We learned about the Gallipoli conflict and the ANZACs by visiting the various cemetries, monuments and sights dedicated to the campaign which resulted in an estimated 336,000 casualties from both sides. We were moved by the story of a Turkish soldier who waved a white flag so that he could rescue an allied soldier who was wounded and crying out in pain on the battlefield. The Turk returned the soldier to his host nation trench only metres away. We stopped...

We arrived safely in Istanbul at 0100 today and spent the day visiting the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosques before wandering around the vast Grand Bazaar. Ate a very sweet sugar confectionary from a (safe) street vendor that tasted of flavoured toffee. Whilst the mosques are impressive they do not quite match the splendour of what's on offer in Iran. What will it take to impress us eh?!!

Packing last night was more traumatic than watching a size 18 trying to squeeze into size 10 skinny jeans! But, whilst we got there in the end, the result, like the jeans, is not pretty!