Turkey - Istanbul and Cappadocia Part-1

Hello friends,

This blog is new venture in out bound travel about my own travel in different Countries, here I am starting with Turkey and places visited and experience about the same. Though as our different blog, this has got nothing related to India and its places, festivals and culture. Though hope you will like to know about my own experience for my travel to Turkey. In future I will come out again with other travel experiences related with different Countries.

Travel Shop Turkey, the Agency with whom our company Phila Tours & Travels Pvt. Ltd. will be dealing hence forth under contract for promoting Turkey tour packages in India, we feel proud for this company as have seen growing since last 7 years, first time I visited and met Mr. Murtaza Kalender, he’s the one enthusiastic for the business of tourism and had always felt comfortable and understood the needs of Indian travelers.

During last month, when we received the invitation to travel on the Agent’s tour to Turkey, it was a pleasant surprise and I grabbed the opportunity to meet Mr. Murtaza, well known as Mr. Murti again in his office and all of his colleagues and employees.

Though I had traveled Istanbul many times before, but taking a guided tour with the help of professional guides in Istanbul was the first experience, and I took this opportunity not only for such experience, but also knowing that I will be able to see Cappadocia and its wonders of the history and culture.

When we reached Istanbul, we started on first day with the Bosphorus Cruise, which takes about 1.30 hours and shows the Asian as well as European Side of Istanbul. I must tell you that this is the only city in the world enjoying both continents together. Our Guide was very informative over the area and a professional in his work, a pleasant experience.

Once completed this cruise, we returned and proceeded towards the Spice Bazaar, which is also known as Egyptian Bazaar, selling majorly the spices etc, but eventually grown and lots of shops selling many different items too, a heaven for tourist for shopping. In general such bazaar can take lots of time, but guide was knowing the tendencies of buyers, so made is sure we leave in short time, though we were granted about an hour to look around, it was surely sufficient time.

After that back to hotel and time was free to spend around exploring the city, walk about in the Taksim Square for the modern look of the Istanbul city, international brand  stores with local cuisine restaurant also nearby. Later on had dinner in Musafir Restaurant, serving Indian style food, though not one of the best as per my own opinion, but good enough for any Indian having urge to have Indian meals for their lunch or dinner around Taksim Area.

Next Day was a hectic one, covering up many tourist interest places such as Topkapi Palace which requires about 3 hours for the whole place to visit, later on, 

walked pass by the St. Sophia church which also need about an hour to see the place from inside, other nearby places like Basilica Cistern, the underground water storage place in earlier time takes about twenty minutes for whole places to see and understand the history behind it from the guide, Sultanahmet Mosque also known as Blue mosque, though it will be closed during the prayer time, and interesting place to see for its architectural 

beauty, outside the mosque is Hippodrome and a walking distance from there is Shoppers’ paradise, the Grand Bazaar, also known as covered bazaar having almost 4000 stores inside and selling everything from gold to carpets and leather products and not to forget the ceramic items and souvenirs.

When one is around this Sultanahmet area, the suggestion for Indian meals is given always for Swaad Restaurant, started just few years back, one of the best restaurants for Authentic Indian food as owner and chef both are able to understand the requirement easily for taste of individuals.

Later in the evening at last minute it was decided for us to go for a Bosphorus dinner cruise, it is for about three hours, serves local dishes of vegetarian as well as non vegetarian for dinner and then starts the program, with Turkish songs, cultural dances and ends on the belly dance. Later on we were back to hotel for a good rest and preparing for next day’s travel to Kayseri.

During the morning of third day, we all were taken for visit of 4 stars and 5 star properties in Taksim area, and later on transferred for the flight to Kayseri, the nearby airport for Goreme, about an hour’s drive and a stay for 2 nights.

Well, I will be continuing my further experience of Cappadocia in the next blog, meanwhile you enjoy this reading, hope it was informative and interesting reading.

See you soon friends....