Day 37 Anzac Cove & 38 At Sea

Day 37 

We had a scenic cruise of Anzac Cove, located on Turkey's Gallipoli peninsula. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed there on April 25, 1915, in what was one of the bloodiest campaigns of World War I.

Approximately 27,000 ANZAC , British and French Allied troops set up camp on the shore, ordered to conquer the Ottoman forts that had wrested control over the Dardanelles straits.

There was a memorial service on board, which featured the choir made up of passengers.

This a picture taken during our ANZAC Cove scenic cruise. The sun was in the wrong spot for pictures. You couldn't see much.

Day 38

The last two days have been all about exercise and rest for me. I went to see one of the performances that featured the singers and dancers on board. The performance was called British Invasion and included hit songs and dancing that fit each time period. The singer Jenene Caramielo was brilliant. 

Nana saw a volcano that was showing some activity. I missed it as I was in the bathroom, however nana shouted out to me and said she saw the lava shoot up. 

I will finish the days blog with a joke that nana heard from a fellow passenger whilst waiting in the line for a toilet. 

When you use the toilet you change nationalities. When you are running for the toilet you're Russian. When you are using the toilet you're European. Then when you are done you're Finnish.

Pictures taken at sea in the last two days.

Day 36 Istanbul Turkey

June 24

Today we spent the day in Istanbul. This is a lovely city to sail into, with all its churches and mosques visible as you are coming into port. They are all built facing the east as the sun rises. 

We visited St. Sophia's Church, had a Turkish hand made rug demonstration, wandered around the Grand Bazaar, visited the Blue Mosque and ended the day with a visit to the Topkapi Palace and Harem.

I enjoyed Turkey and would just go back for the jewellery and hand made rugs alone. Our day was spent on the European side of the city. 

St. Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom was the first mosque in Istanbul. it was built by Constantine the Great in the 6th century, it was then converted into a mosque by the Sultan Mehmet in 1453. The building became a museum in 1936. They have been restoring part of building since 1981, they worry that it will fall apart in a earthquake. St. Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and 4th largest church in the world, its dome sitting at 55 meters high.

The Grand Bazar was overwhelming. Over 4,000 colourful shops fill this covered market place; the largest in the world. Its origins can be traced back to the 1400's. You can easily get lost in the place. There was mostly jewellery, cashmere, souvenir, shoe, rug and leather stores. It was packed with people.

The Blue Mosque was built between 1609 and 1617. It takes its name from the glow of all the blue and green tiles inside. It has six minarets and the dome sits at 42 meters high. When you go in you have to take off your shoes (we were provided with a carry bag), and you are given a covering for your hair (women), and a long dress to put on if your legs and shoulders are uncovered (Men and Women). Men and woman are separated into different areas for praying. The interior is carpeted.

Topkapi Palace, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built on the ruins of Constantine's Imperial Palace. It was the residence of the sultans and the seat of the Ottoman Empire for over 400 years. It is home to the Spoonmaker's Diamond, which, at 86 carats, is the fifth largest in the world.

In the palace's Harem Quarter, 800 concubines once lived (about 100 at a time) all hoping to catch the Sultan's eye. The Sultan's mother had the power to choose the girls for her son's pleasure. The concubines rooms were cramped, however the sultans mother and favoured concubines had a lavish room. A hierarchy system existed amongst them, and I can imagine there would have been a lot of intrigue. The concubines and their children were well educated. Other than the Sultan, the only other men allowed in certain sections of the Harem Quarter were eunuchs. The Harem was in use until the mid to late 1800's. 

Sailing into Istanbul.

St. Sophia

Inside St. Sophia

The little glass cups that now cover electric lights used to contain burning oil before we had electricity. The scaffolding on the left has been there for the restoration since 1981.

A silk rug being woven.

A silk rug with a light behind it. A rug this size takes approximately 13 months to make by hand. The weavers spend two hours a day on each rug.

Rug show. There were about 20 different rugs piled on top of each other by the end. They use natural dyes like pomegranate, and bugs. Apparently the black is the hardest colour to dye. During the demonstration we were given a Turkish pretzel, some apple tea, and a shot of ouzo.

Entry into the Grand Bazaar. 

Inside the Grand Bazaar.

This place is massive.

Over 4,000 little stores. The roof of the Grand Bazaar was featured in the movie Taken 2.

Hubbly bubbly and cashmere? Interesting combination.

Where we had lunch. I had some Turkish coffee.

The Blue Mosque.

Blue Mosque.

Inside the Blue Mosque.

Inside the Blue Mosque.

Galata Bridge. A popular fishing spot.

Fake Sultan.

Entry to Topkapi Palace Museum.

Sultans room inside the Harem. There are two beds like this and a water fountain in the room.

Inside the Harem.

View from Topkapi Palace

Tomorrow we have a scenic cruise of Anzac Cove.

Day 35 Mytilene, Greece

June 23

Lesbos is the 3rd largest island in Greece. When we arrived at the port of Mytilene, we had tender to access the shore, approximately 10 minutes each way.

We visited the Limonos Monastery, followed by a tour of Molyvos fortress and free time to explore Molyvos village. To conclude our trip we were taken to a view point to see the village of Petra.

Lesbos boasts more than ten million olive trees, they are a successful olive grower and exporter. The village of Plomari is considered the ouzo capital of Greece and is the national drink. There are 15 commercial ouzo distilleries on the island.

The villages on the island are lovely. I heard many in our tour group say that they could stay to live there. I am not sure I could make a decision like that after half a day.

Limonos Monastery was so peaceful. There is only one Monk there. They had a coffee shop just outside and free wifi! It is believed that in 1523 the Sultan of Turkey, who ruled the island at the time, prayed to St. Ignatius to heal his ailing son. After the boy's miraculous recovery, the Sultan built a monastery on this site as a place of sanctuary.  There is a library and a museum inside. The library contains books that date back to 1502. I didn't go through the museum because it had an overwhelming old dusty/mouldy smell. I started sneezing, so I left to explore around the grounds.

Molyvos Fortress is perched high on a hill overlooking the village of Molyvos. The castle is considered one of the best preserved in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was built to repel attacks by the Franks and Turks. The castle was abandoned completely after an earthquake in 1867.

Molyvos traditional village market was wonderful. The cobblestone streets are shaded by trees, and the vendors didn't pester us. The restaurants had excellent views of the beach. I can see why people would want to come rent a little place here for a holiday. I didn't take a picture, but there were these three young children who had painted stones and other hand made trinkets. Surrounded by paints, they had set themselves up with their goodies on their front step with a sign reading "free souvenirs". So cute.

Our tender to shore.

Entry to Limonos Monastery with the cafe just outside. They probably built the cafe because women are not allowed into the main church in the monastery. They built a second Greek Orthodox Church inside for both men and women, however shortly after there was an earthquake (some time in the 1800s). It was then taken as a sign that the men and women should remain separate.

View from outside the monastery.

The library inside the monastery.

Hallway.

Gardens in monastery.

No women allowed in this church.

Albino peacock (I think, never heard of a white one). Found him when I avoided the stuffy museum. 

And another. They have the peacocks in the monastery to make it feel like paradise.

Molyvos with a view of the castle on the hill.

View from the hill in Molyvos.

View from castle.

Inside the Molyvos castle. Probably the area where they had the cannons.

Walk through the traditional market area in Molyvos.

Little souvenir shop.

Can't leave Greece without trying their national drink. 2€

Our lunch spot. I had my first Greek coffee. Many of the ladies on the tour did the traditional Greek dances after lunch.

View from our lunch spot.

Village of Petra. According to legend, Achilles stopped here on his way to the Trojan War. There is also the church of Panagia Glykofilousa (Our Lady of the Sweet Kiss), which sits on top of a small hill in the village. Hard to spot the church in this picture, actually you can barely see the village in this picture.

Making our way back to the ship.

Tomorrow we arrive in Istanbul, Turkey.