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ITINERARY FOR 2008 FIBER ARTS TRIP TO TURKEY |
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Day
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Location & Activities | |
| 1 | We will be met by our tour guide when we arrive in Istanbul, the only city in the world straddling two continents. It guards precious relics of three empires. We ride into the city and check into Hotel Divan. Dinner at Divan Hotel.. |  |
| 2 | After breakfast, visit the famous SPICE MARKET. Transfer to pier and take a cruise along the BOSPHORUS, taking in both the European and the Asian shores of this magnificent city. Visit CHORA CHURCH MUSEUM, and lunch at DARUZZIYAFE, an old Ottoman restaurant still serving great food. Visit the magical DOLMABAHCE PALACE. Dinner at CIRAGAN PALACE or FERIYE PALACE. Retire to hotel. |  |
| 3 | After breakfast, visit HIPPODROME SQUARE, the SULTAN AHMET MOSQUE (also known as the BLUE MOSQUE), and the HAGIA SOPHIA CHURCH, built in the 6th century. Lunch at Topkapi Palace's Konyali Restaurant. Start the afternoon with a visit to the TOPKAPI PALACE, admire the priceless jewelry, rare porcelains, and costumes. Visit the GRAND BAZAAR, an intricate complex housing 4000 tiny shops. Enjoy dinner at a great local restaurant. Retire to hotel. |  |
| 4 | After breakfast, drive to PERGAMUM. On the way, time permitting, visit the MANICI KASRI on MOUNT IDA of mythological fame. Visit ASKLEPION, the ancient healing center/hospital, where Galenos planted the early seeds of modern medicine. Visit a Turkish Carpet Center and learn about the famous Bergama carpets and kilims from the masters. After lunch drive to KUSADASI and check in at KISMET Hotel for dinner and overnight stay. |  |
| 5 | Drive to Selcuk and visit the last abode of Virgin Mary, ancient sites visited by St. Paul, and the spectacular city of EPHESUS. See its famous Odeon, Bouleuterion, Fountains, Temples, Library, Terrace Houses, Agoras, Roman Baths, Gymnasiums, Amphitheatre, AND A BROTHEL!... Lunch in Sirince, a beautiful little ancient Greek city that will take you back in time. Dinner and overnight at Kismet Hotel. |  |
| 6 | After breakfast, depart for DIDYMA, and visit the Temple of Apollo. See MILETUS, an Ionian port which was visited by St. Paul on his 3rd missionary journey, and PRIENE, another Ionian port visited often by great philosophers and sages. Lunch at KARACASULU. Drive to BODRUM, and check in at the thermal Hotel Colossea. Enjoy the baths and thermal pools. Dinner and overnight at hotel. |  |
| 7 | After breakfast, visit PAMUKKALE (Cotton Castle), see the white travertine formations, visit the ancient city of HIEROPOLIS, a spa center during Roman times. Lunch at Degirmen Restaurant, and shopping in the area. Return to hotel for dinner and enjoy the thermal pools and baths, and may be, a well deserved massage. |  |
| 8 | An early breakfast and departure for FETHIYE. Enjoy the view and have lunch at Dalyan Restaurant. Observe the Lycian Rock Tombs along the way, and continue to ANTALYA to Divan Talya Hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel. |  |
| 9 | After breakfast, visit PERGE, an important city of ancient PAMPHILIA. Then visit SIDE, the old harbor. After lunch at Side, visit its magnificent Roman Theatre ASPENDOS. Free time and shopping. Retire to Talya Hotel for dinner and overnight. |  |
| 10 | Visit the ruins of PHASELIS, and the Duden Waterfalls. In the afternoon, visit Antalya Museum, Kirac Museum and Antalya Castle. Go downtown for sightseeing and shopping. Dinner and overnight in Talya Hotel. |  |
| 11 | After breakfast, destination: CAPPADOCIA. Lunch at Kirazli Restaurant and Gul Restaurant in Konya. Visit Mevlana Museum. Drive to Cappadocia and check in at our hotel, Ahbap Konagi. Dine and retire. |  |
| 12 | Visit the volcanic GOREME valley, see its underground cities, cave churches, fairy chimneys. Visit UCHISAR, the ancient greek town of SINASSOS. Enjoy a special Turkish night in a cave club. Overnight in Ahbap Konak. |  |
| 13 | Spend the morning discovering and learning about Turkish rugs at the largest rug cooperative in the country. Visit one of the largest underground cities in Cappadocia. Visit the town of AVANOS, center of pottery since the Hittite period and visit one of the cave workshops still very much in operation. After dinner at Ahbap Konagi, enjoy a performance by the whirling dervishes at a 13th century Caravanserai. |  |
| 14 | After breakfast, leave for Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey. The city was in the heart of the national War of Independence. Lunch at Boyacizade Konagi and visit the world renown Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which encompasses artifacts from as early as the Stone Age to the Roman Period. Transfer to Divan Ankara Hotel, dine and retire. |  |
| 15 | Visit ANITKABIR, the Mausoleum of Ataturk. Start the drive back to Istanbul, stopping for lunch at the beautiful Koru Hotel Restaurant. Check in at Divan Hotel in Istanbul, dine and retire. |  |
| 16 | After breakfast, drive to the airport for departure. |  |
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