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