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Turkey and more

 

   We have recentely found some old photos from our 2004 trip through Europe to Turkey. We visited some interesting historical places in Romania, and several famous touristic destinations in Turkey. Some of them were very geological. Beside of historical towns such as famous Ephesus, we saw incredible travertines in Pamukkale, and erosional forms in volcanic tufs in Cappadocia. Hope you will like the photos.
              

Tomasz Praszkier

 

First we drove from Warsaw to Kamieniec Podolski in Ukraina. Google maps.

 

Driving thorugh Ukraine. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Castle in Kamieniec Podolski, Ukraina. It dates back to 14th century, it was built initially to protect the bridge connecting the city to the mainland. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Our next stop was Bukovina in Romania. Google maps.

 

Bukovina is famous for painted Orthodox churches mostly from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Painted walls of the Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Painted walls of the Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Painted walls of the Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Painted walls of the Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Painted walls of the Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Painted walls of the Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Painted walls of the Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Orthodox church from 16th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

From Bukovina we drove to Maramures - area where the famous mines such as Herja, Baia Sprie, Cavnic etc are located. In 2004 they were still working (closed in Dec 2005). Google maps.

 

Mosaic on the wall of the building of Herja mine, Romania. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Entrance to the Herja mine. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Polluted river located close to the Herja mine, Romania. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Mining tram going to Baia Sprie Mine, Romania. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baia Sprie Mine, Romania. T. Praszkier photo.

 

One of the entrences to the Baia Sprie mine. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Collecting on the dumps.

 

Someone from our crew painted a joke about greedy collectors ;-) T. Praszkier photo.

 

The historical town Sighisoara in central Romania was the next attraction on our road.

 

Old part of Sighisoara, Romania. The city dates back to 12th century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Old part of Sighisoara, Romania. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Old part of Sighisoara, Romania. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Old part of Sighisoara, Romania. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Old clock in Sighisoara. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Old part of Sighisoara, Romania. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Plate saying that Vlad Dracul known later as Dracula lived in this house between 1431 to 1435! Sighisoara, Romania. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Good way to transport a car ;-) T. Praszkier photo.

 

Good way to transport a car ;-) T. Praszkier photo.

 

From Romania we drove thorugh Bulgaria to Turkey where we left Eurupe and entered Asia. Google maps.

 

View from Asia to Europe. T. Praszkier photo.

 

View from Asia to Europe. T. Praszkier photo.

 

One of Turkish towns on the coast. T. Praszkier photo.

 

View to the Lesbos island. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Traditional way of weaving. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Traditional way of weaving. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Finally we arrived to Ephesus - famous ancient Greek-Roman town founded in 10th century BC. Here the library completed in the 1st century! T. Praszkier photo.

 

Ancient library in Ephesus. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Turkey is full of incredible ancient towns. Ephesus is one of the better known ones. T. Praszkier photo.

  

In Ephesus. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In Ephesus. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In Ephesus. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In Ephesus. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Streets of Ephesus. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In Ephesus. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Street toilets in Ephesus. Imagine how this place looked like 2000 years ago :) T. Praszkier photo.

 

In Ephesus. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In Ephesus. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In Ephesus. T. Praszkier photo.

 

From Ephesus we drove to famous Pamukkale travertine area.

 

Famous hot springs "producing" spectacular travertines located in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. Pamukkale means "cotton castle" in Turkish. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by water from the springs (ecpecially the hot ones) - they are formed by the repid precipitation of calcium carbonate. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 When the temperature or/and pressure decrease the carbon dioxide `escapes` from the solution, while calcium carbonate precipitates and forms travertines. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Visitor in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Living fossils - partly fossilized roots of living plants. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Visitors in Pamukkale. There are 17 hot springs with temperature from 35 to 100C (95 to 212F)  T. Praszkier photo.

 

Visitors in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Heaving nice time in Pamukkale ... T. Praszkier photo.

 

 Travertines in Pamukkale. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Next we visited another ancient city - Sagalassos. Google maps.

 

Sagalassos is a spectacular ancient Greek-Roman town located in high mountains, about 1500m above sea level. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Sagalassos was destroyed by earthquake and a series of epidemics that forced its inhabitants to abandon the city. They have never returned to their homes.  T. Praszkier photo.

 

All destroyed buildings are still in the same place and now the whole town is being reconstructed. Sagalassos main square (agora). T. Praszkier photo.

 

Human settlement in the area goes back to 8000 BC. Sagalassos ruins. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Sagalassos ruins. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Old fountains already rebuilt with original fragments. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Theatre in Sagalassos with spectacular view. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Ruins of the theatre in Sagalassos. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Ruins of the theatre in Sagalassos. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Ruins of the theatre in Sagalassos. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Theatre in Sagalassos. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Close to the Sagalassos we visited the caves. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Helictites in the cave. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Driving around 1000 km from Sagalassos we finally reached Cappadocia! Google maps.

 

Caravanserais are ancient fortersses built for caravanes so they can spend the night safely while travelling. Sultan Han is one of the most spectacular Caravanserai, built in XIII century. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Details of the architecture of the Sultan Han Caravanserai. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Details of the architecture of the Sultan Han Caravanserai. T. Praszkier photo.

 

The landscape of Cappadocia is dominated by incredible rock formations, the result of volcanic activity, wind and water. T. Praszkier photo.

 

The landscape of Cappadocia is dominated by incredible rock formations, the result of volcanic activity, wind and water. T. Praszkier photo.

 

The volcanic eruptions covered the former plateau in tuff about thirty millions years ago. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Because tuff is a very soft type of rock it easily underwent erosion `carving` incredible formations. T. Praszkier photo.

 

The rocks of Cappadocia near Goreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and mineret-like forms. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T.Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T.Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T.Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T.Praszkier photo.

 

People of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia region carved out houses, churches and monasteries from the soft volcanic rocks. T.Praszkier photo.

 

People of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out houses, churches and monasteries from the soft volcanic rocks. T.Praszkier photo.

 

People of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out houses, churches and monasteries from the soft volcanic rocks. T.Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. PRaszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T.Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. Houses carved in the soft volcanic rocks. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Camel in Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. Houses carved in the rocks. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Göreme became a monastic centre in 300–1200 AD. An old church bilt in the monadnock. T. Praszkier photo.

 

The last houses were still inhabited in the second half of 20th century. After this `tower block` collapsed living inside the rocks became forbidden. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

You can easily see the results of erosion in this picture - the harder rock on the top directs the weathering process into forming such incredible monadnocks. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

You can easily see the results of erosion in this picture - the harder rock on the top directs the weathering process into forming such incredible monadnocks. T. Praszkier photo.

 

You can easily see the results of erosion in this picture - the harder rock on the top directs the weathering process into forming such incredible monadnocks. T. Praszkier photo.

 

You can easily see the results of erosion in this picture - the harder rock on the top directs the weathering process into forming such incredible monadnocks. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Camel in Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Incredible forms of rocks in Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

A church built inside the monadnock. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

There are hundeds of balloons taking off in the morning over Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Goreme - capital of Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Göreme became a monastic centre in 300–1200 AD. Church built inside the monadnock. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In an old church. T. Praszkier photo.

 


 

In an old church. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Old church. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In an old church. All faces of the painted figures in the lower parts of the walls are scratched out - it is not allowed in Islam to present faces of saints (in contrary to Christianity) T. Praszkier photo.

 

In an old church. All faces of the painted figures in the lower parts of the walls are scratched out - it is not allowed in Islam to present faces of saints (in contrary to Christianity) T. Praszkier photo.

 

In an old church. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In an old church. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In an old church. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In an old church. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In an old church. T. Praszkier photo.

 

In an old church. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baglidere Valley that is better known as Love Valley (don`t ask me why :-), Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baglidere Valley that is better known as Love Valley (don`t ask me why :-), Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baglidere Valley that is better known as Love Valley (don`t ask me why :-), Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baglidere Valley that is better known as Love Valley (don`t ask me why :-), Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baglidere Valley that is better known as Love Valley (don`t ask me why :-), Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baglidere Valley that is better known as Love Valley (don`t ask me why :-), Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baglidere Valley that is better known as Love Valley (don`t ask me why :-), Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baglidere Valley that is better known as Love Valley (don`t ask me why :-), Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baglidere Valley that is better known as Love Valley (don`t ask me why :-), Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Love Valley in the sunglasses, Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Baglidere Valley that is better known as Love Valley, Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Cappadocia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

At some point we had to start driving back to Poland. Our next stop was in Istanbul - only existing town located on 2 continents!

 

Istanbul - view to the old part of the town with famous Hagaa Sophia mosque. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Bridge over the Bosphorus strait connecting Europe with Asia, note hundreds of fishermen. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Fishermen fishing from the bridge over Bosphorus strait. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Hagia Sophia - Christian church built in XIth century than was changed into mosque. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Hagia Sophia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Inside Hagia Sophia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Inside Hagia Sophia. T. Praszkier photo.

 

Istanbul. T. Praszkier photo.

 

From Turkey we drove again through Bulgaria to Romania where we visited castle in Huendoara.

 

Storks in Bulgaria. T. Praszkier.

 

Incredible 15th century castle in Huendoara (known as Corvin Castle), Transylvania, Romania. T. Praszkier.

 

Corvin Castle, Huendoara, Transylvania, Romania. T. Praszkier.

 

Corvin Castle, Huendoara, Transylvania, Romania. T. Praszkier.

 

Bridge over the moat, Huendoara castle. T. Praszkier.

 

Corvin Castle, Huendoara, Transylvania, Romania. T. Praszkier.

 

Corvin Castle, Huendoara, Transylvania, Romania. T. Praszkier.

 

Castle in Huendoara with signs of the Arabic invasions. T. Praszkier.

 

Details of the castle in Huendoara. T. Praszkier.

 

View from the castle is quite contrastive - Huendoara town is very industrial... T. Praszkier.

 

From Romania we finally came back to our homes in Warszawa, Poland.



  Comments

Thanks for the interesting travelogue! DKJ
dkjoyce
2014-04-16 23:54:05
Fascinating pictorial tour of the areas, people, historic events and areas of some of our most beautiful gems!
MMAustin
2014-04-20 22:21:58


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