Troy and Bergama

After a whirlwind tour of Istanbul we will board a bus for Bergama.  The trip will include a ferry ride to  Canakkale. We can expect to spend much of the day traveling so this will be a perfect time to update your travel journal, read about the ancient cities of Turkey or just relax and enjoy the scenery. On previous tours the Tour Director and bus driver have been very strict about no food and drink on the bus, only allowing bottled water when we are travelling. However,  the bus drivers are usually  required to stop every couple hours so there will be opportunities for washroom breaks and places to buy water and other snacks.  

We will be stopping at the ruins of Troy for a guided tour. Hisarlik is the modern name for the ancient site of Troy. The city of Troy was founded by Ilus, the son of Tros, in 3000 BC.  The long history of Troy describes the development of a wealthy trade city with tragic episodes, natural disasters, fires, massacres and wars...only to be resurrected each time. 

Archeological  excavations in Hisarlik have revealed nine separate periods of settlement.  A German Archeologist, Heinrich Schliemann, began excavations in 1868 and discovered several cities built on the same site.  

Troy was also known as Ilios or Ilion, a name which can be found in the Iliad, Homer`s epic poem.  For centuries this story in the Iliad, was regarded as just a myth, until the ruins of the city were found in western Turkey at Hisarlik in the mid-19th century.  Archeological teams are attempting to rebuild the Troy of the Bronze Age. Another team is trying to retrieve the Trojan treasures, which are at the Pushkin Museum.  Our guided tour may include  ancient Troy's acropolis with city walls and gates, the parliament, Athena Tempel Site, Animal sacrifying spot, remainings of king palaces and houses and the water pipes system. In Greek mythology the Trojan War was  waged against the  city of Troy by the Greeks after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menalaus, King of Sparta.  If you are interested in Greek mythology I would recommend checking out the school library or Wheatland Library as there are many books available and would be worth reading before our tour.  The movie Troy (2004) staring Brad Pitt will also give you some background information that will make our visit to Troy more interesting.  The Trojan horse used on the movie set is now in Canakkale and we may see it when we are there.

We will then continue on to Bergama, a city area in Izmir Province in Turkey,  where we will spend the night. Bergama has a population of about 55,000. The ruins of the ancient city of Pergamon lie to the north and west of the modern city.  I am sure our Tour Director will have some great activities planned for the evening.

After breakfast we will tour Pergamon.  Pergamon is an ancient city dating as far back as the 5th century BC. Credited with the invention of parchment, this once great seat of learning and culture had a library with over 20,000 volumes and a medical center  - the remains of which can still be seen today.  Listed in the Bible as one of the Seven Churches of Asia, Pergamon flourished until the 14th century when, under Ottoman rule, it was abandoned and left to decay. Today, much of the remains of this once magnificent city lie underneath the modern-day city of Bergama but, thanks to Pergamon’s hilltop position, the remains of its most important buildings are still visible.

We will be visiting the Acropolis of Pergamon which is clearly visible from anywhere in Bergama. We will see two partially reconstructed temples (Temple of Trajan and the Temple of Athena), ancient aqueducts and the incredible hillside theater, which is said to contain the steepest theater seating in the world.  Asclepion (the ancient medical center) was centuries ahead of its time in its use of therapies to cure ills. Other important sites at Pergamon include Asclepion (the ancient medical center)  that was centuries ahead of its time in its use of therapies to cure ills,  the Red Basilica and the Zeus Altar.  

After touring Pergamon we will continue on to the city of Kusadasi where we will be spending two nights.

Sights and Sounds of Istanbul

Our first day in Istanbul will probably start with many of us waking to the sound of the "adhan" or the Islamic call to worship. We will hear this five times a day, starting at dawn and ending at sunset.  Adhan is called out by the  muezzin (over a loudspeaker) at the numerous mosques throughout the city and it summons the Muslims for mandatory prayer.   

After breakfast we will going on a guided tour of Istanbul.  Some of the places we will visit include:
1.  Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue Mosque: It was built between 1609-1616 and is  also called the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles on the walls and ceiling.

2.  Hague Sophia: From 537 - 1453 this ancient building was a Greek Orthodox cathedral. When the Ottomans conquered the city it became a mosque and remained a mosque until 1931 when it was secularized and became a museum.

3. Grand Bazaar: is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. Construction began in 1455.  There are 61 covered streets and 3000 shops.

4.  Spice Bazaar: is well known as the centre of the spice trade in Istanbul and the second largest bazaar in Istanbul.

5. Hippodrome: Also known as the Hippodrome of Constantinople this area was home to chariot races.  There are a few fragments of the original structure remaining including the Serpent Column and the Obelisk.

In the afternoon we may have time to visit Galata Bridge and Tower, Topkapi Palace, Istiklal Street or other locations suggested by our Tour Director.  

Sampling local cuisine is always an interesting adventure when visiting new countries.  Here are a few items that you might be interested in trying while we are visiting Turkey.

The simit is one of Istanbul's  most beloved food items. Topped with toasted sesame seeds, the ring-shaped bread is somewhat reminiscent of a bagel, yet its inside and outer crust are far crisper and crunchier. Simit is commonly eaten at breakfast and is also a favourite snack, often accompanied by a strong glass of traditional Turkish tea. 

Simit 

Meze is a selection of small dishes served either as appetizers or the main focus of a meal.  In Istanbul, meze might include the following items: cold eggplant salad; dolma which are rice or meat stuffed vegetables; hummus; white bean salad; shepherd’s salad, a classic combination of chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers and parsley dressed with lemon and olive oil;  as well as the usual Turkish offering of olives and cheese.

Kebabs are on every menu. A kebab in general refers to meat dishes, prepared in any number of ways – roasted, grilled, stewed, ground or fried. Lamb is the most common meat used in Turkish dishes. In addition to kebab, lamb can be served in a casserole, slowed cooked in a Tandir oven, or ground into meatballs or köfte. Many restaurants in Istanbul will offer typical meat dishes with beef or chicken.

Fish is  served throughout Turkey. It is offered grilled, fried, or steamed and most often served whole. A variety of sardine only found in Turkey is also a popular dish for meze, as are mussels stuffed with pilaf and fried calamari.

Vegetable dishes are also found throughout the city. Eggplant, peppers, spinach, artichokes, tomatoes and onions are just some of the vegetables found in Turkish dishes. 

Pastries are prominent throughout Istanbul and are often filled with either savory or sweet ingredients. Börek, the most common savory pastry, is made with thin layers of phyllo dough and stuffed with cheese, ground meat or vegetables. Baklava, a sweet pastry, comes in various forms but generally consists of layers of honey soaked phyllo dough studded with walnuts or pistachios. Kadayf is another common dessert, again made with phyllo, but this time shredded and filled with sweet cheese. Lokum or Turkish delight is a candy made from chopped dates and a variety of nuts. it is sold in shops throughout the  Grand Bazaar and often served after a meal. 

Turkish Delight

Istanbul also has many different kinds of street food.  Döner kebab is one of the most popular options. Vendors have vertical spits of roasting lamb meat which is sliced to order and dressed with sauce and sometimes cheese, then wrapped in thin Lavash bread, toasted again and served. Some stalls in Istanbul now serve chicken döner topped with shredded vegetables.  The kebab is a delicious and inexpensive snack enjoyed throughout Istanbul. Another popular choice is islak hamburger, somewhere in between a burger and sloppy joe, it is ground meat doused in tomato sauce served between bread. Other vendors roast chestnuts and entire ears of corn on small charcoal grills and these are also available.  There are  many ice cream stands in the tourist areas.  It is lots of fun to watch the servers, they love to entertain the tourists. 

Doner Kebab

Roasted Corn

Tea is a popular beverage and is available throughout the day in cafes as well as on the street. Street venders typically carry large, steel containers holding tea and other beverages. Black tea is the most popular variety among locals, while many tourists prefer herbal teas, especially elma çay, or apple tea. Many retail businesses will offer shoppers small glasses of tea as a sign of hospitality.  Other popular beverages in the city include: ayran, a salty yogurt drink served in most restaurants; kefir, made with grain and milk and often flavored with fruit juices; and the famous Turkish coffee, a thicker, stronger brew than other coffee cultures.  Bottled water is also always available.

Street vendor making fresh juice

Istanbul Not Constantinople

We will begin our Europe 2014 tour in Turkey. Our Tour Director and the local city guides will share facts and information about the country and its people as well as the history as we tour the country.  However, it is always helpful to have some background knowledge of the  places you visit before you go there, so I will be posting information about places we will see or  things we will do while on tour.

Turkey is bordered by the Black Sea to the north, the Aegean to the west and the Mediterranean to the south.  Turkey is in the Anatolian region of west Asia with a small section in southeastern Europe separated by the Turkish Straits (Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara and Dardanelles).  Turkey was a major power in Europe starting from the late 13th century when the Ottomans created an empire encompassing much of  Southeastern Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.  The  Ottoman Empire collapsed following its defeat in World War I,  and the Turkish War of Independence led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his colleagues, resulted in the establishment of the modern Republic of Turkey in 1923, with Atatürk as its first president.  The official language is Turkish and the majority of the population is Muslim.

Our first destination is Istanbul.  Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey. It is located on the Bosporus Strait and covers the entire area of the Golden Horn, a natural harbour that divides the city. Istanbul is the only city in the world to extend into more than one continent, Europe and Asia.  Istanbul began as the city of Byzantium in the 7^th Century BCE. 

Byzantium became a part of the Roman Empire in the 300s. During this time, the Roman emperor Constantine the Great undertook a construction project to rebuild the entire city. His goal was to make it stand out and give the city monuments similar to those found in Rome. In 330, Constantine declared the city as the capital of the entire Roman Empire and renamed it Constantinople. The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city since the time of Constantine.

In 532 the anti-government Nika Revolt broke out among the city’s population and destroyed it. After the revolt, Constantinople was rebuilt and many of its most outstanding monuments were constructed- one of which was the Hagia Sophia. Constantinople became the center of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Constantinople prospered significantly however, the factors leading to its success, also made it a target for conquering. For hundreds of years, troops from all over the Middle East attacked the city.  As competition persisted between the Catholic Latin Empire and the Greek Orthodox Byzantine Empire, Constantinople was caught in the middle and began to significantly decay. It went financially bankrupt, the population declined, and it became vulnerable to further attacks as defense posts around the city crumbled.

In 1261, in the midst of this turmoil, the Empire of Nicaea recaptured Constantinople and it was returned to the Byzantine Empire. Around the same time, the Ottoman Turks began conquering the cities surrounding Constantinople, effectively cutting it off from many of its neighboring cities.

After being considerably weakened by constant invasions and being cut off from its neighbors by the Ottoman Turks, Constantinople was officially conquered by the Ottomans, led by Sultan Mehmed II on May 29, 1453 after a 53-day siege. During the siege, the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI, died while defending his city. Almost immediately, Constantinople was named as the capital of the Ottoman Empire and its name was changed to Istanbul. Upon taking control of the city, Sultan Mehmed sought to rejuvenate Istanbul. He created the Grand Bazaar (one of the largest covered marketplaces in the world) and brought back fleeing Catholic and Greek Orthodox residents.  In addition, he brought in Muslim, Christian, and Jewish families to establish a mixed populace. Sultan Mehmed also began the building of architectural monuments, schools, hospitals, public baths, and grand imperial mosques.

From 1520 to 1566, Suleiman the Magnificent controlled the Ottoman Empire and there were many artistic and architectural achievements that made it a major cultural, political, and commercial center. By the mid-1500s, the city’s population also grew to almost 1 million inhabitants. The Ottoman Empire ruled Istanbul until it was defeated and occupied by the allies in World War I.

Following its occupation by the allies in World War I, the Turkish War of Independence took place and Istanbul became a part of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. Ankara, a centrally located city in the Republic of Turkey, was named the capital instead of Istanbul. For many years the city of Istanbul saw very little development.  In the 1940s and 1950s Istanbul re-emerged and new public squares, boulevards, and avenues were constructed, forcing the demolition of many of the city’s historic buildings.

In the 1970s, Istanbul’s population rapidly increased, causing the city to expand into the nearby villages and forests, eventually creating a major world metropolis. Istanbul's many historical areas were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1985. In addition, because of its status as a world rising power, its history, importance to culture in both Europe and the world, Istanbul was designated the European Capital of Culture for 2010.