Days 7 and 8: Çanakkale and Troia

on the way to Çanakkale

I took a phone call from one of my close friends at saturday. She was asking me where I was and how long I will stay there and other things about my route. Then added that her family whom I also know very closely lives at Kilitbahir and I should go and visit them. For Turkish people family is one of the most important things in life. Family protects the children no matter what, mothers cook incredible tastes and in usual cases they know what you want better than you do. On the other hand it's been a very long time since my last visit to them and I was passing to Çanakkale from Kilitbahir. Every condition was suitable for this visit and I went. They welcomed me at the door. The mother, Aunty Lale prepared the lunch table immediately and within half an hour my stomach was so full that it started to ache although I knew that it wasn't the end of feast. They had made cherry liquor at home. It was waiting under the sun for more than one month and they decided to open it for me. It was over delicious. After the evening seccion with cherry liquor, turkish coffee and chocolates I was on my way to Çanakkale as my friend was waiting for me on the other side. So I jumped to the ferry, wave hands to the family and passed to the other side of the Dardanelles. 

The Troia horse gifted to Canakkale after the shootings of the movie 'Troy'

My new couchsurfing host welcomed me at the ferry dock and took me directly to Cimenlik Castle to see the open air museum of Gallipoli battle time mines, torpedos and a sank German submarine. During our visit we also learned that these days are the days of Troia International Festival. The musician who will performe that night was worldwide famous turkish pianist Fazil Say and it was a free performance. Of course we didn't loose that chance and enjoyed the beauty of a great music.

Fazil Say on the piano 

The next day at Canakkale was a working day for me. I couldn't have written my blog for the last three days and there were other things I needed to arrange about my trip. So i spent the morning and the noon working at home and at the afternoon hit the trail to see the city of Troia.

Troia horse that waits at the gate of Troia

Everybody knows the story of Troia especially after the movie 'Troy'. Paris, the son of Priamos who was the king of The City of Troia, chooses the goddess Aphrodite who promises him the most beautiful woman in the world in a beauty contest. After the beauty contest, The Troian Prince Paris, elopes with beautiful Helena, the wife of the Spartan King Menelaus in the mainland of Greece and takes her to Troia. In response, the kings of the main land Greece besiege Troia with a fleet of 1000 vessels of ally forces. The siege that lasts ten years comes to an end due to a trick of Achaeans. In order to give the impression that they quit war and that they have been recessing, they hide thier vessels at the back of Tenedos (Bozcaada). They leave the wooden horse in front of th Troia Castle. Troians consider the wooden horse as a gift offered to the gods and take it inside the city. The Achaean warriors come out of the horse at night and open the gates of the city for the warriors waiting outside. In this way, Troia is conquered. The rest is blood and death and the end of Troia.

the city of Troia

the blue line at the horizon is the sea

As you can see from the first picture the city is near the sea. But through centuries the sea is filled with earth and today the city of Troia is nearly 40km away from the sea.

city walls

The city was destroyed around 1180BC by Greek kings and was found after 1873AC. Within this time with the force of nature there are not so many things remained from it. You can't relate the ruins with the drawings of the real city. But beside all, there is a place in the ruins where you can use your imagination to fulfill the frame. It's called "The Ramp".

The Ramp of Troia

After my visit to Troia, it was the time to go back to Canakkale and prepare myself for the next stop: Bozcaada (Tenedos). By the way, Çanakkale is a relatively small city. The transportation within and around the city is very easy. The wind reduces the effects of sun and leaves you space to breath. It has the pysical ambience of both Istanbul and Izmir. People are friendly and very modern. I really liked it here.

Çanakkale seaside is always very crowded especially at nights

Third Day: Gallipoli and the legendary battles

I came to Gelibolu after a long waiting in Erikli as it was raining cats and dogs for more then six hours. However, when I reached to Gelibolu it was a normal summer weather with sun and high temperature.

Gelibolu Harbour where you can find fresh fish from fishermen

I had requested a place to stay from some couch hosts but nobody answered me till that time. So I had to find a hotel to stay. Hotel Istanbul at the center was a nice choice with its price, clean rooms and friendly stuff. I also made them arrange my Gallipoli tour for the next day. Because I didn't want to spend time. After a short while, everything was ready and booked for the next day. I went to my room, took a shower, changed my clothes and went out to explore the town and have dinner. But before dinner, I decided to have a turkish coffee at the harbour, while watching the sunset. My dinner was, as expected, fish in bread with salgam juice which was fresh and delicious. Gelibolu is not a big town, so it took only a little time for me to walk around and see what's going on. When I came back to my room, I was ready for the next day.

In the morning while I was having my breakfast, Gurol, one of the couch hosts sent me a mail saying that I can stay at his place. He also wrote his phone number. I called him directly and we decided to meet at the evening after my tour. He was also hosting two Australian guys who came here by biking and the next day I supposed to move to his place. With the relief of finding a place and to be able to stay at Gelibolu for another 1 or 2 nights, I joined the tour from Kilitbayir where I went with a minibus from Gelibolu. The tour took me at 10am and left back at 5pm. Between this seven hours, we travelled all around the Gelibolu (Gallipoli) Peninsula, saw the remainings, cemetaries, monuments and places of the Canakkale battle. I felt like the soil was living with the death bodies of those soldiers who lost their lives for different reasons. The history was so strong and obvious that nobody could sit by. Turkish soldiers were the winner but what I understood was there were no winners at that fields but only death. It's still very normal for the local people to find human bones while they are digging the land for plantation.

Turkish cemetary

an Australian cemetary

New Zealander monument

During all this history of death, on our lunch time, I could find a traditonal taste belonging to Gallipoli; cheese desert which made me refresh my hope for mankind:)

two different kinds of cheese desert famous around Canakkale region
It's recommended to be eaten with ice cream

I was really tired and sleepy on my way back to Gelibolu. I decided to sleep a while and then write my blog. But things didn't happen that way. Gurol called me and added me to their plan for the night which I also wanted to be involved. So I had my shower and went out again to meet with new people.