Day 2 of our Turkey tour in Istanbul to Cannakale via Galliopoli 7th April

This morning we left our hotel at 8.00 and set off through the city along the coast north and then west towards the Galliopoli Peninsula.  A long drive and into the rural parts.  Lots of farms, canola and wheat growing, and then through many towns all with abandoned buildings, and very few people to be seen.  There were lots of unfinished buildings and we travel led around 1.45 hours to a rest stop.  Bought a Galliopoli magnet then a postcard for Ella and a carpet bag.   Very roomy and practical for storing my travel bag, phone and camera. 

Onwards and lunch was another rest stop along the way.  Not too appetising but well priced.  Then down the peninsula with the Dardanelles to our west.  

Alan our guide was very tactful in his story of the conflict.  I cried when I saw the beach at Anzac Cove, what a disaster. Firstly the brave men had to try and land on what is just a cliff.  Pebble beaches and nothing else. The Turks were sitting g on top of the ridge and there would not have been much hope of surviving the landing as we know.  To walk in their footsteps was amazing.  The area was being prepared for Anzac Day ceremony.   I knew knew there was an island off the coast where all the dead were taken, to protect against disease.  The sand is a yellow colour and rises up to a hill that looks like the sphinx.

An Australian and a Turk, 99 years later.

 I found it very moving to finally be able to honour my great uncle Montague John Durnsford who enlisted under his step father's name of Pacey.   It was my dream to observe Anzac Day here with my family. After being here I realise that would have been impractical especially with young children,  as it is about 6 hours from Istanbul, what you see on the Dawn Service is probably the best view, as there are many different sites set up for the service.

We also visited the New Zealand and Turkish monuments on top of a hill, which the New Zealand eras captured in August 1915.  It was bitterly cold, terrible conditions.

So why did the British land there?  There is a very narrow strait and the Turks laid explosives which blew up both a French and British ship.  This waterway is the access to Istanbul and a very strategic place.  It is the main shipping channel.  Turkey is located in both Europe and Asia.  Then we travel led to Cannakale,  via ferry.  It is a town of Universities with many students.  Our hotel was large and so hot.  The room temperatures are set at 28 degrees for sleeping, and are only changed in June and July.  No air conditioning as we know it but works on a single pipe heating system.  Anyone wishing to visit Galliopoli would be much better to base themselves on this part providing the ferry runs 24/7.  The trip would then be only 45 minutes.  Perhaps this is where the dignitaries stay.

View across the Dardanelles straits towards Galliopoli from our Window.  The site is floodlit at night.

Our meal was buffet.  I was surprised at the lack of lamb, but the beef was excellent