Gazing up at the piercing cornflower-blue sky. A dry, cool breeze sweeping through my body. Lifting yet another forkful of linguini alla frutti de mare* to my lips and unleashing the smorgasbord of flavours into my olfactories. Washing down the lingering freshness of the sea with a sip of vino bianco**. I close my eyes, gratefully savouring every moment…
It was truly a pleasure experiencing three unique age-old civilisations and peoples. After a month of thoughtful planning, Kelly, Dawn and I scooted off to Mediterranean Turkey, Greece and Italy for 51 days. We arrived in Istanbul and were immediately plunged into an exotic realm boasting the curious confluence of Eastern and Western cultures. The Ottoman and Muslim influences of Turkey may have succeeded her glorious Byzantine past, but grand monuments of Roman and Western influence stand tall against the test of time. We were overwhelmed by the Church of Saint Sophia that was built 1800 years ago by Emperor Justinian, proudly erect in defiance to the magnificent Blue Mosque that was built in the 1600s by the Ottoman sultans. The otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia, the blindingly whitewashed travertine terraces baptising the ancient hillsides at Pamukkale, and the impressive ruins of Ephesus are among the other experiences that alluringly coloured our sojourn in Turkey. However, for those who loathe lamb and kebabs, Turkey may be your worst nightmare yet!
Inter-city traveling in Turkey was done by bus, but to get across to Greece, we took a ferry from the western coast of Turkey into the Greek islands. The Cyclades islands were definitely a major highlight of our trip. We spent 1 ½ weeks soaking in the hedonism of the sybaritic Greek islands as we hopped between Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos and the Peloponnese. Our days were overflowing with sun, sea, booze, mind-blowing seafood and pork gyros*** amidst the mazes of picturesque streets and shops which characterize the quaint beauty of the islands. Moving north to Athens, we were glad to have touched and smelt the cradle of Western civilization (despite the fact that many parts of the Acropolis were draped in scaffolding). Most of all, the spirit of filoxenia (Greek hospitality) followed us throughout our travels in Greece, all the way from the islands to the mystical ruins at Delphi, the towering cliff-side monasteries at Meteora, and the bustling city that was Thessaloniki.
After 36 hours on the move by bus and ferry, we heaved a sigh of relief when we arrived at Italy’s Amalfi coast. We explored the rougher Southern Italy and Naples (pizza’s birthplace!) before sweeping through Pompeii, Rome, the Vatican, Florence, Pisa and Venice. We loved mighty Rome for the seemingly inexhaustible reminders of her exalted past - at every corner we turned, there was always some fascinating ruin, piazza, fountain or monument to feast our senses upon. Florence was a particularly delectable experience as she oozed the thriving wonders and culture of the Renaissance – we gladly lapped up the world-famous art pieces and sculptures from the likes of, inter alia, Michaelangelo, Carravagio, and Da Vinci. The idyllic fishing villages of Cinque Terre did not disappoint with their stunning views, turquoise beaches, and peerless seafood. Our last stop was Milan, where Kelly raided the Ferragamo, Prada and Armani stores, before flying back to our meepok, char kuay teow and tom yam…
* Linguini pasta with fruits of the sea ** White table wine
*** Greek pitas stuffed with roasted pork chunks, fries and yoghurt
It was truly a pleasure experiencing three unique age-old civilisations and peoples. After a month of thoughtful planning, Kelly, Dawn and I scooted off to Mediterranean Turkey, Greece and Italy for 51 days. We arrived in Istanbul and were immediately plunged into an exotic realm boasting the curious confluence of Eastern and Western cultures. The Ottoman and Muslim influences of Turkey may have succeeded her glorious Byzantine past, but grand monuments of Roman and Western influence stand tall against the test of time. We were overwhelmed by the Church of Saint Sophia that was built 1800 years ago by Emperor Justinian, proudly erect in defiance to the magnificent Blue Mosque that was built in the 1600s by the Ottoman sultans. The otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia, the blindingly whitewashed travertine terraces baptising the ancient hillsides at Pamukkale, and the impressive ruins of Ephesus are among the other experiences that alluringly coloured our sojourn in Turkey. However, for those who loathe lamb and kebabs, Turkey may be your worst nightmare yet!
Inter-city traveling in Turkey was done by bus, but to get across to Greece, we took a ferry from the western coast of Turkey into the Greek islands. The Cyclades islands were definitely a major highlight of our trip. We spent 1 ½ weeks soaking in the hedonism of the sybaritic Greek islands as we hopped between Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos and the Peloponnese. Our days were overflowing with sun, sea, booze, mind-blowing seafood and pork gyros*** amidst the mazes of picturesque streets and shops which characterize the quaint beauty of the islands. Moving north to Athens, we were glad to have touched and smelt the cradle of Western civilization (despite the fact that many parts of the Acropolis were draped in scaffolding). Most of all, the spirit of filoxenia (Greek hospitality) followed us throughout our travels in Greece, all the way from the islands to the mystical ruins at Delphi, the towering cliff-side monasteries at Meteora, and the bustling city that was Thessaloniki.
After 36 hours on the move by bus and ferry, we heaved a sigh of relief when we arrived at Italy’s Amalfi coast. We explored the rougher Southern Italy and Naples (pizza’s birthplace!) before sweeping through Pompeii, Rome, the Vatican, Florence, Pisa and Venice. We loved mighty Rome for the seemingly inexhaustible reminders of her exalted past - at every corner we turned, there was always some fascinating ruin, piazza, fountain or monument to feast our senses upon. Florence was a particularly delectable experience as she oozed the thriving wonders and culture of the Renaissance – we gladly lapped up the world-famous art pieces and sculptures from the likes of, inter alia, Michaelangelo, Carravagio, and Da Vinci. The idyllic fishing villages of Cinque Terre did not disappoint with their stunning views, turquoise beaches, and peerless seafood. Our last stop was Milan, where Kelly raided the Ferragamo, Prada and Armani stores, before flying back to our meepok, char kuay teow and tom yam…
* Linguini pasta with fruits of the sea ** White table wine
*** Greek pitas stuffed with roasted pork chunks, fries and yoghurt
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