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Y'all should go visit Godless Commie if you get a chance. Turkey is an amazing place. I just spent two weeks there with my family and could have easily spent two more.
View of the Bosphorus and some of the old town part of Istanbul from the top of the Galata Tower.
There are lots of cats that seem to live really nice lives.
So much baklava!
Rather cool Mosques.
Did I mention there are lots of cats?
Something something cats?
A US/Turkish Submarine from WWII that you can go inside (no pictures allowed inside).
Nighttime view of the Bosphorus from the Asian continent.
When you get tired of city life you can hop on a ridiculously cheap airline flight to Cappadocia and explore the caves carved by people forever ago.
Inside the "cave" in this picture are the empty graves of Hittites (I would rate the climb a V0x, as there is a 50ft drop on the left and the rock is soft).
If caves aren't your thing, take an overnight bus to Olympos on the mediterranean, and bask in the glory of paradise.
Once you're done with the beach itself, hop on a Gulet (Turkish sailing yacht) and forget about the rest of the world.
The view from the back of the Gulet, this is where we ate all our meals.
The weather is nice enough that you can just sleep on the deck (that's my parents sleeping there).
All of the Goulets moored at Butterfly Valley while we hike to the waterfalls.
Leaving Butterfly Valley.
Some gorgeous beachside town (really good homemade ice cream).
Paragliding near Fethiye (we also went scuba diving).
Sunset from Christmas Island.
Do you like cheese? I do...
The man himself (at the best baklava place in Istanbul).
I missed hooking up with Hakan several years ago during my then-frequent European escapades; wasn't able to justify a multi-day layover when the company was footing the bill.
It was, and if you do make it, definitely let Hakan know that you're coming.
We found that Turkish people in general are very friendly and helpful, but Hakan takes this way further than most and is an incredibly gracious host.
More pictures because this is the random pictures thread.
Turkish Breakfast (and lunch, and snack, and dinner).
Now on my bucket list (it's a shallow bucket). Flew through Istanbul once on my way to Romania for work. First class on Turkish Airlines 787 was awesome. Not sure I can pull that off for a personal trip.
Turkish Breakfast (and lunch, and snack, and dinner).
Hakan actually called me on the phone late last year when I was in the hospital with a collapsed lung. I didn't even know it was possible to place a telephone call via Facebook, but he figured it out. We chatted for at least an hour, this was when he was in super-secret mode with the TV show. Amazingly cool guy, and I would happily place myself in his stewardship while a guest in Istanbul.
I tried to meet up with Hakan while I was there for work a few years ago, but it didn't work out. My colleagues and I were just supposed to be in Ankara, but decided to have a "business meeting" in Istanbul. I didn't get to do half the things you did, but it was still great. The food is great and that church/mosque/whatever it is now that has changed hands so many times was really cool. Layer upon layer of paintings and mosaics and such all covered up by the next religious resident. So much history in Istanbul from the trade route. I tried to post a picture, but it appears work now blocks the picture uploads. I'll have to post some when I get home.
07-02-2018, 10:47 PM
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