Gallipoli

Thursday, 2nd June 2011

We were expecting to be part of a bus tour today to Anzac Cove. The driver picked us up at 6.40 am and took us to an 18 seater mini bus. I thought he would then take us to a bigger bus and we would drive to Gallipoli with the rest of the punters.

Well, it appears that we were the only ones on the bus so Lord and Lady Muck had their choice of seats. The driver spoke very little English, but was fabulous behind the wheel.


We had two "Nescafe" stops, aka toilet breaks. The first one did not have a conventional toilet, and I totally missed the fact that the toilet paper was on the outside of the cubicle. I think I was getting over the fact that there was no toilet pan. OMG, back to the holiday tours of my youth in the 70s.

We got to Eceabat at 11.30am, were shown to our room - waterfront view. Wifi working. Note the ferry behind Andy.


We then went to lunch (included in the tour) in the restaurant, again expecting to be part of a mass of people. Guess what, again we were the only 2 in this restaurant

Our tour guide arrived, and gave us the most fantastic personalised tour. He commented that if we had been there a day earlier, there were 16 people on that tour. So it has been a very special day in many ways. If you come to do an Anzac tour contact Hasan Gundugar and you too will have a special day.

The port of Eceabat has a wonderful tribute to the Turks and the Anzacs


Our visit started at Anzac Cove

It is so tiny when you see it for yourself.

Sphinx Mountain is behind the Cove - named for obvious reasons.


We walked down to look at the memorial

There is a path leading down to Anzac Cove and we walked about 400 metres along the beach. It was a very special time.


This is one of the memorials put up for the Turkish soldiers


Ataturk wrote these famous words and a memorial has been put up.

"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives…
You are now living in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours…
You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace, after having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
Ataturk, 1934

In memory of fallen comrades


This is the "granddaughter" of the original Lone Pine tree that was grown from the seed sent home by a digger.

The Lone Pine Cemetery



A tribute to the New Zealanders


I have to say this was a very spiritual place. The numbers killed on both sides are horrendous as in any war. This is now a "resting" place and a definite place of peace.


We finished the day at the original house of Ataturk, in a very remote village.