A little while ago, my fellow NSLI-Y participants and I had the amazing opportunity to travel East and see Turkey's capital, Ankara, and the famous Cappadocia.
To start the trip off, we headed to Ankara where we would sit-in on a very interesting security briefing done at the U.S. Embassy. We only had the chance to be in Ankara for one day, however, it was a well spent day full of sightseeing and learning about the ancient days of Turkey.
During the day, we first went to The Museum of Anatolian Civilization which contains countless artifacts from the Paleolithic age. Next, we climbed all the way to the top of the Ankara Castle. And lastly, we headed over to Ataturk's Mausoleum.
To start the trip off, we headed to Ankara where we would sit-in on a very interesting security briefing done at the U.S. Embassy. We only had the chance to be in Ankara for one day, however, it was a well spent day full of sightseeing and learning about the ancient days of Turkey.
During the day, we first went to The Museum of Anatolian Civilization which contains countless artifacts from the Paleolithic age. Next, we climbed all the way to the top of the Ankara Castle. And lastly, we headed over to Ataturk's Mausoleum.
Climbing up Ankara Castle was definitely tough after eating delicious Turkish food for a month but the trek was worth it. The view of Ankara was spectacular!
I bet you're all wondering who Ataturk is, right? Well, Ataturk is one of the most iconic figures of the early 20th century. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is remembered as the leader who emerged from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire to establish Turkey as an independent country. His contributions to the development of a modern, secular country had a huge impact on everyone and to this day, the love people have him is incomparable. His photograph is everywhere and Turks even tattoo his signature on their bodies.
Although our stay in Ankara was short, I learned SO much!
Next, we headed by bus to Cappadocia but took an interesting stop to see Turkey's Salt Lake. The water in the lake is extremely shallow and reflexive so it almost looks like the sky is never ending. It was pretty chilly outside and our feet almost froze but it was worth it because the entire time we were in the water, our feet were getting exfoliated by the salt. Definitely worth experiencing.
Although our stay in Ankara was short, I learned SO much!
Next, we headed by bus to Cappadocia but took an interesting stop to see Turkey's Salt Lake. The water in the lake is extremely shallow and reflexive so it almost looks like the sky is never ending. It was pretty chilly outside and our feet almost froze but it was worth it because the entire time we were in the water, our feet were getting exfoliated by the salt. Definitely worth experiencing.
After these many excursions, we finally made it to Cappadocia and let me tell you, this place is beautiful. Cappadocia was formed from the eruption of two large volcanoes and many years of erosion. The entire area is covered in soft rock that is very easy to carve therefore, it became a place for Christian refugees who were escaping the danger put force by the Romans. They sculpted caves to live in and practiced their religion in peace.
I would recommend everyone to visit this landmark. The history is so rich and interesting and you're able to appreciate the scenery that much more when you know how it was formed and the intimate details. Stay tuned for more :)
Lydia
Lydia