire United States.

  Ruins and small aqueducts at Pamukkale 

   

Mountains in the Southwest

Since that first visit I've enjoyed touring privately throughout the country.  My first impression that the Turkish people are generally wonderful has been confirmed everywhere we stay.  An only child I am proud to have a Turk as the closest thing I can imagine to a brother as well as others who count among my best ever friends.  A welcome guest in numerous Turkish homes where we are treated as family we have also hosted Turks in our southeast Missouri home and acted as guides for them in U.S. Cities and holiday destinations.  No matter where in Turkey we travel the people prove to be the most hospitable, intriguing and intuitive in my world travels.  Obey the Golden Rule and you will never have a problem in Turkey.

Perhaps the first thing I noticed about the country is the extraordinary food.  Simple and delicious Turkish food is rich in the finest produce you will find anywhere in the world.  The bread is truly the best, the lamb is to die for, the soups are exquisite and the lightly sweet desserts the stuff of dreams.  While you can find every Turkish dish in İstanbul nearly every region has a specialty that is genuinely amazing.  Among the fabulous specialties I have enjoyed are liver in Edirne, künefe in Hatay, cheese (making the best pizza) in Kars, stews cooked in a clay pot that you literally break open before eating in Cappadocia, pistachio baklava in Gaziantep, beans and stuffed peppers in Doğubayazıt, perfect char grill in Ayder, Maraş dorduma (ice cream) and the best boiled potatoes of my life when stranded and staying with the sole inhabitants (cattle ranchers) of a bombed out village in the mountains high above Kağızman.

Our hosts when stranded in the high mountains of the Northeast

The historian part of me was amazed to find that Turkey is quite arguably the home of human civilization with both ruins and buildings from a huge number of cultures.  The Roman ruins are more common and at times better than you will find anywhere.

Aspendos--quite arguably the best preserved Roman Theater in the world

first photo One of two functioning ancient fountains at Sagalassos

second photo Temple of Zeus at Aizanoi.  The most intact and original Roman temple I have seen.  

The unique basement below the Temple of Zeus at Aizanoi

There is far more I would like to contribute to your blog but I will wait for your request.

Mike Thies

Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA

Thanks for that good article dear Mike.I hope that when you come to Turkey and Bursa region we can eat Iskender Kebab or Köfte together and my blog always open for your good articles.