The Mt. Kackar Wilderness Travel group arrived safely along with trip leader, Jack and assistant trip leader, Cemil. There were 12 Americans who hailed from New York, Portland, Georgia and North Carolina, and two Canadians from Vancouver. Dick, Bill, Ruth, John, McKay, Nate, Anne, Jim, Christine, Barbara, Ed, and Deborah. All ages, all occupations, experienced trekkers with the exception of Deborah who was attempting her first trek and bought only the best of everything for this experience.

A welcome dinner in the Sarnic Restaurant, also known as the "Cistern Restaurant." The Turkish Touring and Automobile Association repaired and restored the cistern built more than 1,000 years ago into a tavern cum restaurant. During restoration, they found that the original floor level was more than 21 feet below the present floor. Not only that, but the solid monolithic piers throughout still go another 3m/9 feet below the present level. The ancient interior has been prserved exactly as it was. Excellent food in a pleasant atmosphere. How often does one get a chance to dine in an old Roman cistern?

Continue reading "The Sights of Istanbul, Turkey" »

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We always try to fly and arrive one day before a group tour begins in case anything goes wrong and this trip was no exception. If I told you we flew poor defunct TWA (they had the best frequent flyer plan of any airline), would that give you a clue how long ago this trip was? Not only that, but the group flight from America was on Pan Am! However, all information and sights in these articles are still relevant today. Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport (IST) is located 23 km/14 miles west of Sultanahmet Square and a taxi from the airport should only run about $20.00.

A taxi drove us to the Kariye Hotel, a small boutique hotel in Old Istanbul and located next to the Kariye Museum (formerly the Church of the Monastery of Chora). The Kariye Hotel is in a restored 19th century mansion on a hill above the Golden Horn and a 10-minute taxi ride to the Sultanahmet area. However, there are quite a few walks around the Kariye Hotel. One very interesting and don't-miss-walk is the stone towers, ramparts and ditches. Emperor Theodosius II (408-450) enclosed the seven hills of the new Rome in the fifth century. Can you believe they were built in two months to protect the city from Attila the Hun?

Continue reading "The Mt. Kackar Trek Began in Istanbul, Turkey" »

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Air? You can search, plan and/or book on-line through BookingBuddy's Top Travel Deals newsletter and Kayak. TIP: Try to use miles accumulated on airlines for First, Business Class and Economy on short-hauls. It may only be 20,000 miles for a short-haul ticket and almost every major airline flies to Istanbul, Turkey.

Visas? American tourists traveling to Turkey on U.S. passports need a visa and can purchase a 90-day sticker visa at the port of entry for $20 cash. For all other nationalities, check this link, Turizm.net

Continue reading "Planning a Mt. Kackar Trek in Eastern Turkey" »

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There are only a few tour organizers that run treks to the Mt. Kackar (pronounced Kashkar) area in a remote region of eastern Turkey near the Russian border. A shame because this region is filled with green meadows, wildflowers, ghost villages, lakes, densely wooded forests, Georgian and Armenian ruins. Well-established mule trails lead between highland villages and alpine pastures yaylas, and higher level rocky paths through the rugged Pontic Alps along Turkey's Black Sea coast. The steep slopes and ravines make communication difficult and this isolation has helped to preserve the area.

The Turkish people in the Pontic Alps still wear colorful local dress (women wear brightly colured scarves) and lead a nomadic life. The tribal Laz and Yuruk people move their cows and sheep from the lower valleys to the fertile high pastures where they live for three to four months in summer camps of wooden huts and stone houses with rooms burrowed into the earth. The Laz were seafaring people who speak a language related to the Irish! How strange... And, there are isolated pockets of Armenians and Georgians, both Christian and Muslim, who still speak their own language.

Continue reading "The Remote Mt. Kackar Trek in Eastern Turkey" »

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This is my very short list of countries that ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I could revisit again and again. I'm always taken aback when people ask, for example, "Why are you going back to France again?" Why? Are you serious? A person could revisit Paris on a yearly basis for their entire life and still not have seen it all. France has beaches, sea side towns, forests where a person can actually hear a ...cuckoo...cuckooo... while walking along. There are hills, low mountains, the glorious French Alps (Chamonix is beyond words), crystal clear lakes, small villages and towns that have looked the same for a thousand years, cathedrals, pilgrimage trails, historical sites and wonderful food. A pittance of what's available in just France.

We have the same three limitations as everyone else. Time, money and health. The following places are doable financially but, again, you'd have to spend an entire year traveling while many can only be visited during certains seasons of the year. When you read this article about where I'd love to return and why, remember these two important words - Wish List

Continue reading "Sheila's Travel Wish List For Seven "Return To" Destinations"" »

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Fourteen year old, granddaughter, Sarah is about to embark on a "trip of a lifetime" with her camp group into the Canadian and American Rockies, and National Parks and now, ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and my advice doesn't seem so lame to her. If there is a hiking, trekking or camping mistake to be made (with the exception of backpacking), we've been there, done it and perhaps these tips for Sarah will help you avoid some of our many boners. With that in mind:

Number 1 - Pack everything in big, plastic garbage bags. In your duffel, backpack and make sure your sleeping bag is in a waterproof stuff sack. If your sleeping bag gets wet, it will never have time to dry out. Trust us on this.

Continue reading "Sheila's Top Seven Tips for Beginning Hikers/Trekkers/Campers" »

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Today was the last day of the Explore Baltic Republics journey. Packed up and back on the bus for the ride across the causeway through Muhu Island. We made only one stop before the ferry port, at St. Catherine's Church. St. Catherine's, built in 1267, supposedly had a wonderful interior but what can you do. Instead, we took a group photo and wandered around the grounds with ancient and moss-covered crosses marking a few graves.

An even nicer ferry to the Estonian mainland than before with a small area for children to play in and crowded. The 30-minute ferry ride was followed by the last two hours on the road back into Tallinn and the Reval Central Hotel. ex-Marine and I had opera tickets for tonight to see Un Ballo in Maschera (Masked Ball) by Giuseppe Verdi before beginning the long journey home tomorrow. The Tallinn Opera House is small with wonderful acoustics and good sight lines. You can see well from anywhere..View image. You must check coats, hats and jackets in one of the free coatrooms. No exceptions. This version of the Masked Ball was excellent with very unusual staging that had sparse sets along with modern day costumes. Think "flapper" and you'd be close.

Continue reading "Back in Tallinn, Estonia - Hindsight is 20/20 in The Baltic Republics" »

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