#turkey trip

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Istanbul Archeological Museum

Yes, you can buy a replica of that first statue that's only just under actual (giant) size for 20,000 euro in the gift shop! (the fun thing about Turkey museum gift shops is that they're relatively standardized so even if you don't go to Troy - which I didn't - you can buy souvenirs as you did from literally all of them.)

Tons of Roman statues (the big boy, Bes, is from Cyprus, though!) and I got a little taste of Troy and the excavation thereof. All the layers of the city represented by, well, layers! And a fun little room that showed how archeological digs worked and how all sorts of material is dated.

The last exhibit I saw before I was done with the loop was gold and garlands - this was my favorite.

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Somewhere on a beach 🏖

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Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight, Cappadocia, Turkey, March 2023

From my camera to your screen. What an experience.

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Basilica Cistern, Istanbul

Was originally going to see this after the archeological museum, but the line was an hour (the longest line I would see in Istanbul) long so just came back the next morning and got in line 15min before opening. There were three different lighting modes, and they were cycled through every few minutes. Had some quiet time and crowds picked up pretty fast as we were heading out. Stunning old cistern. Privately owned, had modern art throughout which I thought was a nice touch.

It really was grand.

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I took one look at this statue out in the courtyard of the Istanbul Archeological Museum (next to the cafe) and went 'this sad looking giant statue head belongs on tumblr.'

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The treasury of the Topkapi Palace was impressive! Ceremonial elephant armor! Nine foot swords, for those dark knights out there, all sorts of inlaid guns, the fanciest ceremonial chainmail you will ever see, and the famous Topkapi dagger. Look at those emeralds!

As the guy standing next to me said of that gold and diamond chainmail, "that's hot."

Technically there was a 'no photos' sign which I only noticed after I made my loop but…nobody else noticed and it sure wasn't being enforced because everyone was taking pictures.

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I did spend an afternoon in the modern part of Istanbul - I had fun walking down Istikal Street! It's the main shopping drag. Had a kebab, walked a miles or so to one end, had turkish ice cream from Mado (honey almond and pistacho, doesn't melt like american ice cream - goat milk makes it firm) and walked back.

I walked /so much/ on my final day in Istanbul - the busiest walking day of the tour, period - Grand Bazaar, Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificant, Istikal Street - that I'd aggravated a foot issue and was a little grumpy and tired by the end, (and I lost my fleece hat at some point) but a cruise on the Bosphorous river calmed me down a bit.

I was really impressed by Istanbul, overall. I felt safe, I enjoyed my rides on both subway and tram, and I was impressed by all the sights I saw.

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Ankara is the capital of Turkey! It’s the modern political center of the country.

Spent the night downtown by the shopping street but I didn’t take any pictures! (No success looking for a fleece hat, as all stores had spring fashions!)

It’s home to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations! I’d heard of Anatolia before purely because I read the 90s shojo manga Red River in college. The museum was great - lots of very old things, and, Pathologic was right, lots of bulls. The main central room had a bunch of well-preserved stone, which reminded me of Assyrian items I’d seen in the last. They were indeed proto-Assyrian!

From there, the tour went to the Ataturk Mausoleum. As far as mausoleums for men who changed the state of a modern country, it was tastefully done! Ended up being there at the same time as some politicians from Gambia (they closed the big walkway to tourists for them) who presented a wreath, so got to see a bit of a diplomatic show from the guards.

From there, the tour bus went to Cappadocia and wow. Two photo stop-offs and they were both grand.