29
Activities
4
countries
19
days
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Trip activity
Chris Winfield-Blum
My journey begins
🇦🇺 Sat, 25 January 2025 in Australia ⋅ 27°C
With a flight from Adelaide to Doha and then onto Istanbul
Chris Winfield-Blum
4hr stopover in Doha
🇶🇦 Sun, 26 January 2025 in Qatar ⋅ 15°C
And calls with my boys and the lovely Ericka
Chris Winfield-Blum
Arrived safe and sound
🇹🇷 Sun, 26 January 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 10°C
I had an issue with my travel sim though, which left me getting to the hotel on the metro without internet but I made it 😎
Chris Winfield-Blum
Lots of mosques and history
🇹🇷 Mon, 27 January 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 10°C
Today I walked around the historical centre to learn about the histories of the Turks, Romans and Ottomans. It was really interesting and the city has a cool vibe to it
I also did a free walking tour from GuruWalk that I highly recommend for anybody heading to Istanbul
https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/30329-old-city-tour-from-constantinople-to-istanbul
Haktan also has another tour but I wasn’t able to line that one up with my other activities unfortunately
https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/41334-2-continents-1-city-from-europe-to-asia-free-tour
Even without a tour, Istanbul is a great city to just walk around and explore. The metro and trams are very reliable and although a little crowded at times I never felt unsafe.
Chris Winfield-Blum
Surprising trip to the snow
🇹🇷 Tue, 28 January 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 7°C
I didn’t realise my tour today would take me to the top of Mount Olympos (not Olympus). Was amazing to be in the snow, more so because it was unexpected.
I’ve only been in the snow a handful of times in my life so it’s always exciting. The tour itself was a little odd though if I’m honest.
It was depicted as a historical tour of the once-capital of the Ottoman Empire but instead, we were dropped off at “adventure parks” for all-wheel driving and snowmobile activities which of course were additional money (and being tourist spots, they were crazy expensive).
Had I known what the activities were I would have probably stayed in Istanbul and explored some of the museums and other attractions that I ran out of time for on this trip.
Chris Winfield-Blum
Green Mosque… nearly
🇹🇷 Tue, 28 January 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 10°C
Nearly caused an international incident apparently as the guard didn’t like the way I took off my shoes?? He stood menacingly in the doorway and I decided I didn’t care much to see another mosque after all…. Was very awkward and weird after a long day on the road
The locals there were very apologetic and even scolded the guard for his behaviour but I was over it by then.
Chris Winfield-Blum
Early start for Gallipoli tour
🇹🇷 Wed, 29 January 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 10°C
Exciting to check off a bucket list item 💯 Pickup was before 6am but definitely well worth it!
Chris Winfield-Blum
Gallipoli: A Pilgrimage to Hallowed Ground
🇹🇷 Wed, 29 January 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 17°C
Gallipoli. The name echoes through Australian history, a place of courage, sacrifice, and loss but also created the Aussie persona that lives on today. For years, I’d dreamt of visiting this hallowed ground, to walk in the footsteps of our Anzacs and try to grasp the enormity of what happened there. That dream recently became a reality, and it was even more profound than I could have imagined.
From the moment I set foot on the Gallipoli Peninsula, I was struck by its serene beauty. Rolling hills meet the turquoise Aegean Sea, starkly contrasting the brutal battles that raged across this landscape over a century ago. Our local tour guide brought the stories to life, painting vivid pictures of the landings, the desperate charges, and the heartbreaking conditions endured by both sides.
What struck me about the terrain was how poor our eventual landing spot was, you can see below just South (and North was similar as well) how flat and evenly distributed the landing could have been, as opposed to Anzac Cove which you will see later. A series of mistakes, miscalculations and miscommunications ultimately led to a failure to gain significant ground against a much smaller Turkish force.
You can see in some of the below images just how implausible a successful campaign was for the Anzac forces. Even if the Anzacs had landed North or South of Anzac Cover, where the terrain was flatter, the Aussies would have had to contend with; “Bloody Angle”, “Dead Man’s Ridge” and “Gun Ridge”. Not to mention the many unnamed gorges that even Google Maps would struggle to navigate today.
One of the most moving moments was visiting Lone Pine Cemetery & Monument. Rows upon rows of white markers indicate the final resting place of so many young Australians, far from home. I read the headstones and was touched to see that some families still visited. It was a sobering reminder of the devastating cost of war, especially for a nation that was not 20 years old yet.
We visited ANZAC Cove, where the first wave of Australians and New Zealanders incorrectly landed, full of hope and courage, but following orders. Standing there, I could almost hear the roar of the guns, the chaos, and the cries of the wounded. We walked along the beaches, now peaceful and tranquil, but once stained with blood. We climbed the ridges, imagining the Anzacs scrambling through the rugged terrain, waiting for commands that would likely send them to their deaths.
As an Australian, visiting Gallipoli is a deeply personal experience. It’s a chance to connect with our history, to honour the bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers, and to reflect on the impact of war. But it’s also a reminder of the bonds that can be forged between nations, even in the midst of conflict.
This was brought home to me in a surprising way when I encountered three Turkish men during the tour. They asked where I was from, and when I said Australia, their faces lit up. They embraced me warmly, calling me their “brother”. Their unexpected gesture of friendship touched me deeply and reminded me of an Anzac Day Dawn Service in the Philippines where the Turkish Consul said something along the lines of “We fought each other, we bled and died together, forever connected and now we are brothers”. It was a reminder that even though our countries were once enemies, we are now united in our respect for the shared history of Gallipoli.
My day tour of Gallipoli was more than just a trip to a historical site. It was a pilgrimage, a journey of discovery, and a reminder of the enduring power of the human spirit. It’s an experience that will stay with me forever, a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many, and the importance of peace.
At a time in our history when mistakes look to be repeated and when basic human rights and democracy are being challenged by evil people driving division through the peddling of fear to conceal their selfish desires, this was a stark reminder of what was sacrificed and for what – even when it is often taken for granted.
Chris Winfield-Blum
Meeting a friend & more city exploration
🇹🇷 Thu, 30 January 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 13°C
I met up with a colleague in Istanbul and explored the Asian side of Istanbul. I will definitely need to come back with Ericka in the future!
This was my last day/might in Istanbul before moving onto Greece 🇬🇷
Chris Winfield-Blum
Back in the airport
🇹🇷 Fri, 31 January 2025 in Turkey ⋅ 9°C
Greece here I come!
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