Day 51, 20 July 2012 Istanbul to Kirklaleri

We spent half a day in Istanbul (obviously it was not enough) before we heads out to Kirklaleri, a small border town to Bulgaria.

Since our hotel was right in the old city of Istanbul, within minutes of walking distance to the Ayasofya, Topkapi Palace Museum, Blue Mosque and others, we quickly decided that we will only spend our precious time visiting the Topkapi Museum and not all the tourist spot in town.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) is an historical mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire (from 1453 to 1923). The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.

It was built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. While still used as a mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has also become a popular tourist attraction.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque

Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the Greek Patriarchal cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1931, when it was secularized. It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935.

Hagia Sophia

German fountain

Entrance into the Topkapi Palace

Day 50, 19 June 2012 Goreme Valley to Istanbul

We are in Europe!

"The only city in the world build in 2 continents" 

The Maiden's Tower from 110AD

Bosphorus Bridge (1973) in Istanbul, connecting Europe and Asia

Day 49, 18 June 2012 Goreme Valley

Dozens of balloon flying over Goreme Valley during sunrise

The Zelve Oren Place formed from three valleys is the place having the most intensive chimney rocks formed in the volcanic tufas. The chimneys rocks from the valley are with sharpen ends and large trunks.

The Zelve Orenyeri

Furthermore there are many settlements places in the volcanic tufas used for hiding by the first Christians trying to escape from the Roman soldiers. In these settlement places there are many abbeys and churches.

pened to visitors in 1964, Kaymaklı Underground City was built under the Citadel of Kaymaklı. In the village of Kaymaklı, the ancient village of Enegup, houses have been constructed near hundreds of tunnels leading to the underground city.

The inhabitants of the region still use the tunnels as cellars, storage areas, and stables, which they access through their courtyards.

Our guide

Goreme Valley

Day 48, 17 July 2012 Samsun to Goreme Valley

Whirling Dervishes

In a spectacular landscape, entirely sculpted by erosion, the Göreme valley and its surroundings contain rock-hewn sanctuaries that provide unique evidence of Byzantine art in the post-Iconoclastic period. Dwellings, troglodyte villages and underground towns – the remains of a traditional human habitat dating back to the 4th century – can also be seen there.

Samsun hotel carpark

Donor kebab for lunch

Cappadocia cave hotel was definitely a place to stay. All of us put up in a cave hotel in Goreme Valley and we never regretted it. It was very beautiful; with each room has different interior. The room was clean and the bed sheet was beautiful. There were very little we could ask for more.

The original Goreme Valley cave hotel 

We decided to signed up for an evening dinner package that comes with various Turkish performances such as the famous Whirling Dervishes, traditional Turkish folk dance and belly dancing.