Western Turkey loop (2014)
The Ottoman Empire and historical Anatolia loomed large in my Oriental studies committed prior to mobilising in the Middle East. Australian involvement in the Dardanelles campaign has I think also forged a lasting connection between my homeland and Turkey.
Our route started in Istanbul before heading down the Bosphorus to the ANZAC battlefields then crossing the straits at Canakkale and heading for the archaeological remains at Troy, Pergamon, Phaselis, Aphrodisias, Ephesus and Goreme.
Highlight of the trip was wintertime Istanbul, crisp at -2C and blissfully free of crowds; and the generous hospitality we received from our host family nearby Gallipoli.
