Farewell and Tesekkür to Turkey, But We’ll Be Back

ISTANBUL (Oct. 31) — Our day began with settling our affairs for the flight home. After checking in and making sure we were confirmed for our trip, we grabbed some coffee and decided to explore Dolmabahçe Palace. The palace grounds … Continued

Istanbul from Above, and Some Tastes We’ll Miss

ISTANBUL (Oct. 30) — We woke up to a beautiful sunny day filled with endless possibilities. Over the hotel’s breakfast, we discussed our options for how to spend our day and where to please our stomachs. We transferred hotels from … Continued

Our Last Hurrah in Turkey? Not Quite …

EPHESUS/ISTANBUL (Oct. 29) — We arose and packed for our return to Istanbul to fly back home early the next day. After enjoying our final breakfast at the Ephesus Boutique — fresh produce, honey, jams, and all the fixings — … Continued

Gone to Ruins: Prienne, Miletus and Didyma

EPHESUS (Oct. 27) — Today was another chance to visit ancient ruins. After the hotel’s quaint breakfast, Berkan met us for another serious flashback to the past. We first visited Prienne. In its heyday, Prienne was located on the seashore … Continued

A Journey in Time, at Ephesus: Day 5

EPHESUS (Oct. 26) — We journeyed back to ancient Roman and Greek times by visiting Ephesus. Our guide for this excursion, Berkan, started by taking us to the House of The Virgin Mary, the site where it is believed John … Continued