Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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  • World Trip 2023: Day 9 – Istanbul, Türkiye

    Istanbul, Türkiye – The sun sets on today and this tour

    Sunday 07 May 2023
    Highlights: Exploring less visited areas of Istanbul, visiting Tekfur Palace, Cruising the Bosphorus Strait

    Today was the final official day of the G Adventures ‘Best of Turkey’ tour, which really is normally just an included breakfast but today I had booked an extra option the Alternative Istanbul Walking Tour and Bosphorus Cruise which goes for about 8 hours. I had hoped to do this option before the main tour but my flights got pushed back and didn’t have the time so insteaded scheduled for today.

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  • World Trip 2023: Day 8 – Pamukkale to Istanbul, Türkiye

    Istanbul, Türkiye – Basilica Cistern

    Saturday 06 May 2023
    Highlights: Exploring the Basilica Cistern, Visiting the Grand Bazaar

    A 5 am wake up call plus the local call to prayers had everyone ready for today’s early morning start. Leaving after breakfast at 6.15 am we were on the road for a 50-60 minute drive to nearby Denizli Çardak Airport. What we didn’t know is that our 8.20 am flight (see review here) wouldn’t leave until 10.30 am meaning extra sleep in time was missed.

    The worst thing about the Istanbul Airport is it is about an hour out from the city, especially the old district that we are staying in. As a result despite landing at 11.39 am it took us almost to 1.30 pm to get to our hotel. We had an included 3 hour orientation walk of the historic district but everyone decided against it in order to do activities that had planned for the afternoon before we lost so much time. We so many people leaving tomorrow this was their last chance to visit particular places.

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  • Flight Review – TK2577 Denizli to Istanbul

    Turkish Airlines
    Date: Saturday 06 May 2023
    Gate: 2
    Seat: 25A (Economy Class Seat)
    Plane: Boeing 737-800
    Scheduled: 08:20
    Boarded: 10:12
    Pushback: 10:33
    Arrived: 11:39 (Scheduled 09:35)
    Duration: 1 hour 6 minutes
    Distance: 396 kms

    This flight was from Denizli Çardak Airport to Istanbul Airport.

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  • World Trip 2023: Day 7 – Selçuk to Pamukkale, Türkiye

    World Trip 2023: Day 7 – Selçuk to Pamukkale, Türkiye

    Pamukkale, Türkiye – Hierapolis white travertine terraces

    Friday 05 May 2023
    Highlights: Hierapolis Ruins, White travertine terraces, Cleopatra Antique Pool, Whirling Dervishes Ceremony

    How last big drive day was to take between 3-4 hours and it happened to be in the rain which all things considered is lucky as we are safe inside the mini bus. We had lunch on arrival at Pamukkale, checked in to our hotel and for changed for our visit to the Hierapolis Ruins.

    Hierapolis (Holy City) has been used as a spa since at least the 2nd century BC as a Greek city. The area is famous for the travertine limestone deposited by the hot springs. In 133 BC that area transferred to the control of the Romans. The Hierapolis experience two major earthquakes in 17 and 60 AD leading to being rebuilt into Roman style which today’s ruins represent.

    Pamukkale, Türkiye – Hierapolis white travertine terraces
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  • World Trip 2023: Day 6 – Selçuk, Türkiye

    Şirince Village, Türkiye

    Thursday 04 May 2023
    Highlights: Visiting Şirince Village, Exploring Selçuk, Visiting St John’s Basilica, Enjoying a Wine Sampling afternoon.

    Today was a day of options with no travelling between hotels. Isik started the day with a quick orientation walk around to the key points of Selçuk so we knew were our major options where. From year it was off to the picturesque Şirince Village.

    Şirince Village, Türkiye
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