Turkey has been a crossroads of the ancient world, with many historic sites from empires that ruled the region. The document discusses visits to iconic locations in Istanbul like Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, which was originally a church and then a mosque. It also mentions seeing ancient ruins in places like Ephesus, Pergamum and Cappadocia, known for its fairy chimney rock formations carved by early Christians trying to escape persecution. The photos show the authors exploring archaeological sites, museums, churches and landscapes that reflect Turkey's long history at the center of empires.

1. TURKEY: Crossroads of the
Ancient World

3. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Sites on our
Istanbul walk

4. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

5. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Backgammon – game of
choice in Middle East

6. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

7. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Topkapi Palace – of sultan fame

8. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Topkapi Palace

9. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Really old bones –
National Archeological Museum

10. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
All the way back to the
Assyrians

11. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Blue Mosque

12. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

13. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

14. Historic center of Istanbul –
with Hagia Sophia Church/Mosque/Museum
Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

15. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
The breathtaking Hagia Sophia
First a church, then a mosque
Who copied whom?

16. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Ruins of Pergamum – one of the 7
churches of the Revelation

17. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

18. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Wendy at
Pergamum

19. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

20. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Arriving early assures
the best seats

21. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

22. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Lionel & Lilly at Ephesus

23. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

24. In the Ephesus theater where the
Apostle Paul was almost lynched
Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

25. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

26. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
All that’s left of the Temple of Diana –
one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world

27. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
After lunch walk in the delightful
hill town of Sirince

28. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

29. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

30. Bird’s eye view over Cappadocia
Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

31. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

32. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
Our shadow racing the other balloon to the sun

33. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

34. Examining one of the rock homes
on the Soglani Valley Walk
Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

35. The payoff – lunch after the walk
Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

36. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
The Red Valley walk - Cappadocia

37. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

38. Red Valley Walk in Cappadocia
Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

39. Pigeon Valley Walk!
Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

40. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

41. A local - unimpressed with
our walking pursuits
Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

42. Pigeon Valley Walk!
Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

43. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

44. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World

45. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
The Turkish flying carpet tour

46. Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World
And one of the
hardworking weavers

47. Perfect hues at sunset - Cappadocia!
Turkey: Crossroads of the Ancient World