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Learn about the
Culture of Turkey
and the
History of Anatolia
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Today’s nomad woman uses a drop spindle like the one her ancestors used in Biblical times. Turkey stands with one foot firmly rooted in the past and the second striding into the 21st century. Before the step is complete, visit traditional crafts people using centuries old methods to create items of daily living.
Tour Dates
Cost of this tour is US$ 3.200.- See below for details.
Reserve seats on any tour without obligation.
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2004 Tour Handbook & 2001
Weaving tour Journal
For more details please read the
Tour
hand book
2005 GROUP JOURNAL
September Day 1 - Istanbul
Meet in the hotel lobby at 5 PM. After a short meeting visit the Blue Mosque
followed by dinner at a nearby resturant located between two of the most
impressive buildings in Istanbul - St. Sophia and the Blue Mosque
.
Overnight at Hotel Ayasofya.
September Day 2 - Istanbul
Our day will start with an astonishing site, the underground Basilica Cistern,
built 1,500 years before our time. The Turkish Islamic Art Museum will be our
first exposure to the crafts of a Muslim Culture. Carpets, woodwork, copper,
gold, mother of pearl engraved works of art will give a different dimension to
esthetics.
The role of women in different socio-economic groups of Anatolia will come alive in the displays of the ethnographic part of this museum which was given the Best Museum of Europe Award.
After lunch visit St. Sophia, the 6th century church dedicated to the wisdom of Jesus. Finish the day at Topkapi Palace.
Dinner in the Kumkapi district at a fish resturant chosen for its exotic ambiance. Overnight at Hotel Ayasofya.
September Day 3 - Istanbul
Visit the Covered Bazaar ( the Grand Bazaar) which can best be described the
oldest mall of the world.
Chora Church is an amazing mosaic museum which reflects the history of Christianity in an art form.
Lunch at an 19th Century building
After lunch take the ferry to Asian side of Istanbul to visit the batique artist
Bedia Colak. As can be seen here she combined two art forms in her wor
k. The Islamic decorative art of
HAT finds expression on textile. Today we will have the pleasure of meeting another
artist Mehmet Hamdi Eyuboglu,the famous artist of woodprinting.
Train to Ankara. In Turkey, trains are regarded as the most civilized mean of
transportation. Your luggage will be with you in your compartments. Unless you
chose to be single 2 people to a compartment. The train leaves at 10.30 Pm and
arrives Ankara the next morning at 08.00 AM
Breakfast and Dinner included
September Day 4 - Ankara
visit the most beautiful museum of Turkey, the Anatolian Civilization Museum.
This is a one of a kind museum, displaying 26 different civilizations. All the
artifacts of these civilizations that have been excavated from Anatolia are in
this museum.
Seeing it will give us a better understanding of the cultural and historic
layers of the Anatolian civilization. After lunch we visit the mausoleum of
Ataturk, the father of the Turks, then take a bus to Cappadocia over a beautiful
country road for a taste of lovely Turkish landscapes and farms. Overnight
at Museum Hotel.
September Day 5 –Cappadocia
. Short sightseeing tour of Cappadocia,
drive to Kayseri to visit one of the biggest carpet cooperative establishments
to see dyes, carpet washing, design
making and many more processes required before and after carpet weaving.
Visit carpet makers at their homes.
Return to Cappadocia to see and maybe buy the finished carpets of this
cooperative.
Overnight at Cappadocia, Museum Hotel.
September Day 6 – Cappadocia
Visit Goreme churches. After lunch visit local homes to see the dowery
hope chests full of finished handmade items such as laces, towl edges,
tablecovers, bed spreads, socks, and mittens knitted or embroidered. Watch a
presentation of traditional pottery making. Visit spinners. Old kilim shopping
opportunity.
Overnight at Cappadocia at Museum Hotel.
September Day 7 – KONYA
Visit an underground city. Drive to the town which is in the shade of two
volcanoes. Visit a caravansari on the ancient silk road. At night "Ut" recital
and a chance to enjoy a private embroidery collection of 150-200 year old items.
September Day 8 – KONYA CATALHOYUK
Visit Carpet Weavers and Catalhoyuk
September Day 9 – Afyon
Drive via Afyon. We will see Mustafa
prepare his felt shepard's coat which he claims will not even let a bullet go
through. If you like you can stomp on it yourself. In Bayat visit a new kilim
weaving center established as a cooperative to stop migration to the cities from
the local villages.
September Day 10 –Usak
Drive to Usak. Visit the kilim weavers
in Esme Overnight in Dulgeroglu Hotel
September Day 11 Pamukkale
Visit the local Lydian Museum (one of its kind in the world).
Drive over the rolling hills and mountains to Pasalar village where every house
weaves various colors of Turkish bath towels (Pestemal) on their old but
sophisticated looms.
Overnight at Collesea Thermal Hotel
September Day 12 – Selcuk
Visit one of the most complete ancient sites of Turkey, Aphrodisias.
Visit the weaver's village where people have been weaving for thousands of
years.
Overnight at Selcuk
Hotel Kalehan
September Day 13 – Selcuk
Dydima Miletus Ancient cities where pre Socratic Philosophies had flourished overnight at Selcuk Hotel Kalehan
September Day 14 - Selcuk
Visit Sirince Village for traditional textiles overnight at Selcuk
Hotel Kalehan
September Day 15 - Selcuk
Visit the local Ephesus Museum
The Grand Roman site, Ephesus and
Virgin Mary's House
Overnight at Selcuk,Hotel Kalehan.
September Day 16 - Selcuk
The tour will be over after breakfast
Highly recommended tour extension
TROY,PERGAMUM, DOBAG
For
more information see details below
Tour Price
Price
: US$ 3200.-
includes the following:
Not included in the price
Single Room supplement US$ 320
AFTER THE TOUR OPTION FOR
DOBAG EXTENSION
US$ 780 per person in a double room.
Includes every thing
Meals,hotels,transportation,entrsance fees,guiding....
Day 1: Sept 22, 2005
Leave Selcuk after breakfast. drive to Pergamum. visit the Acropolis and
the Ancient hospital
overnight in Ayvalik
DAY 2: Sept 23, 2005
Visit the Alter of Zeus, the ancient site of Assos where St Paul had
preaached
Overnight in Assos
DAY 3: Sept. 24, 2005
Visit the museum in the mountain village of Tahtakuslar. It's the
very first village museum of ethnography.
Visit DOBAG villages Overnight in Assos
DAY 4: Sept. 25, 2005
Visit the
legendary city of Troy. Continue
driving to Bursa Overnight in Bursa
Day
5: Sept
Visit Bursa, Iznik ( Ancient Nycea ) and visit doll makers at Azize Hanim's work
shop in a beautiful English Garden by the lake.
The village women are making these dolls and I am sure you would all love the
project named Antolian Project.Ferry
to Istanbul. Overnight at Hotel Ayasofya
The tour will be over the next morning.
Arrival Suggestions:
US, Canadian, EU, Swiss and UK citizens need a visa to travel in Turkey. You may obtain this visa upon your arrival at the Istanbul airport. The fee is $20 for the USA citizens and US$45 for the Canadians Payment is made in US currency. The visa is valid for three months.
We can arrange individual transfers from the airport to the hotel. Please let us know your arrival information. Look for a MELITOUR sign at the departure from the customs area at the airport.
If you plan to arrive a few days before the tour to get over jet lag we can reserve a room at Hotel Ayasofya (Single US$50, Double US$70)
We can suggest itineraries for those who want to explore on their own or with a guide before or after the tour. Simply send us an e-mail with your request.
In case of unexpected delay or change of flight, should there be a problem in meeting the person who should be waiting for you at the airport please call Hotel Ayasofya at 0212-51694-46 or take a taxi to Hotel Ayasofya. Your taxi fare will be refunded.
Hotel Ayasofya
Kucuk Ayasofya Mahallesi
Demirci Resit Sokak
Sultan Ahmet Meydani Alti
