Year 2000 Cultural Tour
Encounter Turkey: Itinerary
Monday, April 10
Departure for Turkey
Leave your departure city and meet in New York for the group flight
to Istanbul, which departs JFK at 5:40 pm. Overnight Delta Airlines
flight to Istanbul.
Tuesday afternoon, April 11
Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and Yerebatan
Sarayi Cistern
After check-in at Hotel Fehmi
Bey (4 stars), have lunch, followed by a walking tour of the
center of old Istanbul, where you will see the Horse Meadow, still
enclosed by the old Roman Hippodrome with its Greek and Egyptian
columns, the famous Sultan Ahmet mosque and its six minarets (called
the Blue Mosque because of its beautiful Iznik tiles), followed
by a cup of tea in the atmospheric underground cistern, built in
Byzantine times to store water for ancient Constantinople. Evening
free.
Wednesday, April 12
Aya Sofya Museum, Spice Market, and
Taksim
In the morning visit the fabled Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) museum,
formerly a Byzantine cathedral, with its immense dome. After the
Turkish conquest it became a mosque, and Kemal Atatürk made it a
national museum in the 1920s. In the afternoon, visit Rustem Pasha
mosque, recently restored, with some of the finest Iznik tiles in
Turkey, followed by the Egyptian Spice Market and a stroll through
neighboring streets lined with small shops. We continue our stroll
across Golden Horn via the Galata Bridge to Beyoglu, and take the
world's oldest subway (Tünel) to the top of the hill. Here we continue
to stroll or take a nostalgic tram ride along Istaklal Caddesi,
lined with shops, restaurants, and foreign consulates. Finally,
we emerge in Taksim Square, the center of the new city and choose
from many restaurants for our evening meal.
Thursday morning and afternoon, April 13
Turkish Art and Carpets
A morning visit with Kamil Güller to the superb Museum of Turkish
and Islamic art, housed in the Ibrahim Pasa Sarayi, which was built
in 1523 alongside the oval of the old Roman Hippodrome. Following
an informative visit to the museum's priceless collection of carpets
and other exhibits, enjoy lunch with white-collar workers in a local
restaurant. The program concludes with an informative lecture-demonstration
that shows you what to look for when shopping for a Turkish carpet
of your own, followed by an excursion to see carpets for sale in
the famous Covered Bazaar, the world's oldest and still largest
shopping mall. There is no obligation to purchase a carpet, but
a selection at competitive prices will be on view for those who
are interested. A visit to the Sahaflar Bazaar to see the amazing
second-hand books, manuscripts, and prints ends the day tour before
departure for Üsküdar.
Thursday evening, April 13
Dervish Meeting in Üsküdar
Travel by ferry to the suburb of Üsküdar on the Asian side of the
Bosporus. After dinner in a popular restaurant (where you can choose
from a variety of moderately priced dishes on display), walk to
a hall formerly belonging to a dervish order for a short introductory
lecture, followed by a philosophical discourse by the Sufi sheik.
His group, called New Lovers of Mevlana, includes both male and
female participants. Questions are welcomed. Following zikr, a type
of Moslem religious chanting and a tea break with the participants,
an informal demonstration of the dervish sema, (whirling) with appropriate
music is held.
Friday morning, April 14
Free Morning
For walking, shopping, or just relaxing.
Friday afternoon, April 14
The Mehter, a Turkish Janissary Band
A visit to the Turkish Military Museum, one of the largest and
most interesting museums in Istanbul, where we will have a demonstration
of the instruments and rhythms of the Turkish mehter band, great-granddaddy
of every high school football band in America. From 3-4 pm each
day magnificently mustachioed musicians wearing costumes of the
Turkish Janissaries present a concert of stirring folk music and
rousing marching songs. The mehter, a large band of oboes, drums,
cymbals, and other percussion instruments influenced composers like
Mozart and Beethoven after the Ottoman Turkish armies reached the
gates of Vienna in the 17th Century. There will be an opportunity
to meet the musicians backstage. Evening open.
Saturday morning, April 15
Topkapi Palace
Guided visit to the famous Topkapi Palace, abode of the Ottoman
sultans and one of the major tourist attractions of Istanbul. Its
museums contain the famous Emerald Dagger and the most sacred relics
of Islam, including the sword and banner of the Prophet Mohammed.
The nearby Archaeological Museum contains the so-called Alexander
Sarcophagus, one of the most exquisite masterpieces of Hellenistic
art.
Saturday afternoon, April 15
Mosque and Tomb of Süleyman the Magnificent
A visit to the great Süleymaniye Mosque, including visits to the
tombs of Süleyman the Magnificent and his beloved Roxelana. Afterward,
Dr. Brown will lead those who are interested on a guided visit to
a musical instruments store and a complex of shops where one can
find a full selection of CD's and cassette tapes, including all
types of Turkish classical, folk, and popular music. Optional dinner
in a Turkish restaurant following shopping.
Saturday evening, April 15
Ottoman Banquet
We will enjoy an authentic Ottoman banquet in an elegant refectory
designed by the great 16th century architect, Sinan, to feed the
poor in the Süleymaniye Mosque complex. There will be a selection
of soups, salads, desserts and extravagant main dishes specially
resurrected from the Ottoman court, and not to be found in ordinary
restaurants. Vegetarian dishes will be available, as well as such
delights as lamb baked with plums, special kebabs or exquisite rolled
chicken. Along with the dinner a unique program of classical Turkish
court music provides appropriate entertainment. This special evening
in an unforgettable setting has been planned to furnish tour members
with a nostalgic memory of some of the splendors of the Ottoman
court.
Sunday, April 16 to Tuesday, April 18
Visit to Classical Sites at Ephesus
and Sardis
We fly to Ephesus (Efes), near Izmir in Anatolia, one of the most
important and extensive of the world's Greco-Roman archaeological
sites. It is linked as well to early Christian history (St.
Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, the house of the Virgin Mary). We
plan to spend a full day at this site with a professional guide.
The second day we go by bus to visit Sardis, the rarely visited
capital of the ancient Lydians and one of the most impressive sites
in Turkey. Return to Istanbul in the evening.
Wednesday, April 19 to Friday, April 21
Crafts Workshops and Independent Tours
Three mornings of workshops, selected by the tour participants
from such things as weaving, calligraphy, paper marbling, folk dancing,
Turkish language lessons, music, cooking classes, etc. In the afternoon
we will help small groups or individuals to strike out on their
own and visit sites of personal interest among the great variety
of museums, monuments, and diverse neighborhoods in Istanbul. Some
may wish to shop in the Covered Bazaar or elsewhere. We can give
you tips before you leave. If the weather is good, it is possible
to take a daytime boat trip down the Bosporus to the Black Sea.
Stops are made at charming fishing villages on both the Asian and
European sides, including one famous for its delicious yogurt. Alternatively,
another optional trip takes one by ferry to the Princes Islands
in the Sea of Marmara for a step back into the past. Motor vehicles
are forbidden and some beautiful and invigorating walking trips
await the adventurous visitor. A longer trip would take one to the
Dardanelles, the ruins of ancient Troy and Gallipoli.
Friday evening, April 21
Turkish Night on the Town
We join the weekend family crowd at a Turkish taverna for a lively
evening of local pop and dance music. Included in the price are
a delicious multi-course dinner, as well as drinks and meze (Turkish
appetizers) and an opportunity to learn social belly dancing. Arrive
hungry for a great chance to experience the fun side of Istanbul
at its local best--noisy, smoky, and brimming with enthusiasm. A
Turkish delight to end your visit!
Saturday morning, April 22
Departure and Return Flight
Mid-morning departure for New York and connecting flights home.
You can expect to reach there sometime in the evening of the same
day and will be able to spend Easter Sunday with friends or family
before returning to your usual routines on Monday. We know that
you will feel refreshed and filled with many pleasant memories of
your special spring vacation in Turkey.
The Center reserves the right to make changes in this itinerary
as may be required.
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