BLOG UPDATE

DAY 5 - Free Day.

Today we ventured out into Istanbul on our own for the first time. We walked and walked and walked.

Our first visit was to the Basilica Cisterns - sounds unsavoury, but what it is, is an undergrond storage system built by the Romans back in 6th century. Absolutely amazing. It has 336 marble columns holding the roof up and these columns are highly decorative - why when it was going to be full of water???? Maybe they were practising?? Nowadays there are walkways built for tourists to see this mighty feat of architecture. There is about 3-4 feet of water in the storage area now and many fish. This cistern was used to sore water for the nearby Topkapi Palace and other buildings that , surround the palace area. The water came in via a huge aqueduct system.

A couple of days earlier we had driven under this huge old aqueduct, so that was our next visit - but first of all we had to get our city map out and work out how to walk there!! Turkish names are very difficult to read, but we worked ot if we followed the tram line in a certain direction, then we could turn off to the right and this would hopefully take us to the aqueduct. We stopped off and had lunch at a typical Turkish cafe (had something like a rectangle pizza and several cups of Turkish tea) then headed off once again. We were a little lost and stopped at the Hotel Diana and asked for directions, promising the maitre de we would come back for lunch, and headed off again with his directions in our mind. After a couple of turns we found the aqueduct - it was a little too big to miss - and I still marvel at how wonderful the Romans were with their inventions and building. Took lots of photos!!

We walked back towards the city and found the bridge Metro station and took the train back to Taksim Square where our hotel is situated. Off Taksim Square is a shopping Mall that we wanted to check out - not for the shopping - but for the fact that this shopping mall is 2 km long!! ere there are huge up to the minute modern shops and smaller Turkish shops - but certainly everything you could possible want. Also a college in amongst the shops (had a walled garden which was very lovely). On the walk back thru the mall we diverted down the side streets and found streets that were fish markets, streets that were just restaurant after restaurant. Istanbul is truly a fascinating place. We always had to be aware to stay close and watch our bags and wallets. One lady on board had her credit card stolen when she handed it over to buy something - the stallholder physically ran away with it!! We used cash only when purchasing anything.

Taksim Square is where a lot of the unsupported refugees hang out/live. They beg and accost tourists, but we were well versed in how to handle them - "don't look them in the eye, just keep walking and ignore them". Many of the children just use Taksim Square as their playground. They literally hang off the backs of the trams and garbage trucks for fun. Very scary for tourists to see this behaviour.

DAY 6

Today we board the MS Island Sky - but firstly have the morning free. This time we walked left, out of the hotel, down to the business district near the hotel. We had coffee and then walked around the area, where we saw our first Smoking Cafe (smoking with a machine called a Hooka). Ray assures me they are smoking a Turkish type of tobacco through water! Across the road from the Smoking Cafe was a Turkish Delight store. Ray took some time to select some Turkish Delight, Marg D!!

Our ship is a very small cruise ship - actually 86 of us (full capacity is 114 guests), but like a huge ship in every other way. Has all mod cons, without the 4,000-5,000 other guests. You cannot get to the Gallipoli Peninsular except by car ferry from Cannakale - and we did that yesterday to visit the small village of Bigali - this is where Ataturk organised his troops to fight our ANZACS. It is a very small, old village - still very poor. We think the residents depend on tourists to eek out a small living selling sourvenirs.

From their we were driven north along the coast highway (very good) to Gelibelou (what we call Gallipoli), to a reception with the Mayor of Gelibelou Council. The mayor spoke of the wonderful friendship between the Anzac countries and could only wish that all the world could have friendships like we experience. It was all very nice and we got the chance to meet up Rotary friends from the Goksu Rotary Club once again. We had a big group photo taken on the steps of the Council building all holding our gift bags presented to us from Gelibelou Council. From here the Rotary members took us to a School for the Vision Impaired, and this was lovely. We listened to a concert put on by two older students - about 12/13 yrs old - the young boy playing a digital piano and the young girl sang. The piano and lots of other equipment was paid for by our visit organised by Balwyn Rotary Club (about $20,000) - we realise now why it cost so much!! But when you see the opportunities these kids are getting, the cost doesn't really matter. How lucky all our kids have been, and how lucky our grandkids are now. All kids in Turkey go to school and education is important. Really - all thanks to Ataturk - when he had the foresight to change the whole system. Took Turkey from a religious based authority by separating Government and religion.

Yesterday was a Public Holiday in Turkey to celebrate CHILDREN'S DAY. On the way back to the car ferry our driver took us past where the big celebrations were being held along the water's edge (a bit like Darling Harbour). Thousand of kids and parents, stalls and jumping castles etc all having a good time in the sunshine of the day. This is the area where Brad Pitt offered the town the wooden horse from his film "Troy" so we saw "the horse"!!

I went to bed early last night - no dinner even - but certainly enjoyed my brekkie this morning on the Lido deck, as it is another glorious sunny day. There was another tour this morning but we decided to make it a real rest day and do our laundry chores. Our bathroom now looks like a "Turkish Laundry".

Today, our MS Island Sky GALLIPOLI 12 left to camp out on the peninsular in readiness for the Dawn Service. (Only 12/86 have passes to attend the Dawn Service). Ray & I were the photographers for their group photo before they left. They were all very apprehensive, excited and emotional as they left. We all hope the have a wonderful experience, but maybe get to feel a little uncomfortable & cold so they can feel a little like an Anzac. We are looking forward to hearing about their experience - certainly one not to be forgotten.

Wagga ABC phoned Ray a couple of days ago and wanted to do a live interview with him Friday just to get a feel of what is going on in the area of the Dardenelles. He phoned last night at midnight, Ray answered and spoke a few words to him, but by the time Ray turned a light on, the connection was gone. Ray did warn him that mobile service may be hard to get and keep when he phoned a couple of days earlier, and that is exactly what happened. Later the ABC reporter sent a text to say he had abandoned the idea as it was far too difficult to get a connection!!!

We have a presentation this afternoon by Australian War Historian, Hugh Dolan: Why Gallipoli? and another this evening called "Planning for Landing". These should certainly get us ready for the 4.30am Dawn Service on our screens.

Today we have noticed a big change in the skies and water ways of the Dardenelles. Lots of helicopters and air force jets in the sky and small security army boats on the water, along with warships coming and going. We just saw a convoy of 11 warships head to the Gallipoli Peninsular point and watched it live on the news. Seemed strange to be actually seeing it "really live".  The ships you will see at the Commonwealth Service we saw that convoy sail past our ship on the way to the Peninsular.

Also we have noticed the huge coaches heading south on the coastal highway on the peninsular. In the port towns we have been in over the last couple of days, you could not help but notice the hundreds and hundreds of large coaches parked everywhere. These coaches will be used to transport all the people to the Service site in Gallipoli National Park. Our group left at 12.45 pm, and goodness knows what time they will get to the service area with their sleeping bags and provisions!!!

Must get some photos onto this blog quickly, as it is nearly time for presentation number 1.

Bye for now

Di & Ray xx

Cisterns

Aqueduct

Ataturk's house in Bigali.

 

CELEBRATION  FLAGS IN CANNAKALE.