Turkey, Land of Contrasts
Time Stands Still... Sort Of...
Contrasts. Istanbul straddles two continents, Europe and Asia... in a secular Muslim country that is hip and cosmopolitan, where all the cultures of the ancient world meet, overlap and blend into something unexpected... You may find yourself in two worlds... standing awestruck before the elegant grandeur of the Blue Mosque... savoring the exotic flavors in Turkish cuisine... exploring the tunnels in the underground city of Kaymakli... walking the ruins of Ephesus... experiencing life along the mighty Bosphorus... feeling the passion of Rumi in the ecstatic whirl of a Dervish... breathing the intoxicating aromas of the Spice Bazaar... staying in the caves of Cappadocia... flying over the fairy chimneys of Göreme Valley...
1. ARRIVE ISTANBUL Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul. A transfer is included from Atatürk Airport to the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, located in Taksim, the heart of modern Istanbul; Tauck’s guest rooms have stunning views of the Bosphorus. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D
2. HAGIA SOFIA & THE BLUE MOSQUE Emperor Justinian took his own breath away at first sight of Hagia Sofia, the cathedral he built in Constantinople (“I am now greater than Solomon,” he declared) and you can feel his breathless awe when you enter this miracle of Byzantine art and engineering under soaring vaulted ceilings, gilded mosaics, and a massive dome that seems to float, unsupported. The cathedral became a mosque (Ayasofia) when Ottoman Turks conquered the city (and later was an inspiration for Islamic architecture throughout the Middle Ages). From the airy, natural light of Hagia Sofia, descend to the watery “underground palace,” a vast Roman cistern of marble colonnades and sculpture that once supplied water to the city. Emerge to meet the splendor of the Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmed I to surpass Hagia Sofia, with multiple cascading domes and minarets, finely carved marble and stained glass windows, and namesake blue tiles covering the walls within. From the Blue Mosque, it’s a short walk to the Green House (Yesil Ev) where you’ll have lunch in the gracious setting of a 19th-century mansion. You’ll find an oasis of calm in busy Sultanahmet, the historic district of Old Istanbul. Meals BL
3. MYSTERIOUS TOPKAPI PALACE, GRAND BAZAAR Lose yourself in the labyrinthine grounds of Topkapi Palace, official residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire; explore its gardens, courtyards and opulent homes, including the Harem (with its 400 rooms), and the Imperial Kitchens. Outside, a mercantile maze awaits you at the Grand Bazaar, the oldest covered marketplace in the world, with 4,000 shops offering exotic treasures in a warren of streets, passageways and vaults. Escape for a breath of sea air on a cruise of the Bosphorus through the heart of Istanbul, arriving at a mansion
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 877-519-1035
Tauck Value Includes
Three nights at the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul; guest rooms have views of the Bosphorus
A boat cruise on the Bosphorus Strait, which runs through the heart of Istanbul
A visit to a mansion on the Bosphorus that has retained its original architectural style
A visit to a traditional caravanserai (roadhouse inn) along the ancient Silk Road
Hot air balloon flight over the “fairy chimneys” of Göreme, with breakfast afterward among the famous rock formations
A performance by a company of Whirling Dervishes in the rock cave of an ancient monastery
Private lecture on the status of women in contemporary Turkish society
A visit to a family who lives in a modern “cave home” carved into a fairy chimney in Cappadocia
A private cooking class teaching the art of making Turkish coffee
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
27 meals (11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners); gratuities to local guides, taxes, service charges, admission fees and porterage
www.tauck.com 109
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