Greece and Turkey: A Voyage through History

By Dianne Glick, participant on the 2007 trip

If one loves sailing, archaeology and awesome scenery, this is the trip of a lifetime! Our first indelible memory was the haunting “Call to Prayer” from a lighted mosque next to our hotel in Istanbul, silhouetted against the evening sky. The next day, we flew to Bodrum, where our adventure began. We embarked on our Turkish wooden gulet (yacht), and set sail for the mystical Dodecanese Islands of Greece.

Our first stop was the Island of Kos, where we learned from Dr. Jennifer Tobin about the Knights of St. John and about the healing temple of Asklepios, founded after the death of the famous physician, Hippocrates. From there, we sailed to Nisyros, a fabled island in Greek mythology – reputed to have been created in the battle between the Gods and the Giants, and home of an active volcano and the Monastery of the Madonna. It was hard to choose the more picturesque of the next two small islands – Tilos and Simi. Rhodes was the last stop in Greece – steeped in the history of the ancient old town and the incredible Acropolis of Lindos, with its magnificent views.

We disembarked from our “home away from home” in the Turkish port of Marmaris. Our next few days were spent on the southern Turkish coast, exploring the rock cut tombs, the ruins of Andraike, the wonders of ancient Lykia, the bustling city of Antalya with its unbelievable archeological museum. Then back to Istanbul to view the famous Blue Mosque, Suleymanique (mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent) and Topkapi Palace and museums, not to mention the Grand Bazaar.

Our experiences with Dr. Tobin and with Umit, our Turkish guide, made this trip not only one of spectacular beauty but one linking us to the history of ancient times – indeed, the trip of a lifetime!