Two Good Books to Introduce You to Turkey

Greetings,

I wanted to make sure you know about two books which I have found useful as we prepare for our trip to Turkey.

1. The first one I already told you about briefly is a general guidebook to Turkey. You should invest in this one and read over the places we will be going and bring it with you to Turkey.
   
   Suzanne Swan, Eyewitness Travel Guide to Turkey, DK Publishing ISBN: 0789483297. Available in many bookstores or online at:
   
   http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780789483294&itm=1
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Turkey-Eyewitness-Travel-Guides-S/dp/0751333573
   
2. The second book provides an overview of the history of Turkey. It will help us get familar with the long and rich history of Turkey.
   
   Richard Stoneman, Traveller's History of Turkey, Interlink Publishing, ISBN: 1566562457; available in many bookstores or online at:
   
   http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=34MBC6QCJF&sourceid=&isbn=1566562457
   
   http://www.amazon.co.uk/Travellers-History-Turkey/dp/0900075031

John Wineland, Grayson, Kentucky

Passports: Essential to Travel

Hello,

Let me encourage you to get your passports as soon as possible. Recently the US changed its laws concern foriegn travel. Now everyone must have a Passport to travel outside of the US, even Canada and Mexico. SInce this just happened last month so many people will be getting passports for the first time. This could mean delays in getting your passport.

• Do I need a Passport?
  Yes, you need a passport valid through at least August of 2007. You can get a passport by filling out an application (including providing two pictures of your self) at a US post office. You also need a drivers license and a birth certificate. The fee is about $90 and the pictures cost an extra $10 or so. The passport is good for 10 years.
  You should apply RIGHT AWAY if you are planning on going on this trip as the wait can be several weeks even months once you have filled out the application.


• Do I need a Visa?
  You do not need to get individual visas. We will get the visas as a group at the airport in Istanbul the price of the visa is included in the trip price.


• Still have questions?
  Check this website for more passport information: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

John Wineland, Grayson, Kentucky

Itinerary

Library of Celsus

Greetings,

Here is our Itinerary, the titles of each day e.g. Istanbul/Bursa means we will start the day in Istanbul and spend the night in Bursa. The letters (B,D) means that Breakfast and Dinner are included in our tour for that day. Remember to bring money for beverages and lunches.

• Day 1 US / Flight to Istanbul
  Depart from Miami to JFK
  Depart from JFK to Istanbul
  


• Day 2 US / Istanbul
  Arrive Istanbul at 11:45 am. Transfer from Airport to the Hotel, Overview Bus tour of the city Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.(D)
  


• Day 3 Istanbul
  Visit - Blue Mosque / Hagia Sophia / Hippodrome / Archaeological Museum / Byzantine Cistern/ Chora Church. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Istanbul. (B,D)
  


• Day 4 Istanbul / Bursa
  Visit Iznik (Nicea); Bursa, Green Mosque and Green Mausoleum. (B,D)
  


• Day 5 Bursa / Assos
  Visit – Troy/ Alexandria Troas/ Assos. Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Assos. (B,D)
  


• Day 6 Assos / Izmir
  Visit – Pergamum both upper city and Asclepion, also the Serapium and the Red Court dedicated to St. John/ Akhisar (Thyatira) Dinner and Overnight at Hotel in Izmir. (B,D)
  


• Day 7 Izmir
  Visit – Turkish Fortress Izmir & Izmir Archaeological Museum/ Sardis Synagogue and Roman Temple / Alasehir (Philadelphia) . Dinner and overnight at hotel in Izmir. (B,D)
  


• Day 8 Izmir / Kusadasi
  Visit - Ephesus / Ephesus Museum / Terrace Houses / Temple of Artemis / Church of St John / House of the Virgin Mary. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,D)
  


• Day 9 Patmos/Kusadasi
  Visit Island of Patmos (Greek Island), Cave of the Revelation and St John’s Monastery
  Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,D)
  


• Day 10 Kusadasi / Pamukkale
  Visit - Aphrodisias / Aphrodisias Museum / Laodicea / Hierapolis / Colossae
  Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Pamukkale. (B,D)
  


• Day 11 Pammukale / Cappadocia
  Visit – Pisidian Antioch, Konya (Iconium), the Mevlana Mosque and Mausoleum, Aladdin Mosque. Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Cappodocia. (B,D)
  


• Day 12 Cappadocia
  Visit - Goreme Valley / Zelve Valley / Underground City. (B,D)
  


• Day 13 Cappadocia / Antakya
  Visit – Tarsus (Birthplace of Paul) / Continue on to Antakya (Biblical Antioch) (B,D)
  


• Day 14 Antakya / Istanbul
  Visit the Archaeological Museum of Antioch / St. Peter’s Cave / drive to Adana & Flight to Istanbul. Dinner and Overnight Istanbul. (B,D)
  


• Day 15 Istanbul / US Transfer from Hotel to Istanbul Airport for departure to JFK. Arrive JFK at 3:30 pm same day. 7:20pm flight to Miami. Arrive Miami at 10:35 pm.

John Wineland
Grayson, Kentucky
wineland@kcu.edu

Looking forward to Turkey

Greetings,

My name is Dr. John Wineland. I teach History and Archaeology at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. I have traveled to Turkey with study groups several times. My wife, Connie and I will traveling with you this summer. Connie has been to Turkey several times too, she teaches English at Ohio University Southern Campus in Ironton, Ohio.

I am creating this blog so we can communicate information about our trip. This will be designed for trip participants and family and friends. I am excited about the trip I hope you are too. This is will be a trip of a lifetime. Please feel free to email me anytime with questions about the trip. By the way the book pictured above is an excellent Guide book to help you prepare for the trip. The name of the book is Turkey (Eyewitness Travel Guides S.) by Kate Poole, you can find it locate bookstores or at Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Turkey-Eyewitness-Travel-Guides-S/dp/0751333573

John Wineland
Grayson, Kentucky

wineland@kcu.edu