Experience historical, cultural, archaeological Turkey and it's ARTS & CRAFTS. We combine the practice of ancient handicrafts, in a tradition unbroken since ancient times, with the most popular sites in TURKEY.

One of our goals is to present the 800 year old KUNDEKARI technique which is only practiced in TURKEY today.  The technique uses neither glue nor needle, it is the only method used to make the doors and windows shutters last for centuries,  and the technique is only practiced in TURKEY. Most Ottoman pieces are over 400 years old!

Do you want to see kundekari being made? Do you want to be able to buy a brand new Kundekari door for your own use? Do you want to experience the ancient cultures of TURKEY and see many other ancient arts?

Then come and visit TURKEY with us!

ITINERARY

Day 1: Nov 3 Wednesday - Departure from Chicago
We depart from Chicago with TK6 at 17:00 pm for the next day arrival to Istanbul.

Day 2: Nov 4 Thursday - Arrival to Izmir (D)
Arrival to Istanbul at 11:45am we take the connection flight to Izmir TK326 at 14:45pm arrive Izmir at 15:45pm Transfer to hotel. We receive a briefing about the tour after resting in the hotel for a few hours. Late afternoon city tour of Izmir then we continue to our seafood restaurant.

Day 3: Nov 5 Friday - Izmir (B,L,D)
Early morning departure from Izmir to one of the nearby villages to observe the art of blue bead making with ancient techniques. In the afternoon we visit two workshops one of them is the workshop of world wide famous ceramic artist Bingul Basarir. She is one of the unique perspectives of art and has pieces displayed in Corning Glass Museum. In the late afternoon we continue to the workshop of marbling artist Nuri Yildirim. We will observe the art of making marbled paper. Return to the hotel.

Day 4: Nov 6 Saturday - Izmir – Ephesus – Kusadasi (B,L,D)
Today we visit one of the largest cities of the Aegean during the Roman era. Our tour in Ephesus also covers the museum and the temple of Diana. Continue to one of the local Turkish Carpet producers to observe many different types of rugs being produced including silk and cotton examples of the Ottoman imperial kind. Drive to Kusadasi.

Day 5: Nov 7 Sunday - Kusadasi – Karacasu – Aphrodisias – Pamukkale (B,L,D)
Aphrodisias is the mere site in the ancient world dedicated to the cult of Aphrodite. The city is so well preserved that you can almost sense the sounds and odors of the Roman cult city. On the way we will stop at the pottery makers of Karacasu. The uniqueness of the work here is derived form the iron rich soil and the ancient continuous techniques of pottery making.

Day 6: Nov 8 Monday - Pamukkale – Konya (B,L,D)
We take a morning drive to Konya. Where we will see one of the most unique ancient wood working technique called Kundekari. This technique is one of the longest lasting works of wood art, which constructs pieces of wood out of many individual pieces. They are put together using neither glue nor needles. We spend the afternoon observing many other delicate works of wood art among them we will also see the book racks out of one piece of wood opening to create for different settings. Stay in Konya.

Day 7: Nov 9 Tuesday - Konya – Cappadocia (B,L,D)
Morning drive to Cappadocia region. On the way we visit Ihlara valley and Kaymakli underground city. We will get to see the first view of lunar landscape in the late afternoon.

Day 8: Nov 10 Wednesday - Cappadocia (B,L,D)
Cappadocia offers one of the most interesting landscapes in the earth simply words fail to explain the beauty of it changing at any hour of the day as the light angle changes direction. Our interest of ancient continuous art is the pottery making. Avanos in Cappadocia is the place where the ancient Hittite invented the kick-wheel pottery lathe. We also will include open-air museum of Goreme where 2nd c. AD. Christians lived their secluded monastic life.

Day 9: Nov 11 Thursday - Cappadocia – Istanbul (B,L)
Drive to Kayseri for our early morning flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival we carry on with the tour of Istanbul including Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi palace, underground cistern, and the hippodrome square. We will proceed to The Marmara Hotel in Taksim Square where the city life of Istanbul observed the best.

Day 10: Nov 12 Friday - Bosphorus tour – Grand Bazaar – Egyptian Spice Market (B,L)
Morning departure for Grand Bazaar and continue to Egyptian Spice Market. We will have lunch at Pandeli restaurant, which offers one of the most exquisite and historical locations to have lunch. Visit the mosque of Sultan Suleyman The Magnificent. Continue with Bosphorus cruise.

Day 11: Nov 13 Saturday - Istanbul – Glass Furnace (B,L,D)
Today we will visit the Glass Furnace. This is the only school in Istanbul teaching free glass blowing techniques. We will observe how the glass was produced during the Roman period and learn the techniques. Late afternoon is free on your own. Farewell dinner at Cistern Restaurant, which was one of the ancient cisterns of Constantinople.

Day 12: Nov 14 Sunday - Departure from Istanbul (B)
Departure from Istanbul to Chicago on TK5 09:45. Arrive to Chicago at 13:40 same day.

Level: easy to moderate

Prices & Departures for 2004

Available November 3-14, 2004	12D/11N
Per Person in Double	$2890
This program is also available on request for private groups and individuals	Ask us for details

(Subject to change)