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Old 10-11-2008, 08:52 PM   #1
Elizabeth
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Default Turkey and Syria

For the ones who have been...whats good to see in Syria and Turkey (keep in mind I don't like the beach)? In your opinion how long is a good amount of time? I may have a month to play around with in the beginning of the year and I'm thinking of doing Turkey-Syria-Bulgaria before my semester in Budapest. What was your daily budget excluding airfare?

I already know I want to see Istanbul and Palmyra, but I'm not sure beyond that. I'm going to rent the Syria globetrekker from the library tomorrow for more ideas.
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Old 10-11-2008, 11:16 PM   #2
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I'm also interested in everyone's suggestions.

Lizz- I'll let you know if my research digs up anything unique
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Old 10-11-2008, 11:49 PM   #3
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syria: palmyra, damascus, crac des chevaliers, aleppo and hama if you have time, or even better visit crac on a day trip from hama.

Turkey: istanbul and cappadocia (stay in goreme and rent a scooter to see the rest of the site)

Bulgaria: veliko turnovo and plovdiv.

That should keep you busy for a month
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Old 10-12-2008, 09:28 AM   #4
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Honestly, I have nothing to add to Adam's list. Google some pics on Cappadocia (various spellings), and you'll see why he recommends it. I guess I could add Ephesus to Turkey, but you'll likely be besieged by the cruise boat day trippers. So, I'd say get there the night before and be waiting for it to open so you can avoid the bulk of them. Or get there just before it closes...one or the other.

Your trip sounds like a blast, and I highly recommend it.

Oh, if you do Krak des Chevaliers as a day trip, you m-a-y have to pony up and pay for some of the empty seats on the minibus if you get there on a slow time. Those drivers are definitely willing to negotiate, so don't feel like you have to sit there for hours and wait for others to show up and fill up the bus.

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Old 11-25-2008, 08:30 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ajb3000 View Post
syria: palmyra, damascus, crac des chevaliers, aleppo and hama if you have time, or even better visit crac on a day trip from hama.

Turkey: istanbul and cappadocia (stay in goreme and rent a scooter to see the rest of the site)
Agreed. To add to the list:

West Coast Turkey:

ephesus - the site of those famous ruins and the house of the virgin mary (literaly the place where she lived her life after jesus)

bergama - nice little turkish town, not too many tourists. GREAT Acropolis to explore. Very friendly locals, very authentic. From here its a night bus to Istanbul.
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Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
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Old 07-04-2009, 01:14 PM   #6
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Just wondering if there is any more info on the Turkey and Syria front...Lizz, did you end up doing this trip? And if so, would you recommend anything either listed above or otherwise?

Thanks to all in advance!
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Old 07-04-2009, 01:52 PM   #7
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Hey Kyle,

Unfortunately I STILL! AFTER 3 YEARS! have not made it to Turkey!!! My flight got screwed up (fog made me miss my connecting ticket to Istanbul) and I had to buy a new ticket to Dublin. Ah maybe next time.

Hopefully soon u will have some good tips though!
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Old 07-04-2009, 02:36 PM   #8
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Thanks for the reply in any event! I'm going for sure, to Turkey at very least...so assuming my horrible memory doesn't kick in, I'll come back to this thread in two or three months and post my thoughts.
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Old 07-06-2009, 09:48 AM   #9
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Kyle, Lizz,

Just go!! Ride the wave of Obama support which is always a plus in the Middle East!! Turkey is the most beautiful middle eastern country and syria is the relative safest and untouched by tourism!

J
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Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."
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Old 07-06-2009, 11:30 AM   #10
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Hello! I would love to "just go" but I am expected in class tomorrow and until the end of fall semester and I am currently in $$$aving mode!!!
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Old 07-06-2009, 11:54 AM   #11
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Ah yes... school and work. Those dreadful things.

Damn it, I'm finding my travel time being cut shorter and shorter every year... seriously considering taking a year of 'academic leave' off from work.
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Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."
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Old 07-06-2009, 04:44 PM   #12
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Canadian Bacon, I see you're from Ottawa too...what were the visa issues like for you in regards to Syria? At first I was informed that I could get a Syrian visa at a consulate in Istanbul, but more recently I've been informed that I'll need to get one at the Syrian embassy in Ottawa before I leave and that it's not possible to get one in Turkey (and due to my departure date, I don't think I'll have enough time to get one here in Ottawa).

If I can't get a Syrian visa it's no big deal, I'll just do Jordan instead. It was a coin toss between the two nations anyhow, and from Jordan I can easily jump over to Israel which will be awesome. So I'm not too concerned either way! But yeah, any info you can give me in regards to the Syrian visa would be most appreciated!
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Old 07-07-2009, 07:04 AM   #13
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Kyle - hmmm, if you're in Ottawa maybe we can do an Ottawa tpunk meeting!!

But getting a Syrian visa should be no problem at all, I got mine in like a week. The office is right near Slater and O'Connor. Actually people will be pleasantly surprised that you want to go to Syria for tourism.... usually you see a bunch of Syrian-Canadians getting visas to see family, etc...
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Vincent: "So what you gonna do?"
Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."
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Old 07-08-2009, 07:09 AM   #14
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Thanks for the info! But yeah, the week waiting period will be a problem. I was originally informed that I could get a Syrian visa, processed in one day, at the consulate in Istanbul.

Now I'm leaving first thing this Saturday morning to drive to the Baltimore/DC area, and as I'm sure you know, as of about six weeks ago all land entry to the US requires a passport. I'm gonna be in that neck of the woods for a week, then I'm back for two days before leaving for Istanbul. I wonder if I could get a Syrian visa at the embassy in DC?

Anyway, if I can't get the Syrian visa it's not the end of the world. In the case I couldn't get to Syrian I have somewhat of a loose backup plan to go to Jordan, via the UAE, and then head into Israel, which seems just out of this world. I also have some people who want to meet up in Greece, and from there I could do Eastern Europe, so the options are ripe for the choosing!

I'd certainly be interested in a local tpunk meeting- it's always great to meet like-minded travelers. I'll largely be away from Ottawa until mid-September but I assume the meeting is more than an annual thing. How can I check for the date/time of the meetings? I'll try to keep on top of that and get to one when I return. And thanks again for your help, it's truly appreciated!
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Old 01-21-2010, 11:13 PM   #15
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Yes!!! After many years of missing Istanbul, I am finally truly going this summer! Not to mention all the other places I will go in the ME!
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Old 01-22-2010, 12:43 AM   #16
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Sweet!! I love Turkey. Turkish breakfast is perhaps the most wonderful thing ever.

Try to get to the Pera Palace hotel and have tea or something... I think you can check out Agatha Christie's room (just to gawk) as well. It was just beginning renovation when I was there but should be open in April or so.

And eat lots and lots of acili esme (sp?), pide (YUM), baklava and sour cherry flavored things for me.
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Old 04-06-2013, 03:48 AM   #17
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I thought it is great!!
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