Turkey

by Debby Lenny

Turkey is truly an amazing country, it has something to offer everyone!

From the beautiful Mediterranean beaches to the ruins of Ephesus and of course - Gallipoli.

I travelled by Fez Bus around the country and this allowed me to see and do everything with a limited time. The Fez bus is a 'Jump on-Jump off' bus service for travellers of all kinds and the great thing is they will even book hotels and day tours along the way for you if you want. They have an english speaking tour leader on the bus with you the whole time giving invaluable information about Turkey. It makes getting around that much easier as all the fuss and worries are taken away. I started my trip in Istanbul and spent about 4 days there visiting the sites such as the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace (they are all in the same area so walking was the easiest way to get around) . The history of Istanbul is fascinating as there were so many different types of cultures involved throughout its history, making it colourful and diverse. At least a full day was dedicated to shopping in the Grand Bazaar which sells everything from the famous Turkish carpets and rugs to jewellery and colourful souvenirs. Bargaining is essential and OH so much fun! Gallipoli holds a special place in the hearts of all Australians so it was very interesting to visit there. Other wonderful sites around the country which are essential for anyone's itinerary in Turkey are the ruins at Ephesus, Cappadocia and Pumukkale (cotton castles). I loved them all. One of the greatest surprises for me in Turkey was the people - the Turkish people are so friendly and helpful. The more time you spend with them the more memorable the trip becomes. I recommend Turkey to everyone!
Pumukkale (cotton castles)	Oludeniz
Ephesus	Cappadocia