Travel > Istanbul & Ephesus - Turkey '04

Visit Turkey and visit Istanbul. I would never have uttered those words before I fell in love with Istanbul. There are few cities in the world as cosmopolitan as Istanbul and when it comes to history there are few cities in the world that have as rich a history as Istanbul. From the birth of Christianity to the crusades, to the split of christendom, to the rise of Islam -- Istanbul has played a pivotal role and the history is here. As you walk through the city you can see and feel the history and the vibrancy of the culture. The Blue Mosque and the incredible Hagia Sophia are sure to stop you and force you to think about this melting pot of two great religions of the world. And, once you're done spending the day visiting the Hagia and the Blue Mosque, head over to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Its the largest Bazaar in the world. Be careful what you buy though --- you have to find a way of getting the stuff home. But, if you want to go native -- this is the place to outfit yourself like a true local for very few Turkish Bin Lira.

Once you fit in like a good local, get on a plane at the Istanbul airport and hop a short flight to Izmir. Izmir itself is more of an industrial town on the western coast of Turkey and although there are things to see there -- the real prize is a short busride away to Selcuk -- which is much smaller than Izmir but which is a very short cab ride away from Ephesus, one of the most marvelous remains of an ancient Greek metropolis. Ephesus is marvelously preserved by the shores of the Ionian sea. The library is fantastic as is the ampitheater: pictured to the right. Everywhere you look, you can see the extent and richness of ancient Greek culture. Few places on earth put you into a contemplative state like Ephesus. Walking through the city you can almost see ancient Greek people walking and carrying on their daily lives and sitting in the ampitheater you can almost hear some great Greek orator speaking.

I highly recommend Turkey and especially Istanbul for anyone wishing to see a modern cosmopolitan city blended with some very old history and I also recommend Ephesus and and many of the Greek ruins which dot the Western coast of Turkey. But, I don't recommend you cross the border on foot through - Fly into Turkey.

Hagia Sophia
Canon S40

Amphitheater at Ephesus
Canon S40