To start things off, let me first state that ALL pictures and videos posted in this thread are made by myself and no one else.

Trip start: July 15th 2011.

Trip end: August 11th 2011.

Transportation: Ford Focus Mk1, diesel engine (thank god for that, gas is EXTREMELY expensive in our main destination <Turkey>).

Kilometers covered: 6019.

Countries visited / transited : RO, RS, BG, TR.

Approximate map of the entire tour:

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/2713/33333ye.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/192/33333ye.jpg/)

Pictures and vids will be up soon.

Day 1: Timisoara-Vrsac-Pancevo-Smederevo-Nis-Sofia-Plovdiv-Kapitan Andreevo-Kapikule-Edirne-Eceabat.

Near Nis
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/7913/img3031y.jpg (http://img836.imageshack.us/i/img3031y.jpg/)

Sofia City Gates (personal impression: won't be coming back here soon, left a nasty impression)
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/2787/img3048e.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/i/img3048e.jpg/)

Edirne
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/3905/img3054m.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/i/img3054m.jpg/)

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/2167/img3053m.jpg (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/img3053m.jpg/)

Eceabat-Canakkale Ferry Crossing

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3310/img3085nd.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/i/img3085nd.jpg/)

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/1892/img3084t.jpg (http://img607.imageshack.us/i/img3084t.jpg/)

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/299/img3073u.jpg (http://img836.imageshack.us/i/img3073u.jpg/)

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/3553/img3087f.jpg (http://img837.imageshack.us/i/img3087f.jpg/)

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3606/img3059q.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/i/img3059q.jpg/)

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/2144/img3069k.jpg (http://img838.imageshack.us/i/img3069k.jpg/)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6469/img3072yg.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/i/img3072yg.jpg/)

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/7749/img3055ev.jpg (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/img3055ev.jpg/)

If you have any questions regarding the road condition, road taxes, acommodations, gas prices and anything else you can think of, please do not hesitate to ask.

And now, the real fun begins ...

Day 2...

TROY (Ro: Troia) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy)


http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3113/img3107k.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/i/img3107k.jpg/)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/2688/img3108m.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/img3108m.jpg/)

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/8592/img3111h.jpg (http://img713.imageshack.us/i/img3111h.jpg/)

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/9850/img3112w.jpg (http://img838.imageshack.us/i/img3112w.jpg/)

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/3829/img3126n.jpg (http://img580.imageshack.us/i/img3126n.jpg/)

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1388/img3164z.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/i/img3164z.jpg/)

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/144/img3127l.jpg (http://img703.imageshack.us/i/img3127l.jpg/)

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6581/img3129i.jpg (http://img89.imageshack.us/i/img3129i.jpg/)

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/3720/img3131n.jpg (http://img820.imageshack.us/i/img3131n.jpg/)

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/1682/img3135t.jpg (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/img3135t.jpg/)

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/2084/img3151j.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/img3151j.jpg/)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1637/img3154x.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/i/img3154x.jpg/)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/275/img3162tk.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/img3162tk.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/5109/img3145k.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/img3145k.jpg/)

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/5308/img3137ln.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/i/img3137ln.jpg/)

ASSOS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assos)

The huge rock formation you see just a few kilometers away in some of the pictures below is the world-famous island of Lesbos.

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/6379/img3169gt.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/img3169gt.jpg/)

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8697/img3198k.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/img3198k.jpg/)

http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/5031/img3180h.jpg (http://img814.imageshack.us/i/img3180h.jpg/)

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7138/img3199p.jpg (http://img819.imageshack.us/i/img3199p.jpg/)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4447/img3200h.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/i/img3200h.jpg/)

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5188/img3168yz.jpg (http://img836.imageshack.us/i/img3168yz.jpg/)

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/6692/img3201b.jpg (http://img809.imageshack.us/i/img3201b.jpg/)

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/5223/img3205n.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/img3205n.jpg/)

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/316/img3179r.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/img3179r.jpg/)

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9585/img3178q.jpg (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/img3178q.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/4463/img3183ei.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/img3183ei.jpg/)

That's it for today. More pictures will come over the next few days. Feed-back ? :)

Waiting for the skyline of the 2 continents :)

Feed-back ? :)

Yes, I'll feed you back baklavas :D
If you have taken photos of the Turkish customs, please also include them. Thank you.

Cool! :cheers: Have you been to Ephesus? I've been there a few years ago and it's quite impressive. The library is :shocked:. It's almost incredible what people used to build back then.

I didn't take any pictures of the customs. But i can tell you that while the Kapikule border is very modern and pleasant to transit, the one at Derekoy (/Maliko Tarnovo) is just a total nightmare. You could easily make some horror-movies there :).

Pictures of the Istanbul skyline + Ephesus will be posted in the next few days, i'd like to post the pictures in chronological order.

PERGAMON (Ro: Pergam) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamon)

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/601/img3232d.jpg (http://img36.imageshack.us/i/img3232d.jpg/)

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/8576/img3211p.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/img3211p.jpg/)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/5849/img3258yr.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/img3258yr.jpg/)

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/1161/img3233u.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/img3233u.jpg/)

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/582/img3257b.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/img3257b.jpg/)

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/736/img3221z.jpg (http://img850.imageshack.us/i/img3221z.jpg/)

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/1888/img3218d.jpg (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/img3218d.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/1650/img3215sj.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/img3215sj.jpg/)

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/4066/img3214fy.jpg (http://img684.imageshack.us/i/img3214fy.jpg/)

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5475/img3253sb.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/i/img3253sb.jpg/)

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9041/img3252ml.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/i/img3252ml.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4881/img3259h.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img3259h.jpg/)

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2296/img3246d.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/i/img3246d.jpg/)

RED BASILICA, Bergama (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Basilica)

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/9130/img3264p.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/img3264p.jpg/)

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/326/img3267jy.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/i/img3267jy.jpg/)

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/4097/img3270t.jpg (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/img3270t.jpg/)

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2754/img3271uu.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/img3271uu.jpg/)

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/830/img3265e.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/i/img3265e.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/5107/img3272cc.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/img3272cc.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2995/img3274oi.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img3274oi.jpg/)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5867/img3276j.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/img3276j.jpg/)

Needless to say we were exhausted after visiting so many archaeological sites (or should we just call them TREASURES ?) in a single day. So we tried to find a place to sleep in Bergama. Unfortunately no luck, either the prices were very high or the conditions awful. So we drove on and eventually got to Izmir. We quickly realized we weren't going to find anyplace cheap to sleep, so we drove on to the outskirts of Kusadasi, were we knew there are a lot of hotels. After 1 hour (!!) of looking for decent hotel, we found one and went immediately to bed. The plans for the next day included Priene, Didima and Bodrum. But plans change. Stay tuned to find out what we visited next (sounds like a bad line from a reality show :D).

P.S.: If someone needs a KGS card with more than 20 TRY on it, PM me.

Day 3. Like i said, plans change, so...

HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_the_Virgin_Mary)

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7916/img3277z.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/i/img3277z.jpg/)

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/153/img3278k.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/img3278k.jpg/)

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/5189/img3279yr.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/img3279yr.jpg/)


Moron...
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/3724/img3284o.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/img3284o.jpg/)

EPHESUS (Ro: Efes) Part I (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus)

My second favourite site visited in this tour. Wanna take a guess which one is first ? :)

Hint: it hasn't been posted yet.

Here we go...

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/7640/img3330i.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/i/img3330i.jpg/)

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/7771/img3333q.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/img3333q.jpg/)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/971/img3291h.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/img3291h.jpg/)

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/1817/img3328vt.jpg (http://img571.imageshack.us/i/img3328vt.jpg/)

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7906/img3290bm.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/img3290bm.jpg/)

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/8509/img3323x.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/img3323x.jpg/)

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5038/img3313e.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/i/img3313e.jpg/)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/7017/img3332o.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/img3332o.jpg/)

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/9474/img3331vd.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/img3331vd.jpg/)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9484/img3307d.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/img3307d.jpg/)

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7413/img3315vz.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/img3315vz.jpg/)

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/1883/img3327zm.jpg (http://img691.imageshack.us/i/img3327zm.jpg/)

http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/2148/img3288p.jpg (http://img814.imageshack.us/i/img3288p.jpg/)

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/2056/img3293w.jpg (http://img594.imageshack.us/i/img3293w.jpg/)

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1761/img3325sl.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/img3325sl.jpg/)

EPHESUS (Ro: Efes) Part II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus)

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/8619/img3335qu.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/img3335qu.jpg/)

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1310/img3339tq.jpg (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/img3339tq.jpg/)

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/7112/img3342g.jpg (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/img3342g.jpg/)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5853/img3348v.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/i/img3348v.jpg/)

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/576/img3337m.jpg (http://img545.imageshack.us/i/img3337m.jpg/)

http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/6710/img3349.jpg (http://img542.imageshack.us/i/img3349.jpg/)

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/2917/img3351k.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/i/img3351k.jpg/)

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/5046/img3374n.jpg (http://img850.imageshack.us/i/img3374n.jpg/)

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/1091/img3372j.jpg (http://img607.imageshack.us/i/img3372j.jpg/)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7056/img3370sy.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img3370sy.jpg/)

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6605/img3354xh.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/i/img3354xh.jpg/)

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4166/img3361wv.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/img3361wv.jpg/)

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/2227/img3357f.jpg (http://img854.imageshack.us/i/img3357f.jpg/)

And then we went straight for the highest mountain we could find. 4487 m.

Can you imagine snow at 38 degrees northern latitude in the middle of July ?

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/619/111111ki.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/i/111111ki.jpg/)

Neither could we. That's when we realized we were in the Cotton Castle. Also known as ... Pamukkale.

PAMUKKALE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamukkale)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7162/img3429t.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/img3429t.jpg/)

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/2900/img3395at.jpg (http://img818.imageshack.us/i/img3395at.jpg/)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/6053/img3397b.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img3397b.jpg/)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/828/img3399co.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/img3399co.jpg/)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/1235/img3398f.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/img3398f.jpg/)

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7353/img3400eg.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/img3400eg.jpg/)

If you look VERY carefully, you can spot a beautiful nightshot of Pamukkale :)

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/1388/img3507n.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/i/img3507n.jpg/)

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/9179/img3509u.jpg (http://img191.imageshack.us/i/img3509u.jpg/)

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/5140/img3510tj.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/i/img3510tj.jpg/)

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/9908/img3503f.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/img3503f.jpg/)

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1866/img3511a.jpg (http://img812.imageshack.us/i/img3511a.jpg/)

It's safe to assume that we visited Hierapolis during the same time (the ancient city is located on top of the travertines <type of limestone>), but those pictures will be upped later on tomorrow or after-tomorrow.

Near the travertines of Pamukkale we found the cheapest accommodation on our tour (55 Turkish lira) that offered amazing conditions (apartment, 2 TV's, fridge). Although the initial plan was to drive all the way to Antalya, we decided to stay.

A few interesting facts about the water from the hot springs of Pamukkale which i found very interesting. All the info is "collected" from a local, and i doubt that many people or websites know them. :)

1. If you put a T-shirt in the water, it'll turn to stone in a matter of HOURS.

2. Pamukkale is constantly growing, "thanks" to human intervention. The first picture posted regarding Pamukkale is entirely "new" "snow". It was "made" this year and it took just over 1 month.

3. According to the owner of the hotel, in the 70's several people were turned to stone (wrapped with cloths & towels). Chilling. Rival gangs or something like that.

I didn't believe Nr 3. :)

See you soon. ;)

Hey, Pamukkale is also in my signature. :D It's hidden under the name of 'The Cotton palace', because that's the translation of Pamukkale in Turkish. :)

And yes, it's an amazing place. There are very few places in the world resembling it.

Have you also been in Cappadocia ?

I thought Kale meant "castle". My bad. :)

Cappadochia & about 15 archaeological sites are planned for the next time we visit Turkey. But don't worry, we visited a whole lot this time too (as you'll soon see). ;)

From what you know, is the information posted even remotely close to reality or was the local lying ?

Sorry, kale is castle.
Saray [Romanian serai] is for palace.

I think those are 'local myths'. Otherwise, there should have been a much larger, higher and wider 'cotton castle' given the age of those springs. Since 1900 till 2010 for example, it should have...maybe doubled??? its' dimensions.

P.S. Tell us about the traffic. :)

I last visited pamukkale in 1997. Although i was still a child then, i remember it much smaller than it was now (children tend to remember things larger than they really are). I don't remember the area visited now, the one i saw then (very restricted) was totally different. Water isn't flowing over it now. I'm guess they're expanding it as we speak :). And, probably, the output of the springs isn't that high.

Well, hats off to them for their infrastructure. Where there isn't express road, it's beeing built. (exception: Antalya-Isparta, very dangerous piece of road :(. Avoid if possible, trust me on this one).

I came upon several bottlenecks during our trip:

Near and in Istanbul (makes sense, eh ? :))
Near and around Antalya and Alanya (again, makes sense, we visited them in full-blown tourist season)
Edirne-Cannakkale (several bottlenecks, there are still big sections of 1x1 road)
And let's not forget Izmir (yeap, even on the 3x2 motorway) :)

^ "Palace", "Castle", almost the same thing. Great pictures, ThunderTM!
Is Sofia so unpleasant today? I remember I was there in January-May 1990 (smuggling goods :lol:) and it was like a heaven comparing with the very grey Romania.

^ "Palace", "Castle", almost the same thing. Great pictures, ThunderTM!
Is Sofia so unpleasant today? I remember I was there in January-May 1990 (smuggling goods :lol:) and it was like a heaven comparing with the very grey Romania.

As far as I remember, Sofia was pretty nice at night, in the city centre. I didn't visit it during the day.
I think ThunderTM had his remark because of the bypass, which are awful both in Romania and Bulgaria. I liked though, that in Sofia, in the early hours of the morning, the by-pass heading towards Skopje has alternate lanes with traffic lights, so in the morning there are 3[I don't remember exactly] lanes in one direction and 2 in the other. And in the evening it reverses. Something like that.

Can you help me, ThunderTM ?

I guess it's a matter of personal taste. Sofia seemed like a city stuck in the 80's (with the exception of a few buildings), everything was grey, sad, full of... rroma and their homes (and i don't mean palaces). Just a few people on the streets and keep in mind that i did NOT use the bypass. To be honest, if comparing Sofia to Chisinau, i like the latter a whole lot better. In my mind, there's no point in comparing it to Bucharest / Belgrade.

Oh, and yeah, i have no ideea about the bypass towards Skopje (MK), i came from Nis (RS).

HIERAPOLIS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierapolis)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9231/img3497al.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img3497al.jpg/)

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/3016/img3500g.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/img3500g.jpg/)

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/5347/img3502c.jpg (http://img709.imageshack.us/i/img3502c.jpg/)

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9273/img3447x.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/img3447x.jpg/)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/473/img3443q.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/img3443q.jpg/)

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/9553/img3472th.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/i/img3472th.jpg/)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8842/img3496cm.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/img3496cm.jpg/)

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/3892/img3493x.jpg (http://img820.imageshack.us/i/img3493x.jpg/)

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2075/img3436x.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/img3436x.jpg/)

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/5830/img3490s.jpg (http://img641.imageshack.us/i/img3490s.jpg/)

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/8264/img3489q.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/img3489q.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/5446/img3484pm.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/img3484pm.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8083/img3450r.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/img3450r.jpg/)

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/9729/img3492a.jpg (http://img41.imageshack.us/i/img3492a.jpg/)

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3153/img3488ob.jpg (http://img197.imageshack.us/i/img3488ob.jpg/)

One thing here made me absolutely MAD. Ok, two things. First is that they "flooded" the sarcophagus with the limestone-abundant water. In the 1800's, but still.

Second, only about 10 % of the people who climbed the travertines actually visited Hierapolis too. The terrain is flat, there's no extra entrance fee, it's just a matter of walking for 1-2 km (one-way). Why do so few people actually do that ? I think you know too :)

NEXT morning we left Pamukkale and ended up visiting Thermessos, near Antalya. If you plan on reaching the main attractions here, you'd better be prepared. It was one of the hardest climbs i have ever made. The hill (well, mountain actually) is VERY steep on several portions, there are full of jagged rocks, the pathway is very narrow, you have to climb for 3-4 km. And let's not forget the temperature. And most off all, the humidity (which exceeds 90, i'm sure). Then add the fact that i was so stubborn that i walked wearing slippers :D.

Oh well, here we go...

THERMESSOS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termessos)

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/7558/img3532s.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/img3532s.jpg/)

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/3359/img3537t.jpg (http://img571.imageshack.us/i/img3537t.jpg/)

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/7896/img3516of.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/img3516of.jpg/)

http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/1118/img3558h.jpg (http://img806.imageshack.us/i/img3558h.jpg/)

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/6079/img3535e.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/img3535e.jpg/)

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6237/img3557k.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/i/img3557k.jpg/)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9958/img3547d.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/img3547d.jpg/)

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/9156/img3530z.jpg (http://img689.imageshack.us/i/img3530z.jpg/)

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/3945/img3538y.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/img3538y.jpg/)

http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/6972/img3555v.jpg (http://img542.imageshack.us/i/img3555v.jpg/)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/4534/img3528lg.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/img3528lg.jpg/)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6733/img3521x.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/img3521x.jpg/)

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/4346/img3519j.jpg (http://img580.imageshack.us/i/img3519j.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/120/img3546xz.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img3546xz.jpg/)

This was one (of two) archaeological sites were there NO other tourists present.

Lower Düden Waterfall (Lara, Antalya) (http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM8VT6_Lower_Dden_Waterfall_near_Antalya_and_Lara_Turkey)

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/1118/img3588q.jpg (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/img3588q.jpg/)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7600/img3591c.jpg (http://img155.imageshack.us/i/img3591c.jpg/)

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/3675/img3596w.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/i/img3596w.jpg/)

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6598/img3593o.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/img3593o.jpg/)

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/9074/img3594p.jpg (http://img845.imageshack.us/i/img3594p.jpg/)

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/1469/img3595y.jpg (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/img3595y.jpg/)

A bit of plane-spotting near Antalya International Airport (i bet this'll draw in the aviation freaks :D:D:D)

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/7672/img3589m.jpg (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/img3589m.jpg/)

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1741/img3590w.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/i/img3590w.jpg/)

Yeah, i really need to upgrade my camera in order to get better shots :D

Moving on to the main attraction...

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/5382/img3600m.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/img3600m.jpg/)

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/7932/img3597br.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/img3597br.jpg/)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/1371/img3599g.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/img3599g.jpg/)

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/824/img3598g.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/i/img3598g.jpg/)

The same day we visited the Archaeological Museum in Antalya, but i won't post any pictures, unless requested by someone (i don't wanna risk boring you too much :D).

^^ Antalya skyline ? :D

I think you should better move on to things which everybody is interested in, such as roads, buildings, things to see, things to do, and unusual stuff. :) My opinion.

What about food ?

P.S. Cladirea aceea din stanga cascadei seamana cu Presedintia din Kazahstan. [institutia]

Well, sadly... i won't. Ancient sites trump modern infrastructure and skylines in my book. Forever and always. I would have photographed modern infrastructure and skylines if i could have, but...

1. My SDSC card died during the first days of the tour.
2. I could only find SDHC cards, which my OLD camera DOES NOT support.
3. The only thing i EVENTUALLY FOUND (some of the upcoming pictures were made with my phone) was a 512 MB SDSC card. So that's what i used.
4. Because we visited between 3 and 5 objectives each day, i had to be careful what pictures i took.

Regarding food: Mainly muz, tavuk shish, durum and alabalik. Meaning bananas (3 types, all grown locally, SOMETIMES bought straight from the plantation. "Damn romanians, they stole, the *$*#*#*" you might be thinking :D. Well, each time we went, the price went down. first time we payed 1 lira / kg. The second time, 70 kurus. By the time the first week passed, we got them free :D. We began taking them gifts and stuff. Nice people.), chicken, a kind of shaorma and trout. And pizza. :)

P.s.: Foarte frumoasa cladirea respectiva, parea a fi office-building.
P.s.s: I'll post the "things you can do" list when we get to Alanya. :)

Indeed, Turkey's banana demand is more than half satisfied by internal production.
There are banana plantations in the region of Alanya, which is famous for this.

Do you have any pics with banana trees ?

Nope :D. I didn't want to overuse my CCD sensor :D:D:D. Joking aside, banana plantations are indeed a serious business in the Alanya region. Over a distance of some 60 km (10-15 towards Mersin, 35-40 towards Antalya) there are tens, maybe hundreds of HUGE plantations. And, as you might have figured out, they taste a whole lot better than the bananas you buy in supermarkets. They are sweeter, have a more intense "perfume" and to be honest, some days it was all we ate. :)

Ok then, time to move on to another historical landmark. Side.

SIDE (Manavgat) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side)

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/4745/img0493vt.jpg (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/img0493vt.jpg/)

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/686/img0482qc.jpg (http://img43.imageshack.us/i/img0482qc.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3074/img0518fz.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/img0518fz.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4759/img0512t.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/img0512t.jpg/)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7889/img0504ab.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img0504ab.jpg/)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5513/img0514vm.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img0514vm.jpg/)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/98/img0471xi.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/img0471xi.jpg/)

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2945/img0520uo.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/img0520uo.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9720/img0517ra.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img0517ra.jpg/)

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/4412/img0497nl.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/img0497nl.jpg/)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/7435/img0503ti.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img0503ti.jpg/)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7199/img0487le.jpg (http://img155.imageshack.us/i/img0487le.jpg/)

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/748/img0486ja.jpg (http://img833.imageshack.us/i/img0486ja.jpg/)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9261/img0515bv.jpg (http://img155.imageshack.us/i/img0515bv.jpg/)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6272/img0483cr.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/i/img0483cr.jpg/)

Yeah, you've guessed. My SD card was dead and burried at this point, so i used my phone to take pictures. Hope they're not too bad on your eyes :).

MANAVGAT WATERFALL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manavgat_Waterfall)

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/8840/img0533sy.jpg (http://img691.imageshack.us/i/img0533sy.jpg/)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5291/img0526ko.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/i/img0526ko.jpg/)

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/4527/img0528bk.jpg (http://img828.imageshack.us/i/img0528bk.jpg/)

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/7725/img0532zc.jpg (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/img0532zc.jpg/)

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/4982/img0527kc.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/img0527kc.jpg/)

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1917/img0540ao.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/i/img0540ao.jpg/)

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/6169/img0524cu.jpg (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/img0524cu.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/6730/img0522iq.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img0522iq.jpg/)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/153/img0541e.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/img0541e.jpg/)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3933/img0521qdj.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/img0521qdj.jpg/)

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4431/img0530le.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/i/img0530le.jpg/)

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/9136/img0534x.jpg (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/img0534x.jpg/)

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/2681/img0537ti.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/img0537ti.jpg/)

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2505/img0538jy.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/img0538jy.jpg/)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8572/img0531ye.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/i/img0531ye.jpg/)

Bonus: Shaky Video :)

quenZ1yhBC8

ASPENDOS (Part I) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspendos)

My 3rd favorite archaeological site... :)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/466/img0571ck.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/img0571ck.jpg/)

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/9018/img0559zp.jpg (http://img809.imageshack.us/i/img0559zp.jpg/)

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1485/img0566un.jpg (http://img849.imageshack.us/i/img0566un.jpg/)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/7946/img0561g.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/img0561g.jpg/)

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/5773/img0548dy.jpg (http://img717.imageshack.us/i/img0548dy.jpg/)

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/8583/img0567e.jpg (http://img801.imageshack.us/i/img0567e.jpg/)

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/8675/img0560zv.jpg (http://img842.imageshack.us/i/img0560zv.jpg/)

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/6904/img0554k.jpg (http://img546.imageshack.us/i/img0554k.jpg/)

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/1426/img0564y.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/img0564y.jpg/)

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/9410/img0545xz.jpg (http://img823.imageshack.us/i/img0545xz.jpg/)

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8617/img0557st.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/img0557st.jpg/)

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9109/img0565mh.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/i/img0565mh.jpg/)

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/7263/img0552ca.jpg (http://img850.imageshack.us/i/img0552ca.jpg/)

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3554/img0570e.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/img0570e.jpg/)

Part II coming right up...

ASPENDOS (Part II) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspendos)

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/2536/img0604su.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/i/img0604su.jpg/)

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8508/img0581u.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/img0581u.jpg/)

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/9454/img0577b.jpg (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/img0577b.jpg/)

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/6125/img0576pd.jpg (http://img820.imageshack.us/i/img0576pd.jpg/)

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8765/img0574ik.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/img0574ik.jpg/)

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/4858/img0573g.jpg (http://img832.imageshack.us/i/img0573g.jpg/)

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/8256/img0589hi.jpg (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/img0589hi.jpg/)

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/1836/img0603ry.jpg (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/img0603ry.jpg/)

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/9893/img0579e.jpg (http://img560.imageshack.us/i/img0579e.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4529/img0578wd.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img0578wd.jpg/)

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1148/img0611a.jpg (http://img89.imageshack.us/i/img0611a.jpg/)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/503/img0608ux.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/i/img0608ux.jpg/)

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/2476/img0592zs.jpg (http://img717.imageshack.us/i/img0592zs.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3818/img0584hk.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img0584hk.jpg/)

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/2010/img0610wi.jpg (http://img546.imageshack.us/i/img0610wi.jpg/)

BONUS:

a3hRe2Ysdqw

3RAHK6Du7Ps

Sorry for the lack of updates for the past few weeks, i had an extremely lousy internet connection :).

Next, we visited my personal favorite... PERGA.

PERGA (Part I) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perga)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1407/img0620qd.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img0620qd.jpg/)

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/3806/img0632gk.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/img0632gk.jpg/)

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/652/img0629qx.jpg (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/img0629qx.jpg/)

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3677/img0631fb.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/img0631fb.jpg/)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5103/img0624pc.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/img0624pc.jpg/)

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/7126/img0618pl.jpg (http://img821.imageshack.us/i/img0618pl.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7407/img0621nq.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/img0621nq.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/9471/img0622se.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/img0622se.jpg/)

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/7687/img0628ni.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/img0628ni.jpg/)

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/3408/img0617ec.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/img0617ec.jpg/)

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/6081/img0623hy.jpg (http://img821.imageshack.us/i/img0623hy.jpg/)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7030/img0630zy.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img0630zy.jpg/)

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/8894/img0633i.jpg (http://img607.imageshack.us/i/img0633i.jpg/)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/1339/img0625rl.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/img0625rl.jpg/)

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/9572/img0619dl.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/img0619dl.jpg/)

PERGA (Part II) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perga)

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/6269/img0640a.jpg (http://img838.imageshack.us/i/img0640a.jpg/)

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7141/img0635bl.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/img0635bl.jpg/)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/72/img0653d.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/img0653d.jpg/)

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/6297/img0636ed.jpg (http://img546.imageshack.us/i/img0636ed.jpg/)

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/6438/img0634ex.jpg (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/img0634ex.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/422/img0637mp.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img0637mp.jpg/)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/4556/img0638li.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/i/img0638li.jpg/)

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/6435/img0641fj.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/img0641fj.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7829/img0642lx.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img0642lx.jpg/)

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/7517/img0645e.jpg (http://img546.imageshack.us/i/img0645e.jpg/)

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/121/img0644p.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/i/img0644p.jpg/)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8336/img0651pk.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img0651pk.jpg/)

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9398/img0650fe.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/img0650fe.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3862/img0648if.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img0648if.jpg/)

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/5044/img0646ow.jpg (http://img849.imageshack.us/i/img0646ow.jpg/)

PERGA (Part III) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perga)

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/2349/img0654iz.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/img0654iz.jpg/)

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/126/img0656j.jpg (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/img0656j.jpg/)

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/1835/img0657vx.jpg (http://img840.imageshack.us/i/img0657vx.jpg/)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5639/img0658rt.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/i/img0658rt.jpg/)

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/3941/img0655mb.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/img0655mb.jpg/)

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/2048/img0663l.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/img0663l.jpg/)

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9664/img0662j.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/i/img0662j.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9282/img0661ik.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img0661ik.jpg/)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1811/img0675jj.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/img0675jj.jpg/)

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/2327/img0659bv.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/img0659bv.jpg/)

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/6877/img0667fe.jpg (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/img0667fe.jpg/)

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/9688/img0668ue.jpg (http://img710.imageshack.us/i/img0668ue.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9595/img0671mm.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/img0671mm.jpg/)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9521/img0673ls.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/img0673ls.jpg/)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9592/img0664lp.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/img0664lp.jpg/)

PERGA (Part IV) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perga)

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3951/img0676ju.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/img0676ju.jpg/)

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3378/img0677i.jpg (http://img37.imageshack.us/i/img0677i.jpg/)

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/142/img0679sf.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/img0679sf.jpg/)

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/821/img0680uz.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/i/img0680uz.jpg/)

A loo from the antiquity. Looks a whole lot better than those (inexistent) medieval ones, doesn't it ? Think your toilet will last 1900 years ? :D

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/3136/img0678say.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/img0678say.jpg/)

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4395/img0686i.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/img0686i.jpg/)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/6245/img0683ts.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/img0683ts.jpg/)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9818/img0695zq.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/img0695zq.jpg/)

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/2057/img0687rc.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/img0687rc.jpg/)

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/829/img0682xw.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/img0682xw.jpg/)

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/6135/img0691dq.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/img0691dq.jpg/)

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9504/img0693z.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/img0693z.jpg/)

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/9894/img0694n.jpg (http://img833.imageshack.us/i/img0694n.jpg/)

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3650/img0688b.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/i/img0688b.jpg/)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/650/img0690yj.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/img0690yj.jpg/)

What we see here (in the pictures above and below this post) are 3 DISTINCT COVERED POOLS. One had cold water, the other warm and the last HOT water. The one with hot water actually had an UNDERGROUND HEATING SYSTEM underneath the actual pool. Imagine that...

PERGA (Part V) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perga)

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2982/img0696xx.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/i/img0696xx.jpg/)

The underground heating system i was talking about earlier...

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/3339/img0700fq.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/img0700fq.jpg/)

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/7893/img0706gx.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/img0706gx.jpg/)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/2654/img0702ul.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img0702ul.jpg/)

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/7279/img0707xb.jpg (http://img849.imageshack.us/i/img0707xb.jpg/)

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/5183/img0710vl.jpg (http://img842.imageshack.us/i/img0710vl.jpg/)

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6136/img0718nz.jpg (http://img689.imageshack.us/i/img0718nz.jpg/)

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7446/img0715xa.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/i/img0715xa.jpg/)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2600/img0727it.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/i/img0727it.jpg/)

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/2204/img0725y.jpg (http://img571.imageshack.us/i/img0725y.jpg/)

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/3549/img0722h.jpg (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/img0722h.jpg/)

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/927/img0723e.jpg (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/img0723e.jpg/)

BONUS: A WATERFALL near Perge, sadly, i don't remember it's name.

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/6815/img0747m.jpg (http://img194.imageshack.us/i/img0747m.jpg/)

Too many rocks for me :)
I am waiting for Istanbul :D

P.S. Kurşunlu Waterfall Natural Park:

1zlf0kyEBDk

Exactly, thank you Cadir :). Istanbul pics will be in a few days :).

I can't wait for Istanbul too! I never been there since 1995 :(

In that case, i'd better hurry. :) (keeping things chronological is a pet-peeve of mine :D).

SILYON (http://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sillyon)

The wikipedia link is in turkish, if you translate it with google's translate service you'll get a pretty good idea about it :).

From here on in, my group abandoned me. Strike that, i abandoned them. Just love these ancient sites. They were fed up with them and were tired of spending money on that many entrances. Oh well, bad luck for them. This one had free entrance. The next site too. Haha.

On the minus side of things, no tourists present. That was ok here, this site is located near a village. But the next site i visited was up in the mountains. And it was a bit spooky being up there alone :) (nearest village was about 7 or 8 km away, on a DIRT ROAD :D) <yeah, i'm THAT crazy about ancient history>).

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/5014/img3690m.jpg (http://img30.imageshack.us/i/img3690m.jpg/)

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1170/img3712k.jpg (http://img41.imageshack.us/i/img3712k.jpg/)

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/3038/img3686nw.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/img3686nw.jpg/)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9527/img3688g.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/i/img3688g.jpg/)

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/738/img3695x.jpg (http://img194.imageshack.us/i/img3695x.jpg/)

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/449/img3717fk.jpg (http://img641.imageshack.us/i/img3717fk.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/555/img3696k.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img3696k.jpg/)

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/7158/img3702e.jpg (http://img36.imageshack.us/i/img3702e.jpg/)

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4875/img3701ui.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/img3701ui.jpg/)

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9104/img3699p.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/img3699p.jpg/)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/2672/img3705n.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/img3705n.jpg/)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6666/img3692z.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/img3692z.jpg/)

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4743/img3693y.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/img3693y.jpg/)

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/9792/img3714r.jpg (http://img843.imageshack.us/i/img3714r.jpg/)

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/5427/img3711gk.jpg (http://img535.imageshack.us/i/img3711gk.jpg/)

A few shots of an ancient, well-preserved roman (or greek, but my money is on the former) aqueduct, about 20 km away from Manavgat, Antalya Province.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9324/img3722d.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/img3722d.jpg/)

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/668/img3724r.jpg (http://img171.imageshack.us/i/img3724r.jpg/)

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/9422/img3723y.jpg (http://img41.imageshack.us/i/img3723y.jpg/)

SELEUKIA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucia_(Pamphylia))

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/5282/img3743d.jpg (http://img839.imageshack.us/i/img3743d.jpg/)

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/7426/img3766f.jpg (http://img854.imageshack.us/i/img3766f.jpg/)

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/6797/img3725u.jpg (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/img3725u.jpg/)

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/9038/img3746wg.jpg (http://img202.imageshack.us/i/img3746wg.jpg/)

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/1816/img3744c.jpg (http://img37.imageshack.us/i/img3744c.jpg/)

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/4820/img3747zo.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/img3747zo.jpg/)

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/763/img3764a.jpg (http://img593.imageshack.us/i/img3764a.jpg/)

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/8329/img3763d.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/img3763d.jpg/)

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/5337/img3759j.jpg (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/img3759j.jpg/)

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/2615/img3765qe.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/img3765qe.jpg/)

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/2883/img3728a.jpg (http://img854.imageshack.us/i/img3728a.jpg/)

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8040/img3735s.jpg (http://img829.imageshack.us/i/img3735s.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4084/img3736d.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img3736d.jpg/)

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/8357/img3762rf.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/img3762rf.jpg/)

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/4203/img3727ic.jpg (http://img801.imageshack.us/i/img3727ic.jpg/)

The most remote, hard to reach, wild and in some places, the best preserved (by far) archaeological site i EVER visited. Spooky as i might have been, i just loved it.

A few pictures of Alanya by night ;)


http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7531/img3775cj.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img3775cj.jpg/)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2241/img3777c.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/i/img3777c.jpg/)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5498/img3776iv.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/img3776iv.jpg/)

From left to right: Alanya, Oba, Tosmur, Kestel, Mahmutlar (this is were we stayed).

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/580/img3780i.jpg (http://img30.imageshack.us/i/img3780i.jpg/)

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/8716/img3779ld.jpg (http://img850.imageshack.us/i/img3779ld.jpg/)

That's it for today, Istanbul is just around the corner :D.

Crazy shaorma loving, old rocks fetishist Banatian guy...
Splitting your car apart on an old, dirty bloody Turkish road to see some stones...
No wonder they left you there...

Pwoah!

I mean...Turkey has a lot to offer in many aspects, including cultural and historical heritage. There were several empires on its' territory, each with its' own heritage. But it's sad that the government doesn't get involved enough.

I am sad that I saw an ancient mosaic being undigged by you [or some tourists]in a picture above, when the archaelogists should have already done it, maybe collected or put some protective glass on it...

P.S. You should definitely visit the Nemrut Mountain National Park [Nimrod in Byblical language], a world heritage site since 1987:

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/8821/nemrut2.jpg
From www.imageshack.us

Or maybe the rock tombs in Dalyan:
http://s45.radikal.ru/i107/0908/7a/bdac62b44c19.jpg
From: http://s45.radikal.ru/i107/0908/7a/bdac62b44c19.jpg

The theater in Hierapolis, just near to Pamukkale site, is still in use:
http://i29.tinypic.com/jze0c1.jpg
From: http://i29.tinypic.com/jze0c1.jpg

Or maybe Ankara:
http://i33.tinypic.com/nf43kx.jpg[/QUOTE]

from http://i33.tinypic.com/nf43kx.jpg

Or the Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep, started construction 2008 and opened a week ago:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=723664&page=2

Or maybe Cesme:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Turkish.town.cesme.jpg/1024px-Turkish.town.cesme.jpg
From: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Turkish.town.cesme.jpg/1024px-Turkish.town.cesme.jpg

Maybe the Sumela Monastery on the Black Sea Coast:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Sumela_view2.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Sumela_view2.JPG

No, NO, durum. Not shaorma. :D

I didn't dig up anything, why risk destroying something when you don't know exactly what you are doing ? (wish more ROMANIAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS posed that question way back in the 60's up until the 90's). They butchered all but one of the ancient sites of our country. And, although the turkish/foreign archaeologists did a great job at most sites, i have a feeling they butchered the lesser known ones.

Perge was indeed a very welcome surprise, i wasn't expecting it to be so amazing. in case i haven't said already, it's my number 1 favourite site so far :) (and i have seen a lot during the past 14 years :D). Actually, they "fed" the archaeological museum in Antalya MOSTLY with artefacts from Perge. And still left a lot to see at the original site, too, as you might have seen. Digging isn't complete yet, the site is absolutely huge. When (and if) they finish exploring the site, i'm quite sure it will be the largest site in Turkey (surpassing Efes). This might be difficult to achieve because, well, they don't have that many tourists. Which is a bit hard to understand... because:

1. It's right on the outskirts of Antalya
2. The area has an abundance of tourists.

Yet still, there weren't that many there. I'm guessing romanian folk aren't the only ones who just lie on the beach drinking and eating their all-inclusive crap. Pardon my language.

As for the pictures you posted, maybe i should start posting pictures from 2007 (and delay the Istanbul ones, of course. hehe). Just kidding, i'll post them later this afternoon/evening.

Ok then, here we go... ISTANBUL (no wikipedia link here :D)

The favourite place for romanians...(and others :))... the grand bazaar.

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8015/img3782mm.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/img3782mm.jpg/)

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/3285/img3786h.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/img3786h.jpg/)

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2606/img3785b.jpg (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/img3785b.jpg/)

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/1250/img3787t.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/img3787t.jpg/)

Ok, so that was Istanbul & the whole trip. Thanks for watching. :D

Just kiddin'.

Before i post any other pictures, i REALLY wanna know. Are you interested in pictures i took in the archaeological museum of istanbul or should i just skip those ? :)

(chronological order, remember ? :D)

Give me the archaeology!!!
I didn't see big differences from what I remember from bazar. Thanks again!

Yes please, at least I am interested in it. I did not visit it during my trips over there...
What else have you visited ? Maybe Topkapi ?

P.S. The Grand Bazaar was built a few years after the conquest of Constantinople by the 21 year-old Mehmed the II-nd, so as to encourage trade.
Goods, materials and thoughts were exchanged in Constantinople since then, the Grand Bazaar having more than 4,000 shops is one of the most old mall concepts in the world.

Because the Ottomans could not get into the Golden Horn by war boats, because there was a long iron chain accros water to prevent ships entering, so as to avoid the siege on the 8 metres thick walls, Sultan Mehmed the Second ordered that during one night, all the ships are to be carried on land by men and oxen, and dropped into the Golden Horn from the other side of the hill. The second day, the Byzantines were stunned to see Ottoman ships in their courtyard, because they thought nobody can breech their iron chain accross the water, from side to side.

Do you want more info ?

That's the spirit iuli :)

Cadir: I skipped Topkapi & Saint Sophia to be able to go to the archaeological museum. In case you're wondering, YES, i went alone, AGAIN :D. Strange as it might seem, i had already seen the first two in 1997 :) so i preffered to see something new and exciting. Pictures will be up by tomorrow (at the latest).

Yeap, Topkapi, Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) and Kinaliada. Ohhh.. sweet memories!
I must to make another visit there...

Istanbul has changed so much in the last ten years..It increased its' populatin by 50% in 10 years.
The tourist numbers are also increasing every year, and the prices are also going up and up...

I would recommend visiting Istanbul in late April, it's full of tulips, fresh and green, and not so overcrowded. And the climate is wonderful then.



Cadir: I skipped Topkapi & Saint Sophia to be able to go to the archaeological museum. In case you're wondering, YES, i went alone, AGAIN :D.

You rock. Literally, really. :)

Kinaliada, hmm, looks interesting, should have gone there. Too bad we only had two full days there (one of them i spent well, you know :D).

You rock. Literally, really.

Thanks, i guess :D.

Obelisks of Istanbul

Among which we find the world-famous egyptian one.. :)

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/3177/img3793b.jpg (http://img585.imageshack.us/i/img3793b.jpg/)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/9052/img3792r.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img3792r.jpg/)

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/8791/img3802o.jpg (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/img3802o.jpg/)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/9655/img3798y.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/i/img3798y.jpg/)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/5113/img3788s.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/img3788s.jpg/)

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/5474/img3791h.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/img3791h.jpg/)

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5375/img3801cp.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/i/img3801cp.jpg/)

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/3010/img3794u.jpg (http://img825.imageshack.us/i/img3794u.jpg/)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8057/img3797e.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/img3797e.jpg/)

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/8417/img3800na.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/img3800na.jpg/)

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/2245/img3803j.jpg (http://img717.imageshack.us/i/img3803j.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7604/img3799xq.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img3799xq.jpg/)

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8065/img3804g.jpg (http://img143.imageshack.us/i/img3804g.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5672/img3795y.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/img3795y.jpg/)

The Blue Mosque

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8762/img3809j.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/img3809j.jpg/)

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/6481/img3807y.jpg (http://img571.imageshack.us/i/img3807y.jpg/)

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2401/img3818a.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/img3818a.jpg/)

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/9323/img3808s.jpg (http://img710.imageshack.us/i/img3808s.jpg/)

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/1213/img3819w.jpg (http://img593.imageshack.us/i/img3819w.jpg/)

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/899/img3806w.jpg (http://img819.imageshack.us/i/img3806w.jpg/)

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/1030/img3817lj.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/img3817lj.jpg/)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/653/img3805yg.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/i/img3805yg.jpg/)

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/6461/img3816xi.jpg (http://img585.imageshack.us/i/img3816xi.jpg/)

Note the cascade of domes at Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque).
The big dome is being supported by 4 semi-domes, and each semi-dome is supported by another 3 semidomes.

Good eye my geek friend. When i noticed the same thing whilst inside, my friend told me to shut up :D. Which, in return, prompted me to talk about the history if this mosque :D.

Next we approached the Saint Sophia Church/Mosque/Museum ;)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/6264/img3824m.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img3824m.jpg/)

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/6107/img3823.jpg (http://img546.imageshack.us/i/img3823.jpg/)

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/599/img3822lr.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/img3822lr.jpg/)

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/6209/img3821vz.jpg (http://img703.imageshack.us/i/img3821vz.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2499/img3831v.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/img3831v.jpg/)

(pictures 1 and 5 are actually the blue mosque :D)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/561/img3830v.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/i/img3830v.jpg/)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3268/img3826p.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/i/img3826p.jpg/)

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/3392/img3832s.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/img3832s.jpg/)

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4080/img3833i.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/img3833i.jpg/)

That's it for today ;).

After driving for 900+ km (Antalya-Istanbul), walking for 2 hours, we were pretty tired, so we decided to take a tour-bus. Unfortunately i just wanted to enjoy the scenery, and in doing that i have no clue of the name of the objectives seen on the way. Maybe Cadir (& others would like to help) :)

Thanks to CADIR for all the information below:

Yeni Camii [New Mosque] or Valide Sultan Camii [camii= geamie in Romanian]. It's in the historic neighborhood of Eminonu.
Construction started 1597 by the will and order of Safiye Sultan, Sultan Murad III-rd's wife, by her Venetian name -> Cecilia Sofia Venier-Baffo. She is the grandmother of allll the other sultans in the next generations. Although started then, it was finalised more than half a century later, because she was forced to abandon her project when his husband, the sultan, died.

It was put on paper by Chief Architect of the Court, Davut Aga, an apprentice of Mimar Sinan, the biggest architect of the Ottoman Empire, who also built the Sultanahmet [Blue Mosque], Selimiye Mosque [now a UNESCO heritage site], Mehmed Pasa Sokolovic Bridge in Bosnia &Herzegovina [also a UNESCO site], and many other monuments. He lived for 98 years. He was of Armenian or Greek origin.

More info on wiki, I recommend reading his biography of 98 years time, because it is full of accomplishments in various fields:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimar_Sinan

Interior of the Yeni Camii from www.wikipedia.com :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yenimosqueinside.jpg

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/228/img3845h.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/i/img3845h.jpg/)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/228/img3845h.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/i/img3845h.jpg/)

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/7967/img3841k.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/img3841k.jpg/)

GALATA TOWER (Genovese origin ) - notice the tilt.

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/5688/img3842d.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/img3842d.jpg/)

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/4861/img3837xt.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/img3837xt.jpg/)

Sirkeci Train Terminus. This is the final stop of the ex-Orient Express.

Further, the pictures with fishermen are taken from the Galata Bridge. Under it, there are lots of caffes and fish restaurants. The good thing is that the fish there is anytime fresh, as the fish is delivered by the fishermen above. Mackerel that is.This is the final stop of the ex-Orient Express.

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/8172/img3838b.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/img3838b.jpg/)

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1861/img3848ls.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/img3848ls.jpg/)

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/3415/img3849v.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/img3849v.jpg/)

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/8186/img3850p.jpg (http://img16.imageshack.us/i/img3850p.jpg/)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1103/img3840m.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/i/img3840m.jpg/)

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7548/img3836v.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/img3836v.jpg/)

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6312/img3839gc.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/i/img3839gc.jpg/)

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/5276/img3847j.jpg (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/img3847j.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7684/img3846g.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/img3846g.jpg/)

Public medieval fountain

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/2328/img3852dv.jpg (http://img202.imageshack.us/i/img3852dv.jpg/)

Dolmabahce Palace, the second and last Palace of the Ottoman Sultans in Istanbul. Topkapi Palace, built immediately after 1453, was used up until 1856, when this Dolmabahce was finalised.

There is a sharp contrast between them: The first one was built during the Empire's most glorious days, and however it is an austere palace, with almost no upper floors except for the harem [women's section]. There are few decorations in the architecture of the Topkapi.

In contrast, Dolmabahce is very opulent, defying the common-sense of the previous sultans. It was built by the will of Sultan Abdul Megid, the one that...exactly, decided that there should be a town in central Dobruja, between Kostence (Constanta) and Bogaykoz (Cernavoda). I'm talking about Me(d)gidia.

When comparing, Topkapi was an austere palace built during the Empire's full ascending period, while Dolmabahce was built as an opulent palace, during the Empire's most troublesome and dramatic years, despite public debt.

The best materials were brought there for this construction. It's the Turkish way of doing Palatul Parlamentului .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Do...mBosphorus.jpg


One of the best pictures are to be seen here:
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/118336/%...?r%5Bview%5D=1


http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/1647/img3856n.jpg (http://img819.imageshack.us/i/img3856n.jpg/)

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4636/img3868d.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/i/img3868d.jpg/)

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3152/img3865gi.jpg (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/img3865gi.jpg/)

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8842/img3866w.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/img3866w.jpg/)

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/749/img3864t.jpg (http://img607.imageshack.us/i/img3864t.jpg/)

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/7874/img3861v.jpg (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/img3861v.jpg/)

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http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2222/img3858r.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/i/img3858r.jpg/)

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/8990/img3855d.jpg (http://img831.imageshack.us/i/img3855d.jpg/)

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/1108/img3859c.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/img3859c.jpg/)

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http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/7628/img3875i.jpg (http://img560.imageshack.us/i/img3875i.jpg/)

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/1491/img3887jv.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/img3887jv.jpg/)

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5606/img3886fj.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/i/img3886fj.jpg/)

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/9867/img3892c.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/img3892c.jpg/)

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/9867/img3892c.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/img3892c.jpg/)

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/904/img3880h.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/img3880h.jpg/)

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/5282/img3893e.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/img3893e.jpg/)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1299/img3879d.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/i/img3879d.jpg/)

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/8707/img3881o.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/img3881o.jpg/)

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/6821/img3894e.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/img3894e.jpg/)

The Istanbul Museum of Archaeology is up next, ready for lots and lots of pictures ? :)

Of course :)

Most probably tomorrow ? :D
P.S. I am going to write down the names of the locations there, so you can later edit your posts according to these if you wish. I am intending to write them down, also mentioning the post in which they are shown.

Cadir: thank you very much, that would be perfect. ;)

And seeing that it's already tomorrow, here come a few pictures. The rest, later on today.

Before entering the archaeological museum, we visited the mausoleums near agia sofia and then entered the "courtyard" of topkapi palace (you can get to the archaeological museum that way :)).

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/411/img3909n.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/img3909n.jpg/)

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/2047/img3911l.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/img3911l.jpg/)

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6408/img3904we.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/i/img3904we.jpg/)

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/221/img3896y.jpg (http://img825.imageshack.us/i/img3896y.jpg/)

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/6565/img3908t.jpg (http://img194.imageshack.us/i/img3908t.jpg/)

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/116/img3907a.jpg (http://img713.imageshack.us/i/img3907a.jpg/)

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/574/img3910i.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/i/img3910i.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5300/img3912hw.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/img3912hw.jpg/)

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2760/img3905sj.jpg (http://img197.imageshack.us/i/img3905sj.jpg/)

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9286/img3906l.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/img3906l.jpg/)

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/7635/img3897x.jpg (http://img571.imageshack.us/i/img3897x.jpg/)

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/713/img3902y.jpg (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/img3902y.jpg/)

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/9117/img3899s.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/img3899s.jpg/)

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/7250/img3898y.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/img3898y.jpg/)

Getting closer... :D

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/350/img3913s.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/img3913s.jpg/)

Here we go. :D. Pictures from the courtyard of the museum.

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7369/img3917w.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/i/img3917w.jpg/)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4811/img3924pc.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/i/img3924pc.jpg/)

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/6838/img3925x.jpg (http://img825.imageshack.us/i/img3925x.jpg/)

REPLICA of the base of the egyptian obelisk we saw earlier.

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/9867/img3919hv.jpg (http://img594.imageshack.us/i/img3919hv.jpg/)

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/7751/img3921k.jpg (http://img801.imageshack.us/i/img3921k.jpg/)

P.s. : You asked for it, now i'm posting ALL the pictures i have from this location :D

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/827/img3922mk.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/img3922mk.jpg/)

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/6290/img3923p.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/img3923p.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4733/img3916j.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img3916j.jpg/)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1199/img3928x.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/img3928x.jpg/)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6922/img3915n.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img3915n.jpg/)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9554/img3927q.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/img3927q.jpg/)

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/1818/img3914w.jpg (http://img694.imageshack.us/i/img3914w.jpg/)

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7500/img3926z.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/i/img3926z.jpg/)

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/6356/img3920v.jpg (http://img801.imageshack.us/i/img3920v.jpg/)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8753/img3918i.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/i/img3918i.jpg/)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2937/img3929r.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/i/img3929r.jpg/)

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8935/img3930l.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/img3930l.jpg/)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1507/img3932n.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/img3932n.jpg/)

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/4810/img3933w.jpg (http://img820.imageshack.us/i/img3933w.jpg/)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/2701/img3931r.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img3931r.jpg/)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4620/img3934o.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/i/img3934o.jpg/)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7479/img3935m.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/img3935m.jpg/)

Pictures from inside the museum will be posted later on today. Like'em so far ? 'Cause i'm still curious if anyone wants to see the pictures from the ANTALYA archaeological museum (which i liked better than this one :D).

It's a bit...hmmm...empty ? But it's worth seeing the pictures, as there are rare exhibits from that part of the world.

So, in # 72 we can see Yeni Camii [New Mosque] or Valide Sultan Camii [camii= geamie in Romanian]. It's in the historic neighborhood of Eminonu.
Construction started 1597 by the will and order of Safiye Sultan, Sultan Murad III-rd's wife, by her Venetian name -> Cecilia Sofia Venier-Baffo. She is the grandmother of allll the other sultans in the next generations. Although started then, it was finalised more than half a century later, because she was forced to abandon her project when his husband, the sultan, died.

It was put on paper by Chief Architect of the Court, Davut Aga, an apprentice of Mimar Sinan, the biggest architect of the Ottoman Empire, who also built the Sultanahmet , Selimiye Mosque [now a UNESCO heritage site], Mehmed Pasa Sokolovic Bridge in Bosnia &Herzegovina [also a UNESCO site], and many other monuments. [B]He lived for 98 years. He was of Armenian or Greek origin.

More info on wiki, I recommend reading his biography of 98 years time, because it is full of accomplishments in various fields:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimar_Sinan

Interior of the Yeni Camii from www.wikipedia.com :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yenimosqueinside.jpg

Same post, #72, a view over the Golden Horn, with Galata Bridge in the left and Galata Tower on the cliff. In the right, there is the ferry towards the Asian side of Istanbul.

Third picture, yes, that's a Genovese Tower, now Galata Tower, a very popular turist attraction. You can climb in it using an elevator, and have a great view over the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. Until 1453, when Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans, it used to be a Genovese neighborhood.

It is located in Beyoglu district of Istanbul, and the famous Galatasaray team, founded 1905 during the Ottoman period, takes its' name from this tower. Galatasaray means 'the palace of Galata'. Saray= Palace.

In post #73, you have captured the Sirkeci Train Terminus.

Further, the pictures with fishermen are taken from the Galata Bridge. Under it, there are lots of caffes and fish restaurants. The good thing is that the fish there is anytime fresh, as the fish is delivered by the fishermen above. :D Mackerel that is.

In the last picture in #74, there is a public medieval fountain. In Romanian it would be "cişmea". :)

In #75, there is Dolmabahce Palace, the second and last Palace of the Ottoman Sultans in Istanbul. Topkapi Palace, built immediately after 1453, was used up until 1856, when this Dolmabahce was finalised.

There is a sharp contrast between them: The first one was built during the Empire's most glorious days, and however it is an austere palace, with almost no upper floors except for the harem [women's section]. There are few decorations in the architecture of the Topkapi.

In contrast, Dolmabahce is very opulent, defying the common-sense of the previous sultans. It was built by the will of Sultan Abdul Megid, the one that...exactly, decided that there should be a town in central Dobruja, between Kostence (Constanta) and Bogaykoz (Cernavoda). I'm talking about Me(d)gidia.

When comparing, Topkapi was an austere palace built during the Empire's full ascending period, while Dolmabahce was built as an opulent palace, during the Empire's most troublesome and dramatic years, despite public debt.

The best materials were brought there for this construction. It's the Turkish way of doing Palatul Parlamentului :D.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DolmabahcefromBosphorus.jpg


One of the best pictures are to be seen here:
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/118336/%7CRD7%3Boff%3D126?r%5Bview%5D=1

P.S. Sorry for my long post, I would have written more but I don't want to speak too much. If you have enough time, you can insert the info above in your posts, so it becomes easier for others to follow.

Wow, that was a lot of interesting info :). Thank you very much for sharing that with us. I've edited my posts accordingly and of course given you credit :).

Also, please feel free to intervene whenever you think more interesting information can be added (or to correct me if i mess up).

It's a bit...hmmm...empty ? But it's worth seeing the pictures, as there are rare exhibits from that part of the world.

Tell you what, if you guys aren't fed up with statues, sarcophagi and "rocks", i'll add the pictures from the AAM after i finish posting the ones in Istanbul. Deal ? :D

Of course, deal.
And tell you something, I need no credit in this case please. :) It is enough that I can share what I know from my journeys there.

I still think you do :D

Pictures from inside the museum are up next :)

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/6913/img3946b.jpg (http://img845.imageshack.us/i/img3946b.jpg/)

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/2287/img3945z.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/img3945z.jpg/)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2456/img3940ur.jpg (http://img62.imageshack.us/i/img3940ur.jpg/)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/6245/img3953i.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/img3953i.jpg/)

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/6550/img3942k.jpg (http://img37.imageshack.us/i/img3942k.jpg/)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7835/img3943r.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/img3943r.jpg/)

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/3463/img3938tp.jpg (http://img607.imageshack.us/i/img3938tp.jpg/)

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/3120/img3939n.jpg (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/img3939n.jpg/)

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/4089/img3941kx.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/img3941kx.jpg/)

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http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/511/img3947e.jpg (http://img689.imageshack.us/i/img3947e.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8118/img3951d.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img3951d.jpg/)

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http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/7536/img3950u.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/img3950u.jpg/)

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/7788/img3948ww.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/img3948ww.jpg/)

Is that Antinous in the first picture , last post ?

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/4049/img3954z.jpg (http://img560.imageshack.us/i/img3954z.jpg/)

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/6463/img3956vc.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/img3956vc.jpg/)

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/5905/img3958s.jpg (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/img3958s.jpg/)

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/3082/img3959oa.jpg (http://img585.imageshack.us/i/img3959oa.jpg/)

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6906/img3957x.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/i/img3957x.jpg/)

Is that Antinous in the first picture , last post ?

If you're reffering to post #100, i believe it's Alexander the Great.

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/5050/img3955aa.jpg (http://img684.imageshack.us/i/img3955aa.jpg/)

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/7726/img3960er.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/img3960er.jpg/)

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http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/3493/img4032gs.jpg (http://img842.imageshack.us/i/img4032gs.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2483/img4033xq.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/img4033xq.jpg/)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7430/img4027ji.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/i/img4027ji.jpg/)

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/6043/img4031m.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/img4031m.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1509/img4028m.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img4028m.jpg/)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7494/img4026t.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/i/img4026t.jpg/)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9130/img4040l.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/i/img4040l.jpg/)

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/355/img4039p.jpg (http://img850.imageshack.us/i/img4039p.jpg/)

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/2492/img4037l.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/img4037l.jpg/)

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/3341/img4035m.jpg (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/img4035m.jpg/)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5243/img4034u.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/i/img4034u.jpg/)

That's it, hope you enjoyed the pictures :)

Antalya Archaeological Museum is up next.

Wow, the technologic and artistic level they achieved more than 2000 years ago is very impressive.

Some have over 2500 years of age (a few more than 5000. The egyptian and assyrian ones). Most are from 1-2 BC - 2-3 AD, of greek & roman creation/influence :)

In my opinion, they do not rival the works of Michelangelo, Donatello, Bernini and Canova, but they sure as hell come pretty close, considering the years they were created :).

Courtyard - Antalya A M


http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/7760/img3606h.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/img3606h.jpg/)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/8759/img3603q.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/img3603q.jpg/)

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9945/img3618d.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/img3618d.jpg/)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/822/img3611f.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/i/img3611f.jpg/)

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9469/img3614ss.jpg (http://img29.imageshack.us/i/img3614ss.jpg/)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/9501/img3605f.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/img3605f.jpg/)

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/3347/img3609i.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/img3609i.jpg/)

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4416/img3604t.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/i/img3604t.jpg/)

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8300/img3610g.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/img3610g.jpg/)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/2695/img3608qn.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img3608qn.jpg/)

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1653/img3607dy.jpg (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/img3607dy.jpg/)

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/1016/img3602r.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/img3602r.jpg/)

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/5291/img3612jp.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/img3612jp.jpg/)

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9287/img3613ex.jpg (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/img3613ex.jpg/)

:D

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/4562/img3627jd.jpg (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/img3627jd.jpg/)

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/8994/img3611qn.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/i/img3611qn.jpg/)

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/1808/img3623l.jpg (http://img809.imageshack.us/i/img3623l.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/73/img3609d.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/img3609d.jpg/)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9788/img3605v.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img3605v.jpg/)

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/966/img3610ye.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/img3610ye.jpg/)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7504/img3625e.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/img3625e.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8296/img3624x.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img3624x.jpg/)

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5726/img3619ze.jpg (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/img3619ze.jpg/)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/774/img3618z.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img3618z.jpg/)

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/3268/img3616d.jpg (http://img832.imageshack.us/i/img3616d.jpg/)

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5494/img3620xb.jpg (http://img43.imageshack.us/i/img3620xb.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1648/img3621k.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img3621k.jpg/)

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/3769/img3622e.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/img3622e.jpg/)

If you compare the two courtyards of the distinct museums, which do you like best ? And which seems more promising for what's to be discovered inside ? :)

Yes...the museum in Turkey.... has turkeys :D. Or peacocks. Let's call them turkeys :D

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8191/img3626j.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/img3626j.jpg/)

Great thread ThunderTM. You really made me want to pack up my shit and go over there right now. You said a couple pages earlier that you thought archeological or ancient sites trumps anything modern. I agree so much with that man, I'm as obsessed with these kinds of places as you are. I'm really looking forward to going to Romania as well, fascinating place too, so much character.

Again, great thread.

WrathChild, i have the same feeling you have when i see great archaeological sites in pictures, i just wanna pack and go there. Sadly, it's not that easy in most cases :).

You do have lots of archaeological sites to visit in Europe (including Romania) and Asia Minor.

If you want to see a former roman city on the territory of Romania through my eyes, you should revisit this thread in a few days (a week tops ;)). I'm talking about Civitas Tropaensis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropaeum_Traiani).

And of course, if you actually decide to come to Romania, i will be more than happy to provide you with information on the best ancient (and not so ancient) places you need to see / experience. ;)

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3985/img3630c.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/img3630c.jpg/)

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/8452/img3642d.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/img3642d.jpg/)

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1453/img3635a.jpg (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/img3635a.jpg/)

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/9038/img3632r.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/img3632r.jpg/)

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2232/img3628ru.jpg (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/img3628ru.jpg/)

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7307/img3633d.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/img3633d.jpg/)

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6307/img3629w.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/i/img3629w.jpg/)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/6889/img3634p.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/img3634p.jpg/)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/8924/img3631h.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/i/img3631h.jpg/)

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/2967/img3640u.jpg (http://img585.imageshack.us/i/img3640u.jpg/)

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5313/img3641e.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/img3641e.jpg/)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/27/img3638bh.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/img3638bh.jpg/)


http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1607/img3639m.jpg (http://img823.imageshack.us/i/img3639m.jpg/)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7827/img3637k.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/img3637k.jpg/)


http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/5642/img3636sb.jpg (http://img202.imageshack.us/i/img3636sb.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7231/img3647h.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/img3647h.jpg/)

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/3662/img3645p.jpg (http://img842.imageshack.us/i/img3645p.jpg/)

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2829/img3643bg.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/img3643bg.jpg/)

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8572/img3644mr.jpg (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/img3644mr.jpg/)

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/8682/img3646l.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/img3646l.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2319/img3649v.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/img3649v.jpg/)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6991/img3650or.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/img3650or.jpg/)

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/6979/img3651k.jpg (http://img535.imageshack.us/i/img3651k.jpg/)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7770/img3648f.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/i/img3648f.jpg/)

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/5120/img3652ah.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/img3652ah.jpg/)

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8427/img3654ga.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/img3654ga.jpg/)

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/4013/img3655r.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/img3655r.jpg/)

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/3172/img3656y.jpg (http://img829.imageshack.us/i/img3656y.jpg/)

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5779/img3653sv.jpg (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/img3653sv.jpg/)

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6729/img3658va.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/img3658va.jpg/)

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/6240/img3660n.jpg (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/img3660n.jpg/)

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/3439/img3659td.jpg (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/img3659td.jpg/)

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/2373/img3661b.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/i/img3661b.jpg/)

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/686/img3662be.jpg (http://img850.imageshack.us/i/img3662be.jpg/)

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/2333/img3663lq.jpg (http://img710.imageshack.us/i/img3663lq.jpg/)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/759/img3664e.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/img3664e.jpg/)

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7141/img3665do.jpg (http://img191.imageshack.us/i/img3665do.jpg/)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/6821/img3667s.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/img3667s.jpg/)

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/861/img3666f.jpg (http://img809.imageshack.us/i/img3666f.jpg/)

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/9162/img3668cy.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/img3668cy.jpg/)

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/5668/img3669h.jpg (http://img843.imageshack.us/i/img3669h.jpg/)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2433/img3671h.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/i/img3671h.jpg/)


http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6936/img3672r.jpg (http://img717.imageshack.us/i/img3672r.jpg/)

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/9702/img3670q.jpg (http://img691.imageshack.us/i/img3670q.jpg/)

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/8710/img3673t.jpg (http://img717.imageshack.us/i/img3673t.jpg/)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/3326/img3675gr.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/img3675gr.jpg/)

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/5797/img3676m.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/img3676m.jpg/)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6883/img3678ad.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img3678ad.jpg/)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/3053/img3677c.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img3677c.jpg/)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6011/img3674ti.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/img3674ti.jpg/)

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/7118/img3681n.jpg (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/img3681n.jpg/)

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/4532/img3682r.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/img3682r.jpg/)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4750/img3684m.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/img3684m.jpg/)

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/2051/img3679j.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/img3679j.jpg/)

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/5928/img3680h.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/img3680h.jpg/)

That about does it for Turkey... :(

A few pictures from Bulgaria are up next... and i really mean a FEW :D

Near Nessebar...

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9461/img4045uj.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/img4045uj.jpg/)

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/2214/img4044yf.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/img4044yf.jpg/)

Nessebar peninsula...
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5153/img4046b.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/i/img4046b.jpg/)

Thank you for the pictures from that museum! I love it!

Oww....
No Istanbul skyline ? :(

@iuli: the fact that you loved them, shows a great deal about your general culture and personality. In a positive way, of course :).


@Cadir: No, but you're about to see something exotic, impressive and far away from Constanta. Adamclisi Skyline :D.

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/994/img4060a.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/img4060a.jpg/)

Notice that huge skyscraper in the center-right of the picture ? :D

TROPAEUM TRAIANI, Adamclisi, Romania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropaeum_Traiani)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4443/img4048g.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img4048g.jpg/)

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5958/img4049i.jpg (http://img713.imageshack.us/i/img4049i.jpg/)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6564/img4051q.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/img4051q.jpg/)

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/8959/img4050u.jpg (http://img16.imageshack.us/i/img4050u.jpg/)

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8059/img4047t.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/img4047t.jpg/)

It's a pity few many people know this simbolic monument in Romania.
It's the birth certificate of the Romanian people, on Romanian land. The other one is in Italy.

Indeed. And to be honest, i was surprised that it was very clean, all the signs were new and in several international languages. The only short-coming was the number of tourists. When we arrived (i believe at around noon) we were the only car there. When we left, another 2 had arrived. In the actual ancient town (located about 1.5 km from trajan's monument), we were the only ones there. At the museum (soon to be depicted :D), again, just us.

^^

This you decided to show from Nessebar? :ohno::bash:

Looks like it, considering the pictures are made NEAR Nessebar, Слънчев бряг to be more precise.

These are the only pictures i have from Bulgaria (besides some pictures from Sofia which i do NOT want to post here), so i decided to use them as "transition" from Turkey to Romania.

P.s. : Please don't ask why i have so "many" pictures of Bulgaria. :)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4355/img4055b.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/img4055b.jpg/)

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/3623/img4054i.jpg (http://img813.imageshack.us/i/img4054i.jpg/)

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/641/img4052a.jpg (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/img4052a.jpg/)

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/3038/img4053nd.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/img4053nd.jpg/)

CIVITAS TROPAENSIUM, modern day Adamclisi, Constanţa county, Romania (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civitas_Tropaensium)

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3941/img4060od.jpg (http://img36.imageshack.us/i/img4060od.jpg/)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5793/img4059id.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/i/img4059id.jpg/)

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/7111/img4056i.jpg (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/img4056i.jpg/)

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/7843/img4058w.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/img4058w.jpg/)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9076/img4057y.jpg (http://img62.imageshack.us/i/img4057y.jpg/)

BONUS:

Map of roman settlements in Scythia Minor, modern day Dobrogea region, Romania.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7017/444444kq.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/444444kq.jpg/)

SOURCE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scythia_Minor_map.jpg)

Dionysopolis is today's Balcik, whereas Durostorum is Silistra, a walkway distance from Romanian Ostrov (in Dobrogea, the same region) and Calarasi (in Muntenia, the other side of the Danube).
Both of the above are in today's Bulgaria.

Ancient names and their modern day correspondents:
Callatis -Mangalia
Tomis-Constanta
Histria- Istria
Those 3 above are the oldest Greek, and later Roman settlements in modern day Romania. Tomis and Callatis have evolved into modern cities today.
Tropaeum Traiani- Adamclisi
Sacidava- Rasova (old Romanian village in Dobrogea).
Axiopolis- Cernavoda
Capidava- Capidava
Ulmetum- Pantelimon
Carsium- Hârşova
Beroe- Ostrov (Tulcea)
Argamum-Jurilovca
Halmyris- Murighiol
Ibida -Slava Rusă, com. Slava Cercheză (majority Russian-Lipovan inhabitants)
Salsovia- Mahmudia
Arrubium -Măcin
Noviodunum-Isaccea
Aegyssus-Tulcea.

Aliobrix (Celtic origin)- Cartal, Reni, Odessa (Ucraine).

Thanks for the corrections, at least they used to ... run in the family...so to speak. :D

ADAMCLISI MUSEUM

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5867/img4062z.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/img4062z.jpg/)

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/7828/img4063uq.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/img4063uq.jpg/)

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/4637/img4064l.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/img4064l.jpg/)

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4337/img4061g.jpg (http://img197.imageshack.us/i/img4061g.jpg/)

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/3079/img4065cm.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/img4065cm.jpg/)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9357/img4066v.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/img4066v.jpg/)

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/7295/img4067qf.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/img4067qf.jpg/)

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1815/img4068wz.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/img4068wz.jpg/)

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/5154/img4069wu.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/img4069wu.jpg/)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8862/img4071i.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/i/img4071i.jpg/)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/484/img4072m.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/i/img4072m.jpg/)

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/6972/img4074b.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/img4074b.jpg/)

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/8053/img4073ec.jpg (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/img4073ec.jpg/)

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/3861/img4070kh.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/img4070kh.jpg/)

Notice the last bas-relief, the dacian symbol entangled, trapped, dying :(

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/7123/img4079q.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/img4079q.jpg/)

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9297/img4076s.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/i/img4076s.jpg/)

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/5190/img4077m.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/img4077m.jpg/)

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/6469/img4078ok.jpg (http://img29.imageshack.us/i/img4078ok.jpg/)

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/9461/img4075g.jpg (http://img41.imageshack.us/i/img4075g.jpg/)

We're speedily approaching the end of our journey through antiquity. It was a truly memorable experience and i hope you enjoyed seeing it through my eyes.

MAMAIA, Constanta county, Romania.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9382/img4080t.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/i/img4080t.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6056/img4096s.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/img4096s.jpg/)

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/4566/img4089td.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/img4089td.jpg/)

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4476/img4085g.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/i/img4085g.jpg/)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2290/img4084wx.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/img4084wx.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6587/img4087d.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img4087d.jpg/)

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/8300/img4088t.jpg (http://img641.imageshack.us/i/img4088t.jpg/)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6373/img4092g.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/img4092g.jpg/)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7909/img4086x.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/i/img4086x.jpg/)

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6254/img4082k.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/img4082k.jpg/)

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/6039/img4091wx.jpg (http://img839.imageshack.us/i/img4091wx.jpg/)

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1214/img4081wh.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/i/img4081wh.jpg/)

While gazing at the sea...

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/1772/img4097g.jpg (http://img839.imageshack.us/i/img4097g.jpg/)

and the lovely blue sky...

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5120/img4090u.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/img4090u.jpg/)

i came to a conclusion... discovered by many before me...

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/9809/timisoara01545.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/timisoara01545.jpg/)
(Union Sq, Timisoara, Timis County, Romania, credits to A. Plaian)

There's no place like home.

Boo-hoo-hoo...
A finish line appropriate for a Dracula Land's inhabitant. :devil:

Please, tell me, when did you arrive in Mamaia ?

August 9th in the evening and left on the 10th early in the morning :).

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/3861/img4070kh.jpg (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/img4070kh.jpg/)

Notice the last bas-relief, the dacian symbol entangled, trapped, dying :(

I think Dacians invented Mozilla Firefox first. :lol:

In Dacia it would have been called FireWolf :D

I think Dacians invented Mozilla Firefox first. :lol:

Dacizilla Firewolf!!! :lol:

Lasand glumele deoparte, ganditi-va ce victorie importanta a fost pentru romani daca au dedicat atatea monumente victoriei cu dacii (tropaeum traiani, columna lui traian din roma, etc).

P.s. : Da, m-am gandit s-o dam pe romana acum ca am terminat de prezentat obiectivele din excursie :).

P.s.s. : m-am mai gandit la ceva, pentru pasionatii de arheologie si nu numai. Sa facem un thread unde sa prezentam cat mai multe situri de la noi din tara. Eu unul as avea poze si la sarmizegetusa regia, ulpia traiana, (h)istria.

Ce ziceti ?

Eu nu mai am asemenea poze, dar cand voi face, voi posta.
Sustin ideea.

Ok, voi deschide un thread in Photo Corner in cursul zilei de astazi. Este binevenit sa contribuie cu poze / filme cine doreste... :)

Turkey recovers statue of Hercules in Perge from Boston Museum:

Gunay said that the 200 kg-Hercules statue was the same size with a human, and it was an important piece in archeological aspect.

He added that the statue would be exhibited in Antalya Archeology Museum.

Recently, Turkey took back a Hittite sphinx from Germany.

http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=79368

Although it actually belongs to Italy from many points of view, the turkish people are indeed way more entitled than the americans to own it :)

Am gasit poze interesante din Turcia, 2010. Le voi posta in curand. Daca va place, le postez si pe cele din 2007 :).

Incepem cu Mahmutlar (10-11 km de Alanya), vedere din hotel Green Peace (3*+, pe care NU il recomand), foarte aproape de apartamentul unde am stat anul acesta.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/39/img1843ri.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/img1843ri.jpg/)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8083/img1847s.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/img1847s.jpg/)

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7830/img1845d.jpg (http://img407.imageshack.us/i/img1845d.jpg/)

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9716/img1844g.jpg (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/img1844g.jpg/)

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/3307/img1846bx.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/i/img1846bx.jpg/)

Gradina hotelului...

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8352/img1852oq.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/img1852oq.jpg/)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/8373/img1842rq.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/i/img1842rq.jpg/)

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/7416/img1854e.jpg (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/img1854e.jpg/)

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6372/img1855e.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/i/img1855e.jpg/)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3396/img1858w.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/img1858w.jpg/)

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/9971/img1853l.jpg (http://img811.imageshack.us/i/img1853l.jpg/)

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/7162/img1856zk.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/img1856zk.jpg/)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3808/img1860y.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/i/img1860y.jpg/)

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/8366/img1861xm.jpg (http://img836.imageshack.us/i/img1861xm.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/193/img1865ir.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img1865ir.jpg/)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7775/img1868ha.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/i/img1868ha.jpg/)

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2646/img1863zd.jpg (http://img696.imageshack.us/i/img1863zd.jpg/)

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9679/img1864jh.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/img1864jh.jpg/)

http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/275/img1874x.jpg (http://img803.imageshack.us/i/img1874x.jpg/)

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2267/img1876q.jpg (http://img406.imageshack.us/i/img1876q.jpg/)

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3779/img1866y.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/i/img1866y.jpg/)

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/518/img1869y.jpg (http://img585.imageshack.us/i/img1869y.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/193/img1865ir.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img1865ir.jpg/)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7775/img1868ha.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/i/img1868ha.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/5981/img1873cf.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img1873cf.jpg/)

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6493/img1870qd.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/i/img1870qd.jpg/)

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/2368/img1889q.jpg (http://img543.imageshack.us/i/img1889q.jpg/)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8761/img1887i.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img1887i.jpg/)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4291/img1877w.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/i/img1877w.jpg/)

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/6065/img1878vi.jpg (http://img546.imageshack.us/i/img1878vi.jpg/)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4291/img1877w.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/i/img1877w.jpg/)

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/6065/img1878vi.jpg (http://img546.imageshack.us/i/img1878vi.jpg/)

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/2172/img1881ki.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/img1881ki.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2218/img1884t.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img1884t.jpg/)

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/4741/img1886db.jpg (http://img829.imageshack.us/i/img1886db.jpg/)

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7030/img1885m.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/i/img1885m.jpg/)

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/8960/img1883ul.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/img1883ul.jpg/)

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/899/img1882u.jpg (http://img406.imageshack.us/i/img1882u.jpg/)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3200/img1880va.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/img1880va.jpg/)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7153/img1888f.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/img1888f.jpg/)

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/8960/img1883ul.jpg (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/img1883ul.jpg/)

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/899/img1882u.jpg (http://img406.imageshack.us/i/img1882u.jpg/)

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/2658/img1893a.jpg (http://img511.imageshack.us/i/img1893a.jpg/)

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/4835/img1891t.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/img1891t.jpg/)

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4018/img1902ht.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/img1902ht.jpg/)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1508/img1897w.jpg (http://img85.imageshack.us/i/img1897w.jpg/)

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9106/img1904x.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/i/img1904x.jpg/)

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4739/img1894ll.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/i/img1894ll.jpg/)

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8384/img1895dy.jpg (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/img1895dy.jpg/)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3708/img1890i.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/i/img1890i.jpg/)

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/6562/img1903c.jpg (http://img641.imageshack.us/i/img1903c.jpg/)

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/5305/img1896a.jpg (http://img267.imageshack.us/i/img1896a.jpg/)

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8384/img1895dy.jpg (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/img1895dy.jpg/)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3708/img1890i.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/i/img1890i.jpg/)

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/6282/img1907o.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img1907o.jpg/)

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7739/img1912p.jpg (http://img526.imageshack.us/i/img1912p.jpg/)

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8710/img1906kb.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/img1906kb.jpg/)

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/2797/img1919kh.jpg (http://img834.imageshack.us/i/img1919kh.jpg/)

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1049/img1909y.jpg (http://img249.imageshack.us/i/img1909y.jpg/)

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/8575/img1908r.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/img1908r.jpg/)

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/5326/img1916z.jpg (http://img819.imageshack.us/i/img1916z.jpg/)

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1017/img1905e.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/img1905e.jpg/)

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8710/img1906kb.jpg (http://img52.imageshack.us/i/img1906kb.jpg/)

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/2797/img1919kh.jpg (http://img834.imageshack.us/i/img1919kh.jpg/)

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/5326/img1916z.jpg (http://img819.imageshack.us/i/img1916z.jpg/)

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1017/img1905e.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/i/img1905e.jpg/)

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4642/img1920ty.jpg (http://img404.imageshack.us/i/img1920ty.jpg/)

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/9228/img1911qn.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/img1911qn.jpg/)

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9369/img1937i.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/i/img1937i.jpg/)

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9420/img1940ga.jpg (http://img254.imageshack.us/i/img1940ga.jpg/)

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4482/img1939g.jpg (http://img507.imageshack.us/i/img1939g.jpg/)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1138/img1929g.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/img1929g.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/176/img1959a.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/img1959a.jpg/)

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/508/img1938n.jpg (http://img403.imageshack.us/i/img1938n.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/5920/img1942ax.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/img1942ax.jpg/)

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/5656/img1943na.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/img1943na.jpg/)

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/319/img1948n.jpg (http://img440.imageshack.us/i/img1948n.jpg/)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/191/img1949e.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/img1949e.jpg/)

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/5920/img1942ax.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/img1942ax.jpg/)

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/5656/img1943na.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/img1943na.jpg/)

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/2531/img1958rm.jpg (http://img836.imageshack.us/i/img1958rm.jpg/)

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8928/img1941e.jpg (http://img513.imageshack.us/i/img1941e.jpg/)

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/2255/img1961r.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/img1961r.jpg/)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3582/img1977ao.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/i/img1977ao.jpg/)

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/4517/img1978ai.jpg (http://img513.imageshack.us/i/img1978ai.jpg/)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/734/img1976k.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/img1976k.jpg/)

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/5520/img1997q.jpg (http://img256.imageshack.us/i/img1997q.jpg/)

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/3011/img2004c.jpg (http://img407.imageshack.us/i/img2004c.jpg/)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1566/img1988u.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/i/img1988u.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2060/img1998s.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/img1998s.jpg/)

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9057/img1995zf.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/img1995zf.jpg/)

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/1879/img2000f.jpg (http://img820.imageshack.us/i/img2000f.jpg/)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8046/img2002x.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/i/img2002x.jpg/)

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6463/img1975vt.jpg (http://img341.imageshack.us/i/img1975vt.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/5691/img2013h.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/img2013h.jpg/)

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9886/img2015r.jpg (http://img513.imageshack.us/i/img2015r.jpg/)

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/5649/img2012c.jpg (http://img821.imageshack.us/i/img2012c.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2373/img2034dko.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/img2034dko.jpg/)

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7527/img2033y.jpg (http://img507.imageshack.us/i/img2033y.jpg/)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/765/img2035dj.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/img2035dj.jpg/)

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/5649/img2012c.jpg (http://img821.imageshack.us/i/img2012c.jpg/)

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2373/img2034dko.jpg (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/img2034dko.jpg/)

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7641/img2041g.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/i/img2041g.jpg/)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5741/img2042ea.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/img2042ea.jpg/)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5881/img2049hz.jpg (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/img2049hz.jpg/)


Dimcayi, se porneste din Oba (lipit de Alanya) si se urca in munti. Superb loc.

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/9913/img2048vh.jpg (http://img202.imageshack.us/i/img2048vh.jpg/)

http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/7007/img2050p.jpg (http://img542.imageshack.us/i/img2050p.jpg/)

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/5571/img2036le.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/img2036le.jpg/)

Am fost impreuna cu niste localnici (cam 20 la numar), oameni simpli, fiind PROBABIL reprezentativi pentru un procent insemnat din populatie. Am ramas profund impresionat de amabilitatea lor, de felul in care isi promovau tara spunandu-ti cat mai in detaliu ce sa vizitezi si de ce, la ce sa ai grija cand mergi prin orase mai mari (gen Alanya si Antalya). Cel mai impresionat am fost de igiena lor, sincer, ma asteptam sa fie mai rau decat la noi. Dar sunt de jdemii de ori mai curati decat romanii "medii". Am fost inclusiv la ei acasa, puteai manca de pe jos, nu alta.

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/7327/img2053v.jpg (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/img2053v.jpg/)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9044/img2055z.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/i/img2055z.jpg/)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/416/img2066cw.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/i/img2066cw.jpg/)

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/413/img2060bq.jpg (http://img253.imageshack.us/i/img2060bq.jpg/)

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/7327/img2053v.jpg (http://img855.imageshack.us/i/img2053v.jpg/)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9044/img2055z.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/i/img2055z.jpg/)

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/2931/img2054c.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/img2054c.jpg/)

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/4565/img2056se.jpg (http://img811.imageshack.us/i/img2056se.jpg/)

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/5606/img2065nm.jpg (http://img828.imageshack.us/i/img2065nm.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8669/img2052i.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/img2052i.jpg/)

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/1726/img2061c.jpg (http://img341.imageshack.us/i/img2061c.jpg/)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3966/img2062d.jpg (http://img210.imageshack.us/i/img2062d.jpg/)

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/5606/img2065nm.jpg (http://img828.imageshack.us/i/img2065nm.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8669/img2052i.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/img2052i.jpg/)

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1989/img2051u.jpg (http://img208.imageshack.us/i/img2051u.jpg/)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4853/img2067b.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/img2067b.jpg/)

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/624/img2068h.jpg (http://img846.imageshack.us/i/img2068h.jpg/)

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2307/img2069n.jpg (http://img694.imageshack.us/i/img2069n.jpg/)

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/721/img2070v.jpg (http://img406.imageshack.us/i/img2070v.jpg/)

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/5491/img2071b.jpg (http://img580.imageshack.us/i/img2071b.jpg/)

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8556/img2073h.jpg (http://img825.imageshack.us/i/img2073h.jpg/)

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/1705/img2080gk.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/img2080gk.jpg/)

Apa avea intre 5 si 10 grade, din estimarile mele (dureau oasele :D). Si totusi, lumea facea baie (me included :D).

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/886/img2079n.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/img2079n.jpg/)

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/7177/img2074yn.jpg (http://img641.imageshack.us/i/img2074yn.jpg/)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6553/img2075ni.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/img2075ni.jpg/)

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/122/img2072y.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/i/img2072y.jpg/)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3781/img2078tx.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/img2078tx.jpg/)

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/3554/img2076x.jpg (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/img2076x.jpg/)

Partea interesanta era ca nu trebuia sa comanzi nimic (intrare GRATUITA), puteai veni cu tot de acasa si nu te dadea nimeni afara. Ca orice romani, de jena, am comandat impreuna cu prietena niste suc. Ca si multumire (probabil) am primit un pepene verde. intreg. :D

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8749/img2090us.jpg (http://img440.imageshack.us/i/img2090us.jpg/)

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/3966/img2087re.jpg (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/img2087re.jpg/)

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/9660/img2084d.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/i/img2084d.jpg/)

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/3056/img2085s.jpg (http://img853.imageshack.us/i/img2085s.jpg/)

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/5486/img2086xu.jpg (http://img408.imageshack.us/i/img2086xu.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9135/img2081bs.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/img2081bs.jpg/)

Am fost impreuna cu niste localnici (cam 20 la numar), oameni simpli, fiind PROBABIL reprezentativi pentru un procent insemnat din populatie. Am ramas profund impresionat de amabilitatea lor, de felul in care isi promovau tara spunandu-ti cat mai in detaliu ce sa vizitezi si de ce, la ce sa ai grija cand mergi prin orase mai mari (gen Alanya si Antalya). Cel mai impresionat am fost de igiena lor, sincer, ma asteptam sa fie mai rau decat la noi. Dar sunt de jdemii de ori mai curati decat romanii "medii". Am fost inclusiv la ei acasa, puteai manca de pe jos, nu alta.

Eh, poate exagerezi. Sau poate asa e in partea aceea a Turciei. Insa daca ai avut prejudecati si spui ca le-ai eliminat, felicitari. :)

O data eram in Istanbul si ma miram de ce nu vad cersetori. Apoi, dupa vreo 4 zile de stat acolo, dadusem peste vreo 3, dar nu pareau cersetori. Erau imbracati normal, evident mai saracacios dar nu spuneai despre ei ca sunt cersetori, privind de departe. Ulterior am aflat ca politia ii salta daca ii prinde.

In zona Antalya cum e ?

P.S. Astept si poze mai dinspre viata de zi cu zi a turcilor. :) De exemplu de pe plantatia de banane, daca poti face rost te rog ?

Nu am poze de la plantatii, nu a meritat pozat din punctul meu de vedere. Singura chestie cat de cat interesanta era sistemul de irigatie (they need lots of water :)).

Iar prejudecatile s-au dus, in mare parte.

N-am vazut cersetori "get-beget" (in sensul ca-i recunosti de la o posta) nicaieri in Turcia, si nici nu am fost abordat de cineva care sa-mi ceara ceva (ma rog, exceptand cei care vroiau sa-mi vanda ceva :D).

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