Cappadocia and Istanbul, Turkey Apr 2010

2 weeks in Cappadocia and Istanbul in Turkey. With 4 extra bonus days at the end due to the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull. See entry for more details Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme and elsewhere. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians. The 100m-deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches. Istanbul is a major city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here. In the Sultanahmet district, the open-air, Roman-era Hippodrome was for centuries the site of chariot races, and Egyptian obelisks also remain. The iconic Byzantine Hagia Sophia features a soaring 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics This entry is being written in April 2023 as part of a retrospective catch up of many of our trips and holidays since the purchase of a digital camera in 2005. Mike is able to carry out this catch up due to his enforced 'lock down' after new hip surgery in Feb 2023.

Planned Dates

2010-04-15 to 2010-04-15

Countries

2