8516 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle WA 98103

206-706-4121; www.olive-you.com 

OLIVE YOU RESTAURANT PRESENTS
A TURKISH EXTRAVAGANZA:

CULTURE, HISTORY AND CULINARY TOUR TO

Escorted by Sulaika Levasseur 

May 10 – 26, 2006

Turkey has a magnificent past, and is a land full of historic treasures from 13 successive civilizations spanning 10,000 years. Even if you spend only a short time in Turkey, you can see a lot of this great heritage. Turkey is a paradise of sun, sea, mountains, and lakes that offers the vacationer a complete change from the stress and routine of everyday life. There is no doubt that one visit will not be enough, and you will want to come back again and again as you discover one extraordinary place after another. All of them, no matter how different, have one thing in common: the friendly and hospitable people of this unique country.

"Do not dismiss the dish saying that it is just food: The blessed thing is an entire civilization in itself!" Abdulhak Sinasi

For those who travel to engage in culinary pursuits, the Turkish cuisine is worthy of exploration. The variety of dishes that make up the cuisine, the ways they all come together in feast-like meals, and the evident intricacy of each technique involved offer enough material for life-long study and enjoyment. It is not easy to discern a basic element or a single dominant feature, like the Italian pasta or the French sauce. Whether in a humble home, at a famous restaurant, or at dinner in a Bey's mansion, familiar patterns of this rich and diverse cuisine are always present. It is a rare art which satisfies the senses while reconfirming the higher order of society, community and culture.

SHAHRAZAD
the Heroine of Arabia

...every story is a love story to internationally known author, Sulaika “Mar” Levasseur
and some of the most extraordinary love stories come from Shahrazad’s Turkey...

Shahrazad (other spellings: Shehazarade, Sheherazade, Scheherezade), the heroine of The Thousand and One Nights, is sadly neglected in today's records of women of achievement; although legendary - all legends are based on facts. Shahrazad, a woman of exceptional intelligence, wisdom and bravery saved not only her life by telling a series of spellbinding tales during the dark of Arabian nights, but the lives of a dwindling supply of virgins of her country, and in so doing, educated a King. King Schariar, (Shahryar or Schriyar) legendary King of Samarkand found he had been deceived by his wife and as punishment had his wife and a succession of three thousand virgins (one each night) put to death.

Against her father's protestations, Shahrazad volunteered to spend one night with the King. Once in the King's chambers, Shahrazad asked if she might bid one last farewell to her beloved sister Dunyazade, who had secretly been prepared to ask Shahrazad to tell a story during the long night. The King lay awake and listened with awe to Shahrazad’s first story and asked for another, but Shahrazad said there wasn't time as dawn was breaking, and regretfully so, as the next story was even more exciting.

And so the King kept Shahrazad alive as he eagerly anticipated each new story and after one thousand and one adventurous nights, the King had not only been entertained but wisely educated in morality and kindness by Shahrazad who became his Queen. The best known of these stories are those of Ali Baba, Sinbad the Sailor, and Aladdin.

The present form of The Thousand and One Nights is completely Muslim in spirit and is thought to be native to Persia or one of the Arabic speaking countries. It is one of the few examples of a woman seen as a heroine in an Arabic country.

Sulaika “Mar” Levasseur, internationally published author, professionally calls herself ‘the Story Goddess' when she writes; she also leads workshops and lectures at the University of Washington about her favorite subject involving 'the soul'. 

Of Turkish and French heritage, her travels to The Levant have been extensive over the last decades - particularly as the agent for her late husband's art exhibits in Istanbul and in Ankara. As your tour escort, you can expect to be entertained not just by her stories but by your own! Yes, you can be a storyteller! Sulaika’s piquant interest is to hear others revel in their own experience of this wonderful country that is Turkey. 

Come along with Sulaika and have an experience of a life-time. Nobody else will show you Turkey like your own Story Goddess can. She will make your trip special. 

TURKISH EXTRAVAGANZA TOUR ITINERARY

Wednesday May 10, 2006

Depart Seattle for Ankara, Turkey. Air fare and flight information not included. Call WinWin Vacations for your flight reservations. Air fare is $1090.00 plus tax if available or the airfare in effect at time of booking will apply and cannot be guaranteed until paid in full. The schedule is subject to change by the airlines. 

Day 1 – Thursday May 11 – ANKARA                                                                   (D)

Arrive Ankara. You will be met by Ya'lla Tours USA Turkey representative and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (1 Group transfer is included)

Our hotel, SHERATON ANKARA, is a 5-star hotel located in the center of downtown. All 306 rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, telephone, satellite TV, mini-bar, hair dryers, modem connection and 24 hour room service. Hotel amenities include 3 restaurants, lobby bar and clubhouse, outdoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, tennis, and drug store.  

** A welcome dinner will be served at the Kosebasi elegant Turkish restaurant. **

Day 2 – Friday May 12 – CAPPADOCIA                                                                (B, D)

After breakfast, we’ll visit the splendid Museum of the Anatolian Civilizations with its unique collection of ancient art and impressive exhibit of the ancient Hittite Civilization of Anatolia (1-2 hour visit) – one of Europe’s best. 

We’ll visit the Ataturk Mausoleum, the resting-place of the father of the modern Republic of Turkey. The stones of the mausoleum are purposely uneven in length to keep pedestrians’ heads bowed as they approach the tomb. 

En route, we’ll stop for a short visit to the 13th century Agzikarahan Caravanserai, an example of the fortified inns built for caravans traveling the ancient trade routes (in this case, through the surrealistic, strange and surprising region of Cappadocia).  We’ll arrive to our very cool “cave hotel” for relaxing followed by dinner and overnight Our special hotel, , URGUP EVI, is carved into Cappadocia’s volcanic rock around a sun filled courtyard. Plumbing and fixtures are modern.  All guest rooms have phone, central air-conditioning, shower or tub, hairdryer and balcony. Facilities include garden, sauna, Jacuzzi, breakfast lounge and café. The spectacular view of Cappadocia lies at your feet when staying at this old house. http://www.urgupevi.com.tr

Day 3 – Saturday May 13 – CAPPADOCIA                                                           (B, D)

After breakfast, we’ll begin to explore Cappadocia with homes hidden in windswept landscapes and cities buried inside sinuous hills of stone. Once the heart of the Hittite Empire, then a vast Roman province, Cappadocia’s otherworldly landscapes were formed by volcanic eruptions, mountains of ash, and eroding winds and rains.  

We’ll explore the natural citadel of Uchisar, a traditional village surrounded by rock pinnacles, and see the underground city of Derinkuyu, where thousands of men sheltered themselves from enemy attacks in this land of "Fairy Chimneys". These fascinating subterranean cities, still intact, were built in the 7th century as refuge for Christians fleeing persecution.  Tens of thousands of people lived in this four-story maze of caves, tunnels, and rooms deep in the earth, hoping to escape early invaders.  There are signs of life everywhere – storage jars for oil, wine and water, communal kitchens blackened by smoke, stables and deep wells. These underground cities were so well hidden that they went undiscovered until the 1960s. Lunch en route in a local restaurant.

Next, we’ll visit the rock-carved churches in the Goreme Valley with magnificent 11^th and 12^th century frescoes; and Zelve, a town riddled with tunnels, where chapels and monasteries were hollowed into rocks as hiding places during the Byzantine era. Vividly preserved during the ensuing centuries, the original frescoes celebrate the beliefs of the early Christians. The only light that permeates the churches is the natural light that filters in through the entrances. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. 

Evening, after dinner: witness a demonstration of the Whirling Dervish in a restored caravanserai. This is a sacred practice which we are privileged to observe. No meal or drinks will be served during the ceremony, but afterwards we will be offered a glass of special tea.

Day 4 – Sunday May 14 – CAPPADOCIA                                                 (B, D)

Optional early morning Hot air balloon in Cappadocia - weather permitting (cost is $210.00 – not included) http://www.kapadokyaballoons.com

Enjoy a half a day visit to the Soganli Valley (also known as the “Valley of Dolls”), an open air museum in a wild unspoiled setting. It is a typical Cappadocian village with its many Byzantine period rock tombs, Armenian style churches, and monasteries decorated with frescoes. 

After the visit to the Soganli Valley we drive through the remote villages of Guzeloz, Ortakoy, Baskoy and Sahinefendi. 

We will visit Taskinpasa Caravanserai on the way back. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight

Evening, after dinner: Enjoy a Turkish cabaret, with costumes and dances representing the different areas of Turkey.

Day 5 – Monday May 15 – ANTALYA                                                                   (B, D)

Drive along the "Silk Road", through the Taurus Mountains to the Turquoise Coast. This will be our longest day on the bus, but we’ll journey through some spectacular mountainous countryside (similar to Switzerland) and stop for coffee/beverage and lunch breaks along the way as well as some sightseeing including the Caravanserai of Sultanhani. 

It will also be a great time for our guide to give some instruction on how to recognize good quality Turkish rugs, share historical Turkey trivia, and answer any questions the group may have. 

We’ll visit the holy city of Konya, held sacred by Sufi Muslims. One of the world’s most ancient cities and one of Turkey’s most religious sites, it is home and resting place of the prolific spiritual teacher known as Mevlana (or Rumi), the great mystic who inspired the rituals of the “Whirling Dervishes”. The whirling dance of the dervishes induces a deep meditative state and is done as a form of spiritual practice and to honor the mystical teachings of Mevlana. 

Continue to the ancient city and modern resort of Antalya.  The ancient city walls and ramparts built by the Greeks still stand on the cliffs that surround Antalya. In town is the 13^th-century Alaeddin Mosque and Hadrian’s Gate which was built in honor of the Emperor’s visit in AD 130. Arrive your hotel for dinner and overnight. 

Our hotel, THE MARMARA ANTALYA, is located in the city center on the seashore with a private beach. All 238 rooms have air-conditioning, direct-dial phone, mini-bar, safe box, internet connection, cable TV, shower/bathtub, and hair dryer.  Facilities and services include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness center, spa, massage, Jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath, aerobics, tennis, cycling, water sports, business center, hairdresser, laundry & dry cleaning, safe deposit box, 24 hour room service, doctor and babysitter on demand, gift shop, and a variety of dining options.

Day 6 – Tuesday May 16 – ANTALYA                                                                   (B, D)

Drive to the ancient city of Perge and Aspendos (about an hour drive). 

This region, known in antiquity as Pamphylia, was famous for its Greco-Roman monuments. Perge was a city of considerable importance during the Hellenistic period and home to a school of brilliant sculptors – note the oversized Hellenistic and Roman theater. Built in the 2^nd century, the theater at Aspendos has a capacity of more than 15,000 seats and has remained intact for 1,800 years while war, earthquakes and time have destroyed the surrounding monuments. 

We’ll return to Antalya for an afternoon on your own. You might want to stroll along the Mediterranean coastline or wander through Kaleici, the old section of town with Ottoman houses and Roman ruins. Dinner and overnight at the Marmara hotel. 

Day 7 – Wednesday May 17 – PAMUKKALE                                                       (B, D)

In the morning we drive to Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale), with its hot mineral springs and spa. We visit the ruins of one of the largest Roman cities in Asia Minor. 

See the amphitheater, the city gates, and the colonnaded streets. Pamukkale is also known as the “Cotton Castle,” because of the hot spring, calcium laden waters which cascade from one white edged terrace pool to the next.

Our hotel, COLOSSAE, is a 5-star property.  All rooms have air-conditioning, telephone, hairdryer, TV and mini-bar.  Hotel amenities include a restaurant, cafe and juice bar, and the largest health and spa facilities available in Turkey with swimming pool, indoor thermal pool, sauna, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi and mud bath. The health center treatments include massage, hydrotherapy, pain therapy, diet programs, anti-stress, acupuncture, herbal treatments, and much more. Dinner and overnight at the hotel 

Day 8 – Thursday May 18 – KUSADASI                                                    (B, L, D)

Drive to Aphrodisias, the city of marble, which was the center of worship of the Goddess Aphrodite until the 6th century after Christ. Visit the temple, one of the largest and best preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. 

** We will be stopping in a local restaurant for lunch of Pit-roasted lamb (included) and fresh mushrooms (very typical to the region). ** 

We continue to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. We will visit the ruins which include a stadium and streets lined with columns. 

Arrive Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.

Our hotel, KORUMAR, is one of Turkey’s most prestigious 5-star properties. Located on the beach in Kusadasi, it offers its guests a unique Turkish atmosphere, great resort facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, and the comfort of a deluxe property. 

Day 9 – Friday May 19 – KUSADASI                                                                     (B, D)

Drive to Bodrum to visit the Greek city of Halicarnassus, founded in the 5th century BC as one of the first Greek colonies in Asia.  The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, one of two of the wonder sites that we will be visiting this trip (only the crumbled remnants remain).  Of note, six out of the seven Ancient Wonders did not survive to this present day.  The only one still standing are the Egyptian pyramids. 

We'll visit St. Peter's Castle, which hosts one of the finest museums in the Mediterranean.  The greatest interest comes from the Underwater Archaeological Museum, containing statues and amphorae recovered from the sea. The castle is full of surprises, with a Byzantine hall showing models of underwater exploration, courtyards, gardens with peacocks and doves, and a cafe where you can rest. 

Return to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight at the Korumar hotel.

Day 10 – Saturday May 20 – KUSADASI                                                   (B, L, D)

This morning, we'll tour the spectacular ruins of Ephesus, undoubtedly the best preserved Classical city on the Mediterranean and one of the few Greco-Roman sites in the world that still reflects the grandeur of bygone centuries. Ephesus is another city of the Seven Churches of the Revelation and was a large ancient port with a population of over 250,000. 1000 years before Christ, Greek colonists settled here. When the Romans took over, Ephesus was the boomtown of Asia Minor. The city played a major role in the development of architecture, religion, economic systems and arts. Despite earthquakes and plundering, much of it remains, giving us considerable insight into Roman life. St. Paul lived here, attempted to spread Christianity here, and walked through the marble streets during his missionary journey.

The Temple of Diana (Artemision) is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the second one that we will be visiting this trip. We will visit the excavation and imaginations will stir.

We'll also peek into the elegant Library of Celsus as well as the baths, a brothel, theaters, the streets, marketplace and houses. 

** Drive to Sirince village for lunch where we’ll have a very unique lunch with local Mediterranean herbs, stroll through the old Greek village and taste the local pastry (included). **

A short drive takes us to the Basilica of St. John, another Justinian masterpiece. This one is erected atop the remains of St. John.

Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

 Day 11 – Sunday May 21 – CANAKKALE                                                 (B, D)

Drive along the coast of the Aegean Sea to the ancient city of Pergamum (now called Bergama and the most favored of the Seven Churches of the Bible). Parchment was invented in Pergamum after Egypt cut off the supply of papyrus. Pergamum became an important city after the vast Persian Empire crumbled following the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC). Christianity reached Pergamum very early and its church was praised for extraordinary forbearance during times of persecution. It was here that the first Christians were executed by Rome. We'll visit the stunning Acropolis of the Hellenistic city, perched 1000 feet above the town with its pre-Dewey Decimal System library, its theater, the Alter of Zeus, the temples of Trajan and Dionysus, the world's steepest ancient theater and Asklepion. The Asklepion is the earliest health center of Asia Minor and known as one of the foremost medical centers of Classical times. Dedicated to Asklepios, the god of health and medicine, this first health spa was a place to socialize and recuperate. Visit the archaeological museum. In the afternoon, we'll drive north to Canakkale for dinner and overnight.

Our hotel, KOLIN, is a great 5-star hotel located in the city center and with a private beach on the Aegean Sea. It has 276 rooms, with direct-dial telephone, music, mini-bar, safe box, internet connection, satellite TV, central AC, bathroom with bathtub. 

There are several restaurants and coffee shops, as well as a great garden, TV room, game room & internet cafe, business center, hair dresser, laundry, ironing, market, gift shop, cinema, and 24-hr room service. It also has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, children's swimming pool, Turkish bath, Finish bath, sauna, massage, Jacuzzi, beauty center, fitness center, table tennis, billiards, night club, tennis, football, volley ball, and basketball.

Day 12 – Monday May 22 – ISTANBUL                                                    (B, L, D)

After breakfast, drive south and visit the ancient site of Troy, the site of the tragedy of Paris and the legendary town in the Iliad of Homer. The first excavations were made by the wealthy German industrialist and archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1871. Schliemann used Homer's Iliad to find the ancient city and reveal that Troy was more than a myth. See the excavations showing several layers of this civilization and the replica of the infamous Wooden Horse.

Continue north, we'll take a ferry across the Dardanelles and visit the Anzac Bay and the World War I battlefield memorials in Gallipoli (ANZAK Memorial). Fighting on opposite sides at Gallipoli were two future great leaders - Winston Churchill and Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk, the Father of Modern Turkey). During nine months of battles more than 100,000 men were killed and half a million were wounded.

** We will stop in Tekirdag for a “meat ball sandwich” - one of the most famous meat balls in Turkey (included). **

We'll continue to Istanbul, established in the 7th century BC and bridging the two continents of Europe and Asia. Arrive at your hotel for overnight 

Our hotel, HYATT REGENCY ISTANBUL, is a deluxe hotel located at Taxim Square.  All 350 rooms have marbled bathrooms with hair dryers, A/C, direct-dial phones, satellite TV, computer and fax hookups with high speed internet access, mini-bar and in room safe. Facilities and services include fine dining as well as a cafe for snacks, 3 bars, outdoor swimming pools, and beautiful spa facilities with sauna, steam room, massage and a traditional Turkish Hammam.

** Evening: Enjoy a Turkish Night at the Orient House with dinner, limited local drinks, folklore program and belly dancing (included). ** 

Day 13 – Tuesday May 23 – ISTANBUL                                                                (B, D)

Visit the Suleymaniye Mosque, built in the 16th century for Suleiman the Magnificent. 

Continue to the legendary Blue Mosque, decorated with beautiful 17th century Iznik
tiles. Then stroll around the historical Hippodrome where chariot races were held. 

Visit the underground Crusader Cisterns. Continue to St. Sophia - a Christian basilica built by Justinian in the 6^th century and converted to a mosque during the Ottoman Empire. See the beautiful mosaics on display in the museum.

Continue to Topkapi Palace, legendary residence of the Ottoman Sultans. See the treasury, the kitchens, and the harem quarter. 

Then enjoy some free time at the exhilarating Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Be sure to bargain hard. Watch out for your personal shopper friends, who know where the deals are. You may enjoy them. They are “free” and will keep you away from the others! 

Evening: Enjoy a fabulous Turkish seafood dinner at the Neyzen Restaurant in the Kumkapi area area. Return to your hotel for overnight.