TravelMorgan Stone GretherCome See Turkey 2014, Turkey, tourism, travel

Come See Turkey: Overview

TravelMorgan Stone GretherCome See Turkey 2014, Turkey, tourism, travel
Come See Turkey: Overview

In April 2014, I flew to Turkey with a group of fellow Instagram influencers for a two-week exploration of that amazing country, so beautiful, so full of history. Sponsored by Come See Turkey and the Office of the President, the trip was designed to boost tourism to the area, and it was led by wonderful human, Mustafa Seven and his team.

See all the Turkish posts.

Here are all the IG influencers:

http://instagram.com/sezyilmaz

http://instagram.com/thomas_k

http://instagram.com/dariszcahyadi

http://instagram.com/cucinadigitale

http: // instagram. com / wisslaren

http://instagram.com/aditzt

http://instagram.com/samhorine

http://instagram.com/felecool

http://instagram.com/grether

http://instagram.com/puanindya

http: the //instagram.com/mustafasev

Nice person in Portland, Oregon, and beyond.

TravelMorgan Stone Gretherhagia sophiaTurkey, tourism, Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, cathedral, church, Come See Turkey 2014, travel

Come See Turkey, Day 3: Hagia Sophia

In the middle of the third day of my Come See Turkey trip, we explored the magnificent Hagia Sophia, aka the Ayasofya. What was once the Romans' first Christian cathedral and then a mosque under the Ottomans, it is now a very popular museum (and deservedly so). And though it stands as an astonishing testament to Roman architecture, it would not be standing at all if not for Ottoman architects maintaining it...

TravelMorgan Stone Gretherhagia sophiaTurkey, tourism, Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, cathedral, church, Come See Turkey 2014, travel
Come See Turkey, Day 3: Hagia Sophia
TravelMorgan Stone GretherTurkey, Istanbul, tourism, Come See Turkey 2014, Karaköy, travel

Come See Turkey, Day 1: Istanbul

The first day of the trip was stretched out to over 36 hours with traveling across the globe from my house in Oregon to Istanbul. On arrival, I was driven to the Karaköy district to the Hotel Gradiva (now I believe named the Purl) to catch my breath.  As the sun set, we then had an orientation meeting at Mustafa's studio a short walk away...

TravelMorgan Stone GretherTurkey, Istanbul, tourism, Come See Turkey 2014, Karaköy, travel
Come See Turkey, Day 1: Istanbul
TravelMorgan Stone GretherTopkapi Palace, Turkey, Come See Turkey 2014, tourism, Istanbul, travel

Come See Turkey, Day 3: Topkapİ Palace

In the middle of day three of my Come See Turkey trip, we visited the Topkapi Palace. When the Ottomans conquered the city 500 years ago, they rebuilt the ruined Roman imperial palace and administration complex into what would eventually become called Topkapi. Though renovated over the centuries, much of the original complex remains. And to my delight, they grow many, many tulips...

TravelMorgan Stone GretherTopkapi Palace, Turkey, Come See Turkey 2014, tourism, Istanbul, travel
Come See Turkey, Day 3: Topkapİ Palace