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Sibley Family and Friends Mount Ararat Expedition Dispatch

August 1, 2013 – The Team is Together and Our Adventures in Turkey Begin

After almost an entire year of planning, we have finally arrived; it’s been exciting planning and getting this group together. Now we are all here and ready to begin our adventure in Turkey!

The men all arrived directly from Georgia with Cary and Kelley joining them from London.

Woodie and Mathes Vaughan arrived a few days ahead of schedule and were all over Istanbul for three days.

We all met in Istanbul and did our first morning briefing on the roof of our hotel with the views of the Blue Mosque in the background. It really couldn’t get any better than that.

We introduced the team to our cultural guide, Ozgecan, who will be with us in Istanbul and Cappadocia. We talked about our sightseeing plans and then started our program at the Topkapi Palace which was quite close to our hotel. We then moved to AyaSofya /Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, the Cistern and of course no visit to Istanbul is complete without a visit to the Grand Bazaar. We also took a ferry ride, walked around town and a park to see the parade, and finally we ended the day at the Taksim Square.

Woodie and Mathes dropped off the program earlier since they had already visited some of the attractions.

Now it is time to pack and get ready to Cappadocia; we all were able to get a taste of Istanbul and we are excited to visit other parts of Turkey, starting with Cappadocia.

Team getting together on the roof of our hotel

The Sibley’s on the roof with great views behind them

Woodie enjoying the hot weather

Left: Kelley, always looking stylish; Right: Ozgecan, our Berg Adventures tour guide

Topkapi Palace - This Palace is best known as the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans who occupied the palace for approximately 400 years.

Aya Sofya- The Haiga Sofia is a former Greek Orthodox church which was later turned into an imperial Mosque and is now a museum; it is one of the oldest and most majestic buildings in Istanbul.

Aya Sofya- This museum is an architectural wonder both inside and out

Aya Sofya- Once known as the largest Cathedral in the world the Hagia Sofia was then transformed into a Mosque which is why today you will find Islamic calligraphy medallions such as these with the names of Allah and the first four caliphs. This museum is truly a testament to the contest between Christian and Muslim influences in architecture throughout Istanbul.

Blue mosque-The Mosque gets its name from the 20,000 handmade ceramic blue Iznik tiles surrounding the walls of the interior

The group listening to our guide at the entrance of the Topkapi Palace

Hypodrome - Once the center of Byzantine civic life, from political and pious debates to chariot races, today it is one of the city’s most popular meeting places and promenades

Left: Side view of the Haiga Sofia; Right: Hypodrome - Once the center of Byzantine civic life, from political and pious debates to chariot races, today it is one of the city’s most popular meeting places and promenades

The Sibley clan with the grand Blue Mosque in the background

Military Band Mehter –We were lucky to witness this type of Ottoman Military band; they are thought to be the oldest variety of Military Marching band in the world.