Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Exploring Turkey

Turkey through pictures

Day One: Istanbul
 



                                                   SIMITS!!! (Bread like pretzels toasted with sesame seeds)


 
April is Tulip Festival


 


 


 

Vacationing with our friends, Bill and Kim Wade

 
Day Two: Edirne, Troy and Asos

 
Mosque of Selim II


 The only picture we could get of Troy (through a fence). Who knew Troy closed at 5:30???


 Nazlihan Hotel in Asos



 

 Ruins around Asos

 


 



 








 
Day Three: Izmir and Ephesus


 I couldn't wrap my head around walking where the apostle Paul and John had walked








 

 
 

Day Four: Bursa, Troy and Yalova

 

Typical Turkish meal...and buying simits with a twist (with cheese and veggies) from street vendors never got old

 
 Bursa at the Grand Mosque

 

 



 Limak Yalova Thermal Boutique Hotel



 

 


Day Five: Iznik (Nicaea, the city of the Nicene Creed) and car ferry back to Istanbul

 



 

 


 







Day Six: Exploring Istanbul

 
 Haghia Sophia Mosque






Beautiful mosaic


This marble wall used to have crosses carved in when it served as a church. When it became a mosque, the crosses were chiseled off 










Our tour guide Emre





  Basilica Cistern

 


Walking the streets to the Grand Bazaar


Taking a ferry to Katikoy for lunch


 



 

 Day Seven: Ferry to Bosphorus and exploring Istanbul

 








Turkish Delight