Turkey: Not a Good Spot for Honeymooning

From Turkey 2002

Jason and I chose Turkey as our honeymoon destination - why we chose this place, of all the wonderful, romantic places on the planet, will be an eternal mystery. But we have pictures and that's all that matters now. (We actually went in March of this year but I just got around to posting).

The Topkapi Palace

Tokapi was the first Ottoman palace to be built (1466-1478) in the newly conquered capital of the Empire. Located on the spot where the foundations of the city were first laid in ancient times by Megarian Chief Byzant in seventh century BC, the palace boasts one of the most beautiful views of Istanbul, incorporating the Bosphorus, the two shores and the sea of Marmara. (description taken from www.turkey.org)For more information on the Topkapi, visit http://www.ee.bilkent.edu.tr/~history/Ext/palace.html

The Dolmabahce and the Ciragan Palaces

Built in the mid-19th century by Sultan Abdul MecitI, the facade of Dolmabahce Palace stretches for 600 meters along the European shore of the Bosphorus. The vast reception salon, with 56 columns, and a huge crystal chandelier weighing four and a half tons and lit by 750 lights never fails to astonish visitors. (description taken from www.about-turkey.com). If you want to see the fabulously baroque and well-preserved interior, you'll have to visit this one yourself because they don't allow flash photography inside.

Jason and I stayed in the Ciragan Palace Hotel, although the actual Palace part is used for restaurants and fancy shops.Other than the Four Seasons, it's the only really nice hotel in town with any history.

Istanbul Miscellany

On our last day in Istanbul, we tried to hit all the major sites we'd missed on our lazy previous days: Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Kariye Church (a 1312 Byzantine church with mosaics), the Aqueduct Valens (built by the Romans in the 4th centure CE), and the Grand Bazaar (indoor market built in 1461 now covering 4000 shops). For more information on: Haghia Sophia The Blue Mosque

Tour Istanbul with us...

Cappadocia

Jason and I stayed in The Gamirasu Cave Hotel in the Cappadocian village of Ayvily for several days. The rock formations (actually composed of solidified ash from a now extinct volcano) made excellent material apparently for fashioning cave homes.