Israel
Tel Aviv
There are a number of things I want to see and I have attached pictures for a few of them further in this post. I have rented an apartment in the northwest corner of Tel Aviv by the water and the park to act as home base for a week.
My intent is to rent a car, walk the holy lands, and see as much from the bible/holy land as I can. I have read halfway through the Bible (reading every word - Numbers, Psalms, Proverbs included (owch)) and grown to respect numerous books within it as educational and informative. I recommend reading it, whether religious or not, whether you believe it or not, as it covers timeless concepts, things we still encounter to this day.
Along the way I would be thrilled to stop at a historic winery - I've heard tales of great views of lands that have been making wine for thousands of years (although they did hire experts to come in and teach them how to do it better in the 90's, it's the history I am interested in more).
Tel Aviv - There is a lot I have heard about Israel and I cannot wait to be on the ground, taking it all in.
Jaffa the old city, just south of Tel Aviv (I might possibly go for a run and get my site seeing done via exercise).
The Baha'i Gardens, Haifa. I would like to drive up to Acre, Nazareth, Tiberius and the Sea of Galilee - stopping by here for a bit to see the free gardens.
The Dead Sea/Jerusalem.
I intend on taking advice from a local and heading to Ein Gedi via route through Jerusalem. I have reserved tickets to the Western Wall tunnels tour and will take some time to see Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Ein Gedi, and hopefully Bethlehem. I am planning around 36 hours for these.
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Istanbul
I am unsure of my position on this city, originally excited, I have been calmed by some rumors of it being less friendly and not a great place for Americans.
Aside from this, Istanbul is a strategic city location wise and has changed hands from some of the biggest empires - all in all a must see in my opinion - where east literally meets west. I've rented a fairly inexpensive penthouse apartment near Taksim Square with a decent view for home base as well as some reputable tours for food and sites. I will walk the city and visit the top sites with plenty of time or attempt a side trip to Lebanon if possible.
I arrive on the 12th and depart on the 18th or 19th with a group of 40+ for 10 days. We are traveling through troy and turkey, eventually ending on a three day cruise from south Turkey to Greece including a couple islands.
The "Blue Mosque"
Taksim Square - I am staying near here.
Hagia Sophia
Basilica Cistern
Suleymaniye Mosque
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Greece
Greece will be a good time. I am arriving via cruise to Athens early in the morning. Hopefully I will have had sufficient time on Crete, Patmos, Rhodes and Santorini via cruise without needing to go back on my own time. Once in Athens I don't have a lot of plans other than to see the Acropolis area, Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Lycabettus Hill for hopefully sunset (the tallest of the seven hills in Athens). My bus to Corfu is at 2030 on Friday the 26th, it's an overnight so I will spend my friday sleeping and traveling. Once I land in Corfu I reserved a private room (with a note stating I would like to have my own room though not guaranteed) with a view and understand there are daily signups for cruises and four wheeling. We will see once I get there but I'm sure a world famous hostel in Greece has plenty of things to do so I want to plan as little as possible and have fun for three days (I catch the bus back to athens on the night of the 29th at 2030 back to athens and fly out to Sofia, Bulgaria (I may push this back a day or two if I have more things I want to do at the hostel). Whatever I didn't get to see in Athens I have a few hours to see on my way out before I fly to Sofia.
Tour route.
Crete - Cruise stop
Santorini - Cruise stop
Rhodes - Cruise stop
The Acropolis - Parthenon - Athens
Lycabettus Hill - Where I hope to be at sunset (tallest of the seven hills in Athens)
Temple of Olympian Zeus - a mile from Acropolis
Corfu - where the hostel is I'm staying
Mykonos - Hoping to make it to this Island but may not have time.
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Sofia
I don't expect Sofia to be similar to the places listed above however I've wanted to go to this region for a while and I thought I would be fair and dedicate equal time to investigate. Initial review of the place makes me think I might push more time in Greece, we will see, sometimes it is just nice to relax at the end of a trip like this (such as Venice). All in all this trip is much less jam packed as before, and hopefully I will have more time to enjoy it. After Sofia I fly to Frankfurt, train to Stuttgart, meet my friend for a few days-week-two weeks and just go where the wind takes me.