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<title>Armenian heritage trip</title>
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<h1>Armenian heritage trip</h1>
<p>
In September 2019 Nancy, Jim, and Blaise took a vacation to explore their shared Armenian heritage.
The primary purpose of this trip was to explore the old family homesteads in what is now Turkey.
</p>
<p>
The exact trip of each traveler was a little bit different, as represented here.
</p>
<hr>
<h2 id=2019-09-20><a href=#2019-09-20>2019-09-20 Friday</a></h2>
<h3>Blaise travels Madison to Istanbul</h3>
<p>
Blaise left Madison mid-afternoon Wisconsin time, traveling to Istanbul to meet Nancy and Jim.
This involved a short flight Madison → Chicago, an ~11 hour flight Chicago → Istanbul, and a hour long bus ride to get downtown.
The most remarkable experience was the Turkish Airlines flight, which involved an unprecedented level of hospitality.
Every passenger was given two excellent meals, blanket, pillow, eye masks, slippers, headphones, and seemingly countless other little amenities.
It's easy to see how Turkish Airlines got its reputation.
</p>
<img src="armenian-heritage-trip/IMG_20190919_201715.png"
alt=""
width="100%">
Turkish Airlines airplane that took Blaise from Chicago to Istanbul. <br>
<br>
<img src="armenian-heritage-trip/IMG_20190919_224234.png"
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width="100%">
Dinner served to Blaise by Turkish Airlines:
<ul>
<li>chicken breast, penne, zucchini, eggplant</li>
<li>fried eggplant and green pepper, tomato, white cheese</li>
<li>salad with prawn</li>
<li>lemonade with fresh mint</li>
</ul>
<br>
<img src="armenian-heritage-trip/IMG_20190920_055602.png"
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width="100%">
Breakfast served to Blaise by Turkish Airlines:
<ul>
<li>fresh fruit salad</li>
<li>assorted cheese</li>
<li>salad with prawn</li>
<li>scrambled egg with cheese, mushrooms, potatoes, grilled tomato</li>
<li>fresh bread, butter, jam</li>
<li>coffee</li>
</ul>
<p>
Arriving in Istanbul (early evening Istanbul time), Blaise was greeted by Nancy and Jim at the bus stop.
Blaise was able to unpack before the three of them had a very nice meal at the restaurant across the street.
</p>
<hr>
<h2 id=2019-09-21><a href=#2019-09-21>2019-09-21 Saturday</a></h2>
<h3>Morning Walk</h3>
<p>
Nancy and Blaise started the morning with a walk along the Sea of Marmara, near the hotel.
They saw divers with harpoons, fishermen, cats and dogs near the sea.
After walking along the water for roughly 30 minutes, they turned around and returned to the hotel through the city.
This included passing through the seafood restaurant area, several blocks worth of just seafood restaurants.
</p>
<img src="armenian-heritage-trip/IMG_20190921_091946.png"
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width="100%">
View of the Marmara sea. <br>
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<img src="armenian-heritage-trip/IMG_20190921_092759.png"
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width="100%">
Seafood restaurant district. Early in the morning, so most restaurants are closed. <br>
<h3>Hagia Sophia</h3>
<p>
At 10:30 Nancy, Jim, and Blaise went on a guided tour of Hagia Sophia.
Our guide was from Bulgaria, with a mother born in Erzincan.
There was a long line to enter into Hagia Sophia, but once inside it wasn't too crowded.
The entire building is under constant restoration, exterior and interior.
</p>
<h3>Bazaars of Istanbul</h3>
<img src="armenian-heritage-trip/IMG_20190921_143225.png"
alt=""
width="100%">
One of the entrances to Istanbul's grand bazaar. <br>
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<img src="armenian-heritage-trip/IMG_20190921_143515.png"
alt=""
width="100%">
Jim and Blaise inside the grand bazaar. <br>
<br>
<h3>Bosophos boat tour</h3>
<p>
At 17:00 Nancy, Jim, and Blaise went on a guided boat tour of the Bosophos straight.
</p>
<img src="armenian-heritage-trip/IMG_20190922_093007.png"
alt=""
width="100%">
Bosophorus tour route. <br>
<br>
<hr>
<h2 id=2019-09-22><a href=#2019-09-22>2019-09-22 Sunday</a></h2>
Travel from Istanbul to Erzincan
<hr>
<h2 id=2019-09-23><a href=#2019-09-23>2019-09-23 Monday</a></h2>
Tour Erzincan
<hr>
<h2 id=2019-09-24><a href=#2019-09-24>2019-09-24 Tuesday</a></h2>
Drive to Kemah.
Drive to Cappidocia.
<hr>
<h2 id=2019-09-25><a href=#2019-09-25>2019-09-25 Wednesday</a></h2>
Tour Cappidocia.
Drive to Kayseri (1.5 hour drive).
<hr>
<h2 id=2019-09-26><a href=#2019-09-26>2019-09-26 Thursday</a></h2>
Drive to and tour Develi.
Return to Kayseri.
<hr>
<h2 id=2019-09-27><a href=#2019-09-27>2019-09-27 Friday</a></h2>
Tour Kayseri.
<hr>
<h2 id=2019-09-28><a href=#2019-09-28>2019-09-28 Saturday</a></h2>
Nancy and Blaise leave.
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