Greece and Turkey - part two

Suddenly, three quarters through the voyage, time has sped up as has the tempo of shore visits. In the last five days we have visited Athens, Ephesus (Kusadasi), Istanbul, Anzac Cove and Santorini. We now have a day at sea and arrive in Venice tomorrow afternoon.


After some disappointing stops in Asia, since entering the Mediterranean, all the visits have been more than I had anticipated.

I have already blogged about Athens and Ephesus so today’s contribution covers the last 3 days.

Istanbul
Approaching Istanbul from the sea is a magical experience as we sailed up the Bosporus with the city skyline of multiple mosques, minarets and large skyscrapers emerging out of the mist. My first impressions were confirmed during the day ashore. It is a large, secular, vibrant, wealthy city with many places to visit.

As usual however, because of its attractions, even on a Sunday, it was besieged by marauding hordes of tourists as well as locals having a day out in the sun. It has many historical attractions. The Blue Mosque with its six minarets being the most famous, closely rivalled by St Sophia’s Basilica – later modified as a mosque but now a museum. The Topkapi Palace is amazing as is the area where the Roman Hippodrome was – seating 100000 people!

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque dome - interior

St Sophie's Basilica

3000 year old obelisk at Roman Hippodrome

The downside for me was that, as it was Sunday, the Grand Bazaar – biggest in the world – was closed. Good enough reason to return I think.

Anzac Cove
That night we sailed for Anzac Cove and the Dardanelles. We arrived there at 0600 the next day and drifted around Anzac Cove for 7 hours during which 2 memorial services were held with full pomp and ceremony. Strangely, I was not affected as I had always thought I would, being at this famous place in Australian history. I also found it a bit of a turn off to here “God Save the Queen” being sung and preyers for the Queen and members of the royal family. Silly ol’ me!

Santorini
And then yesterday morning we entered the crater of the volcano which is Santorini. The ship anchored in the flooded crater and the slopes of the crater walls rose steeply to the towns and villages on top which looked like snow o r bird poo depending on your frame of mind. What an amazing place – completely exceeded what I had always hoped it would be. We left the ship by tender ferries, caught a bus at the foot of the cliffs and zigzagged our way to the top where the reverse views back to the ship were equally spectacular.

The bus took us to the northern tip of the main island to the old village called Oia. Along with four other cruise ship contents we looked through the narrow cobbled streets. Despite the crowds (it’s worse in August we were told) it is a very special place. Then via a Byzantine church to a beautiful Greek buffet lunch followed by a wine tasting. Quite a busy morning.

Approach to Santorini

A quiet Santorini laneway

Defying Gravity

Marina below

Anyone for a dip?

Four bells

Santorini restaurant

Peephole to another world

Mini market was closed

Early afternoon we went on the main township of Fira which a larger version of Oia with an incredible number of beautiful jewellery shops as well as the usual tourist junk. t. o had great cotton, linen and silk clothing shops selling whits outfits for men and omen.

At the top end of Fira is the cable car which runs down the mountain back to the old port where our tenders took us back to the ship. The queue for the cable car was so great it formed a loop which at one stage I thought was an endless loop. Lots of attempts to push in, complaints, heat made it a frustrating way to end the visit.

Many were forces to go down the steps zigzagging forever, with donkeys galloping up the steps chased by their owners and the consequent donkey droppings everywhere!

All in all an excellent day