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Small Group & Custom Private Tours
Cultural Journey with Rumi Celebration: December 6-18, 2004
The tour includes: Istanbul, Bursa, Pergamon, Izmir, Ephesus, Kusadas? Aphrodisias, Pamukkale, Konya and Cappadocia.
Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi was born on September 30, 1207 in Balkh in present day Afghanistan. He died on December 17, 1273 in Konya, Turkey. The celebration of Rumis life called: "Commemoration Day for Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi," is December 14 and the week of December 10-17 is considered " Mevlana Week".
Day 1, Dec 06 Depart USA
Day 2, Dec 07 Arrive Istanbul Hotel Germir Palas Arrive Istanbul, the only city in the world built on two continents, guarding the precious relics of the three empires of which she has been the capital; a unique link between East and West, between past and present. Istanbul is not only historic, it is still a magnificent great city, fascinating and vividly alive, providing infinite variety: museums, ancient churches, palaces, great mosques, the bazaars and the unforgettable Bosphorus. Meet and transfer to the hotel in city center. After the check-in, we will depart for a short orientation tour (if time permits). The bus will drop us at Eminonu port where we will embark on our private boat for a two hour relaxing boat tour along the Bosphorus, visiting both European and Asian shores of Istanbul. You will see the citys most expensive villas, old palaces, two intercontinental bridges, minarets and mosques, etc. We will leave the boat in Sariyer where our bus and driver are waiting for us. Return to the hotel. Free time before the dinner. Dinner at an outside Seafood restaurant.
Day 3, Dec 08 Istanbul Morning visit to the Hippodrome Square where ancient chariot races were held, the Blue Mosque, unique with its 6 minarets, and famous for its blue Iznik tiles, and the St. Sophia Church, built in the 6th century, once was the largest Christian church in the world. Afternoon visit to the Topkapi Palace, Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, with displays of priceless world-class collections of artifacts, jewelry and rare porcelain. We will also visit its separate Treasury Section. Afterwards, explore the famous Grand Bazaar complex including 4,000 tiny shops. Dinner at an outside Turkish Grills Restaurant.
Day 4, Dec 09 Istanbul Iznik (Nicaea) Bursa Hotel Thermal Kervansaray Drive to Iznik. Worldwide famous Iznik Tiles reached their zenith in the 16th-17th centuries during the Ottoman period, but due to several reasons, their productions and the related know-how totally vanished in the 18th century. As a result of many years of research and experiments, Iznik Foundation rediscovered the process of production as well as the recipe for materials and started to produce, using the traditional way of making, these extraordinary tiles. Iznik quartz tiles are the result of extremely difficult production methods which, when carried out successfully, is realized with an extra-white undercoating, very hard glaze, and under-glaze decorations. See the different Iznik Tiles styles such as: Dates Tree (contemporary), Miniature Style, intemani Style (contemporary design of old paterns), S Tulips, Tulips in a windy field, 16th century design, Sazyolu Style (original design used in the 15th and 16th centuries), Ottoman Galleon.
Then, drive to Bursa, once the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit the Silk Bazaar, Green Mosque and the Green Mausoleum. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Bursa.
Day 5, Dec 10 Pergamon - Izmir Hotel Anemon First visit to Asklepion, the ancient Healing Center, served as a hospital. Famous pharmacist Galenos lived and died at this hospital and teached his first healing technics to the local people here. Galenos is considered as the "Father of Pharmacy." Galenos has accepted the principles and ways of treatment of Hippocrtaes who lived about 700 years earlier then him. At his home, he had a drugstore in which he prepared his herb based medicine which was called "Polypharmacy." He had medicine for almost every illness. His therapy based ointment "antidote" contained at least 70 different types of ingredients. He said "You will never endanger the life of the patient during the therapy". In this Asklepion, faith came first for the therapy. Today, it is possible to see the ruins of the ancient healing techniques such as Sacred Water, Herbs and Ointments, Sun Bath, Theater for music and social events.
Next we will visit the Acropolis, a city built by one of the generals of Alexander the Great. We will see the steepest theater of the ancient world, the Temple of Trajan, the city walls, and more.
Then, we will continue to Izmir. Izmir, lies on the shores of a large bay furrowed by ships and yachts and encircled by mountains. The climate is a mild one and, in summer, the heat is tempered by the constant and refreshing sea breezes. Behind the palm lined promenades and avenues, the city gently ascends in terraces on the slopes of the surrounding hills. Today, it is third largest city in Turkey.
Visit Izmir Ethnographical Museum; it is right accross the Archaeological Museum, a 3 floor-old building constructed in 1831 as an hospital, then converted to a museum in 1984. The museum displays traditional Turkish dresses, wedding dresses, Ottoman furnitures from late 19th century, hand arts such as tin processing, bath clog production, blue bid production, wooden printing, carpet weaving and more interesting daily life instruments.
Dinner at an outside seafood restaurant. Overnight in Izmir.
Day 6 Dec 11 Ephesus Izmir - Kusadasi Hotel Korumar Drive Ephesus, the most famous ancient Roman city in Turkey, maybe in the world. See the House of the Virgin Mary, the Odeon, the Temple of Hadrian, the Celsus Library, the Marble Street, the Great Theater and the Harbour Road. Then, visit the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus. Before driving to Kusadasi, shopping opportunity at Ephesus Ceramic Center and Turkmen Carpet Weaving Center, a private handicrafts center supported by the government trying to keep the carpet weaving tradition alive in Ephesus. Kusadas?is located on the western Anatolia by the Aegean Coast 90km south of Izmir.
Day 7 Dec 12 Aphrodisias Pamukkale Hotel Colossae Drive to Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite or Venus, the goddess of love. The archaeologists named the city Aphrodisias because they found so many statues of her here. The New York University is leading and supporting the excavations financially. We will see the stadium which seated 35,000 people and is the most well-preserved in the world, the Hadrian Baths, the Theater, the Agora and the Archaeological Museum where many Aphrodite statues are on display.
Continue to Denizli to explore the glass blowing tradition in Denizli Glass Factory.
Proceed to Pamukkale, the Cotton Castle. See the white travertines; there are underground hot water springs in Pamukkale. This water contains many minerals including calcium. The calcium deposits formed the white Pamukkale hill over thousands of years. The city of Hierapolis in Pamukkale was a spa center during the Roman period. There are still tourists coming to Pamukkale for its hot spring waters. Swimming is available at the indoor or outdoor hot spring pool of the hotel. It is said that this water is good for the eyes and for the stomach. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 8 Dec 13 Pamukkale Konya Hotel Ozkaymak In the morning, we will visit Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Then drive to Konya. Visit Konya Mevlana Museum. Dinner and show at the hotel. We will have the chance to watch the special dance of the Whirling Dervishes. The "dance" of the Whirling Dervishes is called Sema. Sema is a part of the inspiration of Mevlana as well as part of the Turkish custom, history, beliefs and culture.
Day 9 Dec 14 Konya Visit the Karatay Tile Museum and the Medrese which was one of the first universities of the Ottoman Empire. Then visit the local craftsmen such as felt makers and horse carriage decorators.
Join The Commemoration Celebrations of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi. There will be a reception, some concerts, some lecturers, and a Whirling Derwish Show
Day 10 Dec 15 Konya Cappadocia Hotel Kapadokya Lodge Drive to Cappadocia. Visit the 13th century Sultan Hani Caravanserail en route, enjoy Turkish tea in an authentic atmosphere. Afternoon sightseeing in Cappadocia. As a result of two explosions, the area was covered with volcanic matter to a height of 100 yards. As it was easy to carve these volcanic stones, local people built underground cities and cave churches in Cappadocia.
In the afternoon, we will visit the 10th century underground city of Kaymakli. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 11 Dec 16 Cappadocia After breakfast, we will visit Goreme Open Air Museum including many painted rock churches, the Citadel of Uchisar, Avanos, the town of pottery makers, and watch a demonstration at a workshop. Tonight, we will have our dinner at an outdoor CAVE RESTAURANT with folk and belly dance show.
Day 12 Dec 17 Cappadocia Fly Istanbul Transfer to Kayseri Airport. TK 261 09:45 am escorted flight to Istanbul. Arrive Istanbul at 11:00 am. Our new bus and driver will transfer us to the hotel. After check in to the hotel, we will depart for an afternoon sightseeing tour. Visit the St. Chora Church famous for its golden mosaics, the Underground Cistern and the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum. Return to the hotel. Tonight, Farewell Dinner at a nice outside restaurant.
Day 13 Dec 18 Transfer to Istanbul Airport for departure.
Your Guide: a professional, government licensed guide will accompany the group throughout the journey. It will be the same person from days 2-11. After transfer to airport on day 12, there will be a different guide meeting us at the airport upon arrival in Istanbul.
Price: $1275 per person, based on min 7 people, single room supplement $245
Includes: accommodations, dbl occ; sightseeing as per the itinerary, participationin the Commemoration Celebration of Mevlana, all escorted transfers, daily breakfast and 11 dinners, transportation by private A/C bus , accompanying professional tour guide throughout the tour, entry fees to the sites & museums, ervice charges & local taxes, maps.
Does Not Include: lunches and all drinks, Turkish visa fee (to be paid at Istanbul airport upon arrival-the current rate is $20 pp), personal expenses, tips to the tour guide and driver, insurance
The Hotels are superior first class:
Germir Palas in Istanbul is ideally located just steps from Istikal Caddesi, Pera Area, Taksim Square, Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall, Cemil Topurlu Amphitheater, museums and fabulous shopping. The hotel has a wonderful old world charm in the decor of the lobby and rooms. There is a rooftop terrace restaurant, an elegant indoor restaurant and a cafe/bar.
Thermal Kervansaray in Bursa is a comfortable 4 star with all the modern room amenities. It has a roof top terrace swimming pool and casual restaurant by the pool as well as a main indoor restaurant, roof top bar
Hotel Anemon is located in the city center within easy reach to shopping and restaurants. It has all the usual room amenities: satellite TV system, minibar, hair dryer, bathtub, plus non-smoking floors. Hotel Anemon offers the best samples of the Turkish cuisine with the best service in its historical atmosphere.
The KoruMar Hotel, with its superb location, commands the most beautiful seaview and presents a combination of style, high-standard accomadation and a wide range of modern facilitiesincluding outdoor swimming pool, beach, beach bar, lobby bar, pool bar, two main restaurants and one a la carte restaurant, wide screen TV-Room, hairdressing salon, open-air disco, fitness center, indoor pool, sauna, solarium, jacuzzi, turkish bath, massage. There are 2 open buffet restaurants, 1 A la Carte Fish Restaurant, Pool Bar, Beach bar, Beer Garden.
The ?kaymak Konya hotel is located in the center of the city of Konya, seat of numerous ancient civilizations and the adopted home of the mystic and poet Mevlana (Rumi). Konya is famous for its remarkable history. The rooms are spacious and pleasnt with all the usual amenities. Terrace Bar and Restaurant boasts a stunning view of the city (Konya), international cuisine, live music and shows. The posh main dining hall offers a delicious array of appetizers, main dishes, and a wide selection of fruits served buffet style. The mystical music and whirling dance of the dervishes is a regular feature most evenings at the ?kaymak Konya. The sema is performed by real Mevlevis (followers of the great Turkish mystic Mevlana (Rumi) using authentic instruments and is the perfect complement to a day spent exploring the rich cultural treasures of the city. The hotel boasts a wooden Finnish sauna and an authentic Turkish hamam (bath). An indoor pool, numerous deckchairs and a well stocked bar complete the sauna complex. Also available are massage services, a modest fitness center, a beauty parlour and a hairdressing salon.
Kapadokya Lodge Country Club recreates the ambiance of the opulent history and geography of the past with contemporary amenities and comforts. Its architecture resembles the fortress of Uhisar and its natural stones covering the exterior surface are in harmony with its environs and also with nature. Outdoor and indoor restaurant; bar with a fireplace; dancing platform; bazaar; swimming pool with heater and suntanning terrace; poolbar; fruit gardens. n the rooms, direct telephone line, TV with satellite transmission, musical broadcast, mini bar, private safe, bathtub, hair drier, and central heating.
The average temperatures in December: Istanbul area 50 F, Izmir & Western Turkey 54 F, Konya & Cappadocia (inland) 40 F
(888) 367-6147 - Intl (415) 381-5861
P.O. Box 446 Mill Valley, CA 94941all text & photos © 1997-03, Barbara Sansone
