TIME TRAVEL IN TURKEY’S SURREAL SITES
History wasn’t my best subject back in the day, but that didn’t stop me from exploring the world.
My abiding love for the past has carried over into my travels. Turkey is the perfect place to see treasures of the forgotten. The country has one of the oldest, most preserved Unesco world heritage sites. Let’s delve into this jewel of a nation’s rich history.
Cappadocia
Surreal lunar rock-covered landscape. I call it “The Star Wars Universe”. Famous for its whimsical fairytale chimneys, set down upon stark Anatolian plains, its alien-like landforms give off vibes of another realm. Cappadocia’s geological oddity and sprawling rockscapes make it seem like it has been carved out from a science fiction movie.
The best ways to discover this magical city is to book a hot air balloon ride or remain on the ground and wake up early to watch the sky become bejeweled by hundreds of balloons before sunrise. You can also climb up Goreme’s sunset point to take stunning vantage point photos; honestly, the sight can make anyone forget the real world. The city is not just awe-inspiring above, but also beneath the ground. There are many underground cities created centuries ago to protect Cappadocians from invaders and sandstorms.
Pamukkale (Cotton Castle)
The largest spa town of Turkey, undoubtly one of the most extraordinary natural wonders of the world. What makes it so special is that it has been around for ages. A visit is never complete without a dip into the mineral-rich pools. The waters dripping down from the mountainside give birth to a beautiful cascade of stalactite travertines. White cotton-like terraces combined with the sun was a sight to behold. People flock to the turquoise thermal pools for healing and beautifying power. If you can’t handle the heat of these thermal baths, you can make
your way to Cleopatra’s sacred pool. Why Cleopatra? Rumor has it that she herself swam here before. The most exhilarating experience was getting to paddle among centuries-old columns and antique marble blocks.
Ephesus
A flourishing metropolis on the Aegean coast in Western Turkey, it is a popular cruise ship docking site. First stop is a very holy place believed to be where the Virgin Mary spent her last years before ascending to heaven. On the way to the hill, I couldn’t believe I was walking on the actual ancient pathway used by St. John and Mary. I felt a spiritual uplift right there.
Moving on, we headed to the crowning glory of Ephesus, The Library of Celsus. This most iconic library holds up to 12,000 scrolls making it the third largest library of the ancient world. It was cloudy that day, occasionally the sun would peek out, illuminating the beautiful silhouettes, and it was impressive. I went in and out of the library facade to marvel at the architecture of the past. I wondered what the columns and walls had witnessed over thousands of years.
Final stop was the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The magnificent temple withstood various civilizations, and was considered more stupendous than the temples of Greece. Being a history buff, it was a dream come true to stroll around the greatest temple in history!
Canakkale
This seaside city port lies on the narrowest side of the Dardanelle strait. The city holds on to its local and traditional Turkish charm unlike other touristy parts of Turkey. Here is the best place to shop for authentic handcrafted souvenirs such as carpets, lamps, tapestries. A trip to a carpet factory is a must. Carpet weaving is a major livelihood in the country; each priceless carpet has a unique story to tell. I bought a small one as remembrance.
Troy
Few hours drive to the northwest of Canakkale takes you to the largest archeological site: the legendary City of Troy. Yes, I too was astounded to discover that Troy was in Turkey, not Greece. Allow me to transport you back to the medieval era. Troy was the home of Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships. She was the reason why the Trojan War started. The Greeks gifted Troy a wooden horse not knowing that soldiers were inside to capture the city at night. Today, a replica of that wooden horse stands at the foot of the entrance to remind people of the tragic event.
Gallipoli
Another historical site not to be missed is the Gallipoli Peninsula. Perhaps the most interesting part of the whole journey was a short trek to Lone Pine War Memorial, site of the battlefield where the bloody war took place. We were on a group tour with Australians, I saw how affected they were, some were even moved to tears. I remember how I helped track a memorial stone for one of our Australian mates searching for his long lost great grandfather, who was just 20 years old when he joined the battle to fight for the nation.