Turkey ... hidden gems

borolad259

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I spent the latter part of 2019 making a series for National Geographic called "Hidden Gems of Turkey". There are 3 episodes. The first went out last week ... mainly about the ancient civilisations in Eastern Anatolia, the birth of civilisation and some of the most amazing archaeological sites in the world (Gobekli Tepe is a collection of giant stone circles that are 3 times older than stonehenge).
Episode 2 premiered on Tuesday evening but is being repeated daily at 8 a.m. If you like stunning landscapes, and amazing world heritage sites ... and learning new things about a large and significant country, then I can heartily recommend it. It's the series I am most proud of in my long career as a director. It looks so fantastic because I had a very talented (and lovely) Turkish crew. Try to watch it on Nat Geo HD if you can (the compression on the regular Nat Geo channel isn't great).
Next week is a show entirely about Istanbul (premieres Tueday 11th).

https://www.tvguide.co.uk/detail/3527701/19963378/hidden-gems-of-turkey
 
I spent the latter part of 2019 making a series for National Geographic called "Hidden Gems of Turkey". There are 3 episodes. The first went out last week ... mainly about the ancient civilisations in Eastern Anatolia, the birth of civilisation and some of the most amazing archaeological sites in the world (Gobekli Tepe is a collection of giant stone circles that are 3 times older than stonehenge).
Episode 2 premiered on Tuesday evening but is being repeated daily at 8 a.m. If you like stunning landscapes, and amazing world heritage sites ... and learning new things about a large and significant country, then I can heartily recommend it. It's the series I am most proud of in my long career as a director. It looks so fantastic because I had a very talented (and lovely) Turkish crew. Try to watch it on Nat Geo HD if you can (the compression on the regular Nat Geo channel isn't great).
Next week is a show entirely about Istanbul (premieres Tueday 11th).

https://www.tvguide.co.uk/detail/3527701/19963378/hidden-gems-of-turkey
I have a place in Turkey (Bodrum peninsula) and it is amazing how much Hellinic/Roman "stuff" is sometimes just laying around. Nearby are Miletes and Pirene which were significant cities but don't seem to attract much attention. I'm out of the UK for a while but will look out for this series on the local NG.
 
We went to Ephesus (hardly a hidden Gem) but also took in Laodikea (a lot less touristy) and Stratonikea, which is as you describe: an Ottoman era village with bits of Romano/Hellenic stuff just laying about all over the place. Next to no tourists and still in the early stages of exploration. An amazing spot. I have to say, I fell in love with Turkey and its people. Not so keen on the President mind.
 
Erdogan? ... well you're not likely to go out for a drink with him. His current beef is being described as the "Trump" of the region, as he pre-dates him. Yes, Ephesus is amazing. I might go back again in April. The other 2 places I mentioned were related cities further south down the coast - now even further inland than Ephesus. I think Miletes was only abandonded in the 19thC.
 
Erdogan? ... well you're not likely to go out for a drink with him. His current beef is being described as the "Trump" of the region, as he pre-dates him. Yes, Ephesus is amazing. I might go back again in April. The other 2 places I mentioned were related cities further south down the coast - now even further inland than Ephesus. I think Miletes was only abandonded in the 19thC.

Well, he's a narcissist. I guess they have that in common. My favourite places were all over to the East. Don't know if you have travelled over there but I can recommend it. Ani, Van, Mardin, Mt Nemrut, Antakya and Sanliurfa in particular.
 
Yes the East is a different country. I've got to know some people from Van so have been taken over to visit their 9,000 cousins in the 600 villages they live in.
 
The North East of Turkey surprised me, where it is green and mountainous, I have not visited but seen it on TV.
 
The North East of Turkey surprised me, where it is green and mountainous, I have not visited but seen it on TV.
Nigel Slater was up there for his series. It did look great. Quite different from the far east along the Armenian, Iranian and Syrian borders. There it's more barren and mountainous, with some huge Iceland style lava flows.
 
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