PAST TRAVEL:
SOUTH AMERICA - ARGENTINA & BRAZIL - We just returned home from a 10 day trip to South America last Fall. We spent a week in Buenos Aires, Argentina and another 4 days in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Both were wonderful cities with incredibly beautiful and friendly people. It was our first time to both cities and we can't wait for a return visit.
SOUTH AMERICA - PERU - We also went to Machu Picchu in May for 10 days, another breathtaking place that is truly magical. We both had wanted to go there ever since we learned about it in school as kids and it was a dream come true. If you ever get the chance you should go, its something you will never forget. The people of Peru are amongst the kindest we have ever met in our travels.
We have been concentrating our travels on South America this past year (and will continue to do so in the near future) as the US dollar is worth so much more there than it is in Europe. We are both having major "Euro" withdrawals in a big way, but all we can do is hope for a change in about 4 years in order to better the situation (if you know what we mean).
EUROPE - FRANCE - Casey just arrived back home from a much needed trip to Paris, France with his friend Ron for a week on Jan 9. It had been a while and he had been having "Euro" withdrawals and thoroughly enjoyed the trip! Too bad the exchange rate is not what it used to be! Oh well, he had a LOT of fun, you can be sure of that!
UPCOMING TRAVEL:
THE SEVEN SEAS - We are really in the mood for a cruise, so maybe early in 2005 we hope to take one. Its hard to beat unpacking only once and waking up each day to a new city or island to explore!
EUROPE - TURKEY - We are going to Turkey for a 14 day tour of the country for the second half of this May. We depart May 18 from Los Angeles, spend 24 VERY fun hours in London for a quick "Euro" fix, then its off to Istanbul! It will be our first time there and we are quite excited! Its part of our new travel plans where we try to go places that the US $ still has some value left! There is room for additional people if you are interested in going, just let us know.
Our itinerary is as follows:
DAY 1, Thurs Depart USA to Turkey. Flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for our journey.
DAY 2, Fri Arrive and transfer to our hotel. Balance of the day at leisure: ISTANBUL
DAY 3, Sat This morning, cross the Dardanelles by ferry and drive via Gallipoli to Troy. Tour the city made immortal by Homer's Iliad. Continue to Canakkale: CANAKKALE
DAY 4, Sun Drive to Pergamum to visit the Acropolis. Continue to Izmir. In the evening, enjoy a seafood dinner at a local restaurant: IZMIR
DAY 5, Mon Full day at leisure. Today we tour to Ephesus, ancient Roman center of commerce and culture during the 2nd century BC. Visit the house of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St. John: IZMIR
DAY 6, Tues Depart Izmir and drive to Pamukkale. Visit Hieropolis and Necropolis in Pamukkale: ANTALYA
DAY 7, Wed Full day at leisure to enjoy the coastal town of Antalya and half day tour to Perge, the ancient Pamphylian city. Continue to Aspendos and visit the Roman theater. Drive to the Kursunlu waterfalls: ANTALYA
DAY 8, Thurs Travel to Cappadocia and visit the Caravanserai of Agzikarahan en route. Continue to Nevsehir in Cappadocia: CAPPADOCIA
DAY 9, Fri Full day at leisure or full day tour of the fairy chimneys and troglodyte dwellings of Cappadocia. View the historically rich towns of the Göreme Valley and the underground city of Kaymakli. Continue to the village of Avanos, famous for its pottery and onyx. In the evening, dinner with Whirling Dervishes Performance and Folkloric Show: CAPPADOCIA
DAY 10, Sat Depart for Ankara. Upon arrival, visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk: ANKARA
DAY 11, Sun This morning, visit to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara. Depart for Istanbul. Our first sight of this city on the Bosphorus will be from Camlica Hill. Enjoy an orientation tour upon arrival: ISTANBUL
DAY 12, Mon Full day at leisure or morning tour including the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace, including the Treasury Rooms. In the afternoon a optional Bosphorus cruise, passing by Ottoman villas and palaces, and fishing villages and bridges: ISTANBUL
DAY 13, Tues Full day at leisure or tour including the Basilica of St. Sophia, the Egyptian Spice Market, and Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. In the evening, an illuminated tour of Istanbul followed by a traditional dinner and oriental show: ISTANBUL
DAY 14, Wed Transfer to airport for our departure flight.
DAY 2, Fri Arrive and transfer to our hotel. Balance of the day at leisure: ISTANBUL
DAY 3, Sat This morning, cross the Dardanelles by ferry and drive via Gallipoli to Troy. Tour the city made immortal by Homer's Iliad. Continue to Canakkale: CANAKKALE
DAY 4, Sun Drive to Pergamum to visit the Acropolis. Continue to Izmir. In the evening, enjoy a seafood dinner at a local restaurant: IZMIR
DAY 5, Mon Full day at leisure. Today we tour to Ephesus, ancient Roman center of commerce and culture during the 2nd century BC. Visit the house of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St. John: IZMIR
DAY 6, Tues Depart Izmir and drive to Pamukkale. Visit Hieropolis and Necropolis in Pamukkale: ANTALYA
DAY 7, Wed Full day at leisure to enjoy the coastal town of Antalya and half day tour to Perge, the ancient Pamphylian city. Continue to Aspendos and visit the Roman theater. Drive to the Kursunlu waterfalls: ANTALYA
DAY 8, Thurs Travel to Cappadocia and visit the Caravanserai of Agzikarahan en route. Continue to Nevsehir in Cappadocia: CAPPADOCIA
DAY 9, Fri Full day at leisure or full day tour of the fairy chimneys and troglodyte dwellings of Cappadocia. View the historically rich towns of the Göreme Valley and the underground city of Kaymakli. Continue to the village of Avanos, famous for its pottery and onyx. In the evening, dinner with Whirling Dervishes Performance and Folkloric Show: CAPPADOCIA
DAY 10, Sat Depart for Ankara. Upon arrival, visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk: ANKARA
DAY 11, Sun This morning, visit to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara. Depart for Istanbul. Our first sight of this city on the Bosphorus will be from Camlica Hill. Enjoy an orientation tour upon arrival: ISTANBUL
DAY 12, Mon Full day at leisure or morning tour including the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace, including the Treasury Rooms. In the afternoon a optional Bosphorus cruise, passing by Ottoman villas and palaces, and fishing villages and bridges: ISTANBUL
DAY 13, Tues Full day at leisure or tour including the Basilica of St. Sophia, the Egyptian Spice Market, and Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. In the evening, an illuminated tour of Istanbul followed by a traditional dinner and oriental show: ISTANBUL
DAY 14, Wed Transfer to airport for our departure flight.