Day 1: At long last - we're here!

A photo just to prove we're here, the Blue Mosque in the background

Hard to believe that only yesterday we were farewelling loved ones at Tullamarine and here we are, 2 countries, countless time zones and a dozen airline meals later in Istanbul. After a quick refresh at the hotel we headed off on a cruise of the Bosphorous - shining sun, amazing scenery and the blue, sparkling waters of the Marmara Sea. The call to prayer reminds us we have much to discover, with mosques dotted among apartments on the hills surrounding the waterway.

 

We are off on an orientation tour this afternoon and will report back tomorrow with more news of Istanbul and a good night's sleep under our belts. Until then, Güle güle (Good bye!)

Laura and Tegan relaxing
on the beautiful Bosphorus

This one's especially
 for Bayley's grandmother,
taken inside the Hagia Sophia  

Yes, that IS a medieval fortress we're gliding past

Passing Ataturk's yacht, the Savarona, a gift
to him in 1938 from a grateful nation.

 

 

From Around the State to Across the World

The 10 students selected as the 2013 Study Tour group were officially announced by then Premier Baillieu on the 1st of March 2013 at Parliament House. We don't leave for Gallipoli until Easter but that only leaves 22 more days to pack, plan and to manage pre-tour excitement. Here we are in one of the photos taken at Parliament House just outside Queens Hall. That's (front row, L-R) Sarah, Whitney, Laura and Nathan, (middle row, L-R) Luke, Kate, Bayley, Jasmine and Tegan and (back row, L-R) Minister Delahunty, ex-Premier Baillieu and Cameron. We continued over the road at ANZAC House, the home of Victoria's RSL and a treasure trove of history. What a place, what a day ..... and we haven't even set foot on the plane yet!

Watch this space for daily updates as we trek around Turkey, France, Belgium and the Netherlands during the coming school holidays.