Sunday, May 15, 2011

ANZAC Day in Turkey 2009


In attendance - Jade Palmer, Alena Keating, Andre Lemmens, Rachel Cosgrove, Samantha Polatsek, and Danny Smith.

Day 1 - Sat 18th April 2009Istanbul
Make your own flight arrangements to Istanbul's Ataturk Airport where you will be met by our crew and transferred to your hotel to meet the guide and the rest of your group. For those brave sods coming into Istanbul by bus, overland, or from Sabiha airport you can make your own way to your hotel. Check-in is from 12 noon.
Tonight is our opening to the tour with a night planned in Istanbul’s Sulthanamet area - the place should be crawling with all sorts including a significant amount of fellow antipodeans. Tonight is an ideal way to break the ice with your fellow tourists & year after year ends up being a great night out.
Day 2 – Sun 19th April 2009Istanbul
After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour of Istanbul’s fascinating old city. Istanbul is the only city to span two continents, Europe and Asia. Sites include the Blue Mosques, Aya Sofya, Topkapi Palace, the Underground Cistern and the Hippodrome. Tonight for those keen we will head into the lively nightspot that is TAKSIM – that is rammed with local nightclubs and young Turkish folk. Overnight Istanbul. (B)
Day 3 - Mon 20th April 2009Bursa & Pamukkale
This morning we drag ourselves out of bed, down a few V's/Red Bulls/Turkish coffees, pack and jump on the coach and visit the sights of the Ottoman capital of Bursa including the Grand Mosque (Ulu Mosque) & the Silk Bazaar. After lunch make yourself comfortable on the coach as we continue our journey south to the town of Pamukkale. Overnight in Pumukkale.
Day 4 – Tue 21st April 2009 – Pamukkale
Today we check out the famous calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castles), photos of which adorn every promotional feature on Turkey...next to the frolicking kid on all the Underground Posters. If we have time we can also do some bombs or staples into ‘Cleopatra’s Pool’ in the ruins of Hierapolis, an ancient health spa, just above the calcium terraces. We then set off further south for the port city of Kusadasi. Overnight Kusadasi.
Day 5 – Wed 22nd April 2009Ephesus & Kusadasi
Today we have a fully guided tour of the ancient Roman city of Ephesus – one of the best preserved ancient cities in Turkey...and indeed the world. During the cruise season it can be
rammed with annoying American Tourists – but we’ll get in early and shout them down…it’s well worth it! We also visit the local leather factory & a carpet village to learn how carpets are made by hand, what determines their value and the historical and cultural context in which this folk art has blossomed...and you'll no doubt buy a rug and get it sent back to London...and wonder what to do with it when it arrives!! After a day's shopping in the markets it’s time for a night on the town. And what better way to do that than a Turkish bath - guaranteed to loosen every dead follicle & skin cell imaginable...maybe a few brain cells also. Warning: it can be quite brutal. We head out tonight in Kusadasi to experience the local bar & club scene.
Day 6 – Thu 23rd April 2009 – Pergamum & Ayvalik
This morning we start making our way towards the WWI battlefields of Gallipoli, first stopping off for a tour of the magnificent acropolis of ancient Pergamum. Tonight we stay in the town of Ayvalik near the famous ancient site of Troy. By staying here we are a stones throw from the Gallipoli Battlefields and it gives us a perfect platform to leave early the next day and get a full day on the peninsula...and most importantly before all the other groups arrive!
Day 7 - Fri 24th April 2009 – Gallipoli Tours
We depart early this morning for a tour of Troy, the site of the famed Trojan Wars. (The visit to Troy is time dependant – we may have to head straight to Gallipoli to avoid the crowds!).
Then we head towards the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli for a fully guided tour of this now serene site. We visit all the famous NZ battle sites including the legendary Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, ANZAC Cove, Johnston's Jolly and the Turkish 57th Regiment memorial. We will also have time to stroll through what was once ‘no-mans land’ between the ANZAC’s and Turkish. Tonight, we sample some of the local kebabs on offer before heading back to the site of the ANZAC Dawn Service. We watch the sun set over Anzac Cove, watch a few documentaries on the big screens and get in the mood for the moving experience to follow in the small hours of the morning. Keep warm in your sleeping bag and Beige Brigade hoodie under the stars with the thousands of others while waiting for sunrise. It DOES get cold, particularly if there is a wind! And with number swelling over 15,000 in 2008 it will also get very crowded. But we’ll make sure we secure a good place!
Day 8 - Sat 25th April 2009
Awake before sunrise to the ANZAC Dawn Service and commemorate our fallen forefathers on this special day. After the Dawn Service we walk together with the many thousands up to Chunuk Bair for the NZ Memorial service. You can attend both the Australian & NZ Memorial Services, but to ensure you get a good possie for the NZ service you will have to skip the Aussie one. After the services we walk through the national park to the coaches for the ride to Istanbul and a chance to reflect on the whole Gallipoli experience. You’ll be leaving a different person, no two ways about it. Back in Istanbul we check into our hotel before heading out for more of the city's famous night life.
Today is a chance to catch up on any shopping at the Grand Bazaar in central Istanbul....and have a mighty farewell party!
Day 9 -Sunday 26th April 2009 - Check out
Check out and return home or carry on adventures in Europe.
Note: Tour does not include entrance fees to museums and mosques as required at some venues. No entry fee is required at the Gallipoli battlefields or Anzac services.


Tonight is our opening to the tour with a night planned in Istanbul’s Sulthanamet area - the
place should be crawling with all sorts including a significant amount of fellow antipodeans.
Tonight is an ideal way to break the ice with your fellow tourists & year after year ends up
being a great night out.
Day 2 – Sun 24th April 2011 – Gallipoli Tour
We depart very early this morning (6 a crack!) and head straight to Gallipoli to avoid the
crowds!!   At approx midday we will arrive at the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli for a fully
guided tour of this now serene site. We visit all the famous NZ battle sites including the
legendary Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, ANZAC Cove, Johnston's Jolly and the Turkish
57th Regiment memorial. We will also have time to stroll through what was once ‘no-mans
land’ between the ANZAC’s and Turkish.  Tonight, we sample some of the local kebabs on offer
before heading back to the site of the ANZAC Dawn Service. We watch the sun set over
Anzac Cove, watch a few documentaries on the big screens and get in the mood for the
moving experience to follow in the small hours of the morning. Keep warm in your sleeping bag
and Beige Brigade hoodie under the stars with the thousands of others while waiting for sunrise.
It DOES get cold, particularly if there is a wind! And with number swelling over 15,000 in 2008 it
will also get very crowded. But we’ll make sure we secure a good place!
Day 3 - Mon 25th April 2011 – ANZAC Day
Awake before sunrise to the ANZAC Dawn Service and commemorate our fallen forefathers on
this special day. After the Dawn Service we walk together with the many thousands up
to Chunuk Bair for the NZ Memorial service. You can attend both the Australian & NZ Memorial
Services, but to ensure you get a good possie for the NZ service you will have to skip the Aussie
one.  After the services we walk through the national park to the coaches for the ride to
Istanbul and a chance to reflect on the whole Gallipoli experience. You’ll be leaving a
different person, no two ways about it. Late afternoon we pile onto the coach to reflect on the
last 24hrs and head to the seaside resort town of Ayvalik. Overnight Ayvalik.  Day 4 – Tues 26th April 2011 – Pergamum Tour
Today we head for the party port town of Kusadasi first stopping off for a tour of the
magnificent acropolis of ancient Pergamum.  En route we’ll swing into one of the famous
Turkish leather factories and witness possibly the most unique fashion show this side of the
1980’s. This is a fantastic chance to purchase items that would go down a storm in Soho
(leather hats, hot pants etc). We overnight in Kusadasi this evening – relax by the pool and
check out the lively nightlife. 
Day 5 – Wed 27th April 2011 – Ephesus
Today we have a fully guided tour of the ancient Roman city of Ephesus – one of the best
preserved ancient cities in Turkey...and indeed the world. During the cruise season it can be
rammed with annoying American Tourists – but we’ll get in early and shout them down…its well
worth it! We also visit the local carpet village to learn how carpets are made by hand, what
determines their value and the historical and cultural context in which this folk art has
blossomed...and you'll no doubt buy a rug and get it sent back to London...and wonder what
to do with it when it arrives!! After a day's shopping in the markets it’s time for a night on the
town. And what better way to do that than a Turkish bath - guaranteed to loosen every dead
follicle & skin cell imaginable...maybe a few brain cells also. Warning: it can be quite
brutal. We head out tonight in Kusadasi to experience the local bar & club scene. 
Day 6 – Thur 28th April 2011 – Pamukkale
Shake off the potential hangover from the night before as today we’ll check out the famous
calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castles), photos of which adorn every promotional
feature on Turkey...next to the frolicking kid on all the Underground Posters. If we have time we
can also do some bombs, manu’s or staples into ‘Cleopatra’s Pool’ in the ruins of Hierapolis, an
ancient health spa, just above the calcium terraces. Overnight in Pumukale.
Day 7 - Fri 29th April 2011 – Bursa Tour 
Today we start our journey back north to Istanbul. Our first stop is passing through the former
Ottoman Empire capital of Bursa. Opportunities to check out the mighty Grand Mosque and
famous Silk Markets for some additional items for the growing souvenir pile. We overnight in
Istanbul tonight. 
Day 8 - Sat 30th April 2011 - Istanbul City Tour/Farewell party
Today is a chance to check out one of the biggest and oldest cities in Europe. Our city tour
includes the Blue Mosque, Museum of Turkish & Islamic Art, Topkapi Palace, The underground
cistern and the Hippdrome. Tonight is also the mighty farewell party – a chance to reflect on a
pretty memorable 8 days! Overnight in Istanbul. 


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