Spice Market and Travel Days 3&4

 DAY 3 Monday April 27 (Madi’s Birthday) 

Bosphorus to Ankara

This morning we'll step in to the exotic and fragrant Egyptian Spice Market-which opened in 1663. 

Afterward, we'll board our big, comfortable bus for the drive to Ankara, Turkey's bustling modern capital city.

We had a wonderful man, who was a fifth generation of running the same store in the spice market, give us some tastes and smells of his spice store along with some history of the market. 

After the spice market, it was a bus ride to our next stop Ankara, the capitol city of Turkey. 

DAY 4

Anatolia and Cappadocia

Thu, April 28 2026

After breakfast: we will tour the world-class Anatolian Civilizations Museum, and marvel at its collection of treasures from Turkey's pre-Roman civilizations.  This museum is also in a building that was part of the old Silk Road. 

We'll pay our respects at the monumental Ant Kabir, Atatürk's Mausoleum, where we’ll learn about the revered founding father of modern Turkey. After lunch, we’ll travel to what feels like another planet - the scenic and historic Cappadocia region - where we'll have dinner together.

These plaster pieces from approx 1500bce were adorning the bases of buildings 

Goddess Figurine

Terracotta, Çatalhöyük, 5750 B.C.

The female figurine, which has been associated with both agricultural and human fertility because of her huge breasts and wide hips, is depicted sitting between two leopards, suggesting a strong social persona. The round shape between her legs might represent the ENIYE) head of nascent child or, on the other hand, the skull of a reputable forefather.

Most of these pictures are from The Hittite Empire reigned in Anatolia between the years of 1750-1200 B.C. and is the first state to be administered with the central system.

Hittite art is based upon

Above is a letter of Friendship 

Terracotta Boğazköy, 13t Century B.C.

A letter written in Akkadian by Naptera, the wife of Ramses II, the king of Egypt, to Puduhepa, the wife of Hattusili III, the King of Hittites, between the years of 1275-1250 B.C. The tablet gives information on the political relations of the era and refers to the good relations between the two states and the gifts they send to each other.

The following pictures are from the monument and mausoleum of the founding father of Turkey Atatürk.  Founded in 1923

INSCRIPTION OF ATATÜRK'S

LAST MESSAGE TO THE TURKISH ARMY

I ADDRESS THE TURKISH ARMY WHOSE RECORD OF VICTORY STARTED AT THE DAWN OF THE HISTORY OF MANKIND AND WHICH HAS CARRIED THE LIGHT OF CIVILIZATION IN ITS VICTORIOUS PROGRESS.

IF YOU SAVED YOUR COUNTRY FROM OPPRESSION, TRAGEDY AND ENEMY INVASION IN THE MOST CRITICAL AND DIFFICULT TIMES, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IN THE FRUITFULL ERA OF THE REPUBLIC EQUIPPED WITH ALL THE MODERN WEAPONS AND MEANS OF MILITARY SCIENCE, YOU WILL CONDUCT YOUR DUTY WITH THE SAME LOYALTY.

OUR GREAT NATION AND I ARE SURE THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS PREPARED TO CARRY OUT YOUR DUTY OF DEFENDING THE HONOUR OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR CIVILIZATION AGAINST ANY DANGER, FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.

OCTOBER 29, 1938

PRESIDENT

MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK

We were there when the Armenian delegation came to pay respects to the tomb.                        

Finally, we headed to our next home base in Mustafapasa.  Our hotel is an old home, that was carved into the mountainside.  My room isn’t in a cave part, but it is a beautiful hotel.