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Blennylips 2006 Turkey Eclipse Trip Video

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Turkey Trip Intro
- Trailer for the Blennylips Bonaire trip to Turkey to view the total solar eclipse of March 2006. In March of 2006, Roger Burnham and Marcia Leatham (Blennylips Bonaire) went to Turkey to see the total solar eclipse of the sun. We were lucky enough to join a Pacha Tour ("Super Value Western Turkey Tour") for two weeks of touring around. We spent another week on our own, before and after the tour exploring Istanbul. Just let me say that I cannot conceive of a better tour guide than Atilla. His breadth of knowledge and ability to communicate it in an entertaining manner was a true joy and made the trip so much more than we had anticipated. As is usual for Marcia and I, we made a DVD of the trip, that we hope you will enjoy.
Around Istanbul
- Walking around Istanbul: Visits to the Grand Bazaar, Basilica Cistern, Museum of Archeology, Taksim Square, Galata Tower and Bridge, Theodosian Walls, Eyup Mosque, and an amusment park. Before and after the Pacha tour, we spent about a week wandering around Istanbul. Grand Bazaar: Largest covered market in the world. And,oddly enough, every shopkeeper's brother sells kilims. Basilica Cistern: ...was built by Justinian in 532 AD, and it is the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul. Museum of Archeology: Artifacts from the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine civilizations ...overwhelming! A walk from Taksim square (the heart of modern Istanbul) to our hotel in the old quarter. Highlights are the Galata Tower overlooking the Galata Bridge that spans the Golden Horn. A walk along the ancient wall: In 412 the Roman emperorTheodosius II surrounded Constantinople with a wall that stretched 6.5 kilometers between the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. Zoodochos Pege: The Fountain of Holy Water associated with the monastery is one of the most celebrated shrines of Constantinople, dating to early Christian times. Eyup Mosque: This great Mosque is where Eyup, the standard bearer of the Prophet Mohammed, died in theIslamic assault on Constantinople in A.D. 670. Amusement Park: Children's park, convention center, etc. on the grounds of a former fez factory.
Bosphorus Cruise
- The Bosphorus is the world's narrowest strait, separating Europe from Asia. It connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara (connected by the Dardanelles to the Aegean Sea, and thereby to the Mediterranean).
Two Churches and a Mosque
- First of many. Hagia Sofia, Chora Museum, and the Rustempasa Mosque Hagia Sofia: Church of Holy Wisdom, now the Ayasofya Museum, is a former Eastern Orthodox church converted to a mosque, now a museum. It is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest buildings of the world. This is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of a Byzantine church. Built in the 5th century, in the 16th century it was converted into a mosque, and a museum in 1948. Rustempasa Mosque: Built by the famouse architect Sinan for the Grand Vizier Rustem Pasa, an in law of Suleyman the Magnificent.
Istanbul to Ankara
- Drive to Ankara from Istanbul stopping at the Musuem of Anatolian Civilizations. Musuem of Anatolian Civilizations: This archeological museum is dedicated to ancient cultures that inhabited the Anatolian Peninsula prior to eventual migration of the Turks in the 11th century: Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Copper-Stone, Old Bronze, Hittites, Phrygian, Urartu, and Late Hittite.
Ankara to Cappadocia
- Drive to Cappadocia, visiting Yazilikaya and Hattusas (Lion's Gate, Sphinx Gate, and the Great Temple). Yazilikaya: The sanctuary of Yazilikaya ("inscribed rock") is an open air, natural rock shrine outside the ancient city of Hattusha, where a spring flowed from the rocks and through a small alcove. In the 15-13th centuries BC several temples were built here by the Hittites. Hattusas, "City of the Gods": Lion's Gate, Sphinx Gate, and the Great Temple.
Whirling Dervishes
- A public reenactment of the Whirling Dervish ceremony. The Mevlevi Order or the Mevleviye are a Sufi order founded by the followers of Jalal al-Din MuhammadRumi in 1273 in Konya. They are also known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
Balloons over Cappadocia
- Wafting over the fairy chimneys in a Goreme hot air balloon. On the morning of the eclipse, we awoke before dawn to set out on an unforgettable hot air balloon ride over the unearthly landscapes of Cappadocia.
Eclipse Day!
- Goreme, eclipse, Yeralti Sehri, Red Valley, Oh My! A busy day that started with the balloon ride (previous video), then: Goreme: ...a town in Cappadoccia ("The Land of Fine Horses"). During the Byzantine period some 360 churches and monasteries were built by excavating the earth pillars (volcanic tuff - "fairy chimneys"), and their walls were decorated with ~religious paintings. Eclipse: For Marcia and I, all this was for the following 3 minutes... Yeralti Sehri: On the four levels cleared since 1964, kitchens, stables, and a winery have been found, as well as a chapel. The complex, believed to go down 20m, was home to about 15,000 people, with air shafts, water wells, and storage to last several months. Red Valley: One of the most attractive valleys of Cappadocia with its fabulous volcanic rock formations. Hermit churches, cut from rock, with frescoes and paintings fit with the valley's meditative atmosphere.
Around Cappadocia
- More Cappadocia: Monks Valley, Karabas, Soganli, and Uchisar Citadel. Monks Valley: Many fairy chimneys with multiple stems and caps, some housing chapels and living areas can be found here. The hermits of Cappadocia hollowed out the chimneys from bottom to top creating rooms 10-15m high. Karabas "Church of the Black Heads": Many of the frescoes had their eyes gouged out, as the Muslims believed that if you took the eyes off the paintings then the soul would be removed. Some of the graffiti on the walls dates back to Greek times and some to the early 1800's. Soganli: One of the oldest towns in Turkey where they are famous for making dolls that are sold throughout Turkey. Uchisar Citadel: A natural rock citadel which surrounds a traditional village. It is the tallest point in Cappadocia.
Cappadocia Shopping
- Shopping: Carpets, Pottery & Jewelry... Sentez Avanos Hali. Carpet making cooperative and the largest exporter of carpets in Turkey. We had a very professional demonstrations of how silk is harvested and spun and made into carpets. I know its hard to believe, but we did have a chance to buy carpets. We then went to a pottery and jewelry store. I kind of lost interest here and so there is not much filmed of this store.
Dinner and a Dance
- Dinner and a Folk Dance show -or- Anthony and the Bellydancer. In the town of Urgup in Cappadocia, we were treated to "Turkish Nights". Our dinner was in an unusual underground restaurant recently carved from the lava rock. The highlight was the folk dancers and musicians.
Cappadocia to Antalya
- On to Antalya, stopping at a Canvasarai and the Rumi Memorial. Sultanhani Caravanserai: Near Aksaray, is one of the best-preserved Seljuk caravanserais. Built between 1226 and 1229 it has a courtyard, stables, mosque, Turkish bath, travelers quarters, and a trading area. Rumi Mausoleum and Dervish Museum: Mevlâna Celaleddin, born in the 13th century was the son of a theologian who fled with his family before Genghis Khan's hordes. His 25,000 poems are the basis of the order he founded, and is the only philosophy formulated in poetry.
Antalya Area
- Day tripping around Antalya: Perge, Aspendos and a stroll in town. Perge: ...was first founded by the Hittites. A city of great importance during the Hellenistic period, Perge is where St. Paul preached his first sermon. Most of the works which can be seen today in the city are remains of the Roman Period. Aspendos: ...was one of the most important cities in the Pamphylia Region. The theater, which can hold 15,000, was built by the architect Zenon in AD 162. So perfect are its acoustics that even today a coin dropped on the stage can be heard at the top.
Antalya to Pamukkale
- We visit Aphrodisia on the way to Pamukkale. Aphrodisia: ...one of the most important archaeological sites of the Greek and Roman periods in Turkey. The site was dedicated to Aphrodite, goddess of love, and was named in the 2nd century BC. The site was a Neolithic shrine to the Mother Goddess as early as 5800 BC.
Pamukkale to Kusadasi
- Busy Day: Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Sardis, Temple of Artemis & Leather! Hierapolis: The necropolis (ancient graveyard) of Hierapolis, has many sarcophagi and house-shaped tombs. Sarcophagus means "flesh eater". The cemeteries were always located outside the walls of the city, while only the royals were buried inside. Pamukkale: Famed for the immense tiers of white limestone which cascade down the hillside, the mineral water was thought by the ancient Greeks to have healing powers. The layers of white calcium carbonate, earned the name of Pamukkale (cotton castle). Sardis: Recent excavations have focused on the 7th and 6th centuries B.C., when Sardis was the capital of the Lydian empire and at the height of its power, and on the Late Roman era, when the city was still flourishing. Temple of Artemis: From the 7th Century BC, this structure, dedicated to the Goddess of Fertility was never completed. These temples were always built facing east to west and were always located between two heights or mountains (representing the two breasts of a woman).
Ephesus Area
- Meryemana, Ephesus, Artemission Temple, Sirince and carpets... Meryemana: It is said that the Virgin Mary, accompanied by Saint Paul circa 37-45 AD, spent her last days nearby and that St. John the Evangelist came from the island of Patmos to look after her. Ephesus: Ephesus is one of the great ruins of the world and is the best preserved classical city on the Mediterranean. As a strategic coastal gateway to the Eastern World, this city grew to be the second largest city in the Roman Empire. Artemission Temple: One of the seven wonders of the world. Only the foundation remains as the columns were moved to a museum for display and protection. Most of the site was under water...Wonders of the World aint what they used to be! Sirince: Sirince is a village that has been in existence since the first settlement of Ephesus. There were many shops selling olive oil and fruit based wines.
Kusadasi to Canakkale
- On to Canakkale: Visit Pergamum, Asklepion, and Troy. Pergamum: This city became a major Roman settlement, although the Romans did not like the location, as it was too far from the water. One of the longest aqueducts in the world provided water to Pergamum, one of the earliest planned cities. Asklepion: The Asclepion of Pergamum was among the world's earliest and greatest medical centers. Here the great physician Galen laid down the basic rules for doctors. Troy: The history of Troy runs from around 4000 BC until about 300 AD, and is immortalized in Homer's Iliad. The city was discovered in 1871 by Heinrich Schilemann.
Canakkale to Istanbul
- Drive to Istanbul. Some go by Gallipoli, but we go via Bursa visiting several mosques and temples. Green Tomb: This is the tomb of Sultan Mehmet I. Inside the building there are nine sarcophagi, the biggest belonging to Mehmet I and others to members of his family and court. Actually these are empty and symbolic as people were buried downstairs. Green Mosque: Yesil Cami is a mosque of the Zaviye plan. Zaviye is a kind of multi-functional mosque having the inverted "T" plan with additional rooms for traveling dervishes. This style was mostly seen during the first years of the Ottoman Empire. Great Mosque: Ulucami was the Great Mosque of Bursa which was built by Sultan Bayezit I between the years 1396-1400. Ulucami was the first congregational mosque built by the Ottomans. Unlike many other mosques, this one does not have one big central dome.
Around Istanbul
- Istanbul: Suleymaniye Mosque, Spice Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace. Suleymaniye Mosque: Istanbul's most important mosque is both a tribute to its architect, the great Sinan, and a fitting memorial to its founder, Suleyman the Magnificent. Frank Lloyd Wright said that Sinan was one of the two best architects in the world. Spice Bazaar: Also known as the the Egyptian Bazaar. The L-shaped market, together with the mosque, were built in 1663 for the mother of Mehmet IV, a powerful woman who ruled the harem and, some would say, much of the empire. Blue Mosque: This is the most tourist visited mosque in the world. This mosque is built next to Saint Sophia, built by Christians, so the Muslims wanted a larger mosque. It takes its name from the mainly blue Iznik tilework decorating its interior and is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world. Hippodrome: There is very little left of the hippodrome which had a capacity of 75,000 to 100,000 people. In places you can still see the retaining walls that used to support the stands around the hippodrome. The hippodrome was used for chariot races, circuses, and political meetings. Topkapi Palace: Topkapi Palace was built between 1459 and 1465 as the principal residence of Mehmet II, after his conquest of Constantinople. This is the second largest palace in the world.
Blennylips Turkey Credits
- Credits for the Blennylips Bonaire trip to Turkey to view the total solar eclipse of March 2006.and a note about the music used. I have used the following music without permission... You have no idea how hard it is to find the right person, get them to respond, etc. I've grown to really like this music, listening to it over and over while editing and hope you do too. In the end, you are now exposed to music you probably would not have heard before. If you like it, you might consider supporting the artists by purchasing a CD... Divers - Türkülerle Türkiye - Bursa Türkülerle Türkiye - Antalya Türkülerle Türkiye - Nevsehir http://www.ulusmuzik.com Omar Faruk Tekbilek - One Truth http://www.hos.com Erkan Oður, Ýsmail H. Demircioðlu - Anadolu Beþik http://www.kalan.com Various Artists - Köprüler http://www.iskenderiye.com/eng/