Blogger, Sydney Lyons
Highlights:
- Bus ride out of Istanbul
- Ferry ride to Bozcaada
- Dinner and exploring
Journey Out of Istanbul
This morning was our last in Istanbul. After a full week in this bustling city, we packed our bags and began the journey to Bozcaada, a small island in the Aegean Sea. The first leg of travel consisted of a 4-hour shuttle bus ride out of the city. Unlike Spain, Turkey is not connected by a network of public trains to ease cross-country travel. Instead, buses like ours provide a more intimate view of the city and its surrounding area. As such, we were able to see even more segments of the land walls of Constantinople, pictured below, which were presented on by Kacie last week. These walls stretch from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn, which is where the Sea meets the Bosphorus Strait, and were originally built in the 4th century CE. Once we were out of the city, we headed southeast towards Geyikli, the mainland town right next to Bozcaada.
To pass the time, many of us watched an intro lecture video on Anthropology, Museums, and Ethics from Dr. Helen Human, Dr. Pitamber’s friend and colleague who will be joining us for the remainder of the trip. To get in the island spirit, I also made time to watch Mamma Mia. The highlight of the ride was crossing the Çanakkale Bridge over the Dardanelles, the waterway which would have once been bustling with trade ships. Spanning over 2,000 meters, it is the longest suspension bridge in the world and connects the European and Asian sides of Turkey.
Bozcaada
Once in Geyikli, we made a quick stop for çay while we waited for the ferry. Because Bozcaada is such a small island, home to only about 3,000 people, it can only be accessed by boat. The half-hour ferry ride from the mainland truly added to the air of adventure and remoteness.
The main town sits right at the base of a large hill sporting a few picturesque windmills. Unlike Istanbul, the center of town is mostly flat, which made for an easy walk to the hotel Armagrandi. We are very lucky to call this establishment home for the next three days, with its rustic-style rooms and beautiful garden patio. Once we settled in, we got a delicious dinner from a homemade-style restaurant and followed it up with ice cream (a staple on this trip).
Post-Dinner and History
We then explored a bit more after dinner and got a sneak peak at the Ottoman castle that we would be visiting in the coming days. Paulina and I were feeling adventurous, so we decided to hike up the large hill that was mentioned previously. From the top, we were able to look down on the entire town and have an unobstructed view of the mainland. It is clear why this island was used as a base for the Greek naval fleet during the Trojan War. Most people know the story of the Trojan Horse, but you may not know that the fleet was hidden on this very island until the Greek soldiers inside the horse were able to initiate the siege of the city. Based on Turkey’s tumultuous relationship with claiming some aspects of European history as its own, I am curious about the extent to which these facts have been readily presented to the public. Regardless of the answer, it is truly a dream to be staying here, and I cannot wait to see what the coming days bring.
