Happy at a yacht marina

Hello Marmaris, the largest harbor on the southern Turkey coast. At four miles wide, it is a favorite of private yachts, plus a major port-of-call for big cruise ships. The bay with its surrounding pine-clad mountains is a stunning beauty. With a hearty " Welcome to Moonbeam", I jump onboard my home for the next couple weeks.

First order of business is to help work through a list of boat chores and do some socializing with some of the cruising folks on the docks. They, like us, will depart sometime soon for magnificent places.

Moonbeam's plan is to leave by Saturday, stopping at nearby anchorage of Citlik on the Turkish coast, then the Greek islands of Simi, Rhodes, and finally Crete possibly by May 9.

Turkey images

Cannot resist taking photos. Everywhere I turn I am drawn to record this lovely country. Here are random shots ...

More Cappadicia

Before departing Cappadocia, I cannot resist posting a few more views (selected from the hundreds taken).

A photographer's paradise!

Flying over Cappadocia

Ballooning is a highlight, with sunrise and sometimes even sunset flights. Weather conditions have to be just right and only light winds.

Balloon flight includes pick up at my hotel, a one-hour flight, and followed after with celebration champagne. It was a photographer's delight....thanks for digital camera which take many photos and can be edited down later. 

The overhead view of the volcanic formations gave a different perspective to the landscape. Here are some of those.

One nice aspect of globetrotting is encountering new friends from around the world. On this day, it was my two balloon buddies, Tatiana and Boris, from Moscow. With names like these, definitely Russian. Both working for an American company with a Moscow division, they love traveling to America and have done so many times, even to getting married in Las Vegas!

Never tiring of the stone

The formations are varied and numerous. The first image has people standing nearby and also in awe....this gives perspective so that the height of the stone can be imagined. Another photo shows how the road winds through tout and in between, without compromising the structures. Finally, the small openings depict ancient entrances to living spaces, usually occupied by monks who became hermits.

 Which is the favorite? Hard to decide.

Cappadocia exploring

This region is both breathtaking and mysterious. Covering 116 sq miles, it is unlike any other place in the world. Known for its underground cities from 100-600 AD, and for the distinctive formations created more than 2 milenia ago. 

In the soft stone of the volcanic material there are believed to be about 36 underground cities and complexes. Only a few have been excavated. Carved out rooms and living areas, with as many as 20,000 early Christians  living in the caves. My tour visited the deepest, an 8-level complex extending down to 197 ft. Spaces including for worshipping, for domestic animals, for wine and food, and more, all instituted to be safe from the Roman soldiers of the times.

Other extraordinary formations are the result of erosion and weather, wearing down the volcanic stone into stands called "fairy chimneys" because it was believed that fairies lived underground and that these were their ventilation chimneys.

Wrapping my scarf

As I was watching one gal prepare her friend's head scarf, the gals looked at me and offered to do one for me. Great. And so, follow below as I made a couple of new friends in Cappadocia.

And showing off for the remainder of the day on my tour. Lovely!

Can't hardly believe more snow

Cappadocia Express van brought me to the cave hotel in Cappadocia. It was snowing and the driver kept the windshield wipers running. The snow was even sticking along the roadside. I thought that I was finished with snow when I left New Jersey. Guess not.

The high peaks were completely covered with snow and everyone was wearing winter jackets. Brrrrr, I only packed light things and so have to layer up.

And the cave hotel ... See photo ..... my room cut out of stone and recessed into the mountain.

Frescoes and mosaics

Istanbul is home to many beautiful buildings containing important early art work. As patrons of art, many benefactors supported artists whose work appears on the walls of churches, mosques and palaces. It would be impossible to visit them all, even if one month were available. In my short stay, here are a few images from my ramblings about the city:

The Blue Mosque...

Built 1609-16 and so named for the interior of mainly blue Iźnik tile work. It is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world.

The Church of St Saviour in Chora...

Some of the finest Byzantine work can be found in the church dating from the 11th century.

Hagia Sophia...

More than 1400 years old, with splendid Byzantine mosaics. The dome raises to 184 ft.

Dolmabahce Palace...

Designed by great Armenian architects, 1856, the palace walls and ceilings are adorned throughout with art fresco painting. Another type of painting can be found on the many large tile fireplaces.

April in Istanbul

Springtime in Europe makes one think of tulips in Holland. Yes, of course. But ... as I have discovered, the Dutch don't maintain exclusivity on spring flower shows. In April there is a tulip festival in Istanbul. Blooms everywhere.

An abundance of tulips:

In gardens surrounding public places, in front of the old city walls, along the roadside, blankets of them running beside sidewalks, and even a carpet of more than 1/2 million tulips in the park between the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia.

This city is lovely and brilliant with color right now.

Background

From Istanbul: The prolific and much respected Turkish writer, Orhan Pamuk is not well represented in the USA. Only a few works by this Nobel Prize author have been translated into English but all can be found in a bookstore here in the city. Thanks to my friend Jim for the loan of two volumes. They made for good pre-trip reading. "Snow" and "Istanbul". Both are highly recommended for their insight and relevant discussion on issues important for today in the region.

The Bosporous

With the rain over by 2:00 p.m., it looked to be a nice afternoon. Ferries for a tour of the Bosporous were only a short taxi ride to the Ortakoy terminal from the Dolmabahce Palace. So, it was good to get out on the water for an hour. Heading north, Europe was to port and Asia to starboard.

Istanbul is the only city straddling two continents. The Bosphorus Sea separates the two. Busy with traffic (55,000 freighters annually passing through), the architecture along the shoreline was an intesting mix.

 

At the narrowest point on the Bosporus, the European Fortress, built in 1452 bi Mehmet II before his invasion of Constantinople (now Istanbul). 

Rainy day in Istanbul

Umbrellas, puddles, pouring rain and even thunder and lightening. That was the morning weather as I walked downhill from my hotel, to the Dolmabahce Palace.

Built in the nineteenth century by the reigning sultan, some say that this was the beginning of the unraveling of the empire. With 285 rooms, including apartments for his harem, it took 3000 artists to paint frescoes on all the ceilings. The great hall, large enough to accommodate 2500 guests, had as its centerpiece, a crystal chandelier weighing 4.5 tons, and gifted by the Queen of England. Extravagant opulence at the time of decline of the Ottoman Empire. Now designated as a museum and open for public tours.