TravelMorgan Stone GretherAghtamar, Lake Van, Turkey, Come See Turkey 2014, eastern Turkey, tourism, travel

Aghtamar Island, Lake Van, Turkey

TravelMorgan Stone GretherAghtamar, Lake Van, Turkey, Come See Turkey 2014, eastern Turkey, tourism, travel
Aghtamar Island, Lake Van, Turkey

In eastern Turkey there is a great variety of areas, with deserts and mountains and forests and lakes. Take for instance Lake Van, gorgeous and ringed by mountain peaks. I visited there on my 2014 Come See Turkey trip. We took a ferry boat out on the lake to Aghtamar Island, where once lived kings of Armenia and Vaspurakan. Now there's not much remaining beyond the lovely Cathedral of the Holy Cross. 

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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
TravelMorgan Stone GretherAni, ruins, Kars, eastern Turkey, Turkey, Come See Turkey 2014, tourism, sunset, mountains, river, travel

The Ruins of Ani, Kars

Any list of the must-see spots of northeastern Turkey in my mind has to include the ruins of the city of Ani, which you will find in the Kars region, right along the border with Armenia. There are two parts actually, the former city overlooking a river valley, and a countless cave dwellings below along the river...

TravelMorgan Stone GretherAni, ruins, Kars, eastern Turkey, Turkey, Come See Turkey 2014, tourism, sunset, mountains, river, travel
The Ruins of Ani, Kars
TravelMorgan Stone GretherIshak Pasha Palace, Turkey, Come See Turkey 2014, tourism, eastern Turkey, travel

Ishak Pasha Palace, Turkey

In eastern Turkey, near mighty Mount Ararat, along the ancient Silk Road sits the 17th century palace of Ishak Pasha. If you want to feel like you are in stories of Scheherazade, this place is for you. Truly storybook in its grandeur...

TravelMorgan Stone GretherIshak Pasha Palace, Turkey, Come See Turkey 2014, tourism, eastern Turkey, travel
Ishak Pasha Palace, Turkey
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, the trip was designed to boost tourism to the area, and it was led by wonderful human, Mustafa Seven and his team...

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