Log from 1999 Solar Eclipse Tour Turkey

(31 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Daniel Oppliger

El Paso, TX
Group Travel Expert

 

I have been immersed in the travel industry since relocating to El Paso in 1986. Initially, I worked with a local tour operator before venturing out on my own.Over the years, I've developed specialties in Destination Resorts and River Cru...

Sultan A Under Sail in Turkey

1. Saturday 7-31


  a. Arrive aboard Sultan-A and Olympus at Bodrum


2. Sunday 8-1


a. TV coverage- Dan is interviewed on Turkish TV.


b. Olympus departs Bodrum


c. Sultan A departs Bodrum


f.. Depart swimming area


h. Molly is taken ashore for bar supplies


i. Molly makes her first pitcher


j. Dinner is served


 


3.Monday 8-2


a. Depart Yalikavak


d.. Raft up at Altinkum for a swim and breakfast


e. Most of us go ashore to tour Didyma and Miletus


i. Tourists of Didyma and Miletus.


 


4. Tuesday 8-3


b Tour Ephesus - 2 hours


e. Also tour Virgin Mary's house before noon


h. Depart Kusadasi


l. Raft up together in a little cove - swimming and snorkeling


m. Best star gazing of the trip


 


5. Wednesday 8-4


e. Arrive at Cesme


f. Four of us take Turkish baths


g. Several of us dine at the Penguen Restaurant


 


Thursday 8-5


d. Depart on blue bus for our first tour with Memet


f. Tour Pergamon - one hour


g. Tour the Red Hall


 


7. Friday 8-6


e. Tricky docking at Canakkale


g. Lunch at a Hotel


h  Tour Troy - one hour


l.. Enter Dardenelles war memorials area


m. Depart Dardenelles war memorials area


n Find our ships in Galipolu at the ferry terminal N


o. Draw a crowd of local people to watch Americans party


 


8. Saturday 8-7


c. First use of a sail, a jib on each ship


d. Sultan-A arrives at Atkoy Marina, Istanbul. Olympus arrives 10 minutes later.


 


9. Sunday 8-8


c. Tour Topkapi Palace


d. Rug shopping opportunity.


e. Tour Hagia Sophia


h. Enter Sile


 


10. Monday 8-9


c. Attempt to anchor at Zonguldak


e. Dolphin encounter on Sultan-Ag. Arrive somewhere


 


11. Tuesday 8-10


c. More dolphins pass nearby


d. Arrive in Amasra.  Dan goes on Turkish TV.


e. Swimming in harbor


f. Dan's eclipse briefing


j. Turks in costume anchor briefly nearby


k. More dolphins sighted in harbor


m. Several of us find the hamburger restaurant for dinner


n. Others make their way to a lovely waterfront Seafood Restaurant


 


12. Wednesday 8-11 ECLIPSE DAY!


b. Sunrise over coastal hills


d. Mayor of Cide boards Olympus for fun and photo


si. Totality! for a bit more than 2 minutes


j. Champagne for everyone!


 


13. Thursday 8-12


a. Depart very early, motor west all day, approx 18 hours total


c. Stop to take a swim in the Black Sea


d. Olympus catches up and starts swimming


e.. Sultan-A hoists sails, Olympus shipmates still in water


14. Friday 8-13


d. Anchor for a final swim and lunch somewhere in the Bosphorus


e. Depart swimming area


f.. Pass under bridge we crossed over on Blue Bus


g. Pass Topkapi and Blue Mosque


h. Arrive again at the Istanbul Marina


i. Ali meets us with photos and tomorrow’s paper.  Dan, Peter and Pam are on the front cover of the Istanbul Star.


 


15. Saturday 8-14


a. Time to depart for most passengers 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

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