Camping in Turkey

After a fun night on the beach in Kavala it was an early start again with a 2 hour drive to the Turkish border. After coughing up 15 euros at the border we then set off to Gallipoli to visit Anzac Cove where World War 1 troops landed. A toast was made and then some reflection time as we wandered through the Lone Pine cemetry. It hit home when reading the gravestone messages and seeing that most of the soldiers were younger than me when they went into battle. We also payed our respects to the New Zealand and Turkish memorials before heading to our campsite in Eceabat. It had been a stunning day with bright sunshine and lucky for us the beach was a 5 minute walk from the campsite. One of the most beautiful sunsets took place right over the water as the whole group mingled on the beach. You have to see the photos.. It was amazing!

ANZAC Cove

The beginning of the sunset in Eceabat

How could you not smile! :)

Awesome!

Whilst on our way to Istanbul we were lucky enough to have a guided tour around Troy with a great guide. It didn't look anything like the movie!! By the time we had made it into Istanbul everyone was pretty tired. Geoffrey and myself decided we would hit up the Turkish baths, a must do whilst in Istanbul. It was quite an interesting experience to say the least. Basically you are given a smallish towel to wrap around your waist, then a quick shower and into a sauna like room with a hot marble bit in the middle to lie on, relax and SWEAT! You are then approached by a big fat hairy Turkish man with a sponge who gives you the roughest wash and scrub all over! So much soap in the eyes it isn't funny! Next its a rinse off and then in for a strong 30minute massage. After this its time to return back to the sauna room and sweat all that badness away. I am so glad I had a Turkish bath as I felt brilliant after it. After a quick orange juice Geoff and I trammed it back to meet the others at a Sheesha bar for some beers and live entertainment with a guy playing guitar in the very chilled out bar. The next morning all of the boys headed for a Turkish shave after Tara had enforced a no shaving rule a week or so earlier. This was another experience that was well worth while! We also visited the stunning blue mosque, walked through the kilometres of the Grand Bazaar, a Turkish rug factory and were entertained over a 5 course meal with some belly dancing! Turkey was definetly a suprise and somewhere I would recommend for fellow travellers.


Feeling a touch nervous as the Turk goes straight for the jugular!

All looking fresh and 5 years younger after our Turkish shaves