When the Cheshire emerges...

A year ago today I was at Gallipoli, Turkey, for the Anzac Day Dawn Service.

While I delved a little into the week I'd spent around Istanbul at the time, reflecting on it now I know just how wonderful the experience was. I made some amazing friends on my six-day tour which definitely makes it all the richer, and we were all there for the right reasons. Going to Gallipoli was one of, if not THE most, sombre experiences of my life. And it wasn't just the service, it's also the walk you make back up to Lone Pine, seeing the service there, then the uphill climb to the highest point at Chunuk Bair for the Kiwis. Seeing the Turkish at their own service along the way was a surprise that I should've expected but it helped sink in that there were two sides to this conflict that still feel the effects generations on.

We got to feel a small part of what they had to deal with, the night just bearable but the day growing colder and colder as it went on. I don't remember being so cold for so long, probably ever in my life. Thankfully there was no rain.

Lone Pine

Istanbul was possibly the biggest surprise of my entire trip because I had no idea what to expect from it and I walked away only feeling like I was done with Istanbul because I was sick and just generally over being sick.

That never translated to being over Turkey.

Here are a few more photos to sum up my Topdeck tour:

Getting to know tourmates over a good ol' smoke-up

Galata Tower. Unfortunately I failed to go in...

Inside the Blue Mosque

The Hagia Sophia

The winding streets were crazy enough compared to inside the Grand Bazaar!