Another overnight bus (this one replete with screaming baby and vomiting woman) deposited us in Cappadocia, a region in central Turkey, known for its moon like landscape.
Turkey
Gallipoli and Troy
The Gallipoli peninsula is in southeastern Turkey. During WWI, it was the site of an eight month long struggle between ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) and Turks.
The ANZACs, fighting with Great Britain and France were trying to gain control of the Dardanelles, which would allow the Allies to access the Black Sea and provide supplies to Russia. The Turks, then part of the Ottoman Empire, siding with the Germans, put up a great resistance, with the resulting loss of 130,000 Allied and Turk lives.
Hammam Time in Istanbul
Spread over two continents, along the Bosphorus strait, Istanbul is a massive city, with a population equal to the entirety of Australia. Countless mosques cover the city, as do carpet salesmen, who pester nonstop to visit their shops. The highlights include the Aya Sofia (or Hagia Sofia- Church of Divine Wisdom that Emperor Justinian built),
the Blue Mosque,
Topkapi Palace, 
grand Bazaar,
and spice bazaar where you can purchase any type of spice or sample Turkish Delight.
The Basilica Cistern, an underground water tank from the 6th century, was awesome – so dark, enchanting and ancient.
We spent five days in the touristic area, and another five days across the water, in more residential neighborhoods. Outside the very center, the cafe culture prevails. We visited so many trendy coffee shops, where locals spend hours chatting and sipping lattes.
One of our favorite meals was when we went to the docks for a grilled fish sandwich. Fishermen stood on a nearby bridge, catching fish, then immediately sold them to the floating, bouncing boat “restaurants”, which are really just grills on boats.
There, the fish were quickly gutted, cooked, and slapped on a roll with lettuce. They were served with lemon juice in a squeeze bottle, and pickled turnip juice.
Hammams (Turkish baths) are a big part of the culture. Islam stresses hygiene, and prior to running water being commonplace in homes, hammams enabled Turks to bathe. Although everyone has the capabilities to shower at home now, visiting a hammam is a ritual that is still performed a few times a month.