Turkish Delights: Istanbul and the Countryside April 11 - 25, 2010

An intriguing, exciting tour arranged for The Volunteers' Circle of The National Gallery of Canada

	Legendary – Mysterious – Exotic – Fascinating Straddling the worlds of Europe and Asia, the ancient and the modern, Turkey, at the crossroads of civilizations, has always been a captivating study in contrasts. A treasure chest of ancient history, Turkey was home to an astounding number of ancient cultures and the cradle of 10 of the world's greatest civilizations. From Hittite and Assyrian to Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine cultures, each group has left relics that can be found in many corners of the country.

	Your Executive Worldwide Travel Tour Itinerary

	Sunday, April 11 – Departure from Canada. Monday, April 12 – Arrival in Istanbul Transfer to your hotel. Remainder of the day free to rest or begin your exploration of the ‘City of the World’s Desire.’ Welcome Dinner. Overnight at the 4* Armada Hotel in Istanbul. D

		Tuesday, April 13 – Istanbul After breakfast at the hotel, discover the highlights of historical Istanbul, starting with the Roman hippodrome, the centre of political life, where chariot races and athletic competitions took place. Visit the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, a treasure-house of beautiful objects from the Ottoman (14th to 20th centuries), Seljuk (11th to 13th centuries), and earlier periods beginning in the 8th century. The museum is housed in the restored Palace of Ibrahim Pasha, a sumptuous residence built by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent's Grand Vezir (and intimate friend) Ibrahim Pasha who served from 1523 to 1536. Cross to the Blue Mosque with its six minarets, another cultural highlight of the Ottoman Era. Step back in time at the Great Palace Mosaics Museum (floor mosaic) behind the Blue Mosque which holds many of the best secular 6th century Byzantine mosaics in the city. The mosaics, lively, artful images of hunting scenes, mythical beasts, fantastic objects and imaginings, are the remains of a large courtyard that once adjoined the Palace Aula, one of the many courtyards, audience chambers and throne rooms, gardens, churches and chapels, baths and fountains of the vast, rambling Great Palace complex ordered built by Constantine the Great, founder of Constantinople. Lunch at Omar Restaurant in Divanyolu. After lunch, visit Hagia Sophia, the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, rich with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings, and the Underground Cistern with its 556 columns, both dating back to the VIth century. Continue to the Imperial Cemetery of Ottoman Sultans. Stop at Corlulu Ali Pasa Medrese displaying the peaceful atmosphere of the past, and still attracting waterpipe fans today. Explore the labyrinth tunnels and thousands of shops of the historical Grand Bazaar and stroll through the Spice Market to feel the exoticism of the Orient but also to really see and live Istanbul’s daily life. Overnight Armada Hotel in Istanbul. BL

	Wednesday, April 14 – Istanbul After breakfast at the hotel, a guided tour at the Topkapi Palace, which like the others, is formed of many smaller palaces and apartments. Visit the Harem where only women and eunuchs used to live. Lunch in a fish restaurant by the Bosphorus. After lunch, glide past minarets and palaces, stone fortresses and wooden Ottoman mansions during a cruise on the Bosphorus. Visit Rüstem Pasha Mosque, famous for its large quantities of exquisite Iznik tiles, set in a very wide variety of beautiful floral and geometric designs, which cover not only the façade of the porch but also the mihrab, minbar, walls, columns and on the façade of the porch outside. These tiles exhibit the use of a tomato-red color characteristic of the early Iznik period (1555-1620), and no other mosque in Istanbul makes such a lavish use of these tiles. Tour the Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent, another masterpiece of architect Sinan the master. Located on the second Hill of Istanbul, it is the second largest mosque in the city, and one of the best-known sights of Istanbul. Overnight Armada Hotel in Istanbul. BL
	Thursday, April 15 – Istanbul/ Iznik / Bursa Following breakfast at the hotel, depart from Istanbul, cross Izmit Bay by ferry and arrive in Iznik by the lake. Visit the ruins of Saint Sophia where the first and seventh Ecumenical councils in the early history of the Christian church were held, and see the blue tiles and ceramics which have been produced since the 17th century. Lunch in a restaurant by the lake. Continue to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, with visits to the Green Tomb and the Green Mosque as well as Koza han, the silk market and the Grand Mosque, Ulu Camii, the major mosque of Bursa and a landmark of early Ottoman architecture. Dinner and overnight at the 5* Almira Hotel. BLD

		Friday, April 16 – Bursa / Ankara / Cappadocia Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Early morning drive to Ankara, the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. On the way, visit the mausoleum of Midas, king of the Phrygian Empire. Stop in Ankara at the Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of Turkish Republic. Lunch in the city center. Visit the world-renowned Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, with its priceless collection of artifacts, to explore Ankara's ancient past, which dates from the Paleolithic Age. Continue to Cappadocia and check in at the 4* Tourist Hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. BLD
	Saturday, April 17 – Cappadocia Breakfast at the hotel with a whole day to discover the volcanic beauty of Cappadocia's deceptively desolate and fantastic landscape. Morning visit to one of the underground cities where you will descend eight stories beneath the surface of the earth to explore the underground city where approximately 15,000 early Christians, fleeing Roman persecution, lived for months at a time undetected. The city was sub-divided into separate sections for better defense purposes with comfortable living rooms, wine cellars, meeting halls and churches. Visit the Byzantine churches of Goreme carved into the cliffs and caves and decorated with colourful frescoes dating to the 9th century. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit Uchisar, Pasabagi and Dervent Valley to see the best “fairy chimneys.” Millions of years ago, violent eruptions of volcanoes covered the former plateau of Urgup with ashes and mud that provided the region’s raw material, “tuff.” Wind and weather have eroded the soft volcanic rock into hundreds of strangely shaped pillars, cones and “fairy chimneys” in every shade from pink to yellow to russet brown. Dinner and overnight at the Tourist Hotel. BLD
		Sunday, April 18 – Cappadocia / Konya / Pamukkale After breakfast, a morning drive to Konya. See the difference in accommodations for 13th century travelers during a stop at Sultanhani Caravanserai. Caravanserais have been used since 10th century. These buildings provided accommodation and other amenities for the merchants and stabling for their animals. In the caravanserais, foreign traders as well as native ones, would be put up for three days. Their shoes would be repaired. The poor would be given new shoes. The ill would be treated and animals would be tended. If needed, the horses would be shoed. For their religious practices, they would use the "Kosk Mescid", small mosque, in the centre of the courtyard, the most important part of the caravanserais. Continue on to Konya, the capital of the Seljuk Empire, but known worldwide as the home of the sect of the Whirling Dervishes. Chanting of poetry, rhythmic rotation and incessant music create a euphoria that, accoring to the faithful, induces a feeling of soaring, of ecstacy, of mystical flight. Visits to the Whirling Dervishes Museum and the Mevlana Mausoleum in Konya. Lunch and cross the Taurus Mountains to arrive in Pamukkale popularly known as the 'cotton castle.' Dinner and overnight at the 4* Pam Thermal Hotel. BLD
	Monday, April 19 – Pamukkale / Aphrodisias / Kusadasi After breakfast, check out and depart for a tour of Pamukkale where immense tiers of white limestone cascade down a barren hillside. Morning drive to Aphrodisias, a cultural centre of the ancient world renowned for its sculpture, and the museum where an outstanding number of statues are on display. The Aphrodisian sculptors benefited from a plentiful supply of marble close at hand. The school of sculpture was very productive; much of their work can be seen around the site and in the museum. Many full-length statues were discovered in the region of the agora, and trial and unfinished pieces pointing to a true school are in evidence. Lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight at the Sealight Resort Hotel in Kusadasi. BLD
		Tuesday, April 20 – Kusadasi / Ephesus / Kusadasi After breakfast, a full day to discover Ephesus. Explore the antique city by wandering along its 2,000-year-old marble streets. Sit in the same theatre where Paul preached and Roman dramas were performed. Stroll past the Library of Celsius, the baths and the Temple of Hadrian. Visit the house where the Virgin Mary spent her last days. Proceed to Sirince, a beautiful hilltop village, and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, explore and enjoy the authentic village atmosphere, stop at the local wineries to taste the fruit wines or shop for local handmade crafts like crocheted and hand made lace, embroidery and clothes. Dinner and overnight at the Sealight Resort Hotel. BLD
	Wednesday, April 21 – Kusadasi / Izmir / Istanbul After breakfast, transfer to Izmir by the Aegean, the third largest city in Turkey. Following lunch, proceed to Izmir Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Check in at the Armada Hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight Istanbul. L
		Thursday, April 22 – Istanbul / Edirne / Istanbul After breakfast, transfer to Edirne, which used to be the second capital of the Ottoman Empire, located close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Visit Selimiye Mosque, the masterpiece of architect Sinan, and Ali Pasha covered bazaar. Lunch in a restaurant by Meric River, near the border. Explore Kirkpinar where the famous “olive oil wrestling championship," attracting wrestlers from all over the country and spectators from all over the world, is held each year. Visit the hospital built by the Sultan Bajazet the 2nd in the XVth century, especially notable for its treatment methods for mental illnesses which included the use of music, water sound and scents. Guided tour at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. The collection includes notable examples of Islamic calligraphy, tiles, and rugs as well as ethnographic displays on various cultures in Turkey, particularly nomad groups. Return to Istanbul. Overnight at the Armada Hotel. BL
	Friday, April 23 – Istanbul After breakfast, depart for a guided tour at Dolmabahce Palace, followed by a walk in the lovely and historic Ortakoy district by the Bosphorus. Dolmabahce Palace, built in 19 th century, is one of the most glamorous palaces in the world. It was the administrative center of the late Ottoman Empire with the last of the Ottoman Sultans was residing there. Lunch at the very popular Adem Fish Restaurant at Arnavutkoy. After lunch, visit the Istanbul Museum of Modern Arts and stop at Karakoy fishmarket. Return to the Armada Hotel and overnight. BL
		Saturday, April 24 – Istanbul Following breakfast, a tour of the highlights of the Archaeological Museum including the ornate Alexander Sarcophagus, once believed to be prepared for Alexander the Great, among the most famous pieces of ancient art in the museum. The Istanbul Archaeology Museum consists of three museums, the Archaeological Museum (main building), the Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Museum of Islamic Art (Tiled Kiosk). It houses over one million objects that represent almost all of the eras and civilizations in world history. Tour the Church of Saint Savior in Chora which contains one of the best-preserved collections of Byzantine mosaics and frescoes anywhere. Lunch at Sultani Restaurant to taste some “kebabs” of Turkish cuisine. Afternoon at leisure. Farewell Dinner at Q by Carafe Restaurant, located on the unique island in the Bosphorus. Overnight at the Armada Hotel. BLD Sunday, April 25 – Departure After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our flight home. B

Travel Agency: Executive Worldwide Travel Agent: Jean Sheikh, C.T.C. (613) 236-5555 Or 1-800-267-5552 Registration No.: 1892605 Coordinators: Joan Hoffman Pamela Armstrong

For more details on this tour or to request a brochure, please feel free to contact us at 613-236-5555 or email Jean Sheikh at jsheikh@executive-trvl.com.

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