Gallipoli Peninsula

Our first venture out of Istanbul was to the Gallipoli Peninsula.

We have got used to tour companies and their liking to pick you up early. So a 6:30am start is bearable, but it is all the hanging around afterwards that gets tedious! And the bad lunches they serve you. And the crappy toilet at the convenience stops.

Despite all that we arrived and got started with the journey of the ANZACS, starting with an outdoor model of the peninsula.

The tour was good and emotional for me as I thought of both my grandfathers and a brother each fighting there.

We palled up with Gerry and Emilie from Melbourne and found a fantastic bar on the edge of Eceabat with cold beer, passable wine and great barbecued chicken and fish. It’s only downfall was its name – the Boomerang Bar.

Next day we hired a car with Gerry and Emilie and toured the rest of the peninsula, visiting the areas where Britain and France fought and seeing many Turks enjoying their Sunday outing.

We also stopped to explore the Killitbahir Castle, one of many dotted along the Dardanelles.

After a successful day of exploration we couldn’t resist returning to the Boomerang Bar for dinner!