Updated on October 2, 2017
Day 13 of Turkey Vacation: Istanbul on August 31st, 2016
Third day in Istanbul.
The plan of the day was to visit Dolmabahçe Palace on Bosphorus Strait, then wander around the old city of Istanbul for the attractions that were left behind in the first day.
Yachts at Beşiktaş Dock
Updated on September 29, 2017
Day 12 of Turkey Vacation: Bosphorus Tour on August 30th, 2016
August 30th, second day in Istanbul and Victory Day in Turkey.
The plan of the day was to take a tour along Bosphorus Strait. Since we’ve got plenty of time in Istanbul and there’s no need for rushing, we decided to take the full/long Bosphorus tour, which goes all the way to Anadolu Kavağı with the opportunity to seeing Black Sea in the distance.
But before that, we needed to walk to the docks of Eminönü, passing a few attractions along the way. The first stop was Istanbul University.
Gate of Istanbul University
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Updated on September 22, 2017
Day 11 of Turkey Vacation: Istanbul on August 29th, 2016
First day in Istanbul.
The plan of the day was to visit the major attractions of the city of Istanbul, that is, Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace and Sultan Ahmet Mosque (which was closed by the time we reached there).
We woke up in the morning with a wonderful but tiny view of Sea of Marmara through the rooftops of neighboring windows. I didn’t expect at all that our room would come with sea view.
Sea of Marmara from Hotel Window
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Updated on September 29, 2017
Day 10 of Turkey Vacation: Hiking in Göreme Valleys on August 28th, 2016
Last day in the beautiful Cappadocia region.
I had been thinking quite hard about what to do for the day, and I was seriously planning for Lake Tuz. But out hotel manager told us that there wasn’t much water in the salt lake in this season, and usually people put Lake Tuz tour along with the Green Tour in one day (and it would be quite a long day then).
I finally decided on trekking the valleys of the Cappadocia region. I saw online and heard from our tour guides that many of the valleys in Cappadocia can actually be walked, and I was particularly interested in the Pigeon Valley from Göreme to Uchisar.
After some more research, I settled on one day’s hiking from Göreme, through Pigeon Valley to Uchisar, visit its historic castle (that’s often seen in the previous two day’s tours), and then walk North along Love Valley, and then walk back through an ATV trail on some nameless plateau back to Göreme.
But before that, I decided to wake up early and watch the sunrise, while the sky’s decorated with colorful air balloons.
Balloons Preparing to Take Flight
Updated on November 13, 2016
Flight Log of Turkish Airlines Flight 2009 from Nevşehir to Istanbul Ataturk on August 28th, 2016
Time to head back to Istanbul from Cappadocia.
The Cappadocia region has two airports, Nevsehir and Kayseri; also, Istanbul has two airports, Ataturk and Gokcen. Since we planned three full days at Cappadocia, we would be arriving at night, which meant we preferred the Ataturk Airport with its metro access much more than the distant Gokcen airport on the other side of the channel. Although Nevsehir Airport was closer to Goreme than Kayseri, it doesn’t make too much a difference, as both airports require shuttle services at similar prices. After that, our only choice seemed to be the three times daily service of Turkish Airlines to/from Nevsehir Airport.
I had to say, since both ends of our flight were at the better airports, plus Turkish Airlines was not the big-sale-onboard budget carriers, the price of our ticket did seemed a little bit high compared with our other transportations in Turkey.
Updated on September 1, 2017
Day 6 of Turkey Vacation: Antalya on August 24th, 2016
The plan of the day was the historic old city of Antalya. Also, since Expo 2016 was going on in Antalya (and the city built a new tramway for it), we decided to pay it a visit.
The first stop of the day was Old Roman Harbor of Antalya. Once an economic lifeline to the city, now the old Roman Harbor mainly served tourism boats, while the actual port of Antalya had been relocated out of city.
Overlooking Old Roman Harbor of Antalya
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Updated on September 5, 2017
Day 5 of Turkey Vacation: Bus from Kaş to Antalya on August 23rd, 2016
The plan of the day was simple, took a bus ride from Kas to Antalya through Turkey’s beautiful coastal route of D400, and got settled in the Antalya hotel room.
Greek Island of Kastellorizo
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Updated on September 1, 2017
Day 4 of Turkey Vacation: Kekova Islands from Kaş on August 22nd, 2016
The most worry-free day since we arrived in Turkey, as everything would be arranged for us on the 8-hour boat trip to Kekova.
Streets of Kaş
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Updated on August 27, 2017
Day 3 of Turkey Vacation: Ölüdeniz, and Bus to Kaş on August 21st, 2016
Third day of sightseeing in Turkey, maybe this was the least active day so for.
The plan of the day was no more than paragliding down the mountains and over the beaches at Ölüdeniz, and then took the bus to Kaş.
Hotel Frontyard
Updated on August 26, 2017
Day 2 of Turkey Vacation: Pamukkale on August 20th, 2016
Second day in Turkey.
Today our plan was to visit Pamukkale, a world natural heritage site not far from the city of Denizli, then catch an afternoon bus to Fethiye.
Sign of Denizli Bus Station
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