Military History Tours Australia Gallipoli - Swim the Dardanelles and Surf Clubs Tours 2010
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| Swim The Dardanelles Tour - 26-31 August 2010 |
| Sponsored Surf Clubs Tour of Turkey 17 August - 1 September 2010 |
In 1915, Gallipoli was an arena for heroes, and it will be again…Grandfathers from many countries came here for war, now the grandsons and granddaughters will compete in peace! 95 years after the Gallipoli Campaign, the battlefield will challenge the athletes of the world.
Australia and New Zealand are planning a race from the Dardanelles to ANZAC Cove in surf boats, and Turkey is involved. To this end both the Bogazaci University and Golden Horn Rowing Clubs attended an initial 2 weeks training in June 2010 at BURC Beach. In August 2010, the sponsored surf clubs tour provides the rowers, officials and equipment to conduct carnivals at Burc Beach on the Black Sea and Kum Beach just south of ANZAC Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula, as well as the training provided to local organisations, are part of the Gallipoli Cup programme that will run from 2010 to 2014, leading up to the Gallipoli 100 Surf Boat Race on the Dardanelles in April 2015.
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Day 1. Thursday, 26th August 2010 - Istanbul
On arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. You will be met and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Evening: Yours to enjoy and maybe dinner at one of the City of Light’s many fine dining establishments.
Day 2. Friday, 27th August 2010 – Istanbul
Meet in the hotel lobby at 0900 for your tour of Istanbul and maybe a look into the Constantinople of past times.
Depart the hotel after breakfast and, accompanied by our lecturer guide, begin our exploration of the city with a drive up into Sultanahmet Square for our morning on Seraglio Point, firstly looking at the site of the famous Hippodrome where we can see the obelisk of Theodosius with its 4th century reliefs.
We then walk to one of the city’s greatest monuments - the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque). Built in the early 17th century, it is famous for its great dome, six minarets and an interior covered in blue Iznik tiles.
Following our visit we then move across the road to the Hagia Sophia, the current building was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, and was in fact the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to occupy the site (the previous two had both been destroyed by riots). It was designed by two architects, Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. The Church contained a large collection of holy relics and featured, among other things, a 50 ft (15 m) silver iconostasis. It was the patriarchal church of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the religious focus point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly 1000 years.
Lunch will be at the Konyali Restaurant located in the Topkapi Palace Courtyard.
In the afternoon, visit the legendary Topkapi Sarayi. Begun by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453, it was the palace of the Ottoman Sultans for over 300 years and is a supreme example of Ottoman architecture. Here we will wander through its many pavilions, courtyards and gardens, see unrivalled treasures from the collections of the Ottoman Sultans including dazzling jewellery and unique porcelain.
Following our lunch and afternoon in the Topkapi Palace we continue to Kapali Carsi (Grand Bazaar), a unique covered market of over 4,000 shops selling carpets, leather goods, jewellery and many other items, where citizens of Istanbul still go for their general shopping. Then, on the way back to our hotel we drive to the Theodosian Walls, the impressive system of ramparts that were built in the 5thC to protect the city from land attack.
We should arrive back at our hotel around 1730 to give us time to prepare for dinner. At 1900 we will depart from the Hotel to have dinner together at a Seafood Restaurant on the Bosphorus. BLD
Day 3. Saturday, 28th August 2010 - Istanbul / Gallipoli
After breakfast we say farewell to Istanbul as we drive out to the Gallipoli Peninsula. The drive will take us around the Sea of Marmara to Gelibolou on the shores of the Dardanelles where we will have lunch in one of the fish restaurants that are located on the water’s edge. After lunch we will head into the battlefields and proceed to Chunuk Bair for our ground brief and strategic brief. Following those initial presentations we will move to our accommodation for a well deserved pre-dinner drink. Dinner in our hotel. BLD
Day 4. Sunday, 29th August 2010 - Gallipoli
A leisurely breakfast before we venture back up to the battlefields for a most memorable and moving day. Drive to the Battlefields, where we visit Anzac Cove., Shrapnel Valley and Plugges Plateaux. Following lunch we return to the Battlefields for presentations at Suvla Bay, the Nek, Quinn’s Post, 4th Bn Parade Ground (which was the assembly area for the assault on Lone Pine) and Lone Pine itself.
For those swimming tomorrow, there will be an opportunity to participate in a surf swim at Kum Beach just south of ANZAC Cove ( approx. 600metres) as part of a Surf Carnival being held there. This could be used as a warm up for the following days event. Dinner in our hotel. BLD
Important Note: Today, the Competition Committee will organise a briefing meeting for all participants. Also, all details will be confirmed for those who will not be actually participating in the swim but will be participating as a supporter/spectator.
Day 5. Monday, 30th August 2010 - Gallipoli
Breakfast at the Hotel. This is the big day.
We start the day with The Gallipoli Cup Swimming Competition which will be followed by the Reward Ceremony. A late afternoon returning to the Hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening we will move to the beach at Gallipoli for a Farewell Barbeque Dinner. BLD
Day 6. Tuesday, 31st August 2010 - Gallipoli / Istanbul Following breakfast in the hotel, we say farewell to the Gallipoli Peninsula as we head back to Istanbul airport for onward flights. B
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TUESDAY, 17 AUGUST, 2010
The N.Z. contingent from Lyall Bay SLSC will leave from Auckland on Emirates new A380 at 1800 hours. On arrival in Sydney they will join the contingents from Yamba SLSC, Forster SLSC, MacMasters Beach SLSCand the young men from Scots College in Bellevue Hill, Sydney.
The flight will depart Sydney at 2110 and land in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 14 hours later.
WEDNESDAY, 18 AUGUST, 2010
On arrival into Dubai, coaches will be available to, take us to the Jumeirah beach Hotel, about 30 minutes from the airport. Here we can relax on the beach or by the pool. You will be required to pay for any food or drinks whilst at the hotel other than what the hotel provides.
Around midday, we will return to the airport for our continuing flight to Istanbul. The flight is a little over 4 hours and will arrive in Istanbul, local time, at 1755 hours.
Coaches will transfer us, after clearing customs and immigration, to the motel on BURC Beach at the University Campus. An evening meal and some quiet time.
THURSDAY, 19 AUGUST, 2010
Breakfast and dinner will be the only organised activities today. We need a rest day after the long trip from NZ and the Oz. Today will afford the opportunity to reunite with your surf boats, skis and boards, enjoy the beach and meet some of the locals.
FRIDAY, 20 AUGUST, 2010
Today we will hold an early carnival rehearsal. Largely a talk and walk through on the beach. We will do this in an area roped off where we expect to hold the various demonstration events.
SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2010
Today will be a full day tour of Istanbul. Lunch will be at Topkapi Palace and you will visit sites such as the Blue Mosque, St Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and other places of interest. Dinner back at BURC.
SUNDAY, 22 AUGUST, 2010
THE DEMONSTRATION SURF CARNIVAL. FULL DETAILS WILL BE ISSUED TO SURF CLUBS, TOGETHER WITH GEAR REQUIREMENTS, BY 31 MAY THIS YEAR. The event will end with the traditional beach B-B-Q.
MONDAY, 23 AUGUST, 2010
A relax day, with time to get our equipment ready for the full day move down to t the Gallipoli Peninsula.
TUESDAY, 24 AUGUST, 2010
Unpack our equipment, relax and get comfortable with our new surroundings. In the afternoon, we will take a drive around the battlefields, and our historian will brief us on the 8 months our ANZACs spent clinging to the hills you will see.
WEDNESDAY, 25 AUGUST, 2010
Today will be a full day touring. Bring your cameras today. We will hold our own first ever ANZAC surf club service at the site of an early surf club member who is buried at Gallipoli. We will also hold a service at ANZAC Cove with a surf boat depicting the landing boats coming ashore 95 years ago.
THURSDAY, 26 AUGUST, 2010
Some time today to relax on the beach, have a paddle or swim in the Aegean and discuss the best place for our carnival to run. Late morning we will go across the Dardanelles to allow you to spend some time looking around Canakkale, the main city in the area. There are many places to also have lunch.
FRIDAY, 27 AUGUST, 2010
Today we will run through the demonstration carnival which will be the same as that held on the Black Sea. We will also prepare to demonstrate to the children from Canakkale and Eceabat, what surf life saving is all about. (we intend to invite some of the schools to visit us during the day.)
SATURDAY, 28 AUGUST, 2010
Carnival set up and preparation.
SUNDAY, 29 AUGUST, 2010
Demonstration carnival. Evening get together for those participating in the Swim the Dandanelles event tomorrow.
MONDAY, 30 AUGUST, 2010
Today, those in the swim will transfer to Canakkale for the swim medicals and briefings. We plan on moving the surf boats and skis/boards to the Dandanelles and the paddlers will accompany the Aussie and Kiwi swimmers during the swim.
TUESDAY, 31 AUGUST, 2010
After breakfast we head back to Istanbul. Surf boats and other equipment not going home will be delivered to the Atakoy Yacht Club for storage. The rest of us will check in to the Titanic hotel and have our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
WEDNESDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER, 2010
Today we fly home. Coaches will transfer us to the airport. The Kiwis will overnight in Dubai at the Novotel hotel near the airport. The Aussie contingent have a direct connection to Sydney.
Use the Button to your left to find out more about Australians in the Gallipoli Campaign.
