ANZAC

ANZAC DAY

24^th April

Cannakale Tusan Hotel

Left hotel early and went across the Dardanelles to visit the Lone Pine area, which was all set up for the service,  took a look at some of the trenches that still exist, the Turkish memorial site, the Nek Cemetery,  Chunuk Bair and looked down on ANZAC cove where the commemorative service was to be held. The Turkish hold their own service on 18^th March to commemorate Ataturk's success of defending Gallipoli.

We returned to the hotel and  left again at 11.00pm to arrive at ANZAC Cove at midnight. I had 6 layers of tops on plus plastic and foil over the top of me and by 4 am I started to feel the cold .(thank god it didn't rain) It was an amazing feeling to watch dawn break and imagine all the ships that were out there in 1915 and the fate our soldiers met. I couldn't believe that I was actually there along with thousands of others.

After the dawn service finished we began to make the trek to Lone Pine for the next service when we ran into my brother (Michael) and so we spent the rest of the day with him. We had arranged to meet him in Istanbul on the 26^th as he had decided he wasn't going to Gallipoli - he  had a change of heart. Over the day we walked about 8-10 kms going from one area to another but it was well worth it. Chunuk Bair only had a small area reserved for its service so most of us didn't get in ,we just sat around on a bit of grass and waited for it to finish.

Finally the buses started to roll past and pick their groups up in 5 minute intervals - we waited for an hour to be picked up.

Sorry this is so diary like, but I'm never going to remember it all unless I list the things we have seen.

We can't believe that we are living this adventure, it all seems like a dream and what we have seen is amazing. Different to be surrounded by mosques Muslims and a male dominated society.

On our last day in Istanbul we went for a Turkish Bath- more like preparation for a BBQ and we were the meat. We spent 40mins in 38-40c heat on a marble slab (hot plate) until the males (servants) came back to pour cold water over the top of us then scrub our bodies with soapy water- all the time dousing themselves with cold water to keep cool. After that they fluffed foam all over us until we looked like we were in a bubble bath and then gave us a bit of a massage and rinsed us off. Not giving us much idea what we were supposed to be doing, we went back to the slab again until we couldn't bear it any longer and went out to the drying room.

The boys came back and arranged our towels on us so they would stay on and then we went for a cool drink . I not sure we would call it enjoyable rather an experience. If you are wondering, we did have shorts on and I had a bikini top.

Must go as we are now in Egypt and it is 11.15pm. We plan to go for a look around tomorrow and probably won't blog again until the end of the trip as I'm not sure if internet access will be available. We have glimpsed the pyramids from the car window. Another pinch yourself moment.

Love C & J