We are on the bus for a 4 hour drive to Gallipoli Town and Fulia, our guide has been giving us a few facts.

Istanbul was originally founded by Greek colonists.
First they went to an Oracle to find out where they should go.
The Oracle advised them to settle 'opposite the blind' and off they went.
Coming across the peninsula overlooking the Bosphorous, they decided that this was a marvellous location, defendable and they could control trade through the Straights.
Then they noticed a settlement further over the other side of the water.
" They must have been blind to build there. This side has more advantages."
And there you are.
7th Century BC.
The story travelled well really, didn't it?

Then, in 330AD, Constantine the Great decided he wanted a new capital for Rome.
He moved to that settlement ( now, much bigger ) and called it Constantinople.

( Yes. I have been singing the song, endlessly.
In the street
At dinner.
On the plane.
And I only know the first 2 lines...
"Istanbul, Constantinople.
And it's Istanbul, Constantinople ..."
But it's so catchy!
Emily wears ear plugs.)

Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire as, in 400AD, Rome fell.
And it wasn't until 1453, when the Ottomans invaded, that it became the Ottoman Empire.

The Romans had strung a HUGE chain across the Bosphorous, right near the bridge where we had dinner last night, that stopped all ships from entering the Golden Horn.
Menet, the Conqueror moved all his ships over land, up the hills and back down to the water past the chain to enter the Golden Horn.
And used huge cannons to breech the large stone walls surrounding the city.
We have seen ruins of these.
They are amazing.
So, then it was the Sultan and the Ottomans.

Then, in 1923, Turkey became a Republic.

So 1st, Eastern Roman Empire
2nd, Ottoman Empire
3rd, War of Independence....
After the 1st World War, the Allies divided up Turkey.
Turkey kept Istanbul and part to the north.
France and Italy got the area near Syria.
Greece got an area in the Southwest.
Now these were a people who had lost so many of their young men.
Ataturk rallied all the people and, the French and the Italians, said,
"Ok. Sorry. You keep it."
And left.
But the Turks and Greeks fought.
Old men, women and children, as well as the soldiers.
Turkey won.


16 million people live in Istanbul.
77 million in Turkey.
99% Muslim.
Turkey is a secular country.
It has no official religion.
People are free to practise or not.
However, on Fridays, Muslim men must pray at midday at a Mosque.

Didn't catch the year but many Jewish people left Spain and the Ottoman Sultan welcomed them into Constantinople. He thought Ferdinand of Spain was silly to let so many talented people leave Spain.

( No Internet... have to check much of this yet.)

Hey, just went through a Toll Gantry, heard the 'beep'
Tag is OK!

In the Sea of Marmara, there are islands called the Princess Islands.
The biggest island is called Big Island.

They are building a tunnel under the Bosphorous from Istanbul to the Asian side.

We are travelling down the European side on The Trace to reach ( Gelibolu ) Gallipoli Town.

Magnificent sunny day.
Expected top 31 degrees.

Will have to check spelling etc so read with a grain of salt.

Lovely buffet lunch in an outdoor restaurant overlooking the Dardenelles.
Right there, hanging over the water.
Emily and I wandered the small town.
I struck up a great friendship with a man with a barrow selling fridge magnets.
I didn't have any money.
So I had to find a bank, then I bought the ugliest fridge magnet you have ever seen.
( I don't think he believed me when I said I was coming back.)
It's a see through turtle with shells inside and it has Gelibolu printed on it.
And I love it.
Makes me grin.

Magnificent sunny day.
Just driving now to Cape Helles, the Dardenelles out the bus window on my left.
How unbelievable is this?

It is a 'pinch me' moment.

Fulia has just advised us that we have WiFi on the bus.
Yes!