A Tribute to Turkey

In all the world we can think of very few places whose people are so wonderful to meet and whose roster of places to gaze at is so long and rich as Turkey’s. This smartly designed trip is our tribute to the fun we’ve had over three decades of traveling there.

We begin with a close look at Istanbul—including the marvelous Aya Sofya—then hopscotch from Europe to Asia across the Dardanelles to explore ancient Troy and the ruins of Assos, perched high on an Aegean hillside. We wander in magnificently preserved Ephesus, once the Roman Empire’s second-largest city. Our classical theme continues in Sardis and the beautiful resort of Kuşadası. After flying to Turkey’s capital, Ankara, we embark for a couple of days in the wonderland of Cappadocia. The fairy landscapes here are the result of seas of volcanic ash, which turned to soft stone; this “tufa” later eroded into deep valleys, needle-like towers, and irregular cones, into which vast rooms have been carved. (The Byzantine frescoes of Cappadocia’s famed cave churches are among the world’s most moving expressions of early Christian art.) Finally, we head back to Istanbul to continue our dalliance with this great city before heading home.