Egypt - The temples of Abu Simbel
Foto: The replica of the Trojan Horse (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Turkey - In about 25 minutes, the ferry carries us to the Asian part of Turkey. We arrive in the city of Çanakkale. Right next to the harbor, on the boulevard, stands a large wooden Trojan Horse. We cannot find a parking spot to stop, so we slowly drive past to take a photo, then move quickly as a police officer approaches. Traffic in Turkey is different than before; there is more honking and more unexpected maneuvers—overtaking, passing closely, and sudden braking when someone wants to turn. Careful attention is required. We arrive in Troy without problems. Troy, before the Common Era, was an important fortress city guarding the Bosporus. It went through several periods, with each empire expanding the city on the previous empire’s fortifications, making it larger over time. Especially in the era of Troy VI, the city expanded significantly. The Greeks attempted to conquer the city multiple times. According to legend, they succeeded with the ruse of the wooden horse. At the entrance of Troy stands a 15-meter-high replica, fun for photos and climbing. Little of the ancient Trojan ruins remains recognizable, but signs indicate how it once looked, requiring some imagination. Just outside Troy, in the town of Tevfikiye, is a guesthouse and campsite. The rooms are somewhat pricey, but since rain threatens and the owner reduces the price slightly, we take the rooms. The owner serves a fine meal. When we go to bed, it is raining heavily.
Cappadocia
Turkey - Cappadocia, located in the heart of Turkey, is known for its cave dwellings, rock churches, and underground cities. This remarkable landscape was formed by successive volcanic eruptions, followed by erosion shaping the terrain. At the heart of Cappadocia ...
Historic Safranbolu
Turkey - Around 1:30 PM, we enter the modern part of Safranbolu. In a restaurant, a man shows us çig köfte. We are allowed to taste it first. It tastes excellent, and the dish is served in a wrap. We only wonder if it contains raw meat when we eat the wrap. ...
Kurdish city Diyarbakir
Turkey - I visit the Nebi Camii Mosque. The mosque is built of layers of white and black stone, a style characteristic of Diyarbakır. I ask an older man if I may go inside. He nods affirmatively. The small mosque has a beautiful old appearance. Back outside, ...
Mount Nemrut
Turkey - When I step off the bus at 2,000 meters, I am in the clouds. A strong, fresh wind blows across the parking lot. I follow Bedir along the path to the top of the burial mound. A remarkable walk, with visibility of barely twenty meters. I cover my face against ...
The ancient city of Ephesus
Turkey - The ancient city of Ephesus, or Efes in Turkish, was one of the thriving metropolises of classical antiquity. The archaeological site is among the largest excavations from ancient Greece. At the ticket counter, we can choose a ticket for Ephesus alone ...
The Hagia Sophia Mosque
Turkey - Hagia Sophia, located in the heart of Istanbul, is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. Originally built as a Greek Orthodox cathedral in 537 during the Byzantine Empire, Hagia Sophia was the largest building in the world for centuries and served ...
The Ottoman houses of Amasya
Turkey - Around four o’clock, we enter Amasya. On the north side of the Yeşilırmak River stand the old Ottoman houses, beautifully reflected in the water. Just behind and above this neighborhood lie the Pontic royal tombs. The Tombs of the Pontic Kings are ...
The Sumela Monastery
Turkey - Because we could not drive through the mountains yesterday afternoon, we have to go back a bit to visit the Sumela Monastery. We can only view the monastery from the outside. It is closed for renovations until September. We set out extra early because ...
The Topkapi Palace
Turkey - Around 11:30, we head toward the Sultan’s Topkapi Palace, which was in use until 1909. We first pass through the surrounding wall and reach the main entrance. Funny enough, we run into the same two Belgians we met yesterday. Inside the vast palace, ...
The travertine terraces of Pamukkale
Turkey - As soon as we enter Pamukkale, we are beckoned. Someone asks if we want to buy a booklet about Pamukkale. Very cheap, they emphasize. When we decline, they point out that we can turn right to park or go straight. We drive straight and park the car with ...