Just for fun..and to provide some history and a ‘tour’ of our recent trip to Turkey..

Our recent holiday to Turkey was certainly not an exploration of yoga (!) as yoga studios were clearly lacking in most cities and exercise is not an obvious feature of the Turkish ‘diet’.  However I could not resist some photo opportunities amidst their myriad of archaeological sites.

Vrikshaasana (tree pose) near the exit of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. The Blue Mosque is known for the ornate blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built from 1609 to 1616 by a Sultan to reassert Ottoman power. A truly remarkable structure which is a constant symbol over the skyline, especially when lit at night or echoing with the call to prayer.

Another variation on Vrikshaasana (tree pose) at Ephesus, an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia, near the Aegean sea. It was built in the 10th century BC and is home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This city has literally been excavated and painstakingly restored.

Our journey continued to Kayseri (central Turkey) near Cappadocia, famous for the hot air balloon flights over its moon-like landscape. We stayed in the small town of Urgup in accommodation set in the rock/cave formations of its region. Virabhadraasana II on the steps near our room.

A long drive through the Tauras mountains brought us to the Roman city of Aspendos, 4 km from the Mediterranean sea. This site boasts one of the best preserved amphitheatres which on the day of our visit was being preparing for an open air evening opera. Anantaasana (reclining side pose) on a very hard seat!

One of the final ruins we visited was Perge, an ancient Anatolyian town, enroute to the coastal towns of Antalya and Fethiye on the Mediterranean where our tour finished.  Perge became an important centre of Christianity in the 5th and 6th centuries. Malaasana (squatting!) at the entrance.