Friday, December 23, 2011

TURKEY: Silk Road Turkey Excursion 2012

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Silk Road 2011 Voyagers at Ephesus

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SILK ROAD TURKEY 2012 OCTOBER 9th-20th

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Suitable for lovers of art, food, ancient history, textiles, photography...

The silk road 

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No country has moved and inspired me like Turkey. No country offers so much to experience and savour like this incredible panorama of history, culture, food, vistas, warm people and stunning color. Turkey is magic. Join us on our second Silk Road Turkey excursion for 11 days of wonder.

The trip begins in Istanbul and includes:

11 nights accommodation in 4-star or boutique hotels

11 breakfasts

11 dinners

all entrance fees to museums and historical sites

Knitting workshops, information sessions, and a cooking lesson

2 domestic flights within Turkey plus transportation by modern coaches

Baggage handling and tips (with the exception of lunches)

An English-speaking guide specializing in history & archaeology

Your hosts, Jane and John

 * Not included: flights to Istanbul, most lunches, and beverages

On the itinerary: The incredible modern yet exotic Istanbul with tours to Tokapi Palace, Islamic Art Museum, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Arasta Bazaar

Cappadocia, Turkey's ancient textile center set in a vivid  fairy-chimney landscape like no place you have seen on earth. Stay in a luxurious cave hotel, the famed Museum hotel, which, I swear, is set in a place so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes. Visit underground cities, ancient monestaries, a carpet co-operative and so much more.

Kudasia on the Aegean sea, this beautiful jewel has a rich and varied history crossing many civilizations. Meet local Turkish ladies who will share with us their knitting and spinning in a gorgeous little village high in the wooded hills. Spend a morning in Ephesus, the largest ancient city ever discovered, visit the sanctuary of the Virgin Mary and see the surrounding countryside of this ancient territory that once graced everyone including Cleopatra to Marc Anthony.

Ayvalik, on the way to which we will visit Alexander the Great's ancient city of Pergamun, famous for the invention of parchment paper.

Bursa, center of the Ottoman silk trade where we will visit Kozahan, a centuries-old international trade center.

Back to Istanbul for a day on your own to explore Istanbul's spice market, the Grand Bazaar or any of the many enticements calling.

* Please read the full itinerary below. The details may change somewhat. Because so much of this tour takes place at ancient sites or in urban settings like Istanbul, a certain level of physical fitness is required. PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK AT LEAST TWO HOURS WITHOUT RESTING AND CLIMB STAIRS. Sites like Epheseus and the rock monestaries do not have elevators or escalators.

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 Islamic Art Museum

October 9th. Arrive in Istanbul

Everyone arrives from Istanbul independently though many of my travellers connect with others in major airports in Canada and the USA. For excellent flights, check routes out of New York. Good deals can be had! We will meet at our hotel for a welcome cocktail followed by supper. Those arriving a day or two in advance will find our hotel conveniently located to major Istanbul sites, including the bazaars. John and I will be available in Istanbul at least a day in advance of our trip. Supper at the hotel.

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October 10th. INSTANBUL . A gradual introduction to one of the world's most exotic and romantic cities. Today, John and I will escort you at a leisurely place to a lovely outdoor market to help acclimatize without overwhelming. The Arasta Bazaar is one of our favorite shopping areas. Less crowded than the Grand Bazaar, here you will see fabulous textiles for sale plus bags, pottery and even antiques.

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Topaki Tiles

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October 11th ISTANBUL. Today our official English-speaking guide for the trip will lead us on a guided tour of Istanbul beginning with the magnificent Tokapi Palace, once home to the sultans of the Ottoman empire and housing exquisite treasures. See a chest paved with rare emeralds, jewel-crusted swords, and the famed blue tiles that cover the walls among many other wonders. We will also tour the Islamic Art musueum with its rare old carpets, the famed Blue Mosque, the Roman Hippodrome (the Roman equivalent of Indie 500 track) and the Basilica of St. Sophia with its fifteen hundred years of religious and cultural inspiration. Supper at out hotel.

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Shopping for Textiles in Istanbul

October 12. FLY TO CAPPADOCIA

Today we take a short flight to Cappadocia which, after the bustle of Istanbul will seem like an excursion into peace. Be prepared to see some of the most amazing natural terrain anywhere, landscapes dubbed as 'fairy chimneys' by some. This is the land of underground cities and cave houses, some centuries old. We'll begin with the Ihiara Valley, a canyon with rock-carved churches and Byzantine dwellings as well as monasteries and a lovely village where we'll stop for lunch. This night will be our first in the amazing Musuem Hotel (described further on).

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Selime Monastery

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Castle rock

OCTOBER 13th. CAPPADOCIA and the Museum Hotel

One of my quests is to find incredible locations to bring voyagers, places to inspire and amaze. While all of Turkey fits that description, no hotel absorbs all those wonders like this one. Last year when we took our cooking course in this stunning boutique hotel, I vowed to bring a group back to knit, sip tea, perchance to dream, in the myriad of exotic courtyards, nooks and gardens of the Museum Hotel. Every aspect has a view, an inspired perspective which, in itself, could launch a work of art or just a treasured moment. Imagine yourself on a balcony overlooking a magic, ancient valley or sitting in a rose garden beside a Roman column (this would be a real Roman column, you understand -- Doric or Corinthian, you have a choice).  The food is so good that last year during our cooking class, one of our group called her meal 'the best food ever tasted'.

This year, we will stay three nights, actually sleep among the artifacts the hotel houses, including Roman, Greek, Ottoman, Byzantine antiquities, silk sultan's robes and a myriad of intriquing objects. The building is part of an ancient cave complex designed to blend in with the area in an authentic but discretely modernized manner. Each bedroom differs but all overlook the valley, has modern amentities including wi-fi, marble showers amd tubs and luxurious comforts. Listed by Fodors as one of the finest hotels in the world, you'll know it's extraordinary. The surrounding area is perfect for walks. Check out more of the hotel here: http://www.museum-hotel.com/

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Today, we will set off for Goreme Valley to explore the lunar, 'fairy chimney', landscape of this magical spot. Some may wish to climb to the higher promotories, others may choose to take a leisurely stroll through the interior of the fresco-painted grotto churches or just hang out at the cafe and gift shop but everyone will find something upon which to marvel.

Following this, we will visit a carpet co-operative, learn about the silk road, and amble through a world of color, Turkish-style. This spot was a hit with last year's voyagers because it was so instructive, colorful and relaxing. Everywhere we go we're plied with coffee or apple tea, a gesture of Turkish hospitality which is genuine and gratefully received. And, yes, several of us bought carpets and wall-hangings, jackets, bags and coats. Prices are much lower and the quality generally higher than anything acquired at home. That afternoon, we'll return to the hotel for knitting and relaxing.

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The Carpet Co-operative

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After lunch, we'll have a knitting workshop (project objects will be described later) in our hotel and , in the evening, we'll go to a local restaurant to experience more famed Turkish cuisine.

 OCTOBER 14th CAPADOCCIA

Too Many Cooks don't spoil the broth here

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This morning we'll visit a subterranean city before returning to our hotel for a cooking lesson. The cuisine of the Central Anatolia may make you wonder why you thought only the Italians got it perfectly. We swooned over our lunch even though we helped prepare it! After devouring our cooking, we'll head to Avanos village to discover the art pottery traditions of this region and maybe try our hand at pot-throwing.

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Nancy takes a spin

Pottery Meastro

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OCTOBER 15. KUSADASI- From the lunar landscapes of Cappadocia, we fly to Ismir and drive to Kusadasi on the Aegean Sea. An afternoon spent in the charming village of Sirince will introduce us to local knitters and crocheters who will join us for tea at a lovely restaurant which will also become our base while we explore the little shops winding through the village. We found a gorgeous jewellry shop here run by two young women who create bronze and silver jewelry inspired by significant nearby sites. This is the land of godesses with the ancient temple of Artemis only one of the female power icons. I wear my Artemis bracelet in honor of godesses everywhere.

That night, we head to our hotel overlooking the Aegean and may even sip wine on the patio as the sun sets across the ancient sea. Who knows? Maybe Cleopatra once sat near there, too, sipping wine with Marcus or Caesar.

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Sirince Village

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Sipping wine and knitting in the sunset

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October 16. KUSADASI. All lovers of ancient history, take a deep breath: today we visit Ephesus, the largest ancient city ever uncovered. The site is being meticulously restored and you will have no trouble imagining chariots hurling down those marble streets (the council even constructed an ancient speedbump to control traffic. Too much horsepower, I guess). If the ancient public toilets don't interest you, a stroll through the condo of the rich Romans might. They had flushing toilets, hot and cold running water and in-floor heating. Yes, makes one humble, doesn't it? I half expected to learn that ancient wi-fi has been unearthed. For more soulful ruins, look only to the Temple of Artemis or the amazing libray.

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The Library of Celsus, Epheseus

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In the afternoon, we will travel up into the forested hills to visit the sanctuary of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where Mary spent her final days. No matter what your religion or spiritual beliefs, something about this spot feels spiritually profound. Consider it pause for refelection.

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Dining in Kusadasi

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OCTOBER 17th. Kudasai- Ayvalik. Today we board our 'Techno-coach' (wi-fi enabled), to begin our road journey back to Istanbul, taking in sites along the way. At the suggestion of last year's group, we've added extra days for a leisurely ride to see more of Turkey from the ground level. Besides admiring the scenery, reading, KNITTING and socializing, we'll be stopping in the city of Ayvalik overnight and visiting Alexander the Great's city of Pergamun, another ancient center. Pergamun once had a library of 200,000 books and invented parchment. Site of one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelations, the city became a kingdom in the 3rd century B.C.

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Serapeum, Pergamun