We watched the fireworks in Istanbul the caught a 2.30am bus to Canakkale. We arrived here at 8.30am, checked into our hotel and booked a tour to Gallipoli. Until the tour started, we walked around Canakkale a bit. We caught the ferry to Eceabat and met our guide, Bill. We were the only ones on the tour! Were very lucky it was running on new years day. We practically had the whole of Gallipoli to ourselves. The weather was mostly dark with bits of sunshine coming through! We stopped at Brighton beach, Anzac cove, Dawn Service, Ariburnu, Lone Pine, Johnston's Jolly, the trenches, 57th Battalion Turkish monument, the Nek and Chunuk Bair.
It was very interesting to learn about the Gallipoli campaign from a Turkish perspective. Learning how Ataturk played a part was very interesting, as well as why the Turks joined the German side in the war. The British had promised turkey two battleships, but then reneged this offer when the war started and kept them for themselves. Germany offered free battleships to turkey who then joined them. Therefore the allies wanted to take the Dardenelles to access Istanbul and the black sea.
We also found my great-great uncles' names at Lone Pine!
Lest we forget,
Love
Claire
Xoxo
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