All posts by Debi Lander

Diggin’ the Archeological Museum in Istanbul

Adventures, ByLanderSea Abroad, Land Adventures, Travel Journal/Blog, , , , ,

Istanbul’s Archeology Museum ranks as one of the best in the world. On our last day in Istanbul, Turkiy, travel buddy Judy and I intended to spend a few hours there but ended up browsing around most of the day.

Sign at Archeology Museum Entrance in Istanbul, Turkiye.
Sign at Archeology Museum Entrance, Istanbul, Turkiye.
Exterior of the Museum
Exterior of the Museum

The museum rests down the hill from the Topkapi Palacehttps://muze.gen.tr/muze-detay/topkapi. The complex has three main parts: the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Tiled Pavilion. In addition, we found lovely statue gardens where you could sip a cup of coffee and have lunch with a multitudes of cats. There is a glassed-in pavilion in case the cats or cold weather intervene.

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See the Sultan’s Riches at DolmabahçePalace

ByLanderSea Abroad, Land Adventures, Travel Journal/Blog, , , , ,

The Dolmabahce Palace, along the shores of the Bosphorus River in Istanbul, was built between 1843 and 1856 for Sultan Abdülmecidu. He decided the 72-acre Topkapi Palace no longer met the needs of the royal household. Six sultans went on to use the Dolmabahce as their home before the Ottoman Empire fell.

Dolmabahce Palace as seen from my cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul.
Dolmabahçe Palace as seen from my cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul.

The massive 161,500 square feet building consists of three parts: the State Apartments, Ceremonial Hall and the Imperial Harem as well as other small buildings. High walls and iron fencing with gate openings to the shoreline surround the palace. The grounds and blooming gardens feature spectacular ponds, statuary and scenic pathways.

Statuary by the side gate.
Statuary by the side gate.
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A Pumpkin in Turkey

Food Tales, , ,

Guest post from Judy Shulman

No, I am not going to talk about stuffing a turkey with pumpkin. I’m
writing about a restaurant in Göreme, Turkey called Pumpkin Göreme Restaurant
and Art Gallery. Dinner in this cave-strewn landscape in Cappadocia became a
delightful treat.

Pumpkin Göreme Restaurant and Art Gallery
Pumpkin Göreme Restaurant and Art Gallery
Hot Air Balloon rides are very popular in Cappadochia.
Hot Air Balloon rides are very popular in Cappadochia. Lots of balloons
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