Fantastic weeks spent in Eastern and Southeastern Turkey ended with an early morning flight to Istanbul where the group went on their merry ways. Some to stay in Istanbul, others to fly back to the U.K. in the evening while we headed back to Chicago via Frankfurt on Lufthansa. Impossible to make direct connections, this [...]
“Travel Tips & Advice on Eastern Turkey”
Millennium Business Class Lounge at Istanbul International Airport
February 22nd, 2012 
Sheila Simkin 
Posted in Eastern Turkey, Featured, Turkey 
Tags: adventure, airport, airports, destination, Eastern Turkey, event, events, food, Istanbul, landmark, log, sightseeing, travel, travel advice, turkey 
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The Deliler Han/Caravanserai and Taranci’s House in Diyarbakir
February 21st, 2012 Sheila Simkin What is a caravanserai/Kervansary? Think early Motel 6 without camels and donkeys. A caravanserai was a roadside inn where travelers could rest overnight on their journey; found all across the network of trade routes in Asia, North Africa and the Silk Road. Animals were housed in the courtyard and stables below the sleeping rooms. Persia’s [...]
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The Four-Legged Minaret (Dort Ayakh Minaret) – Diyarbakir, Turkey
February 20th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Down busy streets towards another interesting quarter where streets couldn’t have possibly gotten any narrower. A little girl carrying fresh bread on her head almost got smooshed avoiding a taxi. These were my kind of streets. Cobblestones underfoot, crowds of people…View image, huge amounts of sunflower seeds for sale…View image, and delicious looking watermelons. Diyarbakir [...]
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The Syrian Orthodox Church of Virgin Mary, Diyarbakir
February 19th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Over 6,000 years ago, a sun temple stood on the spot now occupied by the Syrian Orthodox Church of Virgin Mary. (Numbers like “6,000 years ago” are beyond my comprehension.) Christianity spread over Diyarbakir during the first century and Syrians accepted the faith of Christ. This church was founded in the 3rd century and is [...]
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The Famous City Walls of Diyarbakir, Turkey
February 18th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Diyarbakir has been continuously inhabited since its founding with evidence of human settlement going back to 11,000 years B.C. It is the largest city in Southeastern Turkey on the banks of the Tigris River. In good times, Travels With Sheila can imagine a travel operator coming up with boat excursions from Diyarbakir all the way [...]
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Lunch at Aslan Yemek Salono in Diyarbakir
February 17th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Before the bus arrived in Diyarbakir, Oz made important announcements asking us: to take jewelry off, wear money belts, don’t carry anything valuable because this is not the safest of towns; thievery and this is the center of Kurdish unrest. We would also have to stick together on the walking tour after lunch. That unwelcome [...]
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A Lake Ferry Crossing to The Kurdish City of Diyarbakir
February 16th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Today was the last day, last city and last night in Eastern Turkey; ending in Diyabakir before flying back to Istanbul and then home. The group left Hotel Euphrat early for the 3-1/2 hour ride to Diyabakir. Bus sights this morning all seemed to be horses and donkeys. A horse almost buried under its load [...]
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Nemrut Dagis’ Western Terrace at Sunset: Heads of Deities Built by Antiochus I
February 15th, 2012 Sheila Simkin The unique mountain top shrine of Nemrut Dagi was known before 1881 only to local herders before being discovered by a geologist. Archaeological excavations took place in 1953 by the American School of Oriental Research. They conducted surveys of the site and began a preservation program, but this has provided little insight into the either [...]
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Nemrut Dagi Eastern Terrace: The Astounding Heads Built by Antiochus I
February 14th, 2012 Sheila Simkin It was finally time for the long awaited drive to Nemrut Dagi to visit the summit at sunset when the vast stone heads on the Western Terrace turn a golden color. If you prefer to get up before “the crack of dawn,” visit the Eastern Terrace for the same result. Nemrut Dagi (Mount Nemrut) is [...]
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A Walk Up to Arsameia in The Nemrut Dagi Area
February 13th, 2012 Sheila Simkin It was much too hot for ex-Marine and I to even think of joining a group hike up to a local village this morning, even at 10:00a. Lunch at Hotel Euphrat would be served at 1:30p, and then we’ll leave leave in two cramped mini-buses around 3:15p for the ride to Arsemeia, followed by the [...]
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