Love the photos and comments about
Sardis, Sap. I also saw at least two of the churches of Revelations, those in
Ephesus and
Pergamum (Bergama).
This is a tough question for me because a combination of income and my station in life means I will possibly never be able to go to
France or
Turkey again. So, I don't have recent tales to tell. But, I do not worry about it because I have travelled far more than most people and have lived in
Germany (it was
West Germany then),
Turkey, and South Africa. Because I lived in those places, I travelled all over Western Europe, as well as Southern Africa. Plus I have spent extensive time in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. I have been to Australia and
Japan decades ago and
had a plane change in Rio de Janeiro, so I can claim to have been on all continents except Antartica.
My coin collecting definitely reflects my travels as long as ancient/medieval coins go and I collect coins from places I have been to (although not exclusively), hence my interest in Afghanistan, specifically Kabul and Gandhara and Ghazna.
My most recent international travels ended in late 2012 and started in early 2011. Afghanistan and later on a stint in al-Basrah, Iraq. I took my R&R in
Turkey, meeting my wife at the airport in Istanbul and renting a
car where we travelled around the western
part of
Turkey, including over a mountain pass that was dirt and I didn't really know what I was getting into. I took her to various places I
had been over 30 years before, such as
Ephesus, but I highly recommend you never travel to places like that that are in range of cruise
ships during the summer season. My other times in
Ephesus, I was alone with my my traveling companions and we could do whatever we wanted. Things have changed a lot. The highlight was seeing Aizanoi that was off the cruise ship and tourist
area madness. No one there, essentially. And we could do whatever we wanted. We there first as we drove to
Ephesus and, after a day in
Ephesus, changed our plans to avoid all the coastal areas and went back there for a couple more days. It was laid back and just wonderful, a small Turkish city with a Roman/Greek city all around. Then, we went farther inland and spent a few days in Eğirdir, on
Turkey's second largest fresh water lake. Absolutely wonderful. It was interesting as we changed plans on the fly and didn't go to
Cappadocia because of tourist season. I always recommend people travel in the off-season, but I didn't have a
choice of timing for this trip. I have been to
Cappadocia, but my wife will probably not get to.
If I ever get to travel again, it will be
Turkey and
France on top of list, but people are often surprised when I tell them I would go back to Kuwait City again happily. It is a very interesting place, great food, friendly people. That includes Failaka Island, where there is an archaeological dig of one of
Alexander's cities he founded there. Actually, doubtful if he ever went there, but at least one of
his commanders did. I have spent a lot of time in
France,
Germany, and
Italy. I did go to Belgium,
Spain,
Switzerland, and
Austria. Interestingly enough, I never made it to the Netherlands, but did to
England and
Ireland. I guess I could include Wales, but that was a train ride to the ferry and on to
Ireland.
Virgil
