Spring Break in the UK is often 3-4 weeks long. During that time students
travel around seeing what Europe has to offer, sometimes too many
sites. Instead of traveling to every large city within continental
Europe, I've decided to make this trip worthwhile and go somewhere
different, worth seeing, and somewhat relaxing away from all the tourists.
For our spring break, Elizabeth Jepson, a friend from NY in our Council
group, and I have combined thoughts into making this Spring Break
2002 vacation educational, entertaining, and exciting. We're off to
see the majestic lands of Turkey!
First, I will start by taking a ferry from Ancona, Italy to Igominitsa,
Greece, where my Ryanair cheap flight lands. I shall spend my first
day in Greece confronting the Mediterranean on the west, and possibly
hopping over to Corfu, a local island. When Elizabeth arrives by ferry
from Venice, Italy later that day, we will meet up and then head east
the next morning. We plan to hit Istanbul directly and bypass Athens,
saving it for the last leg of the trip. Istanbul is not only a city
offering a beautiful mosque built by Emperor Justinian in 537 AD,
but also geographically bridges to Asia. This will be my first time
I will set my foot in Asia!!!!.
After Istanbul we head further east deciding if we shall head to or
through Ankarra, the capital, in search of the surprising underground
city in Cappadoccia. I've heard good things from a fellow Australian
backpacker in Naples, Italy, who was finishing his 2 1/2 year travel
around the world. Cappadoccia fits his 'top 5 favorite treasures'
and I must see it. After venturing this far east, we shall return
west possibly to Izmir or a local city along the Aegean coast, accessible
to the Greek Isles. While exploring the Greek Isles, we hope to relax
and see the Isles of Myknonos, Kos, Paros, Santorini, or Naxos. After
getting our fill on Greece's Isles we will shall end the trip once
we have conquered Athens. Hopefully, we can find time to reach a small
local city where we can learn and experience more Greek culture. Our
trip comes to a close on April 14th when we set ways back to Ancona,
Italy and return to a 'pressed' civilization in London.
I'm
excited and look forward to seeing and experiencing another life changing
cultural experience of something different during the 19 days. Warmer
temperatures of 10-20 C (50-70 F) should offer nicer weather opposed
to the rainy gray clouds of London. But you never know.... it could
snow. I just hope to acquire knowledge about Turkish and Greek cultures
upon this trip, once again.... opening my mind to something new and
exciting.
